Abstract: A satellite payload architecture for interactive data distribution and broadcasting services preferably for use in the emerging EHF (20-60 GHz) frequency bands. The system allows many individual service-program providers to transmit their service-program data to the satellite, on a bandwidth-on-demand and as-needed basis, directly from their premises through low-power, low-cost broadcast satellite terminals. The satellite payload utilizes high-gain spot beams for low-cost uplinking, digital regeneration and multiplexing of the individual received service-program data into MPEG transport streams, and broadcasting these in a DVB-compatible format via full-area broadcast beams to very small, low-cost end-user satellite terminals. All end-user satellite terminals are also equipped with transmit capability of a reverse-channel in support of interactivity-communications and network signaling/control functions.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing the amount of circuitry required to process satellite communication signals uses a beamformer to reduce the number of signals coupled to the communications circuitry, thereby reducing the amount of communication circuitry required to process received signals.

Abstract: A stratospheric platform communication system (10) having antenna boresight angles (EL, AZ) that can be adjusted by an adjustable payload antenna (40) according to the requirements of a specific application. The present invention provides an efficient use of available resources by allowing platform systems (10) and GEO satellite systems to share the radio frequency spectrum without interference, and improves the coverage area provided by a stratospheric platform system by allocating stratospheric platforms (12) to specific coverage areas in combination thereby increasing coverage capacity in high traffic areas.

Abstract: A method and system for determining a position of an object utilizes two-way ranging and polystatic techniques. A first communication transceiver at a first known location provides a bidirectional communication path between the first communication transceiver and the object wherein the first communication transceiver transmits a first ranging signal to the object and the object transmits a second ranging signal to the first communication transceiver in response to the first ranging signal. The first communication transceiver further provides a first unidirectional communication path between the first communication transceiver and the object wherein the first communication transceiver performs one of transmitting a third ranging signal to the object and receiving a fourth ranging signal from the object.

Abstract: A high altitude communication device is provided using a first array element comprising a plurality of patches and a second array element comprising a plurality of patches. The first array element and the second array element are for receiving communication signals. A patch in the first array element is shared by the second array element. At least one grouping network selects the first array element for a first time interval and selects the second array element for a time interval after the first time interval to convert and form digital combined signals from the communication signals. A method of digitally controlling received signals within a high altitude communication device is also provided.

Abstract: A solar array including a carbon fiber mesh substrate is provided. The solar panels including a series of hybrid structures formed along the common and continuous substrate by sandwiching the substrate between a series of discontinuous upper and lower support layers. In order to construct the solar panels having such hybrid structure, a series of top support layers or upper face sheets is disposed on a upper surface of the substrate and between the folding sections. The solar cells are placed on top of the upper face sheets. Similarly, a series of lower support layers or lower face sheets are disposed on a bottom surface of the substrate and between the folding sections. The folding sections are the regions where the upper and lower face sheets discontinue and expose the underlying substrate. The solar array can be folded along the folding section when a bending force is applied over one of the hybrid structures.

Abstract: A scalable switch matrix and demodulator bank architecture for a satellite payload processor wherein the demodulators are connected to the output ports of the switches as the data load on the uplink beams varies. The switch matrix includes a first switch layer for receiving the uplink transmission beams and a plurality of demodulators connected to the output parts of the first switch layer. The number of demodulators is limited by the number of active uplink sub-bands which is generally less than the number of sub-bands per beam times the number of transmission beams. Thus, only a relatively few number of demodulators are distributed among the uplink transmission beams as required. This results in a readily scalable architecture having higher demodulation utilization rates than dedicated demodulation architectures.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling a movable appendage on an aerospace vehicle independent from the position of the aerospace vehicle. First and second beacons containing actual position information for the movable appendage are tracked and acquired by first and second beacon tracking sites. The beacon tracking sites report the azimuth and elevation data relating to the position of the movable appendage to a processor where a correction command is determined based on an error calculated from the position data and a desired position. The correction command is communicated to the movable appendage so that appropriate correction to the desired position can be made.

Abstract: A method for beamforming signals for an array of receiving or transmitting elements includes the steps of selecting a beam elevation and azimuth and grouping elements of an antenna array into element ensembles that are substantially aligned with a wavefront projection on the antenna array corresponding to the selected beam elevation and azimuth.

Abstract: A solar array including a carbon fiber mesh substrate is provided. The solar panels including a series of hybrid structures formed along the common and continuous substrate by sandwiching the substrate between a series of discontinuous upper and lower support layers. In order to construct the solar panels having such hybrid structure, a series of top support layers or upper face sheets is disposed on a upper surface of the substrate and between the folding sections. The solar calls are placed on top of the upper face sheets. Similarly, a series of lower support layers or lower face sheets are disposed on a bottom surface of the substrate and between the folding sections. The folding sections are the regions where the upper and lower face sheets discontinue and expose the underlying substrate. The solar array can be folded along the folding section when a bending force is applied over one of the hybrid structures.

