Low-orbit communication satellite transceiving integrated antenna

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of satellite communication antennas, in particular to a low-orbit communication satellite transceiving integrated antenna which comprises a PCB board and a receiving part antenna arranged on the PCB board and a transmitting part antenna outside the receiving part antenna. In the application, the receiving part antenna and the transmitting part antenna are integrated on the same PCB board, and the layout design of the transmitting part surrounding the outside of the receiving part is adopted, so that the space utilization and structural compactness are obviously improved, the highly integrated characteristic effectively reduces the volume occupied by discrete elements, and the application especially meets the strict requirements of low-orbit satellites on light weight and compact layout.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of satellite antenna technology, and in particular to an integrated antenna for low-orbit communication satellites. Background Technology

[0002] The working principle of low-Earth orbit (LEO) communication antennas is based on the transmission and reception of electromagnetic waves. At the transmitting end, the antenna modulates the baseband signal onto a high-frequency carrier wave, and radiates the electromagnetic waves into free space through a feed network, thus transmitting the signal. At the receiving end, the antenna is responsible for capturing the weak electromagnetic wave signals from the satellite and converting them into electrical signals for subsequent demodulation and processing. Its performance directly affects the communication quality, coverage, and transmission efficiency of the satellite communication system.

[0003] Existing low-Earth orbit (LEO) communication satellite transceiver antennas mostly employ parabolic antennas or phased array antennas. However, parabolic antennas also have disadvantages such as large size, heavy weight, and narrow beamwidth, which to some extent limit their application in some situations where there are strict requirements for equipment size and weight. Phased array antennas have many advantages, but the control unit design is complex and costly. Therefore, this application proposes an integrated LEO communication satellite transceiver antenna. Utility Model Content

[0004] In view of the shortcomings of existing technologies, the purpose of this application is to provide an integrated low-orbit communication satellite transceiver antenna to solve the technical problems in the background art.

[0005] The above-mentioned objective of this application is achieved through the following technical solution: a low-orbit communication satellite transceiver integrated antenna, including a PCB board, a receiving antenna disposed on the PCB board, and a transmitting antenna outside the receiving antenna.

[0006] By adopting the above technical solution, integrating the receiving antenna and the transmitting antenna onto the same PCB board and using a layout design where the transmitting part surrounds the receiving part, a significant improvement in space utilization and structural compactness is achieved. Its high integration effectively reduces the volume occupied by discrete components, particularly meeting the stringent requirements of low-Earth orbit satellites for lightweight and compact layouts. At the signal processing level, the physical isolation design (transmitter surrounding receiver) reduces direct coupling interference between the transmitted signal and the receiving link. Combined with a directional-optimized antenna array (e.g., a highly directional array for the receiving part and a ring radiation mode for the transmitting part), sidelobe interference can be further suppressed and the signal-to-noise ratio improved, thereby enhancing anti-interference capabilities. In terms of functional synergy, the integrated structure facilitates joint optimization of the receiving and transmitting beams (e.g., dynamic...). (Beamforming and tracking) can adapt to scenarios where communication pointing needs to be quickly adjusted when low-orbit satellites are moving at high speeds. If the receiving and transmitting use different frequency bands (such as L-band receiving and Ka-band transmitting), frequency band isolation can be achieved through filter and duplexer design, supporting simultaneous operation of multiple frequency bands. In terms of cost and reliability, the integration of a single PCB board reduces assembly steps and the number of connectors, lowering manufacturing costs and failure rates. At the same time, the compact layout facilitates centralized heat dissipation design, avoiding performance drift caused by the difference in thermal expansion coefficients of discrete antennas and improving long-term stability. In terms of application adaptability, this design can support two-way high-speed communication between satellite and ground (receiving uplink signals from the ground and transmitting downlink data) and satellite formation networking (multiple satellites working together to form a distributed antenna array), meeting the needs of IoT, remote sensing and other scenarios for wide-area coverage and low latency.

[0007] Furthermore, the receiving antenna includes multiple receiving microstrip lines printed on a PCB board, each of which is located on the outer side of the PCB board and is sequentially 90 degrees out of phase.

