Including A Satellite Patents (Class 342/352)
  • Patent number: 9306293
    Abstract: A multi-beam antenna comprises an array of feeds illuminating a reflector, the feeds being associated in a plurality of groups. Each feed comprises a polarizer, two diplexers and four ports operating in four different colours. All the feeds belonging to the same group comprise first ports having the same first colour, or second ports having the same second colour, linked together to form a first beam and third ports having the same third colour, or fourth ports having the same fourth colour, linked together to form a second beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: THALES
    Inventors: Pierre Bosshard, Philippe Lepeltier, Judicael Pressense, Bernard Charrat
  • Patent number: 9264096
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a receiver including: a first mixer adapted to mix satellite signals from first and second satellites and a first local oscillation signal so as to convert a carrier frequency of the satellite signals into a lower first intermediate frequency; a second mixer adapted to mix a satellite signal of the second satellite frequency-converted by the first mixer and a second local oscillation signal so as to convert the first intermediate frequency of the frequency-converted satellite signal from the second satellite into an even lower second intermediate frequency; and a first frequency divider adapted to generate the second local oscillation signal by dividing a frequency of the first local oscillation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Daisuke Arima, Masayuki Katakura, Katsuyuki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9250309
    Abstract: A method is provided for demodulating a signal carrying a message transmitted by a terrestrial beacon, executed by a system comprising a constellation of satellites suitable for detecting said signal and for repeating it towards receiving stations on the ground, and an analysis module suitable for receiving signals from said stations. Each receiving station transmits the signals that it receives from the satellite to the analysis module, said module realigning said signals in frequency and/or in time relative to one another, combining the realigned signals to generate a synthetic signal having an enhanced signal-to-noise ratio, and determining the content of said message and/or the modulation parameters of said synthetic signal. The method applies notably to the accurate and reliable location of distress beacons by a satellite system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignees: THALES, CENTRE NATIONAL D'ETUDES SPATIALES
    Inventors: Thibaud Calmettes, Michel Monnerat, Lionel Ries
  • Patent number: 9246557
    Abstract: A system for supporting multiple time division duplexed (TDD) based wireless services or frequency division duplexed (FDD) wireless services on a Distributed Antenna System (DAS). TDD based services use a common clock signal to synchronize the components of the DAS for transmission and reception of TDD signals. The DAS includes a GPS receiver which extracts a timing signal from a GPS signal and distribute the timing signal to components of the DAS to enable synchronization of the components for transmitting and receiving TDD signals. The GPS receiver can be part of the interface that connects a TDD based service to the DAS. The DAS distributes a reference clock signal to the DAS components to maintain zero frequency shift while manipulating with the carrier frequencies of the various wireless services carried by the DAS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Corning Optical Communications Wireless Ltd
    Inventors: Ofer Saban, Isaac Shapira
  • Patent number: 9225366
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a radio frequency receiver module includes supporting a baseband processor on a base. A feature choice for the module is determined. The feature choice includes an antenna type, an RF type, or a stack type. An optional hardware component is selectively installed or omitted on the base dependent upon the determined feature choice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America, Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America
    Inventors: Hans A. Troemel, Jr., Kishore S. Aligeti
  • Patent number: 9207347
    Abstract: A technique includes obtaining a plurality of sets of measurements of distances between nodes located on a seismic spread element while the element is in tow. Each set is acquired in response to the operation of a different set of sources. The technique includes determining a three-dimensional structure of the seismic spread element while in tow based at least in part on the sets of measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventors: Svein Arne Frivik, Halvor Groenaas, Kenneth E. Welker
  • Patent number: 9204251
