IP Library Granted Patent US 10,938,423
Granted Patent B2
US 10,938,423 · App. 16/446,170 · Granted Mar 2, 2021

Frequency conversion methodology for satellite networks

Inventors: Kumudchandra Patel (Germantown, MD); Walter Robert Kepley (Germantown, MD); Michael J. Scott (Germantown, MD)
Assignee: Hughes Network Systems, LLC
H04B1/0007H04B7/18517
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,938,423
App. No.
16/446,170
Granted
Mar 2, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system comprises a modem, configured to transmit data modulated based on an intermediate frequency within one of a C, X, or Ku band, and a single-stage block-up converter having an input electrically coupled via one inter-facility link cable to the modem, and an output electrically coupled to a high-power amplifier. The single-stage block-up-converter is configured to up-convert the intermediate frequency to a satellite communication frequency within the Ka, Q, or V band.

Claims (29)

1. A system comprising:

a modem, configured to transmit, via a modem output, data modulated based on an intermediate frequency within one of a C, X, or Ku band; and

a single-stage block-up converter having

an input electrically coupled via one inter-facility link cable to the modem output;

a block-up converter output electrically coupled to a high-power amplifier, wherein the single-stage block-up-converter is configured to up-convert the intermediate frequency of the modulated data to a satellite communication frequency within the Ka, Q, or V band;

a mixer having a mixer output; and

a filter circuit including a filter input coupled to the mixer output and filter output coupled to the output of the block-up-converter, configured to:

pass frequencies within a desired spectrum determined based on a signal bandwidth and the satellite communication frequency within the Ka, Q, or V band; and

suppress spurious combination frequencies generated by the mixer, wherein the intermediate frequency is determined such that the filter circuit suppresses the spurious combination frequencies when the spurious frequency combination and a nearest frequency that passes through the filter are at least apart by a minimum frequency domain.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the modem further comprises a digital-to-analog converter configured to:

convert digital data, received at the modem from a remote computer, to an analog value; and

modulate the analog value based on the intermediate frequency.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the digital-to-analog converter consists of one chip that performs both modulation based on the intermediate frequency and conversion of digital data to analog data.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the modem further comprises:

a digital-to-analog converter configured to convert digital data, received at the modem from a remote computer, to an analog value; and

a modulator circuit configured to modulate the analog value based on the intermediate frequency.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the block-up-converter further comprises a local oscillator that generates a local oscillator frequency, wherein the block-up-converter is configured to up-convert the intermediate frequency to the satellite communication feeder link frequency further based on the local oscillator frequency.

6. A system comprising:

means for transmitting, via a modem output, data modulated based on an intermediate frequency within one of a C, X, or Ku band;

means for up converting the intermediate frequency of the modulated data coupled via one inter-facility link cable to the means for transmitting data, to a high-power amplifier, wherein the means for up-converting up-converts the intermediate frequency to a satellite communication frequency within the Ka, Q, or V band; wherein means for up-converting further comprises means for mixing, and means for filtering coupled to the means for mixing, wherein the intermediate frequency is determined such that the filter circuit suppresses spurious combination frequencies generated by means for mixing; and means for mixing is configured to:

pass frequencies within a desired spectrum determined based on a signal bandwidth and the satellite communication frequency within the Ka, Q, or V band; and

suppress spurious combination frequencies generated by the mixer, wherein the intermediate frequency is determined such that the filter circuit suppresses the spurious combination frequencies when the spurious frequency combination and a nearest frequency that passes through the filter are at least apart by a minimum frequency domain.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the means for transmitting data further comprises means for converting digital data to an analog value configured to:

convert digital data, received at the modem from a remote computer, to an analog value; and

modulate the analog value based on the intermediate frequency.

8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the means for transmitting data further comprises:

means for converting digital data received at the modem from a remote computer to an analog value; and

means for modulating configured to modulate the analog value based on the intermediate frequency.

9. The system of claim 6 , wherein means for up-converting is further configured to up-convert the intermediate frequency to the satellite communication feeder link frequency further based on a local oscillator frequency.

Assignments (5)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 19, 2021
From: HUGHES NETWORK SYSTEMS, LLC
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 056435/0697 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 16, 2020
From: PATEL, KUMUDCHANDRA; KEPLEY, WALTER ROBERT; SCOTT, MICHAEL J.
To: HUGHES NETWORK SYSTEMS, LLC
Reel/Frame 054661/0161 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVE APPLICATION NUMBER 15649418 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 050600 FRAME 0314. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT OF PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENTS. Recorded Sep 3, 2020
From: WELLS FARGO, NATIONAL BANK ASSOCIATION
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 053703/0367 →
ASSIGNMENT OF PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENTS Recorded Oct 1, 2019
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 050600/0314 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 5, 2019
From: HUGHES NETWORK SYSTEMS, LLC
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION - AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 049953/0714 →