[0008] By employing the above technical solution, four microstrip lines (with phase differences of 0°, 90°, 180°, and 270°) are used to synthesize orthogonal electric field components, directly forming a stable circularly polarized wave. This eliminates the need for additional polarization conversion devices, simplifying the structure and reducing insertion loss. Furthermore, the circular polarization characteristic is insensitive to the polarization rotation of reflected signals, effectively suppressing multipath interference caused by ground reflection and atmospheric scattering during high-speed movement of low-orbit satellites, significantly improving communication link stability. In terms of beam control, multiple microstrip lines form a miniature array, and beamforming (such as directional reception) can be achieved through phase difference adjustment, focusing energy in the target direction and suppressing sidelobe interference. Combined with spatial filtering effects (signals at different incident angles are weighted and suppressed due to phase differences), this further enhances anti-interference capabilities. The microstrip lines themselves possess broadband characteristics; by optimizing linewidth, spacing, and dielectric layer parameters, they can cover wide frequency bands such as L / S, and the phase difference design remains stable within the broadband range, ensuring that circular polarization performance does not change significantly with frequency. Furthermore, combining them with filters can achieve… Multi-band multiplexing; structurally, microstrip lines are directly printed on the outside of the PCB board, forming a layered or coplanar integration with the transmitting antenna (such as the outer ring transmitting array), maximizing the use of board space. The low profile design (thickness <1mm) can reduce satellite aerodynamic drag or simplify internal stacking. At the same time, standard PCB processes (photolithography, etching) provide high manufacturing precision and low cost, making it suitable for mass production. In terms of functional expansion, combined with tunable components (such as varactor diodes), the phase difference can be dynamically adjusted to achieve beam scanning or polarization switching, adapting to the needs of different communication scenarios. The circular polarization matching design can also improve the robustness of polarization diversity reception, ensuring stable signal reception even when the satellite attitude is adjusted. Moreover, the unique polarization characteristics are difficult for unmatched receivers to intercept, enhancing communication security. Typical applications include low-Earth orbit satellite-to-ground communication (suppressing multipath interference to achieve bidirectional high-speed transmission), satellite formation networking (optimizing beam pointing to improve resolution during cooperative reception), and IoT terminal coverage (broadband reception to separate massive narrowband signals).

[0009] Furthermore, the transmitting antenna includes multiple transmitting microstrip lines disposed inside the receiving microstrip line, each of which is printed on a PCB board and is sequentially 90 degrees out of phase.

[0010] By adopting the above technical solution, a design using multiple transmit microstrip lines printed on a PCB board, located inside the receive microstrip lines and with phase differences of 90 degrees, is employed. Through layered layout on both sides and phase-coordinated control, deep optimization of transmit performance and system efficiency is achieved. The core mechanism lies in the four transmit microstrip lines forming an orthogonal array with phase differences of 0°, 90°, 180°, and 270°, directly synthesizing a stable circularly polarized wave without the need for additional polarization conversion devices. This simplifies the structure and reduces insertion loss. Furthermore, the circular polarization characteristic is insensitive to polarization rotation of the reflected signal, effectively suppressing multipath interference caused by ground reflection and atmospheric scattering during high-speed movement of low-Earth orbit satellites, significantly improving the stability of the satellite-to-ground communication link. In terms of beam control, phase difference adjustment enables the transmit array to possess beamforming capabilities, precisely focusing energy towards the target direction, increasing the equivalent isotropic radiation power (EIRP) and suppressing sidelobe radiation, reducing interference to non-target areas. Combined with tunable components (such as varactor diodes), dynamic beam scanning can also be achieved to adapt to the pointing adjustment requirements during rapid satellite movement.

[0011] Furthermore, both the transmitting microstrip line and the receiving microstrip line are fixedly connected to a coaxial feed line, and a metal rod is fixedly installed on the outside of the coaxial feed line.

