Satellite Payload Parasitic Signal Suppression via Hybrid Beamforming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for suppressing parasitic signals in telecommunications satellites, such as digital and analog beamforming, are ineffective when parasitic signals are very powerful, leading to saturation of equipment and degradation of signal quality, and are limited by calibration faults and precision issues in analog equipment.
Innovation Solution
A method combining analog and digital beamforming techniques, where an analog beamforming network forms 'useful' and 'auxiliary' beams to control signal gains, reducing saturation risks and improving signal-to-noise ratios, followed by digital beamforming to suppress parasitic signals, utilizing weighting coefficients determined from digitized auxiliary and useful beams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If digital beamforming techniques are used to suppress parasitic signals, then the radiation pattern can be modified to achieve zero gain in the direction of arrival of the parasitic signal, but the technique becomes ineffective when the parasitic signal is very powerful, leading to saturation of analog equipment and degradation of digitized signal quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by forming analog beams before digital beamforming to pre-suppress parasitic signals. The analog beamforming network creates beams with controlled radiation patterns that reduce the power of parasitic signals before they reach the analog-to-digital converters, preventing saturation and preserving signal quality for subsequent digital processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary analog beamforming network between the antenna array and the digital beamforming processor. This analog beamforming stage acts as a mediator that performs initial parasitic signal suppression and signal conditioning, enabling the digital beamforming to operate effectively without being overwhelmed by strong interferers.
2Reliability
If an analog beamforming network is used to form beams with zero gain in the direction of parasitic signal arrival, then saturation risks are reduced, but the solution is sensitive to calibration faults and has limited precision due to analog equipment constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges analog and digital beamforming techniques into a hybrid architecture. The analog beamforming network performs initial signal conditioning and parasitic suppression to prevent saturation, while the digital beamforming processor provides precise control and optimization. This combination leverages the strengths of both approaches: analog for reliability and digital for precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the beamforming process into two distinct stages: analog beamforming for preliminary signal conditioning and parasitic suppression, followed by digital beamforming for precise radiation pattern control. This segmentation allows each stage to operate within its optimal performance range, with the analog stage handling high-power signals and the digital stage providing fine-tuned precision.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple analog beams are formed and combined to serve a coverage area, then parasitic signal suppression is achieved, but the calibration requirements increase and the system becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by forming a reduced set of analog beams that are optimized for parasitic signal suppression before digital processing. This preliminary analog beamforming reduces the dimensionality and complexity of subsequent digital processing, as the most critical interferers have already been suppressed in the analog domain.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the analog beamforming network multi-functional by designing it to simultaneously perform parasitic signal suppression and provide a reduced set of conditioned signals for digital processing. This universal approach eliminates the need for separate calibration and processing systems, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining effective parasitic suppression.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a method (50) for suppressing a parasite signal received with a useful signal by a network (110) of elementary antennas (A1-AN) of a payload (100) of a satellite (10), said suppression method comprising an analogue formation step (51) for forming analogue beams and a digital formation step (52) for forming a digital beam, the analogue formation step (51) comprising the forming: - of an analogue beam, termed the "useful beam", in which the parasite signal is attenuated with respect to the useful signal, - of an analogue beam, termed the "auxiliary beam", in which the useful signal is attenuated with respect to the parasite signal, and the digital formation step (52) comprising the forming of a digital beam in which the parasite signal has been suppressed, by combination of the signals obtained by digitising the auxiliary beam and the useful beam.