Patent Publication Number: US-10763967-B2

Title: Communications relay satellite with a single-axis gimbal

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation application of, and claims the benefit of, U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 15/623,732, filed on Jun. 15, 2017. The subject matter thereof is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present invention relates to relaying information, and more particularly, to a communications relay satellite with a single-axis gimbal that provides high-rate communication. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Recent progress in sensor technology has allowed low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellites to shrink significantly in size, disrupting a legacy industry where traditional satellites cost $500 million to $1 billion to build and launch. Major investments are being made to address the new opportunities this provides for data collection, and many companies are launching nanosatellites and/or microsatellites into LEO to capture this opportunity. The rapidly expanding satellite infrastructure is generating vast amounts of data, reaching nearly 20 PB/year in 2014, with no signs that the trend will level off. To bring the data down from LEO requires an average communication rate of 5 Gb/s, continuously, and that demand will continue to grow. 
     Typically, most satellites download data via space-to-ground radio-frequency (RF) links, communicating directly with fixed ground stations as the satellites fly within range. The current ground station infrastructure has several key limitations that present significant challenges as the satellite industry continues to grow. Satellite-to-ground communications are “line-of-sight,” meaning that ground stations can receive data directly only from satellites that are above the local horizon. The duration of a satellite pass over a ground station depends on the altitude of the satellite and the distance between the ground station and the ground track of the satellite. With satellites in LEO, the maximum pass duration is typically less than ten minutes. 
     The frequency of passes is strongly dependent on the satellite orbit parameters and the location of the ground station. For example, a satellite in equatorial orbit will pass over an equatorial ground station on each orbit. With a typical orbital period of 90 minutes, that means 16 passes per day. Similarly, a satellite in a polar orbit will pass over a ground station located at the North Pole once per orbit. On the other hand, the satellite in polar orbit will pass over the equatorial ground station between two and four times per day depending on the alignment of the ground track with the location of the ground station. However, the satellite in equatorial orbit will never pass over the polar ground station. Most LEO satellites are in orbits at some inclination between equatorial and polar, and most ground stations are located at latitudes well south of the North Pole. As such, the pass frequency for any given satellite over any given ground location will typically be three to five times per day for ground stations that are not at high latitude (above about 60 degrees) and not at latitudes higher than the orbital inclination of the satellite. 
     The consequence of limitations on pass duration and frequency is that a satellite in LEO will be within communication range of a given ground station for no more than 10 percent of a day, and typically for less than 2 percent of a day. These constraints on pass duration and pass frequency are driven by orbital dynamics and can be overcome by increasing the number of ground stations or locating the ground stations at very high latitudes. Avoiding downlink constraints requires a large number of geographically-diverse ground stations that are inherently underutilized. 
     One method of compensating for the limitations on ground contact time is to increase the data transmission rate during available contact time. High data rates in the RF require some combination of high transmitter power and high-gain antennas on the satellite and the ground station. High power transmitters and high-gain antennas on the space segment are constrained by power and mass limitations on the satellite. High-gain antennas on the ground are not mass limited, but tend to be very large (e.g., 10 meters or more in diameter) and require significant capital investment. 
     As data produced in LEO increases substantially with more satellites launched, downlink infrastructure must grow to meet demand. However, a more fundamental limitation to downlink rates will be encountered in the future, simply due to the overuse of available RF bandwidth in the space environment. Further, adding new RF ground terminals will not help, because the stations will interfere with one another. Similarly, RF bandwidth is constrained on the space side, i.e., when two satellites are relatively close to one another, their RF signals can interfere. 
     For new satellite companies leveraging advances in satellite costs, capital investment for an extended ground station network is particularly burdensome because the size and cost of the ground network does not scale with the size of the satellites. Ground station costs have not scaled at the same rate as satellite costs, requiring significant further investment to match growth in satellite capacity. 
     Laser communication has the potential to provide data rates adequate to handle all the data generated on orbit for the foreseeable future. However, current laser communication technology requires placing expensive laser transmitters on each satellite, and further placing operational constraints on the satellite (e.g., pointing, jitter, etc.) that are often beyond the capability of budget satellites. Thus, there is a need for a laser communication system that can support a broad range of satellites at a moderate cost and without putting undue burden on the satellites. 
