Cellular Repeater System for Satellite and Terrestrial Signal Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge lies in enhancing wireless communication between cellular devices and low earth orbit satellites, where signal power is low, and regulatory limitations, polarization differences, and interference from terrestrial sources complicate the transmission and reception of signals, making it difficult for cellular repeaters to effectively amplify and filter signals for reliable communication.
Innovation Solution
A cellular repeater system that includes a donor antenna with a wide beamwidth for receiving signals from both terrestrial base stations and satellites, featuring amplification and filtering paths to boost both uplink and downlink signals, and a controller to adjust gain based on communication conditions, ensuring compliance with regulatory limits and optimizing signal transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a cellular repeater amplifies signals from satellites, then signal strength for communication is improved, but regulatory limitations and interference from terrestrial sources make effective amplification difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates satellite signal processing from terrestrial signal processing by using different antenna ports and signal paths. The satellite donor antenna port and satellite server antenna port handle satellite communications independently from terrestrial base station communications, allowing targeted amplification without terrestrial interference
Solution Approach 2:
The repeater system acts as an intermediary between satellites and cellular devices, receiving weak satellite signals, amplifying them through dedicated satellite signal paths, and relaying them to devices. This intermediary function overcomes the limitation of direct weak satellite-to-device communication
2Measurement precision
If a repeater uses a narrow beamwidth antenna for satellite communication, then signal directionality is improved, but the ability to receive signals from moving satellites is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between different donor antenna ports based on satellite position and communication requirements. When a satellite is in a fixed position, a narrow beamwidth antenna provides precise signal reception. When the satellite moves, the system switches to a wide beamwidth antenna or tracks the satellite's new position, maintaining communication reliability throughout the satellite's orbit
3Reliability
If terrestrial and non-terrestrial signals are processed separately, then signal quality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The repeater system performs multiple functions through a unified architecture: it processes both satellite and terrestrial signals, provides amplification for both uplink and downlink communications, and handles both fixed and moving satellite scenarios. This multi-functional design achieves high signal quality without proportionally increasing complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A technology is described for a terrestrial and non-terrestrial signal repeater system operable to receive, filter, amplify, and transmit terrestrial and non-terrestrial signals. The repeater system includes a donor port, a server port, a first direction amplification and filtering paths and second direction amplification and filtering paths coupled between the ports, and a controller. One or more donor antennas are configured to be coupled to a donor port of the repeater. One of the one or more donor ports can be configured to transmit and receive signals with an orbiting satellite.