EVALUATION OF THE FEASIBILITY OF AN ACTIVE PHASED ARRAY ANTENNA IN THE TERMINAL OF THE EXPRESS-RV SATELLITE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
Victor S. Aleshin, Moscow Technical University of Communications and Informatics, Moscow, Russia, abc082012@yandex.ru
Abstract
The basic principles of building a promising domestic regional satellite communication system “Express-RV”, based on the highly elliptical orbit “Molniya” and intended for broadband access of civil sector subscribers to various public communication networks, in particular to the Internet, are considered. The main technical requirements for the antenna systems of mobile mobile satellite communication terminals of the Express-RV system are formulated. The necessity of using active phased array antennas for a number of types of such terminals is justified. A brief overview of the principles of implementation and examples of the design of microstrip active phased array antennas, including their elementary emitters and individual modules, are given. The problem of the occurrence of the blinding effect inherent in flat microstrip gratings made on dielectric substrates is noted; measures to compen-sate for this effect are considered. The possibility of expanding the maximum scanning angle of a narrowly directed beam of an active phased array antenna by using a magnetically controlled scattering dielectric lens, as well as creating segment-dome structures of antenna systems in relation to mobile terminals of mobile satellite communications of the “Express-RV” system, is shown. Simple analytical relations are derived that allow us to estimate the number of elementary emitters required for the implementation of a receiving-transmitting active phased array antenna with specified technical characteristics: gain and maximum scanning angle; the corresponding dependencies are given. The cost of creating an antenna system based on an active phased array is estimated.
Keywords: mobile satellite communications, Express-RV, Molniya orbit, vehicle terminal, active phased array antenna, segment-dome antenna.
References
1. Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. Pr-1256 of 18.07.2018 on the formation and implementation of the federal target program “Sphere”. (in Russian)
2. Urlichich, U, Prokhorov, S. (2020) Goals and objectives of Sphere program. Collection of articles “Satellite communication and broadcasting-2020”. Moscow, Groteck, 2020, pp. 26-32. (in Russian)
3. Eydus, A., Gritsenko, A., Kukk K., Lokshin, B., Timoshenko, O., Aleshin, V., Prihod’ko, V. (2018) The discussion of Sfera program. Technologies and means of communication. Special issue “Satellite communication and broadcasting – 2019”, No. 6-2, pp. 22-31. (in Russian)
4. Lokshin, B. (2018) “Express-RV” as a forward-looking communications system with satellites in highly elliptical orbits. Technologies and means of communication. Special issue “Satellite communication and broadcasting – 2019”, No. 6-2, pp. 62-71. (in Russian)
5. Kamnev, V., Gritsenko, A., Anpilogov, V. (2018) Broadband access systems based on highly elliptical satellites: Russian projects. Technologies and means of communication. Special issue “Satellite communication and broadcasting – 2019”, no. 6-2, pp. 72-75. (in Russian)
6. Kamnev, V. and other (2009). Satellite communication systems. Moscow: Globcatcom, 724 p. (in Russian)
7. Akimov, A., Gritsenko, A., Ståpanov, A., Chazov, V. (2015). Features of construction and operation of the orbital constellation of satellite communications systems. Technologies and means of communication. Special issue “Satellite communication and broadcasting-2016”, no. 6-2, pp. 72-87. (in Russian)
8. High-speed internet in the Arctic. Avaiable at: https://www.rbc.ru/technology_and_media/18/11/2020/5fb529779a 79472176dda8ed (accessed 20.11.2020) (in Russian)
9. “Megafon” began to build a network on the bottom of the Arctic Ocean. Avaiable at: https://www.cnews.ru/news/top/ 2020-07-20 (accessed 30.07.2020) (in Russian)
10. The first stage of marine research under the Arctic Connect project has been completed. Avaiable at: https://rg.ru/2020/11/07/reg-dfo/zavershilsia-pervyj-etap-morskih-issledovanij-v-ramkah-proekta-arctic-connect.html (accessed 10.11.2020) (in Russian)
11. Yakutia joined the MegaFon project Arctic Connect. Avaiable at: https://lenta.ru/news/2021/01/29/mgfnsakha/ (accessed 31.01.2021) (in Russian)
12. Aleshin, V., Dogaev, S. (2021) Assessment of Russia’s real needs for mobile satellite communications services. Electrosvyaz. 2021. No. 2, pp. 60-63. (in Russian)
13. Mysev, M., Uvarov, S. (2020) Issues of frequency resource for low earth orbit high throughput satellite systems. Collection of articles “Satellite communication and broadcasting-2020”. Moscow, Groteck, pp. 66-72 (in Russian).
14. Electromagnetic compatibility of satellite communication systems. Edited by L. Ya. Kantor and V. V. Nozdrin. Moscow: NIIR, 2009. 280 p. (in Russian)
15. Nemirovsky, M., Lokshin, B., Aronov, D. (2016). Basics of building satellite communication systems. Moscow, Gorjachaja linija – Telecom, 432 p. (in Russian)
16. Anpilogov, V., Denisenko, V., Zimin, I., Krivosheev, Yu., Chekushkin, Yu., Shishlov, A. (2019) Problems of creating antennas with electric beam scanning for subscriber terminals of satellite communication systems in the Ku – and Ka-bands. The first mile, 2019. No. 3 (80), pp. 16-27. (in Russian)
17. Yakubovich, V. (2020) VisCom – bet on ultra-small aperture antennas. Collection of articles “Satellite communication and broadcasting-2020”. Moscow, Groteck, pp. 56-57. (in Russian)
18. Bobkov, V., Zvantsugov, N. (2020) Ready solutions for the ground segment of the satellite communication system “Express-RV”. Collection of articles “Satellite communication and broadcasting-2020”. Moscow, Groteck, pp. 34-36. (in Russian)
19. Yakubovich, V. (2018) Big prospects of small antennas. Technologies and means of communication. Special issue “Satellite communication and broadcasting – 2019”, No. 6-2, pp. 58-59 (in Russian).
