Distributed Aperture Arrays for Satellite Interference Reduction

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current satellite communication systems for fishing boats face challenges in providing affordable and efficient broadband connectivity due to high costs and inadequate infrastructure, with existing solutions experiencing interference issues and reduced bandwidth efficiency from small aperture terminals.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves using distributed aperture arrays with orthogonal beam forming and wavefront multiplexing/demultiplexing techniques to aggregate multiple satellite resources, enabling efficient bandwidth sharing and minimizing interference, while leveraging linearly polarized satellites to service circularly polarized mobile platforms without the need for polarization realignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If small aperture terminals are used for satellite communication on fishing boats, then device complexity and installation cost are reduced, but interference increases and bandwidth efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveterminal complexityVSAvoidinterference

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides a single large aperture terminal into multiple smaller distributed aperture elements (e.g., 4-16 elements) arranged in an array configuration. Each element is a simple small aperture terminal, but collectively they form a sophisticated system that achieves high gain and bandwidth efficiency while maintaining low individual element complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines multiple small aperture elements into a distributed array system that functions as a unified communication terminal. By merging the capabilities of multiple elements through coherent signal processing and beamforming, the system achieves performance equivalent to or better than a single large aperture while avoiding the interference and bandwidth limitations of small individual terminals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Productivity

If distributed aperture arrays are used to aggregate multiple satellite resources, then bandwidth efficiency increases, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebandwidth efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical tracking and pointing mechanisms with electronic beamforming and signal processing. The distributed aperture array achieves precise beam control and satellite resource aggregation through digital signal processing techniques, eliminating the need for complex mechanical adjustment systems while maintaining high bandwidth efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If linearly polarized satellites are used to service circularly polarized mobile platforms, then polarization realignment is eliminated, but signal loss increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepolarization alignmentVSAvoidsignal loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the polarization parameter of the transmitted signal from circular to linear polarization to match the satellite's polarization. This parameter change eliminates the need for polarization realignment mechanisms and reduces signal loss by ensuring optimal polarization matching between the mobile platform and the satellite communication system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach provides cost-effective, high-gain satellite communication links with reduced interference and increased bandwidth efficiency, allowing for reliable and affordable broadband connectivity for fishing boats, even in coastal regions, by dynamically utilizing multiple satellites and optimizing antenna design for smaller, more efficient apertures.

Implementation Method 1

distributed aperture arrays with orthogonal beam forming

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOrthogonal beam forming:

Implementation Method 2

wavefront multiplexing/demultiplexing techniques to aggregate multiple satellite resources

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWavefront multiplexing/demultiplexing:

Implementation Method 3

leveraging linearly polarized satellites to service circularly polarized mobile platforms without the need for polarization realignment

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPolarization conversion: Polarisation

Data Source

PatentUS9917635B2Distributed SATCOM aperture on fishing boat

Publication Date: 2018.03.13 SPATIAL DIGITAL SYST

AI summary

Signals of data streams for transmission to user equipment (UE) in spoke-and-hub configurations will utilize multiple transponders of satellites. Radiation patterns from ground terminals with distributed apertures feature orthogonal beams (OB). A tracking OB beam from a moving platform dynamically shall autonomously be formed as a shaped beam by a digital-beam-forming (DBF) network with a peak to a desired satellite, and nulls to undesired satellites to minimize mutual interferences among multiple satellite spatially. Ground hubs and mobile terminals feature “coherent” bandwidth aggregating capability from multiple available but non-contiguous slices of frequency slots in many transponders by wavefront multiplexing/demultiplexing (WF muxing/demuxing) techniques. These individual frequency slots must be dynamically selected, calibrated and equalized continuously in receivers via embedded probing signals as a part of WF muxing/demuxing techniques.