Passive Multibeam Satellite Coverage Reallocation Without Redundancy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Satellite communication systems face performance penalties due to the introduction of redundancy circuits in passive antenna solutions, while active antenna systems lack the high performance and directivity of passive systems, especially in terms of antenna directivity and frequency reuse capacity.
Innovation Solution
A multibeam satellite communications system utilizing a resource allocator to form a regular network of satellite spots with orthogonal polarizations and distinct spectral resources, allowing adjacent spots to extend coverage and allocate new resources in case of failures without implementing redundancy circuits, thereby maintaining coverage and performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If redundancy circuits are introduced in passive antenna solutions, then reliability against failures is improved, but device complexity and payload weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic beamforming capability that allows the antenna system to adaptively reconfigure and redirect beams in real-time when failures occur. The focal array can dynamically adjust the diffraction task distribution across radiating elements, enabling the system to compensate for failures without physical redundancy circuits, thus maintaining reliability while reducing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters by adjusting the beamforming weights and focal array configuration in response to failures. By modifying the diffraction task distribution and beam directions dynamically, the system compensates for failed elements without requiring redundant hardware, resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity.
2Reliability
If redundancy circuits are introduced in passive antenna solutions, then reliability against failures is improved, but payload weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic beamforming system redistributes the diffraction task across remaining functional radiating elements when failures occur, eliminating the need for redundant hardware weight. The focal array dynamically adjusts element utilization to maintain coverage without adding payload mass.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates virtual copies of beam coverage by redirecting and reconfiguring existing radiating elements to assume the coverage role of failed elements. This virtual redundancy through beamforming achieves reliability without the physical weight of redundant hardware.
3Device complexity
If active antennas are used with distributed amplification, then device complexity is reduced, but antenna directivity and frequency reuse capacity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the amplification function into centralized high-power amplifiers feeding a passive focal array, rather than distributed amplification at each radiating element. This segmentation maintains the simplicity of passive antenna structures while preserving high directivity through the focal array's ability to concentrate energy precisely at desired directions.
Solution Approach 2:
The focal array acts as an intermediary between the centralized amplifiers and the radiating elements. It performs the diffraction task to shape and direct the beams with high precision, maintaining antenna directivity while avoiding the complexity of distributed amplification circuits.
4Manufacturing precision
If passive focusing systems with redundancy are used, then antenna directivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic beamforming in the passive focal array that enables real-time reconfiguration to compensate for failures. This dynamic capability provides the same reliability function as redundancy circuits but through software-controlled beam steering rather than hardware redundancy, maintaining high directivity while reducing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The focal array performs self-compensation for failures by automatically redistributing the diffraction task across remaining functional elements. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for external redundancy circuits while preserving the high directivity characteristics of passive focusing systems.
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 ensures continuous coverage and optimal performance by rearranging the network and reallocating spectral resources upon failures, eliminating the need for redundancy circuits and minimizing payload complexity and weight, while maintaining high directivity and frequency reuse capacity.
Implementation Method 1
passive multibeam antenna system... where robustness against failures is supported by the focal arrays of the antennas
Implementation Method 2
the energy associated with the diffraction task of a radiating element is spread over the entire area covered by the antenna
Implementation Method 3
each beam is formed by a single radiating source... in terms of directivity and resource reuse capacity
Implementation Method 4
For systems with reflector optics... the source array is placed at the focal point of the antenna
Data Source
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Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a multibeam satellite radiocommunication system comprising: - at least one satellite having at least one passive multibeam antenna system, - at least one satellite terminal, - a resource allocator configured to form a regular network of satellite spots arranged in a grid in the form of quadrilaterals over a given geographical area, to associate spectral resources to the satellite spots, then to allocate spectral resources to the satellite terminals according to their position, where the resource allocator is configured to, in the event of failure of a satellite spot (701), extend the coverage area of the satellite spots (702, 703, 704, 705) adjacent to the failing satellite spot so as to cover the area it occupies, and allocate new spectral resources to the satellite terminals of the failing satellite spot according to their position.The invention also relates to a resource allocator and the corresponding method.