Abstract: Provided herein are various improvements to laser communication ranging. In one example, a method includes combining a ranging signal with data communications into an optical transmission for receipt by a communication node, and obtaining an additional optical transmission transferred by the communication node comprising additional data communications combined with a retransmitted version of the ranging signal. The method includes determining an indication of a range to the communication node based at least on a comparison between properties of the ranging signal and properties of the retransmitted version of the ranging signal after separation from the additional data communications.

Abstract: Provided herein are various improvements to laser communication ranging. In one example, a method includes combining a ranging signal with data communications into an optical transmission for receipt by a communication node, and obtaining an additional optical transmission transferred by the communication node comprising additional data communications combined with a retransmitted version of the ranging signal. The method includes determining an indication of a range to the communication node based at least on a comparison between properties of the ranging signal and properties of the retransmitted version of the ranging signal after separation from the additional data communications.

Abstract: Provided herein are various improvements to laser communication ranging. In one example, a method includes converting a ranging signal in a radio frequency (RF) format into an optical format and combining the ranging signal in the optical format with data communications into an optical transmission for receipt by a communication node. The method also includes receiving from the communication node an additional optical transmission comprising additional data communications combined with a retransmitted version of the ranging signal, and determining an indication of a range to the communication node based at least on properties of the retransmitted version of the ranging signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for high-power combining includes multiple power-combining building blocks, a passive input network to couple one or more input signals to one or more input ports of the multiple power-combining building blocks, and a passive output network to couple to output ports of the multiple power-combining building blocks and to generate one or more amplified output signals. Each power-combining building block includes M high-power amplifiers (HPAs) coupled in parallel to a respective passive input network and a respective passive output network. A count of the multiple power-combining building blocks is determined based on a desired total number N of the HPAs and a number M of the HPAs in each power-combining building block.

Abstract: A method for carrier frequency assignment to users includes receiving, by a service provider scheduler, a service request from a user. The method further includes receiving, by the service provider scheduler, satellite beams information of a satellite. A user location corresponding to the user is determined. A service beam to service the user and a distance from a center of the service beam to the user location are determined based on the satellite beams information. The service beam is a satellite beam of a plurality of satellite beams provided by the satellite, and the satellite is in communication with the user via the service beam. Carrier frequency assignment to users is made to mitigate adjacent channel interference.

Abstract: Described herein are ground based subsystems, and related methods, for use in transmitting an optical feeder uplink beam to a satellite that is configured to receive the optical feeder uplink beam and in dependence thereon produce and transmit a plurality of RF service downlink beams within a specified RF frequency range to service terminals. Certain embodiments are related to a resource allocator for inclusion in a ground based subsystem, and methods for use therewith. Beneficially, the resource allocator, and methods for use therewith, eliminate any need for a satellite to perform any bandwidth allocation for the plurality of service downlink beams produced and transmitted by the satellite, thereby eliminating any need for the satellite to include an on-board channelizer. Such a recourse allocator can include a plurality of channels each of which can include an encoder and modulator, a channel filter, and a frequency up-converter.

Abstract: A method for carrier frequency assignment to users includes receiving, by a service provider scheduler, a service request from a user. The method further includes receiving, by the service provider scheduler, satellite beams information of a satellite. A user location corresponding to the user is determined. A service beam to service the user and a distance from a center of the service beam to the user location are determined based on the satellite beams information. The service beam is a satellite beam of a plurality of satellite beams provided by the satellite, and the satellite is in communication with the user via the service beam. Carrier frequency assignment to users is made to mitigate adjacent channel interference.

Abstract: Described herein are ground based subsystems, and related methods, for use in transmitting an optical feeder uplink beam to a satellite that includes a multiple element antenna feed array and that is configured to accept the optical feeder uplink beam and in dependence thereon use the multiple element antenna feed array to produce and transmit a plurality of radio frequency (RF) service downlink beams to service terminals. Certain embodiments are related to a ground based beamformer (GBBF) for inclusion in a ground based subsystem, and methods for use therewith. Beneficially, embodiments described herein allow for flexible antenna beam forming for large signal bandwidth without the limitation associated with the available gateway uplink and downlink spectrum at RF frequencies. Also described herein are space based subsystems for use with such ground based subsystems.

Abstract: Described herein are ground based subsystems, and related methods, for use in transmitting an optical feeder uplink beam to a satellite that is configured to receive the optical feeder uplink beam and in dependence thereon produce and transmit a plurality of RF service downlink beams within a specified RF frequency range to service terminals. Also described herein are space based subsystems of a satellite, and related methods, for use in transmitting a plurality of RF service downlink beams within a specified RF frequency range to service terminals. Beneficially certain embodiments eliminate the need for any frequency down-converters or any other type of frequency conversion equipment in a space segment forward link equipment. Also described herein is space segment return link equipment, and related methods, for use in transmitting an optical feeder downlink beam to a ground based subsystem, as well as ground based return link equipment thereof.

Abstract: Described herein are space based subsystems of a satellite, and related methods, for use in producing an optical feeder downlink beam in dependence on RF service uplink beams received from service terminals within a specified RF frequency range. Beneficially certain embodiments eliminate the need for any type of frequency conversion equipment in the spaced based subsystem that is used to produce the optical feeder downlink beam. Also described herein are ground based subsystems, and related methods, for use in transmitting an optical feeder uplink beam to a satellite configured to receive the optical feeder uplink beam and in dependence thereon produce and transmit a plurality of RF service downlink beams within a specified RF frequency range to service terminals. Also described herein is are space based subsystems of a satellite, and related methods, for use in transmitting a plurality of RF service downlink beams to service terminals.

