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US 11,641,236 B2Granted
Broadband satellite communication system using optical feeder links
AssigneeViaSat, Inc.
InventorAaron J. Mendelsohn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Broadband satellite communications systems using optical feeder links are disclosed. Various optical modulation schemes are disclosed that can provide improved capacity for fixed spot beam, on board beamforming, and ground-based beamforming broadband satellite systems.
Claims20
A satellite communication system comprising:
- a plurality of satellite access nodes (SANs) each comprising:
- an optical transmitter comprising a plurality of optical modulators, each optical modulator having an electrical input and an optical output;
- an optical combiner having an output and a plurality of inputs, each input coupled to the optical output of a corresponding one of the plurality of optical modulators;
- and
- a lens to transmit an optical output signal of the optical combiner;
- and
- a satellite comprising:
- an optical receiver having a lens pointed to receive the optical output signal transmitted by the lens of one of the plurality of SANs, and a plurality of digital outputs;
- a plurality of electrical modulators, each having a digital input and an analog output, the digital input coupled to one of the plurality of digital outputs of the optical receiver;
- a switch matrix having a plurality of switch matrix inputs and a plurality of switch matrix outputs, each switch matrix input coupled to the analog output of a corresponding one of the electrical modulators and each switch matrix output being selectively coupled to one of the switch matrix inputs;
- and
- an antenna having a plurality of antenna inputs, each antenna input coupled to a corresponding one of the switch matrix outputs.
9 more elements
A satellite communication system comprising:
- a plurality of satellite access nodes (SANs), each SAN comprising:
- an optical transmitter comprising a plurality of optical modulators, each optical modulator having an electrical input and further having an optical output to provide a radio-frequency modulated optical signal;
- an optical combiner having a plurality of inputs, each input coupled to the optical output of a corresponding one of the plurality of optical modulators, and further having an optical output to provide a composite output optical signal corresponding to the radio-frequency modulated optical signals provided from the plurality of optical modulators;
- and
- a lens to transmit the composite optical output signal;
- and
- a satellite comprising:
- an optical receiver configured to receive the composite output optical signal from the lens of a corresponding one of the SANs, the optical receiver having a plurality of radio frequency (RF) outputs;
- a switch matrix having a plurality of switch matrix inputs and a plurality of switch matrix outputs, each switch matrix input coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of RF outputs;
- and
- an antenna having a plurality of antenna inputs, each antenna input coupled to a corresponding one of the switch matrix outputs.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.