    Abstract: A series of RF beacons deployed about a localized area to create an infrastructure for use with a series of applications. One application provides navigation to the receiving device, wherein the location of the receiving device utilizes information obtained from one or more beacon signals. The location can be determined by signal strength, triangulation, an identity of the RF beacon, etc. Another feature is an initiation of an application based upon receipt of a beacon signal. Another application provides local based services (LBS) to the recipient. Another application is directed towards transportation, including transportation management, parking assistance, traffic telematics, etc. Another application emergency based applications, more specifically a communication process in an area where longer range cellular infrastructure is either non-existent or non-functional. The system can create an infrastructure by networking a series of mobile transceivers to create an ad hoc network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Inventor: Ehud Mendelson
  • Patent number: 9178604
    Abstract: A data delivery system leverages existing satellite infrastructure to deliver massive data sets (e.g., genomic data) to last-mile, remote or rural, locations. The system repurposes existing high-capacity satellite links normally used to broadcast entertainment content by creating customized channels specifically adapted to delivering large data sets to be stored upon computer systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Nant Holdings IP, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas Wittenschlaeger
  • Patent number: 9140780
    Abstract: A radar sensor having a corresponding evaluation and control device, which has a measuring mode for locating radar targets and a blindness detection device, which is configured to detect blinding of the radar sensor with the aid of the signals received by the radar sensor itself; wherein the evaluation and control device has a test mode, in which the radar sensor is controlled on the basis of parameters that are different from the parameters for the measuring mode and optimized for the blindness detection device, and the evaluation and control device has a switching device for switching over between the measuring mode and the testing mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Stefan Heilmann, Sonja Eder, Wolf Steffens, Goetz Kuehnle, Dirk Bechler
  • Patent number: 9124345
    Abstract: A GNSS receiver having an IF process engine is disclosed. The IF process engine provides a plurality of carriers with different frequencies and down converts IF signals into baseband signals by using the carriers in a time division multiplex (TDM) schedule. The IF process engine has a local oscillator part for generating the carriers with different frequencies; an IF down-converter for respectively mixing the IF signal with the carriers generated by the local oscillator part to generate IF removed signal segments; a time division multiplex (TDM) controller for scheduling the respective mixing operations of the IF down-converter for the IF signal with the respective carriers; and a buffer for storing the IF removed signal segments generated by the IF down-converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: MEDIATEK INC.
    Inventors: Chun-nan Chen, Ping-hsuan Tsu
  • Patent number: 9116916
    Abstract: An information organizing system includes a reference information database storing reference information, a generalized expression unit to map measurement data and non-measurement data in a space in such a manner that the more they resemble each other, the shorter a distance between them becomes, an extended reference database in which the reference information is expressed in an extended manner by using the generalized expression unit, extended log data in which log data is expressed in an extended manner by using the generalized expression unit, a relevance detection unit to detect extended reference information having high relevance with the extended log data, and a template creation unit to create a predetermined template in which the log data is summarized by using the detected extended reference information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nobuharu Kami
  • Patent number: 9106106
    Abstract: A device with a sensor to detect a location of a portable device within proximity of the device and a controller to identify an amount of power to transmit to the portable device and reposition a directional antenna to transmit to the portable device an identified amount of power over a wireless signal based on the location of the portable device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Eric Liu, Manjirnath Chatterjee, Nathaniel Wolf
  • Publication number: 20150130661
    Abstract: A modal antenna is implemented to provide a variable radiation pattern for improved global positioning system (GPS) signal reception. A multitude of antenna radiation patterns generated from a modal antenna provide the capability to optimally acquire GPS signals across a wide range of angles of arrival. Minimum radiation pattern roll-off is observed from the composite pattern generated from the multiple patterns. An algorithm is described that reduces the acquisition time for a location fix for cold and hot start conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: ETHERTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Laurent Desclos, Sebastian Rowson, Jeffrey Shamblin
