Co-Located Satellite Antenna Beam Scanning at the Atmospheric Limb
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Solution Overview
Problem
Scanning operations for co-located satellite antennas face challenges due to background clutter and terrestrial power-flux density limits when attempting to scan objects on the surface of the Earth, which decrease the likelihood of successful scanning.
Innovation Solution
Generating a beam with a boundary tangential to a first sphere above the Earth's surface allows scanning of objects in the atmospheric limb, reducing background clutter and power-flux density constraints, thereby increasing the likelihood of successful scanning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If scanning operations are performed on objects on the surface of the Earth, then scanning coverage is achieved, but background clutter and terrestrial power-flux density limits decrease scanning success likelihood
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the scanning operation from the Earth's surface environment and relocates it to the atmospheric limb environment. By positioning the satellite and directing beams at tangent points above the surface, the system removes the harmful background clutter and terrestrial power-flux density limits from the scanning process, thereby improving scanning success likelihood.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional surface scanning to three-dimensional atmospheric limb scanning. By utilizing the vertical dimension and scanning objects in the atmospheric layer above the surface, the system accesses a new operational dimension where background clutter is minimized and power-flux density constraints are relaxed.
2Reliability
If scanning operations are performed on objects on the surface of the Earth, then scanning coverage is achieved, but terrestrial power-flux density limits constrain scanning effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the scanning operation from the Earth's surface environment and relocates it to the atmospheric limb environment. By positioning the satellite and directing beams at tangent points above the surface, the system removes the harmful background clutter and terrestrial power-flux density limits from the scanning process, thereby improving scanning success likelihood.
3Measurement precision
If beams are directed at Earth's surface, then surface objects can be scanned, but background clutter increases interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the scanning operation from the Earth's surface environment and relocates it to the atmospheric limb environment. By positioning the satellite and directing beams at tangent points above the surface, the system removes the harmful background clutter and terrestrial power-flux density limits from the scanning process, thereby improving scanning success likelihood.
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 method enhances the likelihood of successfully scanning objects in the atmospheric limb by minimizing interference and power-flux density limits, improving scanning efficiency and accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
a central processor configured to apply a first set of beamforming coefficients to a transmit beam signal to generate a set of component transmit signals for transmission by a set of co-located satellite antennas
Implementation Method 2
the set of co-located satellite antennas are configured to receive a plurality of component receive signals comprising reflected energy of the beam
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for scanning operations for co-located satellite antennas are described. For instance, a set of co-located satellite antennas may transmit a set of component transmit signals to form a beam, where a first line segment at a boundary of the beam is tangential to a first sphere having a surface that encompasses Earth, where a location on the first line segment tangential to the surface of the first sphere is above a surface of the Earth by a threshold altitude. The set of co-located satellite antennas may receive a set of component receive signals including reflected energy of the beam. A central processor may apply a set of beamforming coefficients to the set of component receive signals to obtain a receive beam signal and may process the receive beam signal to obtain a signature associated with an object within a limb of the Earth.