Abstract: A phase control block for combining signals from a phased array antenna includes a phase shifter for generating a phase shifted signal; a phase switch connected to the phase shifter having a first state wherein the phase switch connects a first signal to a switched signal output and a second signal to the phase shifter; and a signal summing device connected to the phase shifter for generating an output that is a sum of the switched signal output and the phase shifted signal.

Abstract: A semiconductor passivation technique uses a plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) process to produce a silicon-rich nitride film as a passivation layer on a Group III-V semiconductor device. The silicon-rich film has a nitrogen to silicon ratio of about 0.7, has a relatively high index of refraction of, for example, approximately 2.4, is compressively stressed, and is very low in hydrogen and oxygen content.

Abstract: Methods for increasing the efficiency of satellite constellation operations are disclosed. The steps of the present invention comprise calculating the maximum number of communications signals that each satellite in the satellite constellation can generate, determining an operational constraint on each satellite, the operational constraint limiting the number of communications signals that each satellite can radiate substantially simultaneously, determining an operational space for each satellite wherein the operational space is defined using the operational constraint and the calculated number of signals, and using the operational space for each satellite in the constellation to determine the operational point for the constellation.

Abstract: A modular mobile terminal for a satellite system is disclosed in which the satellite system has a ground station and a network such as a telephone network coupled to the ground station. Each of the mobile terminals has a radome layer and a support layer having a plurality of circuit traces formed thereon. An element module is coupled between the support layer and the radome layer. Each element module comprises a housing and a radiating patch having a feed therethrough. A dielectric layer is coupled adjacent to the radiating patch. A ground plane is disposed adjacent to the dielectric layer on the opposite side of the dielectric layer as the radiating patch. A plurality of circuit chips is coupled to the ground plane. The support layer of the array has a plurality of circuit traces formed thereon. A plurality of interconnections between the circuit chips and the plurality of traces connect the traces and the circuit chips.

Abstract: A system and method for producing and receiving electronically-mediated collaboration is presented. The electronically-mediated collaboration system and method include a high-fidelity audio system as well as application and cursor sharing, and a session manager module to synchronize among participants. In one embodiment, the system includes an eye contact collaboratory that manipulates video and eye position input to synthesize virtual camera images which simulate ordinary gaze behavior in a collaboratory system. An audio component optionally spatializes the voices of the participants to appear to coincide with their images.

Abstract: An integrated optical transmitter includes a modulator drive circuit in communication with a modulator, and a laser drive circuit in communication with a laser. The modulator receives laser light from the laser and modulation control signals from the modulator drive circuit, and outputs modulated optical signals in a direction normal to the substrate surface. The transmitter is integrated by securing the laser to the modulator using flip chip technology. The laser includes a vertical cavity, and is optically aligned with the horizontal coupling surface of the modulator during the flip chip process.

Abstract: A satellite communication system has a first deployment of a plurality of satellites deployed in a medium earth orbit and two later deployments of a plurality of satellites deployed in the medium earth orbit. The first deployment is spaced so that the second deployment may be easily deployed and interleaved into the first deployment. A ground terminal is used for communicating with the satellites in the first and second deployments.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for aligning an optical fiber to an optoelectronic element. The optical fiber and optoelectronic element are attached to a base. The base is made from a first crystallographic orientation material, and a lens is made from a second crystallographic orientation material. The lens is aligned to the base using the crystallographic orientations, and the optical fiber and optoelectronic element are aligned to the base/lens assembly.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and a memory structure for communicating data from a first node to a second node has been described. The method comprises the steps of receiving input data at the first node, transmitting a resource request having a resource metric from the first node to an allocating agent, receiving an allocation of resource units according to the resource metric, the resource units comprising at least one DAMA channel resource metric and at least one RA channel resource unit, queuing the input data into the DAMA channel buffer, dequeuing input data from the DAMA channel buffer into the RA channel buffer according to a comparison between a predicted transmission delay and a delay threshold, and transmitting the dequeued input data in the RA channel buffer via the RA resource units. The article of manufacture comprises a data storage device tangibly embodying instructions to perform the method steps described above.

Abstract: A satellite system that is coordinatable with a geostationary belt having a plurality of geostationary positions includes an eccentric satellite orbit having a predetermined angle of inclination with respect to the equatorial plane and a non-coincident equatorial crossing node with the geostationary belt. The method of positioning a satellite includes the steps of providing a satellite into a geostationary belt and positioning the satellite in a substantially geosynchronous (24 hr. period) second orbit so that the second orbit is eccentric non-intersecting with the geostationary belt upon the sensing of a predetermined condition indicative of an impending failure on-board the satellite.