Scaling power and control signals in modular satellite user terminals

A method for distributing power in a user terminal panel (UTP), the method comprising the operations of:

• providing a first user terminal module (UTM), a plurality of secondary UTMs and a third UTM, each of the first UTM, the plurality of secondary UTMs and the third UTM comprising:
• two or more user terminal elements (UTEs), each of the two or more UTEs comprising:
• one or more antennas operable in a receiving mode or in a transmitting mode;
• and
• one or more active circuits, the one or more active circuits configured to amplify and phase shift an analog signal received via the antenna, thereby generating a modified analog signal, the active circuit further configured to amplify and phase shift an analog signal transmitted via the antenna;
• operating a multi-level combiner circuit, the multi-level combiner circuit configured to combine the generated modified analog signal from each of the UTEs of the first UTM, the plurality of secondary UTMs and the third UTM into a one or more analog inputs or outputs;
• operating a controller to send a digital control signal through a first coupling to the first UTM, the digital control signal configured to alter one or more properties of the analog signal of each of the one or more active circuits of the UTEs of the first UTM, the plurality of secondary UTMs and the third UTM;
• wherein the first coupling is configured such that the controller is electronically coupled to the one or more active circuits of the UTEs of the first UTM, the one or more active circuits of the UTEs of the first UTM connected in series to the one or more active circuits of the UTEs of the plurality of secondary UTMs, and the one or more active circuits of the UTEs of the plurality of secondary UTMs connected in series to the one or more active circuits of the UTEs of the third UTM, the one or more active circuits of the UTEs of the third UTM electronically coupled to the controller;
• operating the controller to deliver a power signal through a second coupling to the first UTM, the power signal configured to power up the first UTM, the plurality of secondary UTMs and the third UTM;
• and
• wherein the second coupling is configured such that the controller is electronically coupled to the first UTM, the first UTM is electronically coupled to the plurality of secondary UTMs, and the plurality of secondary UTMs coupled to the third UTM.

A user terminal module (UTM), the UTM comprising:

• one or more user terminal elements (UTEs), each of the one or more UTEs comprising:
• one or more antennas operable in a receiving mode or in a transmitting mode;
• and
• one or more active circuits, the one or more active circuits configured to amplify and phase shift an analog signal received via the antenna, thereby generating a modified analog signal, the one or more active circuits further configured to amplify and phase shift an analog signal transmitted via the antenna, wherein each of the one or more active circuits of the UTEs are connected in series;
• and
• a controller electronically coupled to the one or more active circuits of the UTEs, wherein the controller is configured to send a digital control signal to the one or more active circuits of the UTEs;
• the digital control signal configured to alter one or more properties of the analog signal of each of the one or more active circuits of the UTEs, and wherein the controller is further configured to deliver a power signal to the one or more active circuits of the UTEs, the power signal configured to power up the one or more active circuits of the UTEs;
• and
• an analog interface port receiving an input from a modem of a user device.