Satellite frequency generation incorporating secondary power supply
AssigneeNorthrop Grumman Corporation
InventorsBridget M. Martin, Daniel R. Lane
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A technique for providing secondary DC power to certain satellite payload components to reduce the number of secondary power converters on the satellite. A frequency generator (60) is used as a source of secondary DC poiwer instead of providing separate secondary DC power converters. A plurality of secondary DC power lines is tapped off of the frequency generator (60) and applied to certain satellite payload components, such as LNA/DCs (18) and upconverters (42). Additionally, the secondary DC power available from the frequency generator (60) is used as a secondary DC power source for a satellite beacon assembly (62) that provides a signal to a beacon antenna (74).
Claims19
A satellite system including a satellite bus providing primary power and satellite payload components operating on secondary DC power, said system comprising:
- a frequency generator for generating a plurality of local oscillator signals, said frequency generator being responsive to a primary power signal from the satellite bus and generating secondary DC power signals;
- and
- an antenna beacon assembly for generating a satellite beacon signal, said satellite beacon assembly being responsive to local oscillator signals from the frequency generator and secondary DC power signals from the frequency generator.
A satellite system including a satellite bus providing primary power and satellite payload components operating on secondary DC power, said system comprising:
- a frequency generator for generating a plurality of local oscillator signals, said frequency generator being responsive to a primary power signal from the satellite bus and generating secondary DC power signals;
- and
- at least one low noise amplifier and frequency downconverter for amplifying and downconverting a received signal from a receive antenna, said low noise amplifier and frequency downconverter being responsive to a local oscillator signal from the frequency generator and a secondary DC power signal from the frequency generator.
A satellite including a satellite bus providing primary power and satellite payload components operating on secondary DC power, said satellite comprising:
- a frequency generator for generating a plurality of local oscillator signals, said frequency generator being responsive to a primary power signal from the satellite bus and generating secondary DC power signals;
- and
- at least one satellite payload component other than the frequency generator that operates on secondary DC power, said at least one payload component being responsive to a secondary DC power signal from the frequency generator.
A method of providing secondary power to satellite payload components in a satellite, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a frequency generator for generating local oscillator signals;
- applying a primary power signal from a satellite bus to the frequency generator;
- converting the primary power signal to a secondary DC power signal in the frequency generator;
- providing a local oscillator signal from the frequency generator to at least one of the payload components;
- and
- providing a secondary DC power signal from the frequency generator to at least one of the payload components.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.