Patent ID: 6052559
Filing Date: 2000-04-18
Classification: H03F,H04B

Abstract:
A method of reducing the overall power consumption in a spaced-based microwave communication system, said method comprising the steps of:providing in a first satellite a transmission terminal including a transmission antenna powered by a power amplifier, the power amplifier to generate a power output sufficient to generate an RF signal through the transmission antenna and sufficient to be directly received at a second satellite;providing in said second satellite a receive terminal including a receive antenna to receive the RF signal and a low noise amplifier to amplify the RF signal channeled through the receive antenna, said low noise amplifier being fabricated on an Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuit (MMIC);cooling the MMIC to a predetermined temperature thereby increasing sensitivity of the low noise amplifier; andresponsive to said cooling step, reducing the power output generated by the power amplifier in the first satellite, thereby reducing the overall power requirements of the spaced-based microwave communication system.