Satellite Terminal Aperture Dynamics for Multi-Beam Gain

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional satellite communication systems require terminals to form multiple beams for simultaneous communication with multiple satellites, leading to increased circuitry complexity and reduced beam gain due to divided apertures.

Innovation Solution

A satellite communication system that allows terminals to receive signals from multiple relay stations using a single receiving antenna with adjustable aperture, optimizing beam formation to maintain high throughput and prevent circuitry scaling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the terminal forms beams for simultaneous communication with multiple satellites, then communication capability is improved, but circuitry scale increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication capabilityVSAvoidcircuitry scale

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the aperture configuration movable and adjustable rather than fixed. The terminal can dynamically change the aperture area and beam formation configuration based on the number of satellites being communicated with, allowing the same hardware to adapt to different communication scenarios without requiring multiple fixed configurations or additional circuitry.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the terminal divides aperture for forming multiple beams, then simultaneous communication with multiple satellites is enabled, but beam gain decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimultaneous communication capabilityVSAvoidbeam gain

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The aperture configuration is made dynamic, allowing the terminal to adjust the aperture area allocated to each beam based on current communication needs. When communicating with multiple satellites, the aperture can be divided into multiple areas with different sizes, optimizing both the number of simultaneous beams and the gain of each beam according to signal requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameters of the aperture configuration, specifically the aperture area and its distribution among different beams. By adjusting these parameters dynamically, the system can optimize beam gain while maintaining the capability to form multiple beams for simultaneous communication with multiple satellites.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3742627B1Terminal, relay station, control station, and satellite communication system

Publication Date: 2023.03.08 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP

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AI summary

A terminal according to the present invention includes an array antenna (120) including an aperture, and an antenna pattern calculation unit (104). The antenna pattern calculation unit (104) calculates antenna patterns of the array antenna (120) that divide the aperture to correspondingly orient each of the aperture divisions toward a plurality of relay stations when control frames are received, and orient the aperture toward one of the plurality of relay stations when a data frame is received.