     There have been proposals for a distributed constellation of satellites in Earth orbit, called network satellites, that would enhance the utility of client satellites in Earth orbit by providing a high-bandwidth data link to ground. Client satellites include any satellite in Earth orbit that collects data at a high rate, where high can mean that satellite operations are constrained by availability of communications bandwidth, or that satellite operations require one or more dedicated ground stations. The network satellites receive data from the client satellites, and subsequently, transfer the client data to the ground using optical communication. The proposed system also includes several widely-distributed optical ground stations for receiving data from the network satellites. 
     In the proposed system, the network satellites were envisioned to have high-gain RF receivers that receive data from client satellites. In addition, the network satellites were envisioned to have laser communication transmitters to send data to the ground. Another form of the network satellites had both laser transmitters and optical receivers (telescopes) to receive data transmitted by other laser systems. 
     In both types of network satellites, simultaneous operation of both the receive mode and the transmit mode would not be possible because the pointing requirements of the receiver (whether optical or RF) would be incompatible with the pointing requirements of the transmitter. In the current state of the art, this problem is solved using a two-axis gimbal system that allows the laser to point in the required direction and with its required degree of precision, while the rest of the satellite would point as necessary to receive the incoming signal. However, these two-axis gimbal systems tend to be both expensive, and too large for most small satellites. 
     Thus, an alternative communications relay satellite system may be beneficial. 
     SUMMARY 
     Certain embodiments of the present invention may provide solutions to the problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully identified, appreciated, or solved by current communications relay satellite systems. For example, some embodiments of the present invention generally pertain to a relay node in a space-based communications network. The relay node (or satellite) may use a single-axis gimbal, combined with a full-body rotation of the satellite about the receive axis, to provide near universal pointing. 
     In an embodiment, a relay satellite may incorporate a high-gain receiver, a high-gain transmitter, an attitude-control system, and a single axis gimbal. In some embodiments, the axis of the gimbal is perpendicular to both the axis of the high-gain receiver and the axis of the high-gain transmitter, and allows the two communication axes to be rotated relative to one another about the axis of the gimbal. The satellite may allow simultaneous pointing at two locations in three-dimensional (3D) space by using the attitude-control system to rotate the satellite about the receive or transmit axis. In certain embodiments, the high-gain receiver and the high-gain transmitter may point to the required degree of precision at their respective targets without interfering with one another and may require a single-axis mechanical gimbal between them. 
     In another embodiment, an apparatus for simultaneously receiving and transmitting data in space may include a receiver configured to receive an incoming beam transmitted from a source along a receive vector between the source and the receiver. The apparatus may also include a transmitter to generate a transmitted beam along a transmit vector. The apparatus may further include a single-axis gimbal configured to rotate the transmit vector about an axis substantially perpendicular to the receive vector, and an attitude-control system configured to rotate the apparatus about an axis parallel to the receive vector or the transmit vector. 
     In yet another embodiment, an apparatus for receiving and transmitting data in space may include a receiver configured to receive an incoming beam from a source. The apparatus may also include an attitude control system configured to rotate the apparatus about an axis parallel to the incoming laser beam. The apparatus may further include a single axis gimbal configured to rotate a mirror about an axis perpendicular to the axis of the incoming laser beam, allowing a transmitter to transmit the laser beam to a destination. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In order that the advantages of certain embodiments of the invention will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. While it should be understood that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates available transmit directions for satellite with a single axis gimbal, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2G-2I  illustrate prospective views of a satellite with a single axis gimbal, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 2C-2F  illustrate a cross-section of the satellite with the single axis gimbal, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a satellite relay communication system  300  using single axis gimbal relay satellites, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a satellite relay communication system  400  using single axis gimbal relay satellites, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     A communications relay satellite (referred to as “satellite”) may enable separate pointing of the receive and transmit portions of the satellite, thereby enabling continuous communication through the node. The satellite may incorporate a high-gain receiver, a high-gain transmitter, an attitude control system, and a single-axis gimbal. In some embodiments, the axis of the gimbal is perpendicular to both the axis of the high-gain receiver and the axis of the high-gain transmitter. The axis of the gimbal may allow the two communication axes to rotate relative to one another about the axis of the gimbal. 
