Space Vehicle Amplifier Balancing via Shared RF Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
As satellites with multiple-beam transmit antennas use multi-channel amplification devices, maintaining amplifier balance becomes challenging, especially as operating radio frequencies increase, requiring continuous adjustment in orbit to prevent residual signal interference without interrupting the satellite mission.
Innovation Solution
A radio frequency deviation measurement system is shared between the amplification system and other vehicle systems, allowing for real-time measurement and correction of amplifier gain and phase shifts using a reference signal, ensuring balanced amplifiers without additional hardware or mission interruptions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If amplifiers are balanced on the ground during manufacture, then manufacturing precision is improved, but reliability deteriorates when operating at higher radio frequencies in orbit
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary balancing of amplifiers on the ground during manufacture, establishing initial balance conditions. However, it also prepares for in-orbit adjustments by implementing measurement and control systems that can modify amplifier characteristics after deployment, addressing the limitation of ground-based balancing at high frequencies
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where a measurement system continuously monitors amplifier performance in orbit, and control means adjust amplifier characteristics based on measured deviations. This closed-loop feedback maintains amplifier balance during operation at high radio frequencies, resolving the reliability issue
2Reliability
If additional hardware is added for in-orbit amplifier balancing, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement system is designed to serve multiple functions: it measures amplifier balance characteristics and can also be used for other satellite systems' measurement needs. By making the measurement system universal and shareable, the patent reduces the need for dedicated hardware for amplifier balancing, thereby limiting device complexity while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the amplifier balancing function with existing satellite systems by sharing the measurement system. Instead of creating a separate dedicated system, the measurement capabilities are integrated and shared with other satellite subsystems, reducing overall hardware requirements while maintaining the ability to maintain amplifier balance
3Reliability
If amplifier balancing is performed continuously in orbit, then reliability is improved, but loss of time increases due to measurement and adjustment operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous amplifier balancing in orbit through automated measurement and control operations that can proceed without interrupting the satellite's primary mission. The measurement system operates continuously or periodically, and adjustments are made automatically, maintaining amplifier balance while minimizing time loss and avoiding mission interruptions
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The vehicle has a radiofrequency deviation measurement system (2) shared between a useful signal amplification system (1) and another space vehicle. A control unit (3) controls the gain and the phase difference of each amplifier of a multi-port amplification device (10) of the amplification system based on values measured by the measurement system. The measured values are representative of amplitude differences and phase differences between a reference signal and modified signals. Each modified signal corresponds to the reference signal after modification by the amplifier. An independent claim is also included for a method for balancing amplifiers of a multipath amplification device in a space vehicle for amplifying useful signals.