{
  "patent_number": "US 10075242",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "How Satellites Send Internet Signals Using Light Beams",
  "original_title": "High throughput satellite system with optical feeder uplink beams and RF service downlink beams",
  "summary": "This patent describes a ground system that sends many internet data streams to a satellite using a single optical light beam, allowing the satellite to broadcast radio signals without needing to change their frequency.",
  "what_it_does": "This patent describes a ground-based system that prepares data to be sent to a satellite using light instead of traditional radio waves. The system uses multiple lasers, each emitting light at a different color (wavelength). Each laser's light is then modulated by an electro-optical modulator (EOM) with a specific radio frequency (RF) signal that already contains data for satellite internet. Crucially, these RF signals are within the exact same frequency range (like the Ka band, 17.7 GHz to 20.2 GHz, as per claim 7) that the satellite will use to broadcast to users. All these modulated light signals are then combined into one powerful optical feeder uplink beam and sent to the satellite. Because the RF frequencies are already correct, the satellite does not need any frequency conversion equipment, as stated in claim 1, simplifying its design.",
  "what_it_does_not_cover": [
    "Does not cover satellite systems that use traditional radio frequency (RF) signals for the uplink from the ground station.",
    "Does not cover systems where the satellite performs frequency conversion on the received uplink signals before transmitting the downlink beams.",
    "Does not cover systems where the optical data signals output by the electro-optical modulators are not within the same RF frequency range as the satellite's downlink beams.",
    "Does not cover systems where the service terminals receive optical signals directly, rather than radio frequency (RF) service downlink beams.",
    "Does not cover satellites that only transmit a single RF service downlink beam, as the patent specifies a 'plurality' (multiple) of beams."
  ],
  "filed": "2016-12-29",
  "granted": "2018-09-11",
  "expires": "2036-12-29",
  "status": "active",
  "holder": "Space Systems Loral",
  "holder_url": "https://patentbrief.org/company/space-systems-loral",
  "inventors": [
    {
      "name": "Ghislain Turgeon",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/ghislain-turgeon"
    },
    {
      "name": "Vijaya Gallagher",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/vijaya-gallagher"
    },
    {
      "name": "Leah WANG",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/leah-wang"
    }
  ],
  "times_cited": 1,
  "tags": [
    "telecommunications",
    "aerospace",
    "consumer_electronics",
    "software"
  ],
  "abstract": "Described herein are ground based subsystems, and related methods, for use in transmitting an optical feeder uplink beam to a satellite that is configured to receive the optical feeder uplink beam and in dependence thereon produce and transmit a plurality of RF service downlink beams within a specified RF frequency range to service terminals. Also described herein are space based subsystems of a satellite, and related methods, for use in transmitting a plurality of RF service downlink beams within a specified RF frequency range to service terminals. Beneficially certain embodiments eliminate the need for any frequency down-converters or any other type of frequency conversion equipment in a space segment forward link equipment. Also described herein is space segment return link equipment, and related methods, for use in transmitting an optical feeder downlink beam to a ground based subsystem, as well as ground based return link equipment thereof.",
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10075242/high-throughput-satellite-system-with-optical-feeder-uplink-beams-and-rf-service",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10075242/high-throughput-satellite-system-with-optical-feeder-uplink-beams-and-rf-service/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US10075242",
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}