Invention Grant
- Patent Title: Cross-link satellite with spherical reflectors
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Application No.: US16492561Application Date: 2018-03-09
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Publication No.: US10938117B2Publication Date: 2021-03-02
- Inventor: Christopher K. Walker
- Applicant: ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
- Applicant Address: US AZ Tucson
- Assignee: ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
- Current Assignee: ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
- Current Assignee Address: US AZ Tucson
- Agency: Blank Rome LLP
- International Application: PCT/US2018/021872 WO 20180309
- International Announcement: WO2018/165626 WO 20180913
- Main IPC: H01Q15/16
- IPC: H01Q15/16 ; H01Q1/28 ; H01Q15/24 ; H01Q3/26 ; H04B7/185

Abstract:
A cross-link satellite with spherical reflectors that can communicate in up to five substantially orthogonal directions, and thus can be included in a satellite constellation, that can be built and deployed at a lower cost than conventional satellite antennas in conventional satellite constellations. The cross-link satellite includes a communications hub in the center of a spherical balloon. The spherical balloon includes a transparent surface and three or more reflective surfaces. The reflective surfaces include a continuous reflective surface (e.g., for communicating with the ground), a first polarized reflective surface, and a second polarized reflective surface opposite the first polarized reflective surface. The first polarized reflective surface and the second polarized reflective surface are orthogonally polarized, enabling the cross-link satellite to communicate with satellites on either side of the cross-link satellite as part of a satellite constellation.
Public/Granted literature
- US20200044354A1 CROSS-LINK SATELLITE WITH SPHERICAL REFLECTORS Public/Granted day:2020-02-06
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