Optical Inter-Satellite Terminal Layout for Polar Orbit Link Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional satellite surveillance systems face difficulties in maintaining communication circuits without breakdowns when the orbit is laterally changed at the northern or southern extremity of an orbital plane, particularly in satellite constellations with polar or inclined orbits.
Innovation Solution
A satellite information transmission system with eight or more communication satellites on each orbital plane, equipped with inter-satellite communication devices, including optical communication terminals with specific orientations and driving centers, allowing communication with adjacent satellites in northeast and southwest directions, and dynamically adjusting orbital altitudes to maintain connectivity and avoid collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If conventional satellite surveillance systems use polar or inclined orbital planes with multiple orbital planes, then global coverage is achieved, but communication circuits break down when the orbit is laterally changed at the northern or southern extremity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the communication system into multiple independent optical communication terminals (first, second, third, and fourth terminals) with different orientation ranges. Each terminal handles communication with satellites in specific directional sectors, allowing the system to segment the communication task and maintain reliability through redundant pathways when one sector experiences lateral orbit changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces azimuth angle as an additional dimension for communication terminal orientation. By defining azimuth angle ranges of ±90 degrees or more for the third and fourth terminals relative to the satellite forwarding direction, the system creates angular redundancy that compensates for lateral orbital changes, transforming a potentially fragile 1D communication link into a more robust 2D angular coverage system.
2Reliability
If optical communication terminals are arranged with specific azimuth angle ranges to maintain communication during lateral orbit changes, then communication reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the optical communication terminals to serve multiple functions within their azimuth angle ranges. The first and second terminals handle front and rear satellite communication, while the third and fourth terminals handle east-side and west-side adjacent orbit communication. This multi-functional arrangement allows a single terminal structure to support multiple communication scenarios, reducing overall system complexity despite the sophisticated angular coverage requirements.
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 system ensures continuous global surveillance with high spatial resolution and surveillance performance, avoiding communication breakdowns and satellite collisions by optimizing satellite configurations and orbital adjustments.
Implementation Method 1
a first optical communication terminal as one of the inter-satellite communication devices to perform optical communication with another front communication satellite in a flying direction
Data Source
AI summary
A communication satellite (20) provided in a satellite information transmission system includes a first optical communication terminal (51C), a second optical communication terminal (52C), a third optical communication terminal (53C), and a fourth optical communication terminal (54C). An Azimuth visual field change range (53B) of the third optical communication terminal (53C) is equal to or more than ±90 degrees with respect to a satellite forwarding direction +X. An Azimuth visual field change range (54B) of the fourth optical communication terminal (54C) is equal to or more than ±90 degrees with respect to the opposite direction of the satellite forwarding direction +X.