Patent ID: 7181163
Filing Date: 2007-02-20
Classification: H04B,Y02D

Abstract:
1. A high power satellite communications payload using multi-beam antennas, including a multi-port amplifier configuration, comprising: an input matrix having a plurality of beam input ports and a plurality of output ports, a plurality of controllable TWTAs, each having an input and an output, and having an anode terminal, a collector terminal and a helix terminal, said input being connected to a respective one of said plurality of output ports of the input matrix, an output matrix having a plurality of input ports and a plurality of output ports, each input port thereof being connected to the output of a respective one of said plurality of TWTAs, each output port being connected to a respective feed element of an antenna, a plurality of adjustable power supplies, each being assigned to a respective one of said TWTAs, each of said plurality of power supplies having an input connected to receive a remote command signal and at least one output connected to apply adjustable bias voltages to the respective TWTA in accordance with said command signal; wherein the adjustable power supplies adjust an amount of power allocated to each of said plurality of TWTAs in accordance with said command signal to compensate for a failure condition of one of said TWTAs.