Reconfigurable payload using non-focused reflector antenna for hieo and geo satellites

A method for generating and configuring at least one defocused beam using an antenna system including a reflector having a non-parabolic curvature and a plurality of feed antennas disposed in a focal plane of the reflector, the method comprising the steps of:

• dividing at least one incoming signal with at least one incoming signal dividing network into a plurality of sub-signals, each sub-signal corresponding to one of the plurality of feed antennas;
• phase shifting the plurality of sub-signals with a plurality of variable phase shifters, each variable phase shifter receiving one of the plurality of sub-signals from the at least one incoming signal dividing network and phase shifting the one of the plurality of sub-signals to generate a corresponding phase-shifted sub-signal;
• amplifying the plurality of phase-shifted sub-signals with a plurality of fixed-amplitude amplifiers, at least one amplifier corresponding to each of the plurality of feed antennas, the at least one amplifier for each feed antenna amplifying a corresponding phase-shifted sub-signal to generate an amplified phase-shifted sub-signal which is provided to the corresponding feed antenna;
• and
• illuminating the reflector with the plurality of feed antennas to generate the at least one defocused beam.

A method for generating and configuring at least one defocused beam using an antenna system including a reflector having non-parabolic curvature and a plurality of feed antennas disposed in a focal plane of the reflector, the reflector including a single-axis gimbal mechanism, the method comprising the steps of:

• dividing at least one incoming signal with at least one incoming signal dividing network into a plurality of sub-signals, each sub-signal corresponding to one of the plurality of feed antennas;
• phase shifting the plurality of sub-signals with a plurality of variable phase shifters, each variable phase shifter receiving one of the plurality of sub-signals from the at least one incoming signal dividing network and phase shifting the one of the plurality of sub-signals to generate a corresponding phase-shifted sub-signal;
• amplifying the plurality of phase-shifted sub-signals with a plurality of fixed-amplitude amplifiers, at least one amplifier corresponding to each of the plurality of feed antennas, the at least one amplifier for each feed antenna amplifying a corresponding phase-shifted sub-signal to generate an amplified phase-shifted sub-signal which is provided to the corresponding feed antenna;
• and
• illuminating the reflector with the plurality of feed antennas to generate the at least one defocused beam,
• wherein the plurality of variable phase shifters phase shift the plurality of sub-signals to compensate for a yawing motion of the antenna system, and
• wherein the single-axis gimbal mechanism of the reflector gimbals the reflector to compensate for a rolling motion of the antenna system.