Viasat, Inc.

Michael T Kretsch

David J Trusheim

Robert Townsend Short

David C Jacobs

Kevin Duane House

David D Greenidge

David C Wittwer

Mark D Vossler

Parker A Robinson

Jonathan D Maier

Jason Hou

Conrad C Grell

An antenna system of a satellite may consist of an antenna receiver that is coupled to a plurality of flexible couplings. The couplings may each be affixed to one or more antenna elements. The couplings may be deployed in space in an uncontrolled manner. Additionally, the spacing between the couplings, and in turn the antenna elements, may be spaced in an uncontrolled manner. The antenna elements may have no pointing requirements. The antenna system may receive training signals and associate an antenna element to a time of arrival based on the training signal. Upon receiving a data signal, the antenna system may apply coefficients determined from the association of the antenna element to the time of arrival to the data signal to discover wanted signal coherence among the antenna elements.

Ultra-low cost high performance satellite aperture

An AMC antenna apparatus includes a ground plane and a flexible antenna element layer above the ground plane. The ground plane includes a conductive base surface, a plurality of flexible conductors, and a frequency selective surface (FSS) layer above the base surface, where the FSS layer includes a plurality of conductive patches separated from one another. Each of the flexible conductors electrically connects one of the conductive patches to the base surface. A latch mechanism is arranged between the base layer and the FSS layer. An inflatable bladder system between the base layer and the FSS layer is configured to receive a gas input during deployment of the antenna apparatus and inflate to produce force sufficient to cause the latch mechanism to transition from an unlatched state to a latched state in which the conductive base surface is fixedly separated from the FSS layer at a predetermined distance.

Deployable antenna apparatus with inflate to latch mechanism

An artificial magnetic conductor (AMC) antenna apparatus includes a ground plane and a flexible antenna element layer above the ground plane. The ground plane includes a conductive base surface, a plurality of memory metal wires, and a frequency selective surface (FSS) layer above the base surface, where the FSS layer includes a plurality of conductive patches separated from one another. Each of the memory metal wires electrically connects one of the conductive patches to the base surface. Each of the memory metal wires is rigid in a memory-shaped state, causing the FSS layer to be fixedly spaced from the base surface during operation of the AMC antenna apparatus. The memory metal wires are each flexible in a non-memory-shaped state, enabling the FSS layer to be collapsed towards the base surface when the antenna apparatus is stowed.

Antenna apparatus and deployment method employing collapsible memory metal

Methods, systems, and devices for channelizing and beamforming a wideband waveform are described. Generally, the described techniques provide for transmitting and receiving wideband waveforms that are beamformed on a per-channel basis during generation of the wideband waveforms. A transmitter may separate a first wideband signal into segments, with each segment bandwidth corresponding to a channel of the system bandwidth, and may map the segments to channels. The segments may be replicated to generate multiple copies of each segment. The transmitter may beamform and combine the copies of the segments to generate multiple wideband waveforms, and transmit each wideband waveform using a different antenna. A receiver may receive multiple wideband waveforms using multiple antennas and may separate each wideband waveform into segments, then beamform and de-map the segments. The techniques may be used to transmit and receive beamformed wideband waveforms over tactical data links.

Channelizing and beamforming a wideband waveform

Methods, systems, and devices for channelizing a wideband waveform for transmission on a spectral band comprising unavailable channel segments are described. Generally, the described techniques provide for transmitting and receiving wideband waveforms when channels of a system bandwidth are unavailable for transmission. A transmitter may separate a first wideband signal into segments, with each segment a bandwidth corresponding to a channel of the system bandwidth, and may map the segments to the available channels. The transmitter may combine the mapped segments into a second wideband waveform and transmit the second wideband waveform using the available channels. A receiver may receive a first wideband signal waveform and may separate the first wideband signal waveform into segments, de-map the segments and combine the de-mapped segments into a second wideband waveform for demodulation. The techniques may be used to transmit and receive wideband waveforms over tactical data links.

Channelizing a wideband waveform for transmission on a spectral band comprising unavailable channel segments

Disclosed is a Link 16 terminal having a receiver and a transmitter. The receiver may be configured to process received signals in a receive mode to produce digitized samples, which may then be processed in a digital signal processor. The transmitter may be configured to produce a transmit signal that is provided to an antennas for transmission during transmit mode. The transmit signal may also be provided to the receiver in transmit mode to produce digitized samples of the transmit mode, may then be processed in a digital signal processor for compliance with requirements for Link 16 transmissions.

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San Diego, CA, United States of America

Michael T Kretsch