# US 2014/0154972 A1 · Apparatuses, systems and methods for obtaining information about electromagnetic energy emitted from the earth, such as for locating an interference source on earth > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0154972 A1 - Document ID: US20140154972A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/705,566 - Filed: 2012-12-05 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-05 - Assignees: Ses S.A. - Applicants: Ses S.A. - Inventors: Brian Mengwasser - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140154972A1 ## CPC - H04B 7/1851: {Systems using a satellite or space-based relay (H04B7/18508, H04B7/18521 take precedence; providing specific services H04B7/18523 - H04B7/18576)} - B64G 1/10: Artificial satellites; Systems of such satellites; Interplanetary vehicles (space shuttles B64G1/14) - B64G 1/1007: {Communications satellites} - G01S 5/12: by co-ordinating position lines of different shape, e.g. hyperbolic, circular, elliptical or radial - H04B 1/0007: {wherein the AD/DA conversion occurs at radiofrequency or intermediate frequency stage} - H04B 7/18515: {Transmission equipment in satellites or space-based relays} - H04B: TRANSMISSION - B64G: COSMONAUTICS; VEHICLES OR EQUIPMENT THEREFOR - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES ## Abstract An observation satellite is used for obtaining information about electromagnetic energy emitted from the earth. The observation satellite orbits the earth in an orbit having an inclination larger than 90° and smaller than 270°. Further, the observation satellite comprises at least one receiving antenna, the at least one receiving antenna having a receiving pattern directed towards the earth, and suitable for receiving electromagnetic energy in the radio frequency range as the observation satellite is orbiting relative to the surface of the earth. The observation satellite also comprises a transmitter configured for at least one of: (i) retransmitting the received electromagnetic energy, (ii) transmitting information representing the received electromagnetic energy, and (iii) transmitting information derived from the received electromagnetic energy. The invention also relates to systems and methods therefor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Satellite for obtaining information about electromagnetic energy emitted from a source, or from sources, on the earth, the satellite orbiting the earth in an orbit having an inclination larger than 90° and smaller than 270°; and the satellite comprising: at least one receiving antenna, the at least one receiving antenna having a receiving pattern directed towards the earth, and suitable for receiving electromagnetic energy in the radio frequency range as the satellite is orbiting relative to the surface of the earth, and a transmitter configured for at least one of: retransmitting at least part of the received electromagnetic energy, transmitting information representing at least part of the received electromagnetic energy; and transmitting information derived from at least part of the received electromagnetic energy. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Satellite of claim 1, being suitable for obtaining information about electromagnetic energy emitted from a source, or from sources, on the earth and reaching the geostationary orbit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) Satellite of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit, towards the earth, at least part of the received electromagnetic energy, or the information representing, or derived from, at least part of the received electromagnetic energy. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) Satellite according to claim 1, wherein the information derived from at least part of the received electromagnetic energy is obtained by processing at least part of the received electromagnetic energy within the satellite. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) Satellite of claim 4, wherein the processing comprises at least one of: selectable down-conversion of analog signal to common intermediate frequency; analog-to-digital conversion of signals provided by at least part of the received electromagnetic energy; spectrum analysis of at least part of the received electromagnetic energy; Doppler shift analysis of at least part of the received electromagnetic energy; Doppler rate analysis of at least part of the received electromagnetic energy; direction of arrival or angle of arrival processing; time difference of arrival (TDOA) processing; frequency difference of arrival (FDOA) processing; reference measurements between two or more antenna elements; data filtering; and data compression. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) Satellite according to claim 1, wherein the at least one receiving antenna is suitable to receive electromagnetic energy in a radio frequency range between 1 GHz and 100 GHz. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) Satellite of claim 6, wherein the at least one receiving antenna is suitable to receive electromagnetic energy in a radio frequency range being at least one of: between 1 and 2 GHz; between 2 and 4 GHz; between 4 and 8 GHz; between 8 and 12 GHz; between 12 and 18 GHz; and between 26.5 and 40 GHz. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) Satellite according to claim 1, wherein the at least one receiving antenna is suitable to receive electromagnetic energy in a radio frequency range used by geostationary satellites to receive signals from the earth. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) Satellite according to claim 1, wherein the at least one receiving antenna is suitable to receive electromagnetic energy having at least one of: a linear polarization; a vertical polarization; a horizontal polarization; an elliptical polarization; and a circular polarization. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) Satellite according to claim 1, wherein the at least one receiving antenna is configured to receive, during one orbital period, electromagnetic energy from an area covering more than half of the surface of the earth. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) Satellite according to claim 1, wherein the received electromagnetic energy comprises more than only information intended for controlling the satellite itself. