Trw Limited

Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation

David L Brundrett

Garrick Jon Harmon

Stuart T Linsky

Te-Kao Wu

Charles W Chandler

Chun-Hong Harry Chen

Brent T Toland

Michael S Munoz

Andrew Lee Roberts

Edward V Koretzky

Raymond M Nuber

Steven S Kuo

Romulo F J Broas

Kenneth A Hummer

A system and method for increasing the performance of a satellite communication system by using a multivariate analysis approach to optimize the pointing of the boresight of a satellite-mounted antenna. Optimizing the pointing of the boresight of the antenna minimizes sidelobe generation, and thus Co-Channel Interference (CCI) in geographic areas served by the system. By minimizing CCI, the overall system performance of the communication system is optimized. To optimize the pointing of the boresight of the antenna, the overall performance of the satellite communication system is determined, and the boresight of the antenna is iteratively repointed in the direction of increasing system performance until the optimized boresight pointing is determined. Alternatively, the frequency re-use plan of the satellite communication system may be analyzed to determine a high density cell region and the boresight may be pointed to the high density cell region.

Reducing co-channel interference in satellite communications systems by antenna re-pointing

A communications satellite method and are provided for controlling a configuration of spot beams produced by a communications satellite. A plurality of spot beams are generated by a communications satellite while maintained at a first orbital position with respect to a first portion of the earth. The plurality of spot beams are configured in a first cell pattern to substantially encompass a first portion of the Earth. The satellite is moved to a second orbital position with respect to a second portion of the earth. Once moved, the satellite is reconfigured such that a second plurality of spot beams form a second pattern to substantially cover the new portion of the earth of interest. A network of switches allows the satellite to be reconfigured for operation from multiple orbital positions. The switching network directs individual feeds to different signal paths having different bandwidth and power capabilities.

Method and apparatus for controlling spot beam configurations for a communications satellite

An antenna system comprising a feed array, a subreflector and a main reflector which are oriented to define a folded optics antenna geometry. The feed array is comprised of a plurality of separate feeds which are aligned on a predetermined contour. Each feed is coupled to a feed network which acts to combine the illumination beams of a preselected number of feeds to produce a plurality of composite illumination beams. Each composite illumination beam is directed to be incident upon a separate predetermined location on the subreflector which directs the illumination beams towards the main reflector. Each composite illumination beam is reflected by the main reflector in a preselected direction so that each composite illumination beam forms an antenna beam that impinges a predetermined coverage area on the Earth. Each antenna beam defines a separate coverage cell in the coverage area, wherein the position and orientation of the feeds, the subreflector and the main reflector provides adjacent, antenna beams over a full Earth field of view coverage area where each antenna beam is approximately symmetrically shaped.

Compact folded optics antenna system for providing adjacent, high gain antenna beams

Wideband matching surface for dielectric lens and/or radomes and/or absorbers

An antenna system and method for transmitting or receiving a plurality of pixel beams of satellite communication signals. A focusing device ( ) focuses pixel beams on individual antenna elements or horns ( or ) of the transmitter ( ) or receiver ( ). In the transmitter, each antenna element transmits a pixel beam, and in the receiver, each antenna element has focused on it an individual pixel beam.

Indirect radiating array techniques

Growing community of inventors

Culver City, CA, United States of America

David L Brundrett