Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for making and using a lens antenna fed by a phased array. In some implementations, a communication device includes an antenna system includes a lens antenna and a feed antenna. The lens antenna can be a gradient index lens having a substantially ellipsoidal shape, and having a plurality of layers that respectively have different dielectric constants. The feed antenna can include an array of antenna elements and can be spaced apart from the lens antenna. The communication device can include one or more processors configured to control excitation patterns for the antenna elements of the feed antenna to form beams directed at any of a range of spatial locations. The one or more processors can be configured to cause excitation patterns that concurrently excite multiple antenna elements of the feed antenna with different magnitudes and phase characteristics.

Abstract: Techniques are described for direct conversion and dynamic polarization control in a very small aperture terminal (VSAT) outdoor unit (ODU). The ODU includes a direct up-converter and/or a direct down-converter for converting in a single stage between a baseband frequency and a satellite radiofrequency band (e.g., Ka band). The ODU also includes a polarization amplifier that integrates high-power amplification with circular polarization orientation control. For example, the direct up-converter directly converts a baseband signal to a low-power satellite-RF transmit signal, and the polarization amplifier converts the low-power satellite-RF transmit signal to an uplink signal having high gain and selected circular polarization. The ODU can further include an integrated embedded computer and modem.

Abstract: Techniques are described for direct conversion and dynamic polarization control in a very small aperture terminal (VSAT) outdoor unit (ODU). The ODU includes a direct up-converter and/or a direct down-converter for converting in a single stage between a baseband frequency and a satellite radiofrequency band (e.g., Ka band). The ODU also includes a polarization amplifier that integrates high-power amplification with circular polarization orientation control. For example, the direct up-converter directly converts a baseband signal to a low-power satellite-RF transmit signal, and the polarization amplifier converts the low-power satellite-RF transmit signal to an uplink signal having high gain and selected circular polarization. The ODU can further include an integrated embedded computer and modem.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for uplink power control of a terminal in a satellite communication system. Calibration data that includes output backoff values corresponding to input backoff values for each of a first set of calibration frequencies is initially stored in the terminal. A normalized transmit power for the terminal is determined for multiple transmit frequencies based on the calibration data. Upon receiving an assigned frequency for communicating, the terminal selects one of the normalized transmit power previously determined and begins transmitting.

Abstract: An integral waveguide device herein includes a polarizer component comprising a waveguide and a dielectric slab, the dielectric slab configured to change a polarization of a signal passing through the waveguide. The integral waveguide device also includes a feed horn for conveying signals between the waveguide and a parabolic antenna. The waveguide of the polarizer and the feed horn are manufactured as an integral component with the feed horn disposed at a first end of the waveguide.

Abstract: A microstrip-to-waveguide transition includes a substrate and a waveguide. The substrate has a metal layer, a ground layer and a dielectric layer disposed between the metal layer and a ground layer. The substrate includes a microstrip line impedance transformer and a substrate integrated waveguide that is electromagnetically coupled to the microstrip line impedance transformer. The substrate integrated waveguide has a 90 degree substrate integrated waveguide bend section at an end portion thereof. The waveguide is arranged perpendicularly relative to the substrate. The waveguide is electromagnetically coupled to the substrate integrated waveguide at the 90 degree substrate integrated waveguide bend section. The microstrip-to-waveguide transition is free of a back-short at a location corresponding to the 90 degree substrate integrated waveguide bend section.

Abstract: An integral waveguide device herein includes a polarizer component comprising a waveguide and a dielectric slab, the dielectric slab configured to change a polarization of a signal passing through the waveguide. The integral waveguide device also includes a feed horn for conveying signals between the waveguide and a parabolic antenna. The waveguide of the polarizer and the feed horn are manufactured as an integral component with the feed horn disposed at a first end of the waveguide.

Abstract: A microstrip-to-waveguide transition includes a substrate and a waveguide. The substrate has a metal layer, a ground layer and a dielectric layer disposed between the metal layer and a ground layer. The substrate includes a microstrip line impedance transformer and a substrate integrated waveguide that is electromagnetically coupled to the microstrip line impedance transformer. The substrate integrated waveguide has a 90 degree substrate integrated waveguide bend section at an end portion thereof. The waveguide is arranged perpendicularly relative to the substrate. The waveguide is electromagnetically coupled to the substrate integrated waveguide at the 90 degree substrate integrated waveguide bend section. The microstrip-to-waveguide transition is free of a back-short at a location corresponding to the 90 degree substrate integrated waveguide bend section.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for uplink power control of a terminal in a satellite communication system. Calibration data that includes output backoff values corresponding to input backoff values for each of a first set of calibration frequencies is initially stored in the terminal. A normalized transmit power for the terminal is determined for multiple transmit frequencies based on the calibration data. Upon receiving an assigned frequency for communicating, the terminal selects one of the normalized transmit power previously determined and begins transmitting.

Abstract: A very small aperture terminal (VSAT) installation tool is provided having the ability to measure cable loss along an interfacility link (IFL) between an outdoor unit and an indoor unit of the VSAT. Radio frequency (RF) signals can be transmitted from the indoor unit to the outdoor unit, where the RF signals are intercepted along the IFL prior to reaching the outdoor unit, and the output power is determined. The determined output power is compared to an expected output power at the indoor unit. The delta between the determined output power and the expected output power can be used to adjust the power of the indoor unit such that the outdoor unit can operate without reaching its compression point.