  • Patent number: 9031497
    Abstract: A dual-satellite emergency locator beacon and method for programming and updating such emergency locator beacons over the air. The system uses a second commercial satellite as the carrier for the data back to the beacon together with the means of coupling these parts together. The system can be manually updated or can be part of a registration system that gets automatically updated. In a second embodiment a method and apparatus for implementing emergency locator beacon registration is provided. The system provides data concerning the user into a backend service which can be utilized to provide all necessary information needed to register the emergency beacon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: ACR Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Paul Hoffman, William Cox, Thomas J. Pack
  • Publication number: 20150123843
    Abstract: A system for interference suppression onboard a satellite may include an antenna that is configured to receive uplink signals from a ground-coverage area and to generate a first signal. A spot-beam antenna may be configured to receive interference signals and to generate a second signal. A processor may be configured to receive the first signal from the antenna and the second signal from the spot-beam antenna and to perform a cross-correlation to generate a composite signal that includes a null at an interference frequency. The antenna may be a shaped reflector antenna and the spot-beam antenna may be a parabolic reflector antenna.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Erik LIER, Moh'd A. Hasan, Anthony Wykeham Jacomb-Hood, Matthew George Bray, Russell T. Baker
  • Patent number: 9026365
    Abstract: A method of determining the appropriateness of satellite orbit modeling is provided. The method includes calculating values of parameters, that the predetermined model has, on the basis of predicted position data including a first predicted position at a first point of time and a second predicted position at a second point of time of a positioning satellite in time series, calculating a first and a second calculated positions of the positioning satellite derived from the predetermined model by using the values of the parameters; and determining the appropriateness of the predetermined model using the values of the parameters, on the basis of first difference between the first predicted position and the first calculated position, and seconded difference between the second predicted position and the second calculated position. The predetermined model is used when approximating a satellite orbit of the poisoning satellite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kenji Onda
  • Patent number: 8995943
    Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, a phased array antenna comprises multiple subcircuits in communication with multiple radiating elements. The radio frequency signals are independently adjusted for both polarization control and beam steering. In a receive embodiment, multiple RF signals of various polarizations are received and combined into at least one receive beam output. In a transmit embodiment, at least one transmit beam input is divided and transmitted through multiple radiating elements, with the transmitted beams having various polarizations. In an exemplary embodiment, the phased array antenna provides multi-beam formation over multiple operating frequency bands. The wideband nature of the active components allows for operation over multiple frequency bands simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: ViaSat, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Corman, Rob Zienkewicz, David Saunders
  • Patent number: 8989301
    Abstract: A method of controlling a power spectrum of a navigation transmission signal in a navigation system is provided. The navigation transmission signal comprising a carrier signal, a navigation ranging signal, a data signal, and at least one subcarrier modulation signal. The method comprising modulating the navigation ranging signal with the at least one subcarrier modulation signal, wherein the at least one subcarrier modulation signal comprises a number, m, of amplitude levels, where m>2, to produce a modulated ranging signal. The amplitude levels having respective magnitudes and durations arranged to influence the power spectrum of the navigation signal in a predetermined manner. Modulating the carrier with the modulated ranging signal and the data signal to generate the navigation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Secretary of State for Defence
    Inventors: Anthony Richard Pratt, John Ivor Rewbridge Owen
  • Patent number: 8976891
