US-12621046-B2 - Integrated mobility terminal for satellite communications

Abstract

An integrated mobility terminal may include a modem to modulate/demodulate digital data to an intermediate frequency (IF) signal; an RF Conversion Module (RCM) to communicate between the IF signal a Radio Frequency (RF) signal for satellite communications; a Beam Forming Array (BFA) to transceive the RF signal and a Common Control Module (CCM) to manage the modem, the RCM and the BFA. The integrated mobility terminal may include a chassis to house the modem, the RCM, the BFA and the CCM, wherein the chassis is of an integrated-unitary construction.

Inventors

• Reza RASOULIAN
• John Schmid

Assignees

• HUGHES NETWORK SYSTEMS, LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20221130

Claims (20)

1. 1 . An integrated mobility terminal comprising: a modem to modulate/demodulate digital data to an intermediate frequency (IF) signal; an RF Conversion Module (RCM) to communicate between the IF signal a Radio Frequency (RF) signal for satellite communications; a Beam Forming Array (BFA) to transceive the RF signal, wherein the BFA comprises an electrically steerable antenna to track the RF signal; a Common Control Module (CCM) to manage the modem, the RCM and the BFA; and a chassis to house the modem, the RCM, the BFA and the CCM, wherein the chassis is of an integrated-unitary construction disposed in an outside environment of an aircraft.
2. 2 . The integrated mobility terminal of claim 1 , further comprising a power supply unit.
3. 3 . The integrated mobility terminal of claim 1 , further comprising a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) to provide a geographic location of the integrated mobility terminal.
4. 4 . The integrated mobility terminal of claim 3 , wherein the GNSS comprises a Global Positioning System (GPS) providing time, frequency and geographic location information.
5. 5 . The integrated mobility terminal of claim 1 , further comprising an Attitude Heading Reference System (AHRS), wherein the AHRS provides roll, pitch and yaw measurements needed to properly point the BFA to a satellite.
6. 6 . The integrated mobility terminal of claim 5 , wherein the AHRS is self-aligning and a disposition of the integrated mobility terminal on the aircraft is agnostic as to an attitude of the aircraft.
7. 7 . The integrated mobility terminal of claim 1 , further comprising a data port configured to communicate via digital packets.
8. 8 . The integrated mobility terminal of claim 1 , further comprising an ethernet port configured to communicate via digital packets.
9. 9 . The integrated mobility terminal of claim 1 , further comprising a radome forming an exterior wall of the integrated mobility terminal, wherein the radome is disposed above the BFA.
10. 10 . The integrated mobility terminal of claim 1 , further comprising a polarizer disposed above the BFA.
11. 11 . The integrated mobility terminal of claim 1 , wherein the BFA has an operational range including 10.7 to 12.7 GHz for reception, the BFA has an operational range including 14 to 14.5 GHz for transmission, the BFA has a field of view from 45 to 90 degrees elevation and 360 degrees in azimuth.
12. 12 . The integrated mobility terminal of claim 11 , further comprising an AHRS and a GNSS.
13. 13 . An integrated mobility terminal comprising: a modem to modulate/demodulate digital data to an intermediate frequency (IF) signal; an RF Conversion Module (RCM) to communicate between the IF signal a Radio Frequency (RF) signal for satellite communications; a Beam Forming Array (BFA) to transceive the RF signal, wherein the BFA comprises an electrically steerable antenna to track the RF signal: a Common Control Module (CCM) to manage the modem, the RCM and the BFA; and an Attitude Heading Reference System (AHRS), wherein the AHRS provides roll, pitch and yaw measurements needed to properly point the BFA to a satellite, wherein the AHRS is self-aligning and a disposition of the integrated mobility terminal on an outside environment of an aircraft is agnostic as to an attitude of the aircraft.
14. 14 . The integrated mobility terminal of claim 13 , further comprising a power supply unit.
15. 15 . The integrated mobility terminal of claim 13 , further comprising a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) to provide a geographic location of the integrated mobility terminal.
16. 16 . The integrated mobility terminal of claim 13 , further comprising a data port configured to communicate via digital packets.
17. 17 . The integrated mobility terminal of claim 13 , further comprising a radome forming an exterior wall of the integrated mobility terminal, wherein the radome is disposed above the BFA.
18. 18 . The integrated mobility terminal of claim 13 , further comprising a polarizer disposed above the BFA.
