Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation

Trw Limited

Daniel R Lane

Mark Kintis

Ronald P Smith

Harvey L Berger

Eric R Wiswell

Nicholas F DiCamillo

Konstantinos Makrygiannis

Mark K Christopher

Bridget M Martin

Daniel R Franzen

Allen F Conrad

Kenneth E Westall

Ronald Y Chan

Dale W Mooney

Allen W Paxton

A multi-beam satellite comprises an input section receiving a plurality of first spot beams and an output section transmitting a plurality of second spot beams. A payload architecture is coupled between the input section and output section. It flexibly and selectively switches and filters the first plurality of spot beams received by the input section and provides signals to the output section to be transmitted as the second plurality of spot beams.

Apparatus and method to implement a flexible hub-spoke satellite communications network

A frequency scalable, low self-generated noise frequency source generates coherent or mostly-coherent local oscillator signals and includes a common reference, a coherent set of high frequency references and specific local oscillators which may be non-coherent for each specific output frequency. Delay lines may be included in the paths to ensure time delay alignment. The use of these elements with this modular design allows the generation of multiple coherent local oscillators via replication of the modular design elements.

Frequency scalable, low self-generated noise frequency source

A technique for providing secondary DC power to certain satellite payload components to reduce the number of secondary power converters on the satellite. A frequency generator ( ) is used as a source of secondary DC power instead of providing separate secondary DC power converters. A plurality of secondary DC power lines is tapped off of the frequency generator ( ) and applied to certain satellite payload components, such as LNA/DCs ( ) and upconverters ( ). Additionally, the secondary DC power available from the frequency generator ( ) is used as a secondary DC power source for a satellite beacon assembly ( ) that provides a signal to a beacon antenna ( ).

Satellite frequency generation incorporating secondary power supply

An antenna system for a satellite including a gimbal device, such as a bi-axial gimbal, that employs a first uni-axial gimbal providing movement in one direction and a second uni-axial gimbal providing movement in a perpendicular direction. The first gimbal is mounted to a platform bracket, which is part of a moveable platform. The first gimbal is also mounted to the second gimbal, and the second gimbal is mounted to a satellite bracket secured to the satellite. Both a receive antenna array and a transmit antenna array are mounted to the moveable platform. Therefore, movement of the first gimbal causes the combination of the receive and transmit antenna arrays to move in one direction, and movement of the second gimbal causes the combination of the receive and transmit antenna arrays to move in the perpendicular direction.

Single gimbal multiple aperture antenna

An adaptive transceiver architecture which reallocates communications resources in real time based on the amount of bandwidth being used in communications channels in the system. The transceiver receives communications signals from a plurality of communications beam spots. Each communications beam spot has a predefined bandwidth divided into non-overlapping subbands. The transceiver further comprises a plurality of front end signal conditioners for receiving communications signals from an equal plurality of communications beam spots. A predetermined number of the conditioned signals are then combined by an interconnect. The interconnect receives composite signals from the front end signal conditioners, and it combines at least first and second communications signals from first and second respective composite signals to form an output processing signal. The first and second communications signals are received by the receiver from first and second communications beam spots, respectively, and the first and second composite signals are output from the first and second corresponding front end signal conditioners.

Adaptive transceiver architecture for real time allocation of communications resources in a satellite based telecommunication system

A dual phased array payload (,) for use onboard a communications satellite is disclosed. The payload includes one or more phased array receive antennas (,) including numerous individual receiving elements distributed in a predetermined configuration. Each of the individual radiating elements is selectively adjustable in amplitude and phase to achieve scanning beams for receiving information transmitted from the ground in an uplink beam. The payload includes a packet switch (,) connected to the phased array receive antennas (,). The packet switch (,) includes a set of inputs and a set of outputs. The set of inputs are selectively connectable to the set of outputs. The payload (,) includes one or more phased array transmit antennas (,) connected to the packet switch (,). The phased array transmit antennas (,) include numerous individual radiating elements distributed in a predetermined configuration.

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Santa Monica, CA, United States of America

Daniel R Lane