    Abstract: Techniques for controlling a power spectrum of a navigation transmission signal in a navigation system are disclosed. In one particular embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a method of controlling a power spectrum of a navigation transmission signal in a navigation system, the navigation transmission signal comprising a carrier signal, a ranging code, a data signal, and at least one stepped subcarrier modulation signal. The method may comprise modulating the canier signal by the at least one stepped subcarrier modulation signal, the data signal, and the ranging code to generate the navigation transmission ranging signal, wherein the at least one stepped subcarrier modulation signal may comprise a number, m, of amplitude levels, where m>2. The amplitude levels may be arranged to constrain the power spectrum of the navigation transmission signal in a predetermined manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Secretary of State for Defence
    Inventors: Anthony Richard Pratt, John Ivor Rewbridge Owen
  • Patent number: 8952842
    Abstract: An altimetry system for a satellite, including an altimeter transmitting and receiving signals on at least one first frequency band; a radiometer receiving signals on at least one second frequency band, the altimeter and the radiometer being connected to one and the same antenna; reception means common to the altimeter and to the radiometer, and capable of amplifying and filtering the signals received from the antenna on a frequency band including the first frequency band and the second frequency band; means for separating the signals on the first frequency band from the signals on the second frequency band; the signals on the first frequency band being exploited to estimate an altimetric distance of the satellite, and radiometric measurements being exploited in order to correct the estimate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Richard Jacques, Nicolas Taveneau
  • Patent number: 8948927
    Abstract: Example methods and systems for determining a distribution of balloons based on population densities is provided. A method may include receiving information indicating a region divided into a plurality of horizontal bands of latitudes and a population density for one or more areas of the region. The method may also include associating the population density for a given area with a corresponding horizontal band of latitude in which the given area resides, and based on the population density associated with each horizontal band of latitude, determining a distribution of a plurality of balloons per horizontal band of latitude. The method may also include providing instructions to control the distribution of the plurality of balloons per horizontal band of latitude to remain in a trajectory substantially within a respective horizontal band of latitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Daniele P. Piponi
  • Patent number: 8935122
    Abstract: An alignment device provides position information for an antenna coupled to an extendable tower. The alignment device can provide position data including pitch data, roll data, and azimuth data. The position data can be collected at multiple times, and reported to a remote computing device. The position data can be reported as the raw measured data, a delta between two sets of position data, or other data. The alignment device may be solar powered and include a transceiver client for communicating with a remote computing device via a transceiver server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: US Tower Corp.
    Inventor: Daryl A. Stisser
  • Patent number: 8928526
    Abstract: Techniques for monitoring transmission performance of a satellite communications systems are provided, including techniques for measuring the primary contributors to the end-to-end SNR, including the uplink SNR, the downlink SNR, and the C/I for each link in the network. These individual measurements are used to estimate satellite effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP), satellite antenna gain-to-noise-temperature (G/T), and loss due to an Earth Terminal pointing error. The EIRP, satellite antenna G/T and loss due to Earth terminal pointing error may then be used to determine operating parameters for the satellite communications network that enable the network to operate more efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: ViaSat, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark J. Miller
  • Publication number: 20140375492
    Abstract: Systems and methods for integrate satellite communications. A network of upward facing antennas placed on top of cell phone towers is established. Each upward facing antenna has a footprint at the altitude of a particular satellite orbit. Upward facing antennas are placed on cell towers so as to establish a continuous coverage over the orbit of a satellite(s) thereby allowing continuous communication using cellular technology with the satellite(s) on orbit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: RIVERSIDE RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventor: John E. PLOSCHNITZNIG
  • Patent number: 8909471