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) Satellite according to claim 1, wherein the received electromagnetic energy comprises energy intended for at least one other satellite. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) Satellite according to claim 1, wherein the satellite orbits the earth in an orbit having an inclination larger than 175° and smaller than 185°. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) Satellite according to claim 1, wherein the satellite orbits the earth in an orbit having an apogee differing by no more than 4000 kilometers from the geostationary orbit. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) Satellite of claim 14, wherein the satellite orbits the earth in an orbit having an apogee being any one of: between 31700 and 34700 kilometers above mean sea level; and between 36700 and 39700 kilometers above mean sea level. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) Satellite according to claim 1, wherein the satellite orbits the earth in an orbit having an eccentricity being smaller than 0.05. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) Satellite according to claim 1, wherein the satellite is not itself a communication satellite for relaying end user information from one point of the earth to another point on the earth. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) Satellite according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter is configured for transmitting at least part of the received electromagnetic energy or the information representing, or derived from, at least part of the received electromagnetic energy using one at least one of: (a) downlinking using specific dedicated microwave frequencies; (b) downlinking using a transmitter able to dynamically adjust its transmission frequency band; (c) low-level spread spectrum; (d) at least one optical communication link; and (e) a store and forward method. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) Satellite according to claim 1, wherein the satellite further comprises a receiver connected to at least one receiving antenna, the receiver having sufficient spectrum agility and capability to be reconfigured to different frequencies across a broad range of the radio frequency spectrum. ### Claim 20 Satellite for obtaining information about electromagnetic energy emitted from a source, or from sources, on the earth, the satellite orbiting the earth in an orbit having an inclination larger than 90° and smaller than 270°; and the satellite comprising: receiving means for receiving, as the satellite is orbiting relative to the surface of the earth, electromagnetic energy in the radio frequency range, from a source, or from sources, on the earth using at least one receiving antenna having a receiving pattern directed towards the earth, and transmitting means for at least one of: retransmitting at least part of the received electromagnetic energy, transmitting information representing at least part of the received electromagnetic energy; and transmitting information derived from at least part of the received electromagnetic energy. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) System comprising at least two satellites according to claim 1. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) System comprising: at least one satellite according to claim 1, at least one ground station configured for obtaining, from the at least one satellite, the received electromagnetic energy or the information representing, or derived from, the received electromagnetic energy, and at least one processing station configured for estimating, from the received electromagnetic energy or the information representing, or derived from, the received electromagnetic energy obtained by the at least one ground station, at least one of: the composition of at least part of the received electromagnetic energy; a location on earth of the origin of at least part of the received electromagnetic energy; a level of received electromagnetic energy reaching at least part of the geostationary orbit; and at least one characteristic of an uplink transmission. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) Method for operating a satellite according to claim 1. ### Claim 24 Method comprising: obtaining, by at least one ground station, a signal originating from a satellite orbiting the earth on an orbit having an inclination larger than 90° and smaller than 270° , and conveying at least one of: electromagnetic energy received by the satellite, information representing electromagnetic energy received by the satellite, and information derived from electromagnetic energy received by the satellite, and estimating, by at least one processing station, from at least part of the received electromagnetic energy or the information representing, or derived from, at least part of the received electromagnetic energy obtained by the at least one ground station, at least one of: the composition of at least part of the received electromagnetic energy; a location on earth of the origin of at least part of the received electromagnetic energy; a level of received electromagnetic energy reaching at least part of the geostationary orbit; and at least one characteristic of an uplink transmission. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) Method of claim 24, wherein estimating the location comprises estimating a longitude and latitude. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) Method of claim 24, wherein estimating a location on earth of the origin of at least part of the received electromagnetic energy comprises estimating the location of an interference source. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) Method according to claim 24, wherein estimating at least one characteristic of an uplink transmission comprises estimating an uplink pattern of at least one of an antenna on earth; and a group of antennas on earth. ### Claim 28 (depends on 1) Use of a satellite according to claim 1, or information obtained from a satellite according to claim 1, for estimating at least one of: the composition of at least part of the received electromagnetic energy; a location on earth of the origin of at least part of the received electromagnetic energy; a level of received electromagnetic energy reaching at least part of the geostationary orbit; and at least one characteristic of an uplink transmission.