     The satellite may enable simultaneous pointing at two locations in three-dimensional space by using the attitude control system of the satellite to rotate the satellite about either the receive or transmit axis. A LEO network of these satellites may provide high-rate communication between any space asset and a ground network with latency limited only by the speed of light. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates available transmit directions for satellite  100  with a single axis gimbal, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In some embodiments, satellite  100  may be capable of long range receiving and long range transmission by using the single axis gimbal. For example, satellite  100  may receive an incoming laser beam, and satellite  100  may rotate around the axis of the incoming laser. In certain embodiments, incoming laser beam may be referred to as incoming laser signal beam, incoming laser, incoming beam, incoming laser signal, or incoming signal. However, for purposes of explanation, the term “incoming laser beam” will be used. In some embodiments, the attitude-control system may point satellite  100  at the incoming laser, and without affecting reception of the incoming laser, satellite  100  may rotate around the axis of the incoming laser beam. For example, the attitude control system may rotate satellite  100  about an axis parallel to a receive or transmit vector. The receive or transmit vector in some embodiments is the path in which the incoming beam is received and the outgoing beam is transmitted. Concurrently, mirror  102 , which is rotated by a gimbal about an axis perpendicular to the axis of satellite  100  or the incoming laser beam, may rotate to transmit the outgoing laser beam in the desired direction. In certain embodiments, the term outgoing laser beam may be referred to as outgoing laser signal beam, outgoing laser, outgoing signal, outgoing signal beam, or outgoing beam. However, for purposes of explanation, the term “outgoing laser beam” will be used. 
       FIG. 2A  illustrates a prospective view of a satellite  200  with a single axis gimbal, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In some embodiments, satellite  200  may include a first compartment  202  and a second compartment  204 . First compartment  202  may contain non-payload satellite components including, but not limited to, power systems, attitude-control systems, radios, navigation systems, cameras, and other components required for satellite operations. Second compartment  204  may contain payload-related components of the satellite  200 . 
       FIG. 2B  illustrates a prospective view of the components of the second compartment  204 , according to an embodiment of the present invention. For example, second compartment  204  may include a receive beacon  206 , a receive beacon camera  208 , a receive reflector  210 , a receiver (or detector)  212 , a gimbal  214 , a transmit mirror  216 , a transmit beacon  218 , a transmitter laser output  220 , a transmit beacon camera  222 . In some embodiments, receive beacon  206  may provide an optical beacon visible to the source satellite to provide alignment information. In some embodiments, receive beacon camera  208  may detect a signal from the source satellite (not shown) for use in aligning the incoming laser beam with receiver (or detector)  212 . In some embodiments, receive reflector  210  may act to focus the incoming laser beam onto receiver  212 . 
     Receiver  212  may receive the incoming laser beam from the source satellite and convert the incoming laser beam to an electrical signal. In some embodiments, receiver  212  may be an optical fiber that receives the incoming laser beam and provides an optical amplification before conversion to the electronic signal. See  FIG. 2G , optical fiber receiver  212 , optical amplifier components  224  and optical detector  226 . In some embodiments, the optical fiber  228  may connect directly to the transmit laser  220  without conversion to the electronic signal. See  FIG. 2H , optical fiber receiver  212  and optical amplifier components  224 . 
     In some embodiments, transmit laser output  220  may be a narrow beam modulated to carry a data signal. In some embodiments, transmit beacon  218  may be a laser with a divergence wider than transmit laser output  220  to provide a signal for the destination satellite to assist in alignment. In some embodiments, transmit beacon camera  222  may observe a beacon sent by the destination satellite (not shown) to aid in alignment of the transmit laser output. 