    Abstract: A position determining voting system that uses Doppler information from an on-board weather radar to improve the system's accuracy and/or fault tolerance includes a comparison function and an error integration function. The comparison function is used to monitor the independent position sources for correct operation, comparing and identifying a position source that should not be used based on its relative error compared with the other position sources and their characteristics. The integration function provides corrections to relative position sources by integrating the data from multiple absolute position sources when they are mutually consistent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard D. Jinkins, Richard M. Rademaker, Daniel L. Woodell, James H. Doty, Keith L. Kerley, James Alva Young, Jr., Shih-Yih Young
  • Publication number: 20140313073
    Abstract: A mobile satellite radio equipped with a phased array antenna configures the phased array antenna in one or more non-directional operating modes in order to initially detect a signal from a communication satellite. Once a signal has been received from the satellite, frequency information determined in the course of operating in the one or more non-directional modes is used to configure the mobile satellite radio for operation in a subsequent stage when the phased array antenna is configured in a directional mode. In the subsequent stage the phased array antenna is used to scan a solid angle space to determine the direction of the satellite. Thereafter the antenna is used in the directional mode for satellite communication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventors: Carlo DiNallo, Nathan Cummings
  • Publication number: 20140313074
    Abstract: A direct broadcast satellite (DBS) reception assembly may receive a desired satellite signal and process the desired satellite signal for output to a gateway. The DBS assembly may also receive one or more undesired satellite signals and determine a performance metric of the one or more undesired satellite signals. The elevation angle of the assembly and/or the azimuth angle of the assembly may be adjusted based on the performance metric(s) of the undesired satellite signal(s). The adjusting of the elevation angle and/or the azimuth angle may comprise electronically steering a directivity of a receive radiation pattern of the DBS reception assembly and/or mechanically steering one or more components of the assembly via motors, servos, actuators, MEMS, and/or the like. The performance metric may be received signal strength of the undesired signals, received signal strength of the desired signal, SNR of the desired signal, and/or SNR of the undesired signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: MaxLinear, Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn Chang, Curtis Ling, Sridhar Ramesh
  • Publication number: 20140225767
    Abstract: A method and system facilitate communication between a constellation of satellites and a mobile platform-mounted mobile communicator. The method and system may include the use of a first antenna suited for operation using a first frequency band in a first geographic region and a second antenna suited for operation using either the first or a second frequency band in a second geographic region. The method and system may use a controller to determine which antenna to activate based on one or more of a geographic indicator or a signal indicator. The system used by the method to facilitate the communication may have one or more enclosures over the antennas and controller for mounting to a mobile platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: Gogo LLC
    Inventor: Sean Scott Cordone
  • Publication number: 20140218232
    Abstract: A support system (1) for traffic support of ships (20a, 20b, 21a, 21b), having AIS ship reception units for receiving AIS radio signals containing ship traffic data, is characterized in that at least one flight object (2) is provided, comprising at least one AIS flight transmission unit (3), which is designed to transmit AIS radio signals containing ship traffic data inside an AIS transmission range (10) in such a manner that the transmitted AIS radio signals can be received by the ships (20a, 20b, 21a, 21b) located inside the AIS transmission range (10) by means of their respective AIS ship reception units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: DEUTSCHES ZENTRUM FUER LUFT- UND RAUMFAHRT E.V.
    Inventors: Joerg Behrens, Birgit Suhr, Lars-Christian Hauer
  • Publication number: 20140197986
    Abstract: A direct-to-home satellite outdoor unit may comprise a reflector, a support structure, circuitry, and an array of antenna elements mounted to the support structure such that energy of a plurality of satellite beams is reflected by the reflector onto the array where the energy is converted to a plurality of first signals. The circuitry may be operable to process the first signals to concurrently generate a plurality of second signals, each of the second signals corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of satellite beams. The circuitry may be operable to process one or more of the second signals for outputting content carried in the one or more of the second signals onto a link to an indoor unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: MaxLinear, Inc.
