Satellite Receiver Beamforming with Adaptive Phase Compensation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing satellite communication systems face issues with deteriorating communication quality due to variations in satellite components and user movement, as they rely on pre-simulated beam patterns that may not adapt to actual conditions.

Innovation Solution

A satellite receiver and communication system that employs correlation detection and phase compensation units to dynamically adjust excitation coefficients based on real-time signal correlations and user movements, ensuring optimal beam formation and reception efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If pre-simulated beam patterns are used based on design parameters, then circuit scale is reduced and power consumption is saved, but communication quality deteriorates when satellite components vary or users move

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidcommunication quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from static pre-simulated beam patterns to dynamic excitation coefficients that are automatically adjusted in real-time based on actual signal reception conditions. The beam forming unit continuously updates excitation coefficients for multiple antennas according to signal strength and phase information, enabling the system to adapt to component variations and user movements while maintaining communication quality without excessive power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The satellite receiver performs self-adjustment by automatically calculating and updating excitation coefficients based on real-time signal correlations. The system uses its own received signals to determine optimal beam forming parameters without requiring external intervention or complex pre-programming, thereby maintaining communication quality adaptively while keeping the circuit scale and power consumption reasonable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of manufacture

If weighting coefficients are set based on simulation of antenna pattern, then initial beam formation is achieved, but the system cannot adapt to variations in component characteristics or user movement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinitial system setupVSAvoidadaptation to component variations and user movement
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent retains the benefit of preliminary simulation for initial beam pattern formation while adding real-time adaptation capabilities. The system uses pre-calculated excitation coefficients as starting points but continuously updates them based on actual signal conditions, combining the ease of initial setup with the adaptability needed for component variations and user movements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the beam forming unit continuously monitors signal reception quality and automatically adjusts excitation coefficients accordingly. This feedback loop enables the system to maintain optimal performance despite component variations or user movements, transforming the static simulated beam patterns into adaptive real-time beam formation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If the number of beams is increased through digital beam forming, then communication capacity is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication capacityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple beam forming operations into a unified digital beam forming unit that handles multiple antennas and beams simultaneously. By integrating the excitation coefficient calculation and application across all antennas in a single coordinated system, the patent achieves high communication capacity through multiple beams while managing system complexity through unified control architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3751754B1Satellite receiver and satellite communication system
Publication Date: 2025.09.03 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP
  • EP3751754B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3751754B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3751754B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A satellite receiver includes: N reception antenna elements; N demultiplexing units; a correlation detection unit configured to perform correlation processing on each of reception signals demultiplexed by the N demultiplexing units with a reception antenna element that receives the highest power being set as a reference element so as to calculate a relative phase difference, and calculate an excitation coefficient for cancelling a phase difference between the N reception antenna elements for each of sub-channels based on the calculated relative phase difference; N phase compensation units configured to multiply the reception signals demultiplexed by the N demultiplexing units, respectively, by the excitation coefficient for each of the sub-channels; and a combiner configured to combine multiplication results from the N phase compensation units for each of the sub-channels to generate output signals.