[0012] In summary, this application offers the following beneficial technical effects: This solution utilizes PCB integrated design, layering the receiving and transmitting microstrip lines onto a single PCB board, achieving a compact and lightweight structure. The overall dimensions are controlled within 120mm × 120mm × 20mm, with a thickness of <1mm, resulting in a 70% weight reduction compared to traditional parabolic antennas. This significantly reduces the antenna's space occupation on the satellite platform, lowers transmission costs, and improves the satellite's payload capacity, making it particularly suitable for low-Earth orbit satellite scenarios with strict limitations on equipment size and weight. Simultaneously, the receiving section utilizes four inner ring lines... A right-hand circularly polarized antenna is synthesized using microstrip lines (each with a 90° phase difference), while the transmitting section uses four outer microstrip lines (also with a 90° phase difference) to synthesize a left-hand circularly polarized antenna. In the 237MHz transmitting band (covering 235.5-238.6MHz) and the 281MHz receiving band (covering 280-283MHz), the axial ratio is less than 0.3dB (far exceeding the system requirement of 3dB), ensuring polarization purity. The circular polarization characteristics are insensitive to polarization rotation of reflected signals, effectively suppressing multipath interference and significantly improving the stability of the space-to-ground communication link. Attached Figure Description

[0013] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure in the embodiment;

[0014] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure from another perspective in the embodiment:

[0015] Figure 3This is the antenna return loss diagram during the simulation process in the embodiment;

[0016] Figure 4 This is the antenna return loss diagram during the simulation process in the embodiment;

[0017] Figure 5 This is a 3D gain diagram of the antenna during the simulation process in the embodiment;

[0018] Figure 6 This is a 3D gain diagram of the antenna during the simulation process in the embodiment;

[0019] Figure 7 This is the gain of the left-hand circularly polarized antenna in the Theta plane in the embodiment;

[0020] Figure 8 This is the gain of the right-hand circularly polarized antenna in the Theta plane in the embodiment;

[0021] Figure 9 This is a diagram showing the axial ratio of the left-hand circularly polarized antenna in the embodiment;

[0022] Figure 10 This is the axial ratio diagram of the right-hand circularly polarized antenna in the embodiment.

[0023] Reference numerals: 1. PCB board; 11. Transmitting microstrip line; 12. Receiving microstrip line; 2. Coaxial feed line; 21. Metal rod. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The present application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0025] Example, refer to Figures 1-10A low-Earth orbit (LEO) communication satellite transceiver integrated antenna includes a PCB board 1, a receiving antenna mounted on the PCB board 1, and a transmitting antenna located outside the receiving antenna. In this application, by integrating the receiving and transmitting antennas onto the same PCB board 1 and adopting a layout design where the transmitting antenna surrounds the receiving antenna, a significant improvement in space utilization and structural compactness is achieved. Its high integration effectively reduces the volume occupied by discrete components, particularly meeting the stringent requirements of LEO satellites for lightweight and compact layout. At the signal processing level, the physical spatial isolation design (transmitter surrounding receiver) reduces direct coupling interference between the transmitted signal and the receiving link. Combined with a directional-optimized antenna array (e.g., a highly directional array for the receiving part and a ring radiation mode for the transmitting part), sidelobe interference can be further suppressed and the signal-to-noise ratio improved, thereby enhancing anti-interference capabilities. In terms of functional synergy, the integrated structure facilitates joint optimization of the receiving and transmitting beams (e.g., dynamic beamforming). The design integrates various antenna types (including antenna configuration and tracking) to adapt to scenarios where low-Earth orbit satellites need to quickly adjust their communication direction during high-speed movement. If different frequency bands are used for receiving and transmitting (e.g., L-band reception and Ka-band transmission), frequency band isolation can be achieved through filter and duplexer design, supporting simultaneous operation of multiple frequency bands. In terms of cost and reliability, the integration of a single PCB board reduces assembly steps and the number of connectors, lowering manufacturing costs and failure rates. At the same time, the compact layout facilitates centralized heat dissipation design, avoiding performance drift caused by differences in thermal expansion coefficients of discrete antennas and improving long-term stability. In terms of application adaptability, this design supports high-speed two-way communication between satellite and ground (receiving uplink signals from the ground and transmitting downlink data) as well as satellite formation networking (multiple satellites working together to form a distributed antenna array), meeting the needs of IoT, remote sensing, and other scenarios for wide-area coverage and low latency.

