US 11,955,727 B2
System and method for a digitally beamformed phased array feed
Michael Thomas Pace, Albuquerque, NM (US); David Gregory Baur, Sandia Park, NM (US); Theodore Lyman Schuler-Sandy, Albuquerque, NM (US); William Kennedy, Quincy, MA (US); Jeffrey Gerard Micono, Albuquerque, NM (US); William Louis Walker, Albuquerque, NM (US); and Garrett James Newell, Albuquerque, NM (US)
Assigned to BlueHalo, LLC, Huntsville, AL (US)
Filed by BlueHalo, LLC, Huntsville, AL (US)
Filed on May 1, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/141,944.
Application 18/141,944 is a continuation of application No. 17/690,849, filed on Mar. 9, 2022, granted, now 11,695,209.
Application 17/690,849 is a continuation of application No. 17/679,817, filed on Feb. 24, 2022, granted, now 11,670,855.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/262,124, filed on Oct. 5, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/188,959, filed on May 14, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/200,260, filed on Feb. 24, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0282980 A1, Sep. 7, 2023
Int. Cl. H04B 7/06 (2006.01); G01S 3/04 (2006.01); G01S 3/38 (2006.01); G01S 3/40 (2006.01); G01S 3/42 (2006.01); H01Q 1/02 (2006.01); H01Q 3/08 (2006.01); H01Q 3/20 (2006.01); H01Q 3/22 (2006.01); H01Q 3/26 (2006.01); H01Q 3/34 (2006.01); H01Q 3/38 (2006.01); H01Q 5/28 (2015.01); H01Q 5/48 (2015.01); H01Q 15/16 (2006.01); H01Q 19/10 (2006.01); H01Q 19/13 (2006.01); H01Q 21/00 (2006.01); H01Q 21/06 (2006.01); H04B 7/0408 (2017.01); H04B 7/08 (2006.01); H04B 17/23 (2015.01)
CPC H01Q 5/48 (2015.01) [G01S 3/043 (2013.01); G01S 3/046 (2013.01); G01S 3/38 (2013.01); G01S 3/40 (2013.01); G01S 3/42 (2013.01); H01Q 1/02 (2013.01); H01Q 3/08 (2013.01); H01Q 3/20 (2013.01); H01Q 3/22 (2013.01); H01Q 3/2682 (2013.01); H01Q 3/34 (2013.01); H01Q 3/38 (2013.01); H01Q 5/28 (2015.01); H01Q 15/16 (2013.01); H01Q 19/108 (2013.01); H01Q 19/13 (2013.01); H01Q 21/0068 (2013.01); H01Q 21/062 (2013.01); H04B 7/0408 (2013.01); H04B 7/0639 (2013.01); H04B 7/0695 (2013.01); H04B 7/086 (2013.01); H04B 7/0865 (2013.01); H04B 17/23 (2015.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method comprising:
(a) generating, by a digital software system, a graphical display which displays:
(i) a first plurality of beams;
(ii) a first set of objects including at least a first object and a second object;
(iii) a first azimuth axis associated with a parabolic deflector; and
(iv) a first elevation axis associated with the parabolic deflector;
wherein at least a portion of the graphical display is displayed on a display operably connected to the digital software system;
(b) assigning, by the digital software system, priority information to the first object and the second object,
wherein the first object is assigned first priority information and the second object is assigned second priority information;
(c) assigning, by the digital software system, a first beam to the first object and a second beam to the second object;
(d) providing, by the digital software system, respective direction information associated with the first beam, the second beam and the parabolic reflector;
(e) updating, by the digital software system, the graphical display during a second time period to display:
(i) the first plurality of beams;
(ii) the first set of objects including at least the first object and the second object based at least on first object movement information and second object movement information;
(iii) a second azimuth axis based on a second azimuth axis component; and
(iv) a second elevation axis based on a second elevation axis component;
(f) determining, by the digital software system, whether to unassign the first beam from the first object or the second beam from the second object based on a first maximum distance from the second elevation axis and the second azimuth axis,
(g) determining, by the digital software system, whether one of the first object and the second object has exceeded a first maximum distance from the second elevation axis and the second azimuth axis;
wherein, in the case where the one of the first object and the second object has exceeded the first maximum distance, determining, by the digital software system, whether the first object or the second object has higher priority based on the first priority information and the second priority information,
wherein, in the case where the first object has higher priority than the second object, unassigning, by the digital software system, the second beam of the first plurality of beams from the second object; and
wherein, in the case where the second object has higher priority than the first object, unassigning, by the digital software system, the first beam of the plurality of beams from the first object;
(h) in the case where the second beam is unassigned from the second object, providing, by the digital software system, respective updated direction information associated with the first beam and the first parabolic reflector based on a third azimuth axis component and a third elevation axis component associated with the first parabolic reflector; and
(i) in the case where the first beam is unassigned from the first object, providing, by the digital software system, respective updated direction information associated with the second beam and the first parabolic reflector.