     Transmit mirror  216  may be attached to gimbal  214 . Gimbal  214  in some embodiments is a single axis gimbal that may rotate transmit mirror  216 .  FIGS. 2C-F  illustrate in cross section the motion of transmit mirror  216  and of the transmit laser beam. For example,  FIG. 2C  illustrates transmit mirror  216  in the stowed position (i.e., zero degrees rotation) as it may be for launch.  FIG. 2D  illustrates relay satellite  200  configured to relay an incoming laser beam. In this embodiment, satellite  200  is oriented with its axis parallel to the incoming laser beam and transmit mirror  216  is rotated to a position offset 86 degrees from the stowed position. With transmit laser  220  mounted to transmit at an angle of 8 degrees below the axis of satellite  200 , the reflected laser beam (or outgoing laser beam) may be parallel to the axis of satellite  200 . 
     In  FIG. 2E , transmit mirror  216  is further rotated to a position of 131 degrees from the stowed position and the reflected (or outgoing) laser beam is oriented at 90 degrees from the axis of satellite  200 . In  FIG. 2F , transmit mirror  216  is rotated to a position 153.5 degrees from the stowed position, and the reflected (or outgoing) laser beam is oriented at 135 degrees from the axis of satellite  200 . In one or more of these embodiments, the axis of rotation of transmit mirror  216  is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of satellite  200 , which is parallel to the axis of the incoming laser beam. In certain embodiments, rotation of satellite  200  occurs simultaneously with the rotation of transmit mirror  216  without impeding the incoming laser beam and/or the outgoing laser beam. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a satellite relay communication system  300  using single axis gimbal relay satellites, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, ground station  302  may transmit a laser beam to a relay satellite  304 . Relay satellite  304 , which includes a single axis gimbal, rotates about the axis of the incoming laser beam and uses the single axis gimbal to rotate the mirror (not shown) about an axis perpendicular to the axis of the incoming laser beam to reflect the outgoing laser beam to another relay satellite  306 . Relay satellite  306  using a similar single axis gimbal may transmit a laser beam to another ground station  308 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a satellite relay communication system  400  using single axis gimbal relay satellites, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, client satellite  402  may transmit a laser beam to a relay satellite  404 . Relay satellite  404 , which includes a single axis gimbal, rotates about the axis of the incoming laser beam and uses the single axis gimbal to rotate the mirror (not shown) about an axis perpendicular to the axis of the incoming laser beam to reflect the outgoing laser beam to another relay satellite  406 . Relay satellite  406  using a similar single axis gimbal may transmit a laser beam to another relay satellite (not shown) or to ground station  408 . 
     In order to relay the incoming beam, the relay satellites of  FIGS. 3 and 4  in some embodiments convert the incoming beam to an electronic signal for amplification before converting it back into a laser beam for further transmission. In other embodiments, relay satellites may amplify the incoming beam for further transmission without first converting it to an electronic signal. 
     Some embodiments generally pertain to a communication satellite network that includes a constellation of relay satellites (or “satellites”). In certain embodiments, each satellite includes a receiver configured to receive data from a client satellite or another node in the communication satellite network. Each satellite also includes a transmitter configured to send data to another node in the communication satellite network or to a ground station. Each satellite further includes a gimbal configured to rotate the receiver and transmitter about an axis relative to one another, and an attitude control system configured to control the attitude of the satellite. 
     In certain embodiments, the receiver may be an optical telescope for receiving optical signals, or a high-gain RF receiver for receiving RF signals. The attitude-control system of the satellite may point the receiver of the satellite at the signal source to maintain signal quality. It should be appreciated that the signal from the signal source may arrive at the satellite along an axis defined by the vector between the source and the satellite. Since this vector is linear (and if polarization of the signal is not significant), the satellite is free to rotate about an axis defined by this vector without loss of signal quality. 
     The transmitter in some embodiments is a laser transmitter. However, in other embodiments, the transmitter may be a high-gain RF transmitter. 
     The satellite may receive and transmit a signal simultaneously in some embodiments. For example, since the destination of the transmitted signal may be anywhere in three-dimensional space, the satellite may incorporate a gimbal to allow pointing of the transmitter in any direction relative to the direction of the received signal. The gimbal may rotate the axis of the transmitter over an arc of 180 degrees relative to the axis of the receiver. For example, if the transmitter is a laser, the laser may be mounted to gimbal  214  such that the laser itself is rotated by 180 degrees as gimbal  214  moves. See  FIG. 2I , transmit laser  220  and transmit beacon camera  222 . In another embodiment, the laser may be mounted on the body of the satellite with the laser beam aimed to reflect from a mirror mounted on the gimbal. In those embodiments, rotating the gimbal by 90 degrees may cause the reflected laser beam to move through an arc of 180 degrees. 