19. 19 . The integrated mobility terminal of claim 13 , wherein the BFA has an operational range including 10.7 to 12.7 GHz for reception, the BFA has an operational range including 14 to 14.5 GHz for transmission, the BFA has a field of view from 45 to 90 degrees elevation and 360 degrees in azimuth.
20. 20 . The integrated mobility terminal of claim 13 , wherein the chassis is of an integrated-unitary construction.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE The present application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/264,937 filed Dec. 3, 2021, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. FIELD An integrated mobility terminal for satellite communications provides data communications to end users on a mobile platform. The mobile platform includes aeronautical, maritime and land mobile vehicles. BACKGROUND The prior technology implementations include multiple Line Replaceable Units (LRUs) necessitating a larger Size, Weight, and Power consumption (SWaP) in the mobile platform. The larger size of the multiple LRUs can degrade the performance of the mobile platform due to aerodynamic drag and SWaP. For example, in the aeronautical application, the prior technology is based on the ARINC 791/792 industry standards specifying that the mobility terminal is to be implemented as multiple Line Replaceable Units (LRUs) that are separately installed on the aircraft. This results in more physical space, weight and power consumption. Moreover, some of the multiple LRUs of the prior art include climate control environments that can further tax the mobile platform. SUMMARY This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that is further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. An integrated mobility terminal enables the placement on mobile platforms where prior technology placement would not be possible. The integrated mobility terminal is integrated into a single LRU. The LRU integrates satellite components to support a mobility application, for example, a satellite modem, a Radio Frequency (RF) transceiver, an antenna aperture, a Beam Forming Array (BFA), a terminal control manager, position sensors, attitude sensors and power supply conditioning into a single LRU. By eliminating multiple enclosures, while integrating mobility terminal functionality, a single LRU significantly reduces the integrated mobility terminal's size and weight. For example, the single LRU eliminates interface components between the multiple LRUs. Furthermore, by integrating functions into a single LRU results in a significant reduction in power consumption and climate control. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an integrated mobility terminal including: a modem to modulate/demodulate digital data to an intermediate frequency (IF) signal; an RF Conversion Module (RCM) to communicate between the IF signal a Radio Frequency (RF) signal for satellite communications; a Beam Forming Array (BFA) to transceive the RF signal; a Common Control Module (CCM) to manage the modem, the RCM and the BFA; and a chassis to house the modem, the RCM, the BFA and the CCM, wherein the chassis is of an integrated-unitary construction. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an integrated mobility terminal, further including a power supply unit. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an integrated mobility terminal, further including a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) to provide a geographic location of the integrated mobility terminal. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an integrated mobility terminal, wherein the GNSS includes a Global Positioning System (GPS) providing time, frequency and geographic location information. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an integrated mobility terminal, further including an Attitude Heading Reference System (AHRS), wherein the AHRS provides roll, pitch and yaw measurements needed to properly point the BFA to a satellite. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an integrated mobility terminal, wherein the AHRS is self-aligning and a disposition of the integrated mobility terminal on a mobile platform is agnostic as to an attitude of the mobile platform. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an integrated mobility terminal, further including a data port configured to communicate via digital packets. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an integrated mobility terminal, further including an ethernet port configured to communicate via digital packets. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an integrated mobility terminal, further including a radome forming an exterior wall of the integrated mobility terminal, wherein the radome is disposed above the BFA. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an integrated mobility terminal, further including a polarizer disposed above the BFA. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an integrated mobility terminal, wherein the BFA has an operational range including 10.7