20. Hansen, R. (1969) Scanning antenna systems of the microwave. Vol. 2. Moscow: Sovetskoe radio. 496 p. (in Russian)
21. Anpilogov, V., Shishlov, A., Eydus, A. (2015). Analysis LEO-HTS systems and feasibility of phased array antennas for the subscriber terminals. Technologies and means of communication. Special issue “Satellite communication and broadcasting-2016”, No. 6-2, pp. 14-26 (in Russian)
22. Anpilogov V., Shishlov A., Eidus A. (2013) Multipath antenna systems HTS. Technologies and means of communication. No. 6-2 (99), pp. 54-67. (in Russian)
23. Shishlov A., Levitan B., Topchiev S., Anpilogov V., Denisenko V. (2018) Multipath antennas for radar and communication systems. Journal of Radio Electronics [electronic journal]. 2018. No. 7. Access mode: http://jre.cplire.ru/jre/jul18/6/text.pdf DOC 10.30898/1684-1719. 2018. 7. 6 (in Russian)
24. Alireza Mahanfar, Javier Rodriguez De Luis, Nil Apaydin, Ersin Yetisir, Shaya Karimkashi Arani. Antenna aperture in phased array antenna systems. Patent US 2019/0252801 A1. Aug.15, 2019.
25. Anpilogov V., Pekhterev S., Shishlov A. (2021) Antenna array and Starlink subscriber terminal. Collection of articles “Satellite communication and broadcasting-2021”. Moscow, Groteck, pp. 69-76. (in Russian)
26. Avaiable at: http://www.cplire.ru/rus/electrodynamics/Bankov-2.html (accessed 11.10.2020) (in Russian)
27. Hansen R.C. (2009) Phased array antennas. 2nd ed.p. cm.
28. Yastrebtsova O. (2019) Method of enhancing wide-angle properties of microstrip antenna arrays. Matters of Electromechanics. VNIIEM Proceedings. Moscow, VNIIEM Corporation, vol.171, No. 4, pp. 39-44 (in Russian)
29. Liu, Y., Yang, H.P., Jin, Z., Zhu, J. (2018) An Improvement Approach for Wide-Angle Impedance Matching Using ELC Metasurface Slabs for SIW Slot Array Antennas. International Journal of Antennas and Propagation, pp. 1-8.
30. Tang, M., Xiao, S., Wang, B., Guan, J., Deng, T. (2011) Improved Performance of a Microstrip Phased Array Using Broadband and Ultra-Low-Loss Metamaterial Slabs. IEEE Antennas and Propagation Magazine, 53, 2011. – pp. 31-41.
31. Engheta, N, Ziolkowski, R.W. (2016) Metamaterials: Physics and Engineering Explorations. Wiley-IEEE Press. 440 p.
32. Voskresensky, D., Volkov, A., Grinev, A. (2016) Periodic microwave composite structures in onboard antenna systems. Proceedings of the 26th International Conference “Microwave Technology and Telecommunications Technologies”, 2016, pp. 6-17. (in Russian)
33. Yastrebtsova, O. (2020) Optimization of the dielectric substrate of microstrip antenna arrays to combat the “blinding” effect. Reports of the VII All-Russian Microwave Conference “Moscow Microwave Week”, November 25-27, 2020, Moscow, IRE RAS, pp. 169-173. (in Russian)
34. Bey, N., Zakharov, E., Ilinsky, A., Medvedev, Yu., Kharlanov, Yu. Antenna with a controlled dome lens. Patent of the Russian Federation No. 2214658, MKI 7 H 01 Q 15/08. Priority 20.03.2002; Published 20.10.2003, Bulletin No. 29.
35. Kochemasov V., Maistrenko A. Phase shifters based on MEMS. Components and technologies. 2016. No. 12, pp. 20-24. (in Russian)
36. Zakharov, E., Ilinsky A., Medvedev V., Perfilov Yu., Samokhin B., Skorodumov A., Kharlanov Yu. (2020) Hybrid dielectric lens antennas of communication means of centimeter and millimeter ranges. Review. Journal of Radio Electronics [electronic journal]. No. 2. Access mode: http://jre.cplire.ru/jre/feb20/3/text.pdf. DOI 10.30898/1684-719.2020.2.3 (in Russian)
37. Medvedev Yu., Kharlanov Yu. (2004) Characteristics of scanning of dome lens antennas used in mobile satellite and radio relay communications of the MMV and SMV bands. Antennas. Issue 2 (81), p. 20-25. (in Russian)
38. Access mode: https://radiorf.ru/en/faziki (accessed 11.10.2020). (in Russian)
39. Access mode: http://www.nano-pulse.com/ru/producty/antenny (accessed 30.12.2020). (in Russian)
40. Kosmynin, A., Shashaev, I., Lemberg, K. (2021) Review of technologies for constructing flat scanning antennas for ground-based satellite communication terminals. Collection of articles “Satellite communications and broadcasting-2021”, Moscow, Groteck, pp. 56-61. (in Russian)
Information about author:
Victor S. Aleshin, Ph.D, senior scientific researcher, leading scientific employee of MTUCI, Moscow, Russia