Channel reconfigurable millimeter-wave RF system
A channel reconfigurable millimeter-wave RF system is disclosed including, a high altitude platform, a first and second radio frequency module connected to the high altitude platform. The first radio frequency module includes a first transceiver configured to operate the first antenna at a frequency of greater than approximately 30 GHz and includes a first controller connected to the first transceiver and configured to transmit and received data through a first antenna. The first controller is configured to disable the second radio frequency module based on data received through the first antenna.
1. A system comprising:
a high altitude platform;
a first radio frequency module connected to the high altitude platform, the first radio frequency module comprising:
a first antenna;
a first channel duplexing device connected to the first antenna;
a first plurality of channel reconfiguration devices connected to the first antenna;
a first transceiver connected to the first antenna, the first transceiver configured to operate the first antenna at millimeter wave frequencies; and
a first controller connected to the first transceiver and configured to transmit and receive data through the first antenna; and
a second radio frequency module connected to the high altitude platform, the second radio frequency module comprising:
a second antenna;
a second channel duplexing device connected to the second antenna;
a second plurality of channel reconfiguration devices connected to the second antenna;
a second transceiver connected to the second antenna, the second transceiver configured to operate the second antenna at millimeter wave frequencies; and
a second controller connected to the second transceiver and configured to transmit and receive data through the second antenna,
wherein the first controller is configured to disable the second radio frequency module based on data received through the first antenna, the received data including a flight condition warning.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first radio frequency module further comprises one or more sensors connected to the controller and configured to sense position, attitude, and/or heading information regarding the high altitude platform.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to transmit the position, attitude, and/or heading information from the one or more sensors through an auxiliary radio link.
4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the first antenna is steerable and steered based on the position, attitude, and/or heading information.
5. The system of claim 3 , wherein the first controller is configured to change the first transceiver from a receive configuration to a transmit configuration based on network traffic requirements and a geometrical status of the high altitude platform received through the auxiliary radio link.
6. A method comprising:
transmitting data from a first high altitude platform to a second high altitude platform using a first radio frequency module connected to the first high altitude platform;
receiving data at the first high altitude platform transmitted from the second-high altitude platform using a second radio frequency module connected to the first high altitude platform,
wherein the first radio frequency module comprises:
a first antenna;
a first channel duplexing device connected to the first antenna;
a first plurality of channel reconfiguration devices connected to the first antenna;
a first transceiver connected to the first antenna, the first transceiver configured to operate the first antenna at millimeter wave frequencies; and
a first controller connected to the first transceiver and configured to transmit and receive data through the first antenna, and
wherein the second radio frequency module comprises:
a second antenna;
a second channel duplexing device connected to the second antenna;
a second plurality of channel reconfiguration devices connected to the second antenna;
a second transceiver connected to the second antenna, the second transceiver configured to operate the second antenna at millimeter wave frequencies; and
a second controller connected to the second transceiver and configured to transmit and receive data through the second antenna;
the method further comprising the first controller disabling the second radio frequency module based on data received through either the first antenna or a command link, the received data including a flight condition warning.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the first radio frequency module further comprises one or more sensors connected to the first controller and configured to sense position, attitude, and/or heading information regarding the first high altitude platform.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising transmitting position, attitude, and/or heading information through an auxiliary radio link.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising steering the first antenna based on the position, attitude, and/or heading information.
10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising adjusting the first transceiver from a receive configuration to a transmit configuration based on network traffic requirements and a geometrical status of the high altitude platform received through the auxiliary radio link.
11. A system comprising:
a high altitude platform;
an antenna connected to the high altitude platform;
a first radio frequency module connected to the high altitude platform, the first radio frequency module comprising:
a first channel duplexing device connected to the antenna;
a first plurality of channel reconfiguration devices connected to the first channel duplexing device; and
a first transceiver connected to first plurality of channel reconfiguration devices, the first transceiver configured to operate at millimeter wave frequencies; and
a second radio frequency module connected to the high altitude platform, the second radio frequency module comprising:
a second channel duplexing device connected to the antenna;
a second plurality of channel reconfiguration devices connected to the second channel duplexing device; and
a second transceiver connected to the second plurality of channel reconfiguration devices, the second transceiver configured to operate at millimeter wave frequencies;
a controller connected to the first radio frequency module and second radio frequency module and configured to transmit and receive data through the antenna, wherein the controller is configured to disable the second radio frequency module based on received data, the received data including a flight condition warning.
12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the flight condition warning is based on one or more conditions that may cause the high altitude platform to unintentionally move location.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the one or more conditions that may cause the high altitude platform to unintentionally move location include one or more of wind, thermals, turbulence, or other aircraft.
14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the high altitude platform is a communication balloon.
15. The method of claim 6 , wherein the flight condition warning is based on one or more conditions that may cause the first high altitude platform to unintentionally move location.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the one or more conditions that may cause the first high altitude platform to unintentionally move location include one or more of wind, thermals, turbulence, or other aircraft.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first high altitude platform is a communication balloon.
18. The system of claim 11 , wherein the flight condition warning is based on one or more conditions that may cause the high altitude platform to unintentionally move location.
19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the one or more conditions that may cause the high altitude platform to unintentionally move location include one or more of wind, thermals, turbulence, or other aircraft.
20. The system of claim 18 , wherein the high altitude platform is a communication balloon.