     For purposes of explanation, consider a satellite located at the origin of a three-dimensional space defined by Cartesian coordinates such that the signal from the source arrives along the negative x axis. The satellite may then receive the signal by orienting the receiver to point in the negative x direction. In this example, the axis of rotation of the gimbal on the satellite may be perpendicular to the receiver axis, and therefore, perpendicular to the negative x axis of the coordinate system. 
     Further, the gimbal axis may be initially aligned along the y axis of the coordinate system. Also, the transmitter on the relay satellite may be attached to the gimbal such that the transmitter transmits along a direction perpendicular to the gimbal axis, and is initially aligned in the positive z direction. 
     Continuing with this example, the intended destination of the signal may be positioned such that the required transmit direction is along the positive y axis of the coordinate system. To transmit in that direction, the satellite may be rotated about the x axis by 90 degrees, without moving the gimbal. If, on the other hand, the intended destination is along a vector that goes through the point x=1, y=1, z=−1, then the satellite may be rotated about the x axis by 135 degrees and the gimbal may be rotated by 45 degrees. Since the satellite is free to rotate a full 360 degrees without adversely affecting the received signal, if the gimbal is capable of rotating the transmit beam through 180 degrees from the positive x direction to the negative x direction, then the transmitter can be pointed anywhere in space. 
     It should be noted that in this example the rotation of the satellite body is about the receive axis, with the gimbal moving the transmit axis relative to the satellite body. It is equally valid to have the satellite body rotate about transmit axis, with the gimbal moving the receive axis about the satellite body. 
     In an alternative embodiment, it may be necessary to have a reverse data flow for handshaking between the nodes, or simply allow data to flow in the other direction for convenience. To accomplish this, the satellite may include a coaxial receiver and transmitter in the body of the satellite that allows bi-directional communication with the signal source. In addition, a second set of a coaxial receiver and a transmitter may be mounted on the gimbal to allow bi-directional communication with the intended recipient of the signal, creating a fully bi-directional relay node. In effect, the system becomes fully symmetric, allowing data to flow in either direction. This is possible because the body of the satellite should point at one target, while the rotation of the gimbal combined with rotation of the satellite as a whole allows for pointing at the second target. 
     In yet another embodiment, the satellite may be part of a multi-satellite relay node such that the gimbaled portion of the satellite is used primarily for short-range communication to a near-by satellite in the same multi-satellite node. 
     Because the satellites are small and simple (e.g., a 3U CubeSat would be adequate, and 1.5 U may also be sufficient, depending on requirements), initial deployment of the satellite network can be relatively inexpensive. A set of satellites in a single plane may be launched together as a rideshare on a single launch vehicle and then distributed around an orbital plane using variable drag to control satellite spacing. 
     It will be readily understood that the components of various embodiments of the present invention, as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, may be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the detailed description of the embodiments, as represented in the attached figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention as claimed, but is merely representative of selected embodiments of the invention. 
     The features, structures, or characteristics of the invention described throughout this specification may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. For example, reference throughout this specification to “certain embodiments,” “some embodiments,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in certain embodiments,” “in some embodiment,” “in other embodiments,” or similar language throughout this specification do not necessarily all refer to the same group of embodiments and the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. 
     It should be noted that reference throughout this specification to features, advantages, or similar language does not imply that all of the features and advantages that may be realized with the present invention should be or are in any single embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, discussion of the features and advantages, and similar language, throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment. 
     Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the invention. 
     One having ordinary skill in the art will readily understand that the invention as discussed above may be practiced with steps in a different order, and/or with hardware elements in configurations which are different than those which are disclosed. Therefore, although the invention has been described based upon these preferred embodiments, it would be apparent to those of skill in the art that certain modifications, variations, and alternative constructions would be apparent, while remaining within the spirit and scope of the invention. In order to determine the metes and bounds of the invention, therefore, reference should be made to the appended claims.