Abstract: Described herein are ground based subsystems, and related methods, for use in transmitting an optical feeder uplink beam to a satellite that includes a multiple element antenna feed array and that is configured to accept the optical feeder uplink beam and in dependence thereon use the multiple element antenna feed array to produce and transmit a plurality of radio frequency (RF) service downlink beams to service terminals. Certain embodiments are related to a ground based beamformer (GBBF) for inclusion in a ground based subsystem, and methods for use therewith. Beneficially, embodiments described herein allow for flexible antenna beam forming for large signal bandwidth without the limitation associated with the available gateway uplink and downlink spectrum at RF frequencies. Also described herein are space based subsystems for use with such ground based subsystems.

Abstract: Described herein are ground based subsystems, and related methods, for use in transmitting an optical feeder uplink beam to a satellite that is configured to receive the optical feeder uplink beam and in dependence thereon produce and transmit a plurality of RF service downlink beams within a specified RF frequency range to service terminals. Certain embodiments are related to a resource allocator for inclusion in a ground based subsystem, and methods for use therewith. Beneficially, the resource allocator, and methods for use therewith, eliminate any need for a satellite to perform any bandwidth allocation for the plurality of service downlink beams produced and transmitted by the satellite, thereby eliminating any need for the satellite to include an on-board channelizer. Such a recourse allocator can include a plurality of channels each of which can include an encoder and modulator, a channel filter, and a frequency up-converter.

Abstract: Described herein are ground based subsystems, and related methods, for use in transmitting an optical feeder uplink beam to a satellite that is configured to receive the optical feeder uplink beam and in dependence thereon produce and transmit a plurality of RF service downlink beams within a specified RF frequency range to service terminals. Also described herein are space based subsystems of a satellite, and related methods, for use in transmitting a plurality of RF service downlink beams within a specified RF frequency range to service terminals. Beneficially certain embodiments eliminate the need for any frequency down-converters or any other type of frequency conversion equipment in a space segment forward link equipment. Also described herein is space segment return link equipment, and related methods, for use in transmitting an optical feeder downlink beam to a ground based subsystem, as well as ground based return link equipment thereof.

Abstract: Described herein are space based subsystems of a satellite, and related methods, for use in producing an optical feeder downlink beam in dependence on RF service uplink beams received from service terminals within a specified RF frequency range. Beneficially certain embodiments eliminate the need for any type of frequency conversion equipment in the spaced based subsystem that is used to produce the optical feeder downlink beam. Also described herein are ground based subsystems, and related methods, for use in transmitting an optical feeder uplink beam to a satellite configured to receive the optical feeder uplink beam and in dependence thereon produce and transmit a plurality of RF service downlink beams within a specified RF frequency range to service terminals. Also described herein is are space based subsystems of a satellite, and related methods, for use in transmitting a plurality of RF service downlink beams to service terminals.

Abstract: A satellite comprises an antenna system configured to provide a plurality of spot beams including one or more small spot beams illuminating a first region of a coverage area, one or more large spot beams illuminating a second region of the coverage area separate from the first region and one or more intermediate sized spot beams illuminating a transition region of the coverage area that is located between the first region and the second region so that the one or more small spot beams are separated from the one or more large spot beams by the one or more intermediate sized spot beams. The one or more intermediate sized spot beams serve to mitigate C/I for the one or more spot beams.

Abstract: A satellite comprises an antenna system configured to provide a plurality of spot beams including one or more small spot beams illuminating a first region of a coverage area, one or more large spot beams illuminating a second region of the coverage area separate from the first region and one or more intermediate sized spot beams illuminating a transition region of the coverage area that is located between the first region and the second region so that the one or more small spot beams are separated from the one or more large spot beams by the one or more intermediate sized spot beams. The one or more intermediate sized spot beams serve to mitigate C/I for the one or more spot beams.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for determining beamforming coefficients. In one aspect, a subsystem of a satellite can receive live-traffic signals and tap the signals to provide reference signals. The reference signals can be provided on a calibration path including passive components. The signals can be compared with the reference signals to determine differences between the phases and amplitudes and used to determine beamforming coefficients.

Abstract: Various aspects of the subject technology include a wireless power transmission design based on extended range near-field resonance coupling induction, where magnetic near-field range may be extended by several orders of magnitude. One element that may help to accomplish the near-field extension, in one aspect, is the addition of a transformational magnetic lens to the transmitter. The magnetic lens may be made of metamaterials with refractive index of for example, ?1. It may recover and collimate the near-field evanescent, magnetic flux, effectively extending the near-field coupling distance by several orders of magnitude.

Abstract: A device for coupling microwave signals with arbitrary phase shifts and power split ratios over broadband may comprise a first branch comprising a cascade of first stripline sections connected to one another. A second branch may comprise a cascade of second stripline sections connected to one another. A single stripline section and a capacitor may be coupled in series to at least one of the branches. The first stripline sections of the first branch and the corresponding second stripline sections of the second branch form broadside coupled stripline sections. Those cascaded coupled stripline sections may be arranged to have a monotonically changing horizontal offsets but at a uniform vertical distance.

Abstract: Negative refractive index (NRI) transmission line (TL) metamaterial may be applied to phase shifter devices. In some aspects, a one dimensional NRI TL enabled compact and tunable phase shifter is provided. The phase shifter comprises cascaded sections of NRI metamaterial TL and positive refraction index TL with tailored dispersion characteristics. The phase shifter, for example as compared to common delay line based or ferrite based phase shifters, may be compact in size, may be continuously tunable from negative to positive phases, may have flatter and more linear phase responses over wideband, may have small group delays, and may be compatible to microwave circuits.