[0026] In this embodiment, the receiving antenna includes multiple receiving microstrip lines 12 printed on the PCB board 1. Each receiving microstrip line 12 is located on the outside of the PCB board 1, and their phases are successively 90 degrees apart. By synthesizing orthogonal electric field components using four microstrip lines (with phase differences of 0°, 90°, 180°, and 270°), a stable circularly polarized wave can be directly formed without the need for additional polarization conversion devices. This simplifies the structure and reduces insertion loss. Furthermore, the circular polarization characteristic is insensitive to the polarization rotation of reflected signals, effectively suppressing multipath interference caused by ground reflection and atmospheric scattering during high-speed movement of low-Earth orbit satellites, significantly improving communication link stability. In terms of beam control, multiple microstrip lines form a miniature array, and beamforming (such as directional reception) can be achieved through phase difference adjustment, focusing energy in the target direction and suppressing sidelobe interference. Combined with spatial filtering effects (signals at different incident angles are weighted and suppressed due to phase differences), this further enhances anti-interference capabilities. The microstrip lines themselves possess broadband characteristics; by optimizing linewidth, spacing, and dielectric layer parameters, they can cover wide frequency bands such as L / S, and the phase difference design remains stable within the broadband, ensuring that circular polarization performance does not change significantly with frequency. Combined with filters, multi-band multiplexing can also be achieved. Structurally, the microstrip line is directly printed on the outer side of the PCB board 1, forming a layered or coplanar integration with the transmitting antenna (such as the outer ring transmitting array), maximizing the use of board space. The low profile design (thickness <1mm) can reduce satellite aerodynamic drag or simplify internal stacking. At the same time, standard PCB processes (photolithography, etching) provide high manufacturing precision and low cost, making it suitable for mass production. In terms of functional expansion, combined with tunable components (such as varactor diodes), the phase difference can be dynamically adjusted to achieve beam scanning or polarization switching, adapting to the needs of different communication scenarios. The circular polarization matching design can also improve the robustness of polarization diversity reception, ensuring stable signal reception even when the satellite attitude is adjusted. Moreover, the unique polarization characteristics are difficult for unmatched receivers to intercept, enhancing communication security. Typical applications include low-Earth orbit satellite-to-ground communication (suppressing multipath interference to achieve bidirectional high-speed transmission), satellite formation networking (optimizing beam pointing to improve resolution during cooperative reception), and IoT terminal coverage (broadband reception to separate massive narrowband signals).

[0027] In this embodiment, the transmitting antenna includes multiple transmitting microstrip lines 11 disposed inside the receiving microstrip line 12. Each transmitting microstrip line 11 is printed on the PCB board 1, and their phases differ by 90 degrees sequentially. The design employs multiple transmit microstrip lines 11 printed on PCB 1, located inside the receive microstrip line 12, with phase differences of 90 degrees. Through layered layout and phase coordination control, deep optimization of transmit performance and system efficiency is achieved. The core mechanism lies in the four transmit microstrip lines 11 forming an orthogonal array with phase differences of 0°, 90°, 180°, and 270°, directly synthesizing a stable circularly polarized wave without the need for additional polarization conversion devices. This simplifies the structure and reduces insertion loss. Furthermore, the circular polarization characteristic is insensitive to polarization rotation of reflected signals, effectively suppressing multipath interference caused by ground reflection and atmospheric scattering during high-speed movement of low-Earth orbit satellites, significantly improving the stability of the satellite-to-ground communication link. In terms of beam control, phase difference adjustment enables the transmit array to possess beamforming capabilities, precisely focusing energy towards the target direction, increasing the equivalent isotropic radiation power (EIRP) and suppressing sidelobe radiation, reducing interference to non-target areas. Combined with tunable components (such as varactor diodes), dynamic beam scanning can also be achieved to adapt to the pointing adjustment requirements during rapid satellite movement.

[0028] Both the transmitting microstrip line 11 and the receiving microstrip line 12 are fixedly connected to a coaxial feed line 2, and a metal rod 21 is fixedly installed on the outside of the coaxial feed line 2.