    Inventor: Curtis Ling
  • Publication number: 20140197987
    Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, a phased array antenna comprises multiple subcircuits in communication with multiple radiating elements. The radio frequency signals are independently adjusted for both polarization control and beam steering. In a receive embodiment, multiple RF signals of various polarizations are received and combined into at least one receive beam output. In a transmit embodiment, at least one transmit beam input is divided and transmitted through multiple radiating elements, with the transmitted beams having various polarizations. In an exemplary embodiment, the phased array antenna provides multi-beam formation over multiple operating frequency bands. The wideband nature of the active components allows for operation over multiple frequency bands simultaneously.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Inventors: David W. Corman, Rob Zienkewicz, David Saunders
  • Patent number: 8769387
    Abstract: A system for configuring telemetry transponder cards uses a database of error checking protocol data structures, each containing data to implement at least one CCSDS protocol algorithm. Using a user interface, a user selects at least one telemetry specific error checking protocol from the database. A compiler configures an FPGA with the data from the data structures to implement the error checking protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Kosta A. Varnavas, William Herbert Sims, III
  • Publication number: 20140152492
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a Portable Satellite Communication (“PSC”) antenna. The PSC antenna (100) comprises: a Parabolic Segmented Antenna (“PSA”) reflector (102) with a plurality of identical and interchangeable panels (106) that can be stowed in a nested stacked arrangement; a plurality of interchangeable feedhorn assemblies (104) that can be coupled to a center hub (110) via a quick-connect mechanism (112); an adjustment mechanism (2512, 2602, 2604) for adjusting an angular orientation of the feedhorn assemblies relative to the center hub; a transceiver (202) that can be coupled to a convex side of the PSA reflector; a base panel (120) which is coupled to a tripod positioning structure (118) such that reflector wind moment loads can be transferred through a base panel to the tripod positioning structure; and a tripod positioning structure with folding legs (3102, 3104) and hard stops (3306) against which the folding legs can be preloaded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: HARRIS CORPORATION
    Inventor: HARRIS CORPORATION
  • Publication number: 20140145875
    Abstract: A satellite receiver module (101) for telecommunication equipment includes circuitries (102, 103) configured to: receive timing information from one or more satellites, run at least a part of master-end functions of a synchronization protocol suitable for synchronizing master and slave clock-times over a data transfer network, and convert the timing information into timing messages that are accordant with the synchronization protocol. The satellite receiver module further includes a data interface (104) including a connector (105) for detachably attaching to a body device of the telecommunication equipment and for transferring a bit stream carrying the timing messages to the body device. Because the timing information received from the one or more satellites is converted into the timing messages that are accordant with the synchronization protocol, the timing information can be transferred among other possible digital data, e.g. location information, from the satellite receiver module to the body device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: TELLABS OY
    Inventor: Kenneth HANN
  • Publication number: 20140125519
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing and transmitting precise orbit predictions of satellites in a Global Navigation Satellite System such as Navstar-GPS which employs curve fitting techniques and a polynomial and sinusoidal model to encode ephemerides, and particularly ephemerides of durations 6 hours or longer, in order to minimize bandwidth requirements over-the-air and NVRAM storage requirements. The methods also apply to GNSS constellations such as Galileo or GLONASS. Also, methods are disclosed for recovering the ephemeris on a GNSS receiver device in the constellation's native format.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Inventors: Alexander Brown, Eric Derbez
  • Patent number: 8714458
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a tracking system configured to track a product and/or an activity. The tracking system comprises a tracing device and a verification server. The tracing device is coupled with the verification server by means of communication means configured to allow exchange of data between the tracing device and the verification server. The tracing device is coupled with a first satellite localization receiver which is configured to receive signals from a satellite localization system, process the received signals to obtain satellite localization observables, and compute locations based on the satellite localization observables. The tracing device is configured to acquire from the first satellite localization receiver positioning data. The tracing device is further configured to provide the verification server with the positioning data and the satellite localization observable acquired from the satellite localization receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Telespazio S.p.A.
