Communications Satellite Corporation

Comsat Corporation

Ramesh K Gupta

Francois T Assal

Amir Ibrahim Zaghloul

Christoph E Mahle

John V Evans

Bernard D Geller

Chunming Chen

Highly reliable, light-weight, and low power-consuming microwave redundancy and re-routing electronic switches suitable for on-board satellite applications permit rearranging of communication paths for up- and down-link communications and re-routing of microwave signals to redundant devices in the event of on-board hardware failures.

Solid-state electronic switching module

A 'modified rearrangeable' switch matrix combines both .beta. switching elements and crossbar switch matrices in a single switch configuration, with .beta. switching elements used at the input and output and at least one crossbar switch matrix in the middle to receive its inputs from .beta. switching elements and provide its outputs to .beta. switching elements.

Switch matrix including both B switching elements and crossbar switch

An attenuator element has a reference path and a relative attenuation path. The reference path is formed by a T-network of two FETs operated in the passive mode and a shunt path and the attenuation path is formed with a similar structure, with the FETs in the shunt path having a different channel width. Instead of a T-network, a Pi-network of transistors can be used. The respective gates of the FETs along the reference path are connected to a first control input corresponding to either zero volts or the pinch-off voltage and the respective gates of the transistors on the attenuation path are connected to a complementary control input having a voltage corresponding to the other of zero volts and the pinch-off voltage. Another type of attenuator element is formed with a reference path having a transmission line and an attenuation path formed by a resistive T-network, with the attenuation and reference paths being alternately selectable by two single pole, double throw switches. The switches can also be formed by FETs operated in the passive mode, and be controlled by a control signals corresponding to either zero volts or the pinch-off voltage. Using one type or mixing both types of attenuator elements, an attenuator device is formed. The attenuator may be used in any attenuator application, and is especially applicable to on-board transponder applications in a communications satellite, and phased array antenna and radar applications.

Microwave digitally controlled solid-state attenuator having parallel

On-board satellite switching is performed in three stages, an outer stage of switching on the up-link side for routing the received signals to either demodulators or frequency translators, a first inner stage of switching, preferably a baseband switch and processor, for routing and processing the outputs of the demodulators, a second inner stage of switching, e.g., a microwave switch matrix, for routing the outputs of the frequency translators, and an outer stage on the down-link side for assembling and routing the down-link spot beams. For a multiple hopping-beam system, the outer stages are microwave switch matrices, and for a hybrid scanning-hopping system the outer stages are beam forming matrices. A general purpose modified rearrangeable switch matrix is also disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

Rockville, MD, United States of America

Ramesh K Gupta