Abstract: A multibeam satellite radiocommunications system includes at least one satellite having at least one passive multibeam antenna system, at least one satellite terminal, a resource allocator configured to form a regular network of satellite spots arranged according to a mesh in quadrilateral form over a given geographic zone, to associate spectral resources with the satellite spots, then to allocate spectral resources to the satellite terminals as a function of their position, wherein the resource allocator is configured to, in the event of failure of a satellite spot, extend the zone of coverage of the satellite spots adjacent to the failing satellite spot so as to cover the surface that it occupies, and allocate new spectral resources to the satellite terminals of the failing satellite spot as a function of their position. A resource allocator and the corresponding method are also provided.

Abstract: A method for estimating, at one and the same given time, a set of attenuations of one or more first radiofrequency RF uplinks, implemented by a VHTS space telecommunications system. In an auxiliary usage step, an on-board regenerative or digital transparent processor DTP generates at least one beacon signal that is or are distributed, in the Q band, to N nominal access stations GWn(i) in order to be measured in terms of power, or measures the spectral power of each traffic signal transmitted by the nominal access stations GWn(i), i varying from 1 to N. In a following step, the attenuation levels An(i) of the uplinks LUn(i) are determined based on the powers of the one or more beacon signals that are measured on the corresponding downlinks LDn(i) in the Q band, or based on the one or more spectral powers, measured by the DTP, of the traffic signals received on the one or more uplinks LUn(i).

Abstract: A method for estimating, at one and the same given time, a set of attenuations of one or more first radiofrequency RF uplinks, implemented by a VHTS space telecommunications system. In an auxiliary usage step, an on-board regenerative or digital transparent processor DTP generates at least one beacon signal that is or are distributed, in the Q band, to N nominal access stations GWn(i) in order to be measured in terms of power, or measures the spectral power of each traffic signal transmitted by the nominal access stations GWn(i), i varying from 1 to N. In a following step, the attenuation levels An(i) of the uplinks LUn(i) are determined based on the powers of the one or more beacon signals that are measured on the corresponding downlinks LDn(i) in the Q band, or based on the one or more spectral powers, measured by the DTP, of the traffic signals received on the one or more uplinks LUn(i).

Abstract: A satellite multibeam telecommunication system includes at least one satellite provided with at least one high-power amplifier, a digital processor, and means for implementing go channel beam hopping, without return channel beam hopping, the digital processor being configured to digitize the return channel beams and aggregate them, the bandwidth of the return channel beams being proportional to the temporal allocation on the go channel beams.

Abstract: A VHTS or HTS multibeam telecommunications payload includes a first multibeam antenna system with passive antennas, which is configured to receive from and transmit to spots of access stations GW respectively in a first satellite receive Rx band and a first satellite transmit Tx band, and a second multibeam antenna system with passive antennas, which is configured to receive from and transmit to a user coverage zone respectively in a second satellite receive Rx band and a second satellite transmit Tx band, by generating multiple satellite receive user spots and multiple satellite transmit user spots.

Abstract: A VHTS or HTS multibeam telecommunications payload includes a first multibeam antenna system with passive antennas, which is configured to receive from and transmit to spots of access stations GW respectively in a first satellite receive Rx band and a first satellite transmit Tx band, and a second multibeam antenna system with passive antennas, which is configured to receive from and transmit to a user coverage zone respectively in a second satellite receive Rx band and a second satellite transmit Tx band, by generating multiple satellite receive user spots and multiple satellite transmit user spots.

Abstract: A distributed amplification device with p inputs, p outputs, p amplification paths comprises a redundant reservoir of n amplifiers including n-p back-up amplifiers, an input redundancy ring and an output redundancy ring formed by rotary switches, the input and output redundancy rings sharing the same technology. The internal amplification pathways associated with the n-p back-up amplifiers frame in an interlaced manner the internal amplification pathways associated with the p nominal amplifiers and the amplification paths of the routing configurations each pass through at least five rotary switches. The input and output redundancy rings are topologically and geometrically configured and the family of the routing configurations is chosen such that the electrical lengths of all the paths of one and the same routing configuration of the family are equal.

Abstract: A distributed amplification device with p inputs, p outputs, p amplification paths comprises a redundant reservoir of n amplifiers including n-p back-up amplifiers, an input redundancy ring and an output redundancy ring formed by rotary switches, the input and output redundancy rings sharing the same technology. The internal amplification pathways associated with the n-p back-up amplifiers frame in an interlaced manner the internal amplification pathways associated with the p nominal amplifiers and the amplification paths of the routing configurations each pass through at least five rotary switches. The input and output redundancy rings are topologically and geometrically configured and the family of the routing configurations is chosen such that the electrical lengths of all the paths of one and the same routing configuration of the family are equal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for managing signal routing on board a satellite, and use of “agile” digital transparent processors. The device decorrelates the spreading band of the uplink to said satellite from the instantaneous useful band of each signal, used for routing on board the satellite and on the downlink. For a given protection dictating the spreading width of the uplink signals, the device makes it possible to optimize connectivity, i.e. the number of routes through said satellite, as well as the total capacity of the satellite by means of individualized control of the gain of each route. The routing band is limited to the instantaneous useful communication band and is not extended to the spreading band of the uplink. The band used in the downlink by each signal can also be limited to the instantaneous useful band or possibly widened by a new frequency spread.

Abstract: A multi-spot transmission and reception system includes at least one outbound section implementing the reception of a hub frequency band and its transposition into user transmission sub-bands, at least one return section implementing the reception of user frequency sub-bands, and their transposition into a hub transmission band and a mesh section comprising a digital transparent processor DTP. The mesh section includes: frequency sampling and recombining means to sample, on user reception sub-bands a mesh band fraction, and to recombine the sampled mesh band fractions on an input of the DTP; and frequency division and reinjection means to divide the frequency band routed to an output of the DTP, into band fractions, and to reinject the band fractions obtained into the user transmission sub-bands. An application of the system is to repeaters on board telecommunications satellites.