    Inventor: Mario Musmeci
  • Patent number: 8713324
    Abstract: System and methods provide tracking capabilities by one or a plurality of satellites for a mobile terrestrial terminal. A user requests that a satellite track a particular mobile terrestrial terminal. If the user privilege level allows for this level of control, the satellite adjusts to track the identified terminal. One method for tracking involves the use of a steerable antenna in which the antenna steers to maintain a footprint over the identified mobile terminal. Another method for tracking involves moving the satellite itself to maintain a footprint over the identified mobile terminal. The tracking functionality may utilize a closed loop tracking method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: OverHorizon (Cyprus) PLC
    Inventors: Per Wahlberg, Kennet Lejnell
  • Publication number: 20140097981
    Abstract: A telecommunication satellite with geostationary orbit comprises an upper module, a lower module, and a lateral module, disposed in a storage configuration between the upper module and the lower module, and deployed to an operational configuration of the satellite in the orbit by a rotation in relation to an axis Z oriented towards the earth in the operational configuration. The lateral module comprises two substantially plane and mutually parallel main surfaces, termed dissipative surfaces, able to dissipate by radiation a quantity of heat generated by facilities of the satellite; the dissipative surfaces being, in the operational configuration, held in a manner substantially parallel to the plane of the orbit, making it possible to limit the solar flux received by the dissipative surfaces and to optimize the quantity of heat dissipated by the lateral module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Inventor: Bruno CELERIER
  • Publication number: 20130342390
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a rotation apparatus of the polarizer for a multiple-polarized satellite signals and a satellite signal receiving apparatus included with the apparatus, includes a feedhorn for receiving satellite; a low noise block down converter for processing signals received by the feedhorn; and a skew compensation apparatus, included in the low noise block down converter or feedhorn, for rotating the low noise block down converter or feedhorn to compensate skew angles in the case that the satellite signals received in the feedhorn are the linearly polarized waves, the low noise block down converter includes the rotation apparatus of the polarizer for receiving linearly polarized signals and circularly polarized signals of the satellite signals, thereby to receive and process both of linearly polarized wave and circularly polarized wave by a simple structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: INTELLIAN TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Seung-Hyun Cha, Ho-Seon Lee, Jong-Hwan Cha
  • Patent number: 8600292
    Abstract: A satellite communication system designed to communicate with wireless communication devices (WCDs) by use of a mosaic pattern of signal beams uses multiple beams to augment the communication with individual WCDs. In addition to communication with a WCD through a primary beam for that WCD, adjacent beams are used, but with signals utilizing circuit parameters assigned to the primary beam. The signals from a given WCD are relayed in a backhaul, either as an aggregate signal processed by the satellite, or as backhaul communication signals to be combined or separated on the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Ahmad Jalali
  • Publication number: 20130307721
    Abstract: There are provided a polarizer rotating device and a satellite signal receiving apparatus having the same. The satellite signal receiving apparatus includes a feedhorn that receives a satellite signal; a low noise block down converter that processes the signal received by the feedhorn; a skew compensating device that is provided at the low noise block down converter or the feedhorn and rotates the low noise block down converter or the feedhorn to compensate for a skew angle when the satellite signal received by the feedhorn is a linearly polarized wave; a polarizer that receives a linearly polarized signal and a circularly polarized signal of the satellite signal; and a polarizer rotating device that rotates the polarizer when the satellite signal received by the polarizer is a circularly polarized wave. In such a simple structure, the linearly polarized wave and the circularly polarized wave are all received to be processed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: INTELLIAN TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Min-Son Son, Ho-Seon Lee
  • Patent number: 8582693
    Abstract: Wireless receiver for receiving a plurality of co-existing wireless signals respectively from different positioning systems, includes an analog frontend and an analog-to-digital converting unit. The analog frontend is arranged to convert bands of the co-existing wireless signals into a plurality of corresponding intermediate bands by a local frequency and to provide an intermediate signal including the intermediate bands. The analog-to-digital converting unit is coupled to the analog frontend, and is arranged to convert the intermediate signal to a digital signal, wherein an operation band of the analog-to-digital converting unit covers the plurality of intermediate bands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Mediatek Singapore PTE. Ltd.
