Patent ID: 7889129

Claim:
A space-based antenna system for a satellite, the system comprising: a central system of the space-based antenna system, wherein the central system includes: a stable local oscillator configured to generate a reference frequency signal, circuitry configured to generate transmit signals based at least in part on the reference frequency signal, at least one system transceiver for transmitting the reference frequency signal and the transmit signal, and to receive a receive signal; and, multiple active antenna nodes forming a portion of an active phased array antenna system, wherein each active antenna node includes: at least one node transceiver configured to receive the reference frequency signal and the transmit signal from the system transceiver, and to transmit the receive signal to the system transceiver, frequency translating circuitry coupled to receive the reference frequency signal, and to provide signal translation between the transmit and receive signals to inhibit interference between the transmit and receive signals, a power generation portion, and control circuitry coupled with the node transceiver and the power generation portion, wherein the control circuitry is configured to process or control the transmit and receive signals, and configured to at least facilitate control of beam formation and beam steering of the space-based antenna system using, at least in part, the reference frequency signal and, one or both of the transmit and receive signal.