Abstract: A satellite system comprises at least one satellite that receives and transmits signals from/to user terminals located in a service area covered by a plurality of beams, frequencies used in each beam being allocated in order to allow frequency reuse. The beam sizes, the bandwidth used in each beam and the power density in each beam are chosen as a function of the user density in the service area.

Abstract: A transmit and/or receive array antenna comprises an array (R) of sub-arrays (SR) of at least one radiating element (ER) and control means charged with controlling the amplitude and/or the phase of the radiofrequency signals to be transmitted or received in the form of waves by each of the sub-arrays (SR) so that they transmit or receive signals according to a chosen pattern. The sub-arrays (SR) comprise a mean number of radiating elements (ER) which increases from the center of the array (R) to its periphery, and are arranged with respect to one another so as to constitute an irregular mesh offering pattern sidelobes of low intensity and a high gain in a favored direction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for managing signal routing on board a satellite, and use of “agile” digital transparent processors. The device decorrelates the spreading band of the uplink to said satellite from the instantaneous useful band of each signal, used for routing on board the satellite and on the downlink. For a given protection dictating the spreading width of the uplink signals, the device makes it possible to optimize connectivity, i.e. the number of routes through said satellite, as well as the total capacity of the satellite by means of individualized control of the gain of each route. The routing band is limited to the instantaneous useful communication band and is not extended to the spreading band of the uplink. The band used in the downlink by each signal can also be limited to the instantaneous useful band or possibly widened by a new frequency spread.

Abstract: A multi-spot transmission and reception system includes at least one outbound section implementing the reception of a hub frequency band and its transposition into user transmission sub-bands, at least one return section implementing the reception of user frequency sub-bands, and their transposition into a hub transmission band and a mesh section comprising a digital transparent processor DTP. The mesh section includes: frequency sampling and recombining means to sample, on user reception sub-bands a mesh band fraction, and to recombine the sampled mesh band fractions on an input of the DTP; and frequency division and reinjection means to divide the frequency band routed to an output of the DTP, into band fractions, and to reinject the band fractions obtained into the user transmission sub-bands. An application of the system is to repeaters on board telecommunications satellites.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an amplification device for a satellite in order to amplify a plurality of n transmission channels to an output corresponding to a beam, the device comprising: frequency band combining means comprising n inputs in order to receive the n transmission channels and q outputs in order to supply respectively the channels grouped together within q frequency bands, a power amplification unit including p active amplifiers in parallel for the distributed amplification of the n channels, gain and phase adjustment means corresponding to the p power amplifiers on the q frequency bands.

Abstract: A transmit and/or receive array antenna comprises an array (R) of sub-arrays (SR) of at least one radiating element (ER) and control means charged with controlling the amplitude and/or the phase of the radiofrequency signals to be transmitted or received in the form of waves by each of the sub-arrays (SR) so that they transmit or receive signals according to a chosen pattern. The sub-arrays (SR) comprise a mean number of radiating elements (ER) which increases from the center of the array (R) to its periphery, and are arranged with respect to one another so as to constitute an irregular mesh offering pattern sidelobes of low intensity and a high gain in a favored direction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an amplification device for a satellite in order to amplify a plurality of n transmission channels to an output corresponding to a beam, the device comprising: frequency band combining means comprising n inputs in order to receive the n transmission channels and q outputs in order to supply respectively the channels grouped together within q frequency bands, a power amplification unit including p active amplifiers in parallel for the distributed amplification of the n channels, gain and phase adjustment means corresponding to the p power amplifiers on the q frequency bands.

Abstract: A satellite amplifier system 100 adapted to amplify and distribute flexibly P input transmission channels to N outputs each corresponding to one beam includes a switch 102 having at least P inputs for routing the plurality P of transmission channels to a plurality of outputs, at least one Butler matrix 103 each input of which is connected to an output of the switch, and at least one inverse Butler matrix 104, each output of the Butler matrix being connected to a corresponding input of the inverse Butler matrix by an amplifier 105. The system 100 further includes a plurality of output demultiplexers 109 for separating a plurality of transmission channels by frequency, the input of each of the output demultiplexers being connected to an output of the inverse Butler matrix.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an amplifier system for satellites, in particular for radio-frequency amplifier systems incorporating travelling wave tube amplifiers and used in space repeaters. The amplifier system (1) includes two amplifier modules (A1, A2) each having an input and an output, a signal divider (D) having an input, a first output, and a second output, a signal combiner (C) having a first input, a second input and an output. The first output of the divider (D) is connected to the input of the first amplifier module (A1) via a connection length Le1. The second output of the divider (D) is connected to the input of the second amplifier module (A2) via a connection length Le2. The output of the first amplifier module (A1) is connected to the first input of the combiner (C) via a connection length Ls1. The output of the second amplifier module (A2) is connected to the second input of the combiner (C) via a connection length Ls2.

Abstract: A satellite amplifier system 100 adapted to amplify and distribute flexibly P input transmission channels to N outputs each corresponding to one beam includes a switch 102 having at least P inputs for routing the plurality P of transmission channels to a plurality of outputs, at least one Butler matrix 103 each input of which is connected to an output of the switch, and at least one inverse Butler matrix 104, each output of the Butler matrix being connected to a corresponding input of the inverse Butler matrix by an amplifier 105. The system 100 further includes a plurality of output demultiplexers 109 for separating a plurality of transmission channels by frequency, the input of each of the output demultiplexers being connected to an output of the inverse Butler matrix.