    Inventors: Chun-Geik Tan, Wei-Min Shu, Chi-Hsueh Wang
  • Patent number: 8576118
    Abstract: Techniques for monitoring transmission performance of a satellite communications systems are provided, including techniques for measuring the primary contributors to the end-to-end SNR, including the uplink SNR, the downlink SNR, and the C/I for each link in the network. These individual measurements are used to estimate satellite effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP), satellite antenna gain-to-noise-temperature (G/T), and loss due to an Earth Terminal pointing error. The EIRP, satellite antenna G/T and loss due to Earth terminal pointing error may then be used to determine operating parameters for the satellite communications network that enable the network to operate more efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: ViaSat, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark J. Miller
  • Patent number: 8577519
    Abstract: The present invention is a telemetry system, and more specifically is a rapidly deployed modular telemetry apparatus which utilizes of SDR technology and the FPGA programming capability to reduce the number of hardware components and programming required to deploy a telemetry system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Kosta A. Varnavas, William Herbert Sims, III
  • Patent number: 8565439
    Abstract: A method is provided for detecting scrambling of a radiocommunication network. The method is applied by a radiocommunication circuit capable of being connected to the network by being synchronized on a radiocommunication channel. The method includes a final detection phase, having the following steps: detection of verification of the following final condition: there are N radiocommunication channels on which the radiocommunication circuit cannot be synchronized despite detection of a power level normally sufficient for being synchronized, where N>2; and if the final condition is verified, generation of a final scrambling signal with a probability of scrambling equal to 100%. The method also includes at least one intermediate detection phase, having the following steps: detection of verification of at least one intermediate condition; and if the at least one intermediate condition is verified, generation of an intermediate scrambling signal with a probability of scrambling of less than 100%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Sierra Wireless
    Inventors: Erwan Girard, Christophe Flechelle, Thierry Lys
  • Patent number: 8526955
    Abstract: A movement predicting method is disclosed. The method utilizes at least one phone communicating in and moving between neighboring cells of base stations to predict population movement in a prediction interval. Firstly, obtain the traffic volumes in the cells generated by the phone and the handover information generated by the phone moving between the cells in a day. Next, calculate the traffic volumes and the handover information to obtain a movement probability for the population moving between the cells and an average residence time that the population stays in the region of each cell in the different periods of the day. Finally, according to the data obtained, predict an appearance probability that the population appears in each region at the end point of the prediction interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: National Chiao Tung University
    Inventors: Yi-Bing Lin, Chien-Chun Huang-Fu
  • Publication number: 20130222179
    Abstract: A rainfall attenuation estimating apparatus calculates correlation coefficients between a rainfall rate measured at a location of a satellite earth station and rainfall rates measured at locations near the satellite earth station, determines a correlation location and a correlation time difference to be used for estimating rainfall attenuation among the plurality of nearby locations based on the rainfall rates measured at the respective nearby locations and the rainfall rate measured at the location of the satellite earth station, and calculates an amount of rainfall attenuation of the satellite earth station by using rainfall rate data corresponding to a determined correlation location and correlation time difference measured at a time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventor: Nam Ho JEONG
  • Patent number: 8520717
    Abstract: Radiolocalization receiver having a plurality of correlation taps, and including a module of cross-correlation detection in which spurious correlation terms are detected by statistical analysis of the frequencies of the candidate peaks. The system can restrict further integration to those taps whose frequency is outside the cross-interference signal, or trigger new acquisition of different space vehicles, upon detection of a cross-interference situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Joel Brenner, Angelo Genghi
  • Patent number: 8514966
    Abstract: A method for communication includes modulating data to produce a series of symbols defined in a signal space. The symbols are pulse-shaped using a given pulse shape. A signal, which includes a sequence of the pulse-shaped symbols (104A . . . 104C) transmitted at a symbol rate that is higher than a Nyquist rate defined for the given pulse shape, is transmitted to a receiver (40). Prior to pulse-shaping the symbols, Inter-Symbol Interference (ISI) in the signal is pre-compensated for by applying a lattice precoding operation to the symbols. The lattice precoding operation confines the symbols to a predefined volume (110) in the signal space and is computed independently of any feedback from the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Novelsat Ltd.
    Inventors: Daniel Wajcer, Uri Beitler
  • Patent number: 8514916
    Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments for determining the length of a connecting cable between a modem and a transceiver by measuring the propagation time of a signal along the connecting cable. A cable length signal is used to adjust the gain of the modem, that ensures that the transceiver circuit operates in the correct power range for both transmitting and receiving signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: ViaSat, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald M. Bishop