US 12,119,563 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 Oct. 9, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/378,045.
Application 18/378,045 is a continuation of application No. 18/104,630, filed on Feb. 1, 2023, granted, now 11,824,280.
Application 18/104,630 is a continuation of application No. 17/690,852, filed on Mar. 9, 2022, granted, now 11,664,594, issued on May 30, 2023.
Application 17/690,852 is a continuation of application No. 17/679,817, filed on Feb. 24, 2022, granted, now 11,670,855, issued on Jun. 6, 2023.
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 2024/0047877 A1, Feb. 8, 2024
Int. Cl. H01Q 21/00 (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 21/06 (2006.01); H04B 7/0408 (2017.01); H04B 7/06 (2006.01); 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)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method comprising:
(a) updating, by one or more processors, a graphical display during a first time period by the steps of:
i. receiving, via a pedestal controller operatively connected to a first parabolic reflector, first angular direction information comprising a first azimuth axis component and a first elevation axis component associated with the first parabolic reflector;
ii. receiving, via a data transport bus, a first set of respective first digital data streams associated with a first plurality of partial beams,
wherein each respective partial beam of the first plurality of partial beams is associated with a respective first digital data stream and data in the respective first digital data stream is associated with a first plurality of respective modulated radio frequency signals received by a plurality of antenna array elements;
iii. processing the first set of respective first digital data streams associated with the first plurality of partial beams to generate a second set of respective second digital data streams associated with the first plurality of beams,
wherein each beam of the first plurality of beams is based on at least two respective first digital data streams;
iv. processing the second set of respective second digital data streams associated with the first plurality of beams to generate first location information and first object movement information associated with a first object associated with a first beam of the first plurality of beams,
wherein the first object movement information comprises a first object angular velocity and a first object angular direction, and
wherein the first object angular direction comprises a first object elevation angle component and a first object azimuth angle component; and
v. updating, the graphical display based on:
a. the first plurality of beams;
b. the first object based at least on the first object movement information;
c. a first azimuth axis based on the first azimuth axis component; and
d. a first elevation axis based on the first elevation axis component; and,
(b) providing, by the one or more processors, respective updated direction information associated with the first beam and the first parabolic reflector by the steps of:
i. generating second angular direction information comprising a second azimuth axis component and a second elevation axis component associated with the first parabolic reflector by the steps of:
a. determining a first angular direction trajectory associated with the respective angular direction of the first parabolic reflector based on:
a) the first location information associated with the first object;
b) the first object movement information;
c) the first angular direction information;
d) the first azimuth axis; and
e) the first elevation axis;
b. determining that the first elevation axis has exceeded a threshold elevation angle;
c. calculating a first tangent trajectory associated with the respective angular direction of the first parabolic reflector based on the first angular direction trajectory, wherein the first tangent trajectory comprises a first azimuth trajectory component and a first elevation trajectory component; and
d. generating the second angular direction information based on:
a) the first beam; and
b) the first tangent trajectory;
ii. generating, by the one or more processors, a respective first weighting factor associated with the first beam as part of a first array of weighting factors associated with the first plurality of beams based on:
a. the first angular direction trajectory;
b. the second angular direction information;
c. the first object movement information;
d. the first azimuth axis, and
e. the first elevation axis;
iii. transmitting, via the pedestal controller to the first parabolic reflector, the second angular direction information,
wherein the pedestal controller adjusts the respective angular direction associated with the first parabolic reflector based on the second angular direction information; and
iv. transmitting, via a system controller associated with the computer system, to a respective digital beamformer of a plurality of digital beamformers operatively connected to the plurality of antenna array elements and the system controller, the respective first weighting factor.