Modular ESA Terminal Layout for Multi-Satellite Hemispheric Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing number of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites requires a large number of large, gimballed reflector antennas on the ground for communication, leading to significant land and backhaul costs due to line-of-sight constraints, with each satellite needing a dedicated antenna, resulting in inefficient use of resources.
Innovation Solution
A reconfigurable, flexible multi-user electronically steered antenna (ESA) terminal that can be located at a data center, covering a full hemispheric field-of-view and scalable, allowing multiple satellite contacts without the need for extensive land acquisition or backhaul connections, by using a top panel and side panels with subarrays and associated electronic circuitry for beam steering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If large gimballed reflector antennas are deployed to maintain line-of-sight with LEO satellites, then communication reliability is improved, but land area requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna system is divided into multiple fixed panels arranged in a cylindrical configuration, each panel containing multiple subarrays that can be independently controlled. This segmentation allows the system to achieve omnidirectional coverage without requiring large gimballed reflectors, reducing land area while maintaining communication reliability through distributed fixed structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The electronically steered antenna system provides universal coverage for multiple satellites simultaneously across all azimuth angles using a single fixed structure. The phased array technology enables one antenna system to perform the function of multiple gimballed reflectors, eliminating the need for separate antennas for each satellite contact and significantly reducing land requirements.
2Productivity
If multiple gimballed reflector antennas are installed to contact multiple LEO satellites, then satellite communication capacity is improved, but backhaul infrastructure costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple satellite communication functions are merged into a single electronically steered antenna system. The phased array technology allows simultaneous tracking and communication with multiple satellites using one antenna structure, consolidating what would otherwise require multiple separate reflector antennas and their associated backhaul connections, thereby reducing infrastructure complexity and costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical gimbal system is replaced with an electronically steered phased array system. Instead of physically moving large reflector antennas to track satellites, the invention uses electronic beam steering through phase shifters and signal processing, eliminating mechanical complexity while maintaining multi-satellite communication capacity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If gimballed reflector antennas are used to scan to low-elevation angles, then coverage area is improved, but land area requirements increase due to line-of-sight constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from horizontal plane coverage using gimballed reflectors to three-dimensional omnidirectional coverage using a vertical cylindrical array of panels. By arranging panels in a cylindrical configuration around a central axis, the system achieves 360-degree azimuth coverage and low-elevation angle capability without requiring large horizontal land area, effectively using the vertical dimension to solve the coverage problem.
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
The ESA terminal reduces land and backhaul costs by enabling multiple satellite contacts with a smaller footprint, allowing for dynamic scaling and efficient use of resources, while adapting to changing RF environments and improving antenna performance without the need for new antenna installations.
Implementation Method 1
electronically steered antenna (ESA) terminal... top panel and the side panels can achieve beam steering angles that cover a full hemispheric field-of-view
Data Source
AI summary
A Reconfigurable, Flexible Multi-User (RFMU) electronically steered antenna (ESA) includes a top panel and a number of side panels that enable many contacts simultaneously with varying gain requirements from a single, in situ, installation. The top panel includes multiple subarrays and can communicate with flyover satellites, and the side panels can communicate with satellites flying past a side of the ESA. The top panel and the side panels can achieve a beam steering that covers a full or partial, variable gain, hemispheric field-of-view (FoV). The RFMU ESA terminal top and side panels are scalable using flexible modular building blocks. This enables increased contacts, increased gain or a combination thereof sized to meet desired performance.