US 12,261,680 B2
System and method for end-to-end beamforming
Kenneth V. Buer, Bluff City, TN (US); and Mark J. Miller, San Marcos, CA (US)
Assigned to ViaSat, Inc., Carlsbad, CA (US)
Filed by ViaSat, Inc., Carlsbad, CA (US)
Filed on May 1, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/651,768.
Application 17/061,928 is a division of application No. 16/553,674, filed on Aug. 28, 2019, granted, now 10,848,236, issued on Nov. 24, 2020.
Application 16/394,844 is a division of application No. 15/714,129, filed on Sep. 25, 2017, granted, now 10,355,774, issued on Jul. 16, 2019.
Application 18/651,768 is a continuation of application No. 18/321,147, filed on May 22, 2023, granted, now 12,034,521.
Application 18/321,147 is a continuation of application No. 17/980,611, filed on Nov. 4, 2022, granted, now 11,695,470, issued on Jul. 4, 2023.
Application 17/980,611 is a continuation of application No. 17/061,928, filed on Oct. 2, 2020, granted, now 11,515,933, issued on Nov. 29, 2022.
Application 16/553,674 is a continuation of application No. 16/394,844, filed on Apr. 25, 2019, granted, now 10,411,792, issued on Sep. 10, 2019.
Application 15/714,129 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2017/013518, filed on Jan. 13, 2017.
Application 15/714,129 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2016/026815, filed on Apr. 8, 2016.
Application 15/714,129 is a continuation in part of application No. PCT/US2016/026813, filed on Apr. 8, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/431,416, filed on Dec. 7, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/314,921, filed on Mar. 29, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/312,342, filed on Mar. 23, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/298,911, filed on Feb. 23, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/278,368, filed on Jan. 13, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/164,456, filed on May 20, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/145,810, filed on Apr. 10, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/145,804, filed on Apr. 10, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2024/0429998 A1, Dec. 26, 2024
Int. Cl. H04B 7/185 (2006.01); H01Q 1/06 (2006.01); H01Q 1/28 (2006.01); H01Q 3/24 (2006.01); H01Q 3/40 (2006.01); H01Q 5/50 (2015.01); H01Q 19/13 (2006.01); H01Q 21/00 (2006.01); H01Q 21/24 (2006.01); H01Q 25/00 (2006.01); H04B 7/024 (2017.01); H04B 7/0413 (2017.01); H04B 7/06 (2006.01); H04B 7/204 (2006.01); H04B 10/118 (2013.01); H04W 4/00 (2018.01); H04W 16/28 (2009.01); H04W 40/20 (2009.01); H04W 76/10 (2018.01); H04W 84/06 (2009.01); H01Q 1/24 (2006.01); H04W 16/26 (2009.01)
CPC H04B 7/18513 (2013.01) [H01Q 1/06 (2013.01); H01Q 1/288 (2013.01); H01Q 3/247 (2013.01); H01Q 3/40 (2013.01); H01Q 5/50 (2015.01); H01Q 19/132 (2013.01); H01Q 21/0025 (2013.01); H01Q 21/24 (2013.01); H01Q 25/001 (2013.01); H04B 7/024 (2013.01); H04B 7/0413 (2013.01); H04B 7/0617 (2013.01); H04B 7/18508 (2013.01); H04B 7/18515 (2013.01); H04B 7/18517 (2013.01); H04B 7/18534 (2013.01); H04B 7/1858 (2013.01); H04B 7/18586 (2013.01); H04B 7/18589 (2013.01); H04B 7/204 (2013.01); H04B 7/2041 (2013.01); H04B 10/118 (2013.01); H04W 4/00 (2013.01); H04W 16/28 (2013.01); H04W 40/20 (2013.01); H04W 76/10 (2018.02); H04W 84/06 (2013.01); H01Q 1/247 (2013.01); H04W 16/26 (2013.01)] 6 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A satellite communications system (SCS) comprising:
an array of access nodes, the access nodes being distributed geographically, and each access node configured to transmit a respective beam-weighted forward uplink signal corresponding to an access-node specific forward signal received by the access node;
a central processing system (CPS) comprising a forward beamforming circuit that is configured to split a forward beam signal into multiple copies, each copy corresponding to a respective one of the access nodes, and each copy weighted according to an access-node specific forward beam weight, for formation of the corresponding access-node specific forward signal, and wherein the forward beam signal carries traffic for one or more user terminals located in a forward user beam coverage area; and
a satellite comprising a plurality of forward signal paths, each forward signal path configured to transmit a forward downlink signal corresponding to reception by the forward signal path of a unique superposition of the beam-weighted forward uplink signals;
wherein the forward beamforming circuit is configured to compute the access-node specific forward beam weights such that coherent combining of the forward downlink signals as transmitted by the satellite forms a forward user beam illuminating the forward user beam coverage area.