Phased Array Beam Split for Satellite Navigation and Data Links

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current GNSS constellations face challenges with limited satellite coverage, especially in geographically disadvantaged locations, leading to signal susceptibility, coverage gaps, and long time-to-first-fix issues, particularly for devices without terrestrial mobile networks.

Innovation Solution

A satellite communications system employing a phased array antenna structure that transmits navigation signals using a wide beam and data signals using a directive beam, enabling simultaneous GNSS and data communication services, leveraging a constellation of thousands of Low Earth Orbit satellites with steerable phased arrays to provide high SNR links and rapid navigation solution computation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a satellite uses a single antenna structure to provide both navigation and data communication services, then device complexity is reduced, but signal quality and coverage cannot be optimized for both services simultaneously

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantenna structure complexityVSAvoidsignal quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the antenna system into two distinct antenna structures: a first antenna for navigation signals with wide beam coverage, and a second antenna for data communication with directional beams. This segmentation allows each antenna to be optimized for its specific function, resolving the contradiction between device simplicity and signal quality optimization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The satellite system achieves multi-functionality by equipping it with multiple antenna structures that can serve different purposes simultaneously. The first antenna provides navigation services while the second antenna handles data communication, enabling the single satellite to perform multiple functions with optimized performance for each.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If navigation signals are transmitted using directive beams to optimize link SNR, then communication reliability improves, but coverage area and availability decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelink SNRVSAvoidcoverage area

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the signal transmission function by using a dedicated first antenna for navigation signals with wide beam patterns. This wide beam configuration ensures broad geographic coverage and high availability while maintaining sufficient signal quality for navigation purposes, separating the coverage optimization from the data communication function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If a satellite constellation provides comprehensive global coverage, then navigation availability improves, but time-to-first-fix increases due to signal processing complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenavigation availabilityVSAvoidtime-to-first-fix

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by pre-processing and broadcasting navigation signals through dedicated wide-beam antennas before user equipment needs them. The navigation signal structure is optimized in advance with clear identification codes and modulation schemes that enable rapid acquisition, reducing the time required for receivers to lock onto signals and compute positions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Productivity

If data communication uses high-gain directional beams, then throughput increases, but the system cannot simultaneously provide wide-area navigation coverage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata throughputVSAvoidnavigation coverage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the communication functions by assigning different antenna structures to different purposes: the first antenna with wide beam patterns dedicated to navigation signal transmission for broad coverage, and the second antenna with directional beams dedicated to data communication for high throughput. This functional segmentation resolves the contradiction between coverage area and data throughput.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent resolves the spatial conflict by adding the dimension of temporal coordination and spatial separation through multiple antennas. While the first antenna maintains continuous wide coverage for navigation, the second antenna dynamically directs high-gain beams at specific user terminals, achieving both broad navigation coverage and focused high-speed data transfer simultaneously in different spatial dimensions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS12476672B2Satellite communication system transmitting navigation signals using a wide beam and data signals using a directive beam

Publication Date: 2025.11.18 LYNK GLOBAL INC

AI summary

A satellite communications system can comprise at least one that satellite, an antenna structure deployed on the at least one satellite, and radio hardware coupled to the antenna structure that can provide for transmitting a first channel simultaneously with a second channel, wherein the first channel is transmitted using directive beams and the second channel is transmitted using a wide beam and wherein the directive beams are for data communication signals and the wide beam is for navigation signals.