US 11,770,179 B2Granted

Coverage area adjustment to adapt satellite communications

AssigneeViaSat, Inc.

InventorsAaron Mendelsohn, Donald Runyon

Life of this patent

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Abstract

The described features generally relate to adjusting a native antenna pattern of a satellite to adapt communications via the satellite. For example, a communications satellite may include an antenna having a feed array assembly, a reflector, and a linear actuator coupled between the feed array assembly and the reflector. The feed array assembly may have a plurality of feeds for communicating signals associated with a communications service, and the reflector may be configured to reflect the signals transmitted between the feed array assembly and one or more target devices. The linear actuator may have an adjustable length, or otherwise provide an adjustable position between the feed array assembly and the reflector. By adjusting the position of the feed array assembly relative to the reflector, the communications satellite may provide a communications service according to a plurality of native antenna patterns.

Claims39

Dependent claims

A communications satellite for providing a communications service via a plurality of beamformed spot beams, the communications satellite comprising:

an antenna assembly operable for communicating signals of the plurality of beamformed spot beams, the antenna assembly comprising a feed array assembly having a plurality of antenna feed elements for communication of the signals, a reflector for reflecting the signals communicated between the feed array assembly and one or more target devices, wherein the antenna assembly provides a native antenna pattern via the feed array assembly that is a composite of native feed element patterns of the plurality of antenna feed elements, and wherein the native antenna pattern is selectable from among a plurality of native antenna patterns, each of the plurality of native antenna patterns corresponding to a defocused position of the feed array assembly relative to the reflector and having a native feed element pattern associated with a given antenna feed element that is different relative to another of the plurality of native antenna patterns for the given antenna feed element;
and
a controller for controlling the antenna assembly for selecting the native antenna pattern from among the plurality of native antenna patterns, wherein the plurality of beamformed spot beams are based at least in part on a beamforming configuration and the selected native antenna pattern.

A method for communications at a communications satellite having an antenna assembly with a plurality of antenna feed elements, the method comprising:

transmitting a first plurality of feed element signals generated from a first plurality of spot beam signals according to a first native antenna pattern of the plurality of antenna feed elements, the first native antenna pattern corresponding to a first defocused position of a feed array assembly of the antenna assembly relative to a reflector of the antenna assembly, and the first native antenna pattern comprising a composite of first native feed element patterns of the plurality of antenna feed elements;
commanding a change from the first native antenna pattern of the plurality of antenna feed elements to a second native antenna pattern of the plurality of antenna feed elements, the second native antenna pattern corresponding to a second defocused position of the feed array assembly relative to the reflector, and the second native antenna pattern comprising a composite of second native feed element patterns of the plurality of antenna feed elements, wherein a given antenna feed element of the plurality of antenna feed elements is associated with one of the first native feed element patterns and one of the second native feed element patterns, and wherein the one of the second native feed element patterns is different from the one of the first native feed element patterns;
and
transmitting a second plurality of feed element signals generated from a second plurality of spot beam signals according to the second native antenna pattern of the plurality of antenna feed elements.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/192,788Filed 4 Mar 2021 · continuation
Published: US 2021/0211189 A18 Jul 2021
Granted: 26 Sep 2023
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

H04B 7/18515
Systems using a satellite or space-based relay: transmission equipment in satellites or space-based relays
H01Q 1/288
Adaptation for use in or on aircraft, missiles, satellites, or balloons: satellite antennas
H01Q 3/02
Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna…
H01Q 3/18
For varying relative position of primary active element and a reflecting device: wherein the primary active element is movable and the reflecting…

Family

PCT/US2017/026839Parent of this continuation · filed 10 Apr 2017
US 2021/0211189 A1Pre-grant publication · published 8 Jul 2021
Application16/500,394Parent of this continuation
US 10,985,833 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2020/0274611 A1Published application
US 11,770,179 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.