Abstract: An apparatus for PLL bandwidth expansion including a compensation filter and a phase locked loop, where the compensation filter is programmed with a compensation function derived based on programmable coefficients and parameters of a transmitting device, a frequency response of the phase locked loop, and a wanted frequency response.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide a receiver design capable of both wideband (high symbol rate) and narrowband (low symbol rate) operations requirements without compromising narrowband performance. Moreover, such a receiver design can be very low cost, and eschewing the need for any expensive and/or specialized elements. A receiver configured in accordance with various embodiments utilizes a fully integrated tuner in which narrowband filters are configured to be bypassable when in wideband (high symbol rate) mode in favor of fixed wideband filters. Additionally, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) can be implemented with digital gain for wideband operation, as well as digital data bit mapping to accommodate industry standard application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) interfaces, such as from a 12 bit ADC core to an 8 bit digital interface.

Abstract: A very small aperture terminal (VSAT) installation tool is provided having the ability to measure cable loss along an interfacility link (IFL) between an outdoor unit and an indoor unit of the VSAT. Radio frequency (RF) signals can be transmitted from the indoor unit to the outdoor unit, where the RF signals are intercepted along the IFL prior to reaching the outdoor unit, and the output power is determined. The determined output power is compared to an expected output power at the indoor unit. The delta between the determined output power and the expected output power can be used to adjust the power of the indoor unit such that the outdoor unit can operate without reaching its compression point.

Abstract: A modem to interface with a constant envelope saturated and/or linear radio, the modem including: a synthesizer modulator configured to generate a reference signal; a prescaler configured to reduce the reference signal to a lower frequency signal; a switch configured to enable the prescaler; and an output configured to output the reference signal when the prescaler is disabled, and configured to output the lower frequency signal as the reference signal when the prescaler is enabled.

Abstract: A mobile terminal for satellite communications receives communication, e.g., from a gateway via a satellite link. A frequency lock loop unit locks to the carrier frequency of the received communication. The mobile terminal includes a global positioning system for receiving global positioning data. The mobile terminal determines the Doppler frequency shift of the received communications based on the global positioning data. The mobile terminal generates a reference clock for return transmissions based on the frequency of the frequency lock loop, corrected for the Doppler shift. A correction factor of two times the determined Doppler frequency shift is used, to compensate for both a forward and return transmission link.

Abstract: A very small aperture terminal (VSAT) installation tool is provided having the ability to measure cable loss along an interfacility link (IFL) between an outdoor unit and an indoor unit of the VSAT. Radio frequency (RF) signals can be transmitted from the indoor unit to the outdoor unit, where the RF signals are intercepted along the IFL prior to reaching the outdoor unit, and the output power is determined. The determined output power is compared to an expected output power at the indoor unit. The delta between the determined output power and the expected output power can be used to adjust the power of the indoor unit such that the outdoor unit can operate without reaching its compression point.

Abstract: A communication system, an apparatus and a method for communicating with a radio disposed in an outdoor unit are provided. The apparatus including: a de-multiplexor configured to separate a multiplexed signal received on an inter-facility link (IFL) into a first signal; a demodulator configured to demodulate the first signal based-on a first modulator control information to obtain data; a modulator configured to modulate a portion of the data based-on a second modulator control information to generate a second signal; and an amplifier configured to amplify a transmission signal prior to transmission of the transmission signal with an antenna, wherein the transmission signal is based on the second signal, the second modulator control information is received by the de-multiplexor and the second modulator control information controls the modulation scheme used by the modulator.

Abstract: A very small aperture terminal (VSAT) installation tool is provided having the ability to measure cable loss along an interfacility link (IFL) between an outdoor unit and an indoor unit of the VSAT. Radio frequency (RF) signals can be transmitted from the indoor unit to the outdoor unit, where the RF signals are intercepted along the IFL prior to reaching the outdoor unit, and the output power is determined. The determined output power is compared to an expected output power at the indoor unit. The delta between the determined output power and the expected output power can be used to adjust the power of the indoor unit such that the outdoor unit can operate without reaching its compression point.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide a receiver design capable of both wideband (high symbol rate) and narrowband (low symbol rate) operations requirements without compromising narrowband performance. Moreover, such a receiver design can be very low cost, and eschewing the need for any expensive and/or specialized elements. A receiver configured in accordance with various embodiments utilizes a fully integrated tuner in which narrowband filters are configured to be bypassable when in wideband (high symbol rate) mode in favor of fixed wideband filters. Additionally, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) can be implemented with digital gain for wideband operation, as well as digital data bit mapping to accommodate industry standard application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) interfaces, such as from a 12 bit ADC core to an 8 bit digital interface.

Abstract: A communication system, an apparatus and a method for communicating with a radio disposed in an outdoor unit are provided. The apparatus including: a de-multiplexor configured to separate a multiplexed signal received on an inter-facility link (IFL) into a first signal; a demodulator configured to demodulate the first signal based-on a first modulator control information to obtain data; a modulator configured to modulate a portion of the data based-on a second modulator control information to generate a second signal; and an amplifier configured to amplify a transmission signal prior to transmission of the transmission signal with an antenna, wherein the transmission signal is based on the second signal, the second modulator control information is received by the de-multiplexor and the second modulator control information controls the modulation scheme used by the modulator.