Multi-Satellite Antenna Array Synchronization for LEO Signal Quality
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Satellites orbiting at lower altitudes, such as LEO, face uplink and downlink budget deficiencies due to smaller antenna sizes, higher Doppler shifts, and atmospheric variances, leading to signal degradation and limited communication capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for multi-satellite coordination, where an anchor satellite establishes inter-satellite laser links with other satellites to combine their antenna arrays, forming a synchronized array with higher signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) for enhanced communication services.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If satellites orbit at lower altitudes (LEO), then communication coverage and latency are improved, but antenna size is reduced and signal quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines antenna arrays from multiple LEO satellites into a synchronized virtual array. By coordinating multiple satellites and merging their antenna elements, the system achieves the signal quality and array size equivalent of a single large antenna while maintaining the low-latency advantage of LEO orbit.
2Reliability
If antenna array size is increased, then signal quality and communication capacity are improved, but satellite payload capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the antenna array function across multiple separate satellites rather than concentrating all antenna elements on a single platform. Each satellite contributes a portion of the virtual array, allowing the system to achieve large effective array size while maintaining individual satellite payload capacities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-satellite three-dimensional antenna structure to a distributed multi-satellite configuration. By utilizing the spatial dimension of multiple orbiting satellites, the system creates a virtual array that would be physically impossible to implement on a single platform.
3Reliability
If multiple satellites coordinate to form synchronized array, then signal quality and communication capacity are improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a ground-based coordination system as an intermediary that manages the complexity of multi-satellite synchronization. This ground system handles the signal processing, timing coordination, and array synthesis, allowing the satellites to focus on their primary communication function while reducing on-orbit computational complexity.
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 synchronized antenna array provides improved communication services with higher SINR, addressing uplink and downlink budget deficiencies, and enhancing communication reliability and capacity for terrestrial user devices.
Implementation Method 1
the anchor satellite receives the time and frequency data from the second satellite via a first laser link between the anchor satellite and the second satellite, and the anchor satellite receives the time and frequency data from the third satellite via a second laser link between the anchor satellite and the third satellite
Data Source
AI summary
At a high level, the technology disclosed herein relates to multi-non-terrestrial device coordination for enhanced antenna array(s). In embodiments, an anchor non-terrestrial device (e.g., a satellite), capable of communicating with a user device, may identify a second non-terrestrial device. Based on identifying the second non-terrestrial device, the anchor non-terrestrial device may establish a link (e.g., a high speed laser link) with the second non-terrestrial device for receiving time and frequency data from the second non-terrestrial device, the time and frequency data being associated with the second non-terrestrial device and the user device. The anchor non-terrestrial device may perform decoding operations on the time and frequency data for the generation of a synchronized antenna array uplink for the user device. In embodiments, a data packet received from the user device via the synchronized antenna array uplink may be transmitted.