[0029] Implementation Process: This solution focuses on the lightweight, compact, and high-performance requirements of low-Earth orbit (LEO) communication satellites. Through innovative technologies such as PCB integrated design, phase difference control with circular polarization synthesis, layered layout (inner and outer sides), and coaxial feed reinforcement, it achieves overall optimization of the integrated transmit / receive antenna. The antenna adopts an 11-layer layout of receiving and transmitting microstrip lines: the receiving section (four microstrip lines) is printed on the outer side of PCB 1, while the transmitting section (four microstrip lines) is located on the inner side, forming a concentric circle or ring structure with the receiver on the outside and the transmitter on the inside. This layout fully utilizes the space on one side of the PCB 1, controlling the overall dimensions within 120mm × 120mm × 20mm, with a thickness of <1mm, reducing weight by 70% compared to traditional parabolic antennas, thus meeting the stringent requirements of LEO satellites for lightweight and compact layout.

[0030] Both the receiving and transmitting microstrip lines 11 employ four independent branches, achieving circular polarization synthesis through phase difference control: the receiving section synthesizes a right-hand circularly polarized antenna using the four inner microstrip lines (with phase differences of 90° sequentially, i.e., 0°, 90°, 180°, and 270°), while the transmitting section synthesizes a left-hand circularly polarized antenna using the four outer microstrip lines (also with phase differences of 90° sequentially). This design eliminates the need for additional polarization conversion devices, simplifying the structure and reducing insertion loss (VSWR < 1.5). Furthermore, the circular polarization characteristics are insensitive to polarization rotation of reflected signals, effectively suppressing multipath interference caused by ground reflection and atmospheric scattering during high-speed movement of low-Earth orbit satellites, significantly improving the stability of the satellite-to-ground communication link (bit error rate reduced to below 10^-6). In the 237MHz transmit band (left-hand circular polarization, covering 235.5-238.6MHz) and 281MHz receive band (right-hand circular polarization, covering 280-283MHz), the axial ratio is less than 0.3dB (far better than the system requirement of 3dB), ensuring polarization purity; the transmit zenith gain is -7.62dBi, the receive zenith gain is -9.8dBi, and the upper hemisphere provides directional uniform radiation (coverage angle >120°), meeting the wide-area coverage requirements.

[0031] In terms of beam control, beamforming of the transmitting array is achieved through phase difference adjustment, increasing the equivalent isotropic radiated power (EIRP) by 5dB and sidelobe radiation suppression by better than -15dB, reducing interference to non-target areas. Combined with tunable components such as varactor diodes, dynamic adjustment of the beam scanning angle by ±30° can be achieved, shortening the response time to less than 10ms, meeting the pointing requirements of satellites during rapid movement (rate >1Gbps). By optimizing the microstrip linewidth (0.5-2mm), spacing (0.2-1mm), and dielectric layer parameters (dielectric constant 2.2-4.4), a broadband coverage of 235.5-238.6MHz (transmit) and 280-283MHz (receive) is achieved, with phase difference fluctuation within the frequency band <5%, ensuring stable circular polarization performance. Combined with filter design, it can be extended to operate simultaneously in multiple frequency bands such as Ka / L, with frequency band isolation better than 60dB, effectively suppressing the coupling interference of the transmitted signal to the receiving link (common-mode noise suppression better than -40dBc), ensuring a bit error rate of <10^-5 for simultaneous transmission of high and low frequency signals in full-duplex mode.

[0032] The embodiments described in this specific implementation are preferred embodiments of this application and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, all equivalent changes made in accordance with the structure, shape and principle of this application should be covered within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. A low-orbit communication satellite transceiver integrated antenna, characterized in that, It includes a PCB board (1), a receiving antenna disposed on the PCB board (1), and a transmitting antenna outside the receiving antenna; The receiving antenna includes multiple receiving microstrip lines (12) printed on a PCB board (1). Each receiving microstrip line (12) is located on the outside of the PCB board (1) and the phases of each line differ by 90 degrees.

2. The low-orbit communication satellite transceiver integrated antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that, The transmitting antenna includes multiple transmitting microstrip lines (11) disposed inside the receiving microstrip line (12). Each transmitting microstrip line (11) is printed on a PCB board (1) and the phases of each line are 90 degrees apart.

3. The low-orbit communication satellite transceiver integrated antenna according to claim 2, characterized in that, Both the transmitting microstrip line (11) and the receiving microstrip line (12) are fixedly connected to a coaxial feed line (2), and a metal rod (21) is fixedly installed on the outside of the coaxial feed line (2).

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