US20030040273A1 - Sub-orbital, high altitude communications system - Google Patents

Sub-orbital, high altitude communications system Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US20030040273A1
US20030040273A1 US10/180,217 US18021702A US2003040273A1 US 20030040273 A1 US20030040273 A1 US 20030040273A1 US 18021702 A US18021702 A US 18021702A US 2003040273 A1 US2003040273 A1 US 2003040273A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
relay station
energy
relay
stations
balloon
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US10/180,217
Inventor
Sherwin Seligsohn
Scott Seligsohn
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Family has litigation
First worldwide family litigation filed litigation Critical https://patents.darts-ip.com/?family=22277801&utm_source=google_patent&utm_medium=platform_link&utm_campaign=public_patent_search&patent=US20030040273(A1) "Global patent litigation dataset” by Darts-ip is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to US10/180,217 priority Critical patent/US20030040273A1/en
Priority to US10/307,116 priority patent/US8483120B2/en
Publication of US20030040273A1 publication Critical patent/US20030040273A1/en
Priority to US11/228,144 priority patent/US7567779B2/en
Assigned to KENYON & KENYON LLP reassignment KENYON & KENYON LLP ATTORNEY'S LIEN Assignors: WIRELESS UNIFIELD NETWORK SYSTEMS CORPORATION
Assigned to KENYON & KENYON LLP reassignment KENYON & KENYON LLP ATTORNEY'S LIEN Assignors: WIRELESS UNIFIED NETWORK SYSTEMS CORPORATION
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B64AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
    • B64GCOSMONAUTICS; VEHICLES OR EQUIPMENT THEREFOR
    • B64G1/00Cosmonautic vehicles
    • B64G1/10Artificial satellites; Systems of such satellites; Interplanetary vehicles
    • B64G1/1007Communications satellites
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B64AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
    • B64BLIGHTER-THAN AIR AIRCRAFT
    • B64B1/00Lighter-than-air aircraft
    • B64B1/40Balloons
    • B64B1/44Balloons adapted to maintain predetermined altitude
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B64AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
    • B64BLIGHTER-THAN AIR AIRCRAFT
    • B64B1/00Lighter-than-air aircraft
    • B64B1/40Balloons
    • B64B1/46Balloons associated with apparatus to cause bursting
    • B64B1/48Balloons associated with apparatus to cause bursting to enable load to be dropped by parachute
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B64AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
    • B64GCOSMONAUTICS; VEHICLES OR EQUIPMENT THEREFOR
    • B64G1/00Cosmonautic vehicles
    • B64G1/22Parts of, or equipment specially adapted for fitting in or to, cosmonautic vehicles
    • B64G1/24Guiding or controlling apparatus, e.g. for attitude control
    • B64G1/36Guiding or controlling apparatus, e.g. for attitude control using sensors, e.g. sun-sensors, horizon sensors
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04BTRANSMISSION
    • H04B7/00Radio transmission systems, i.e. using radiation field
    • H04B7/14Relay systems
    • H04B7/15Active relay systems
    • H04B7/185Space-based or airborne stations; Stations for satellite systems
    • H04B7/18502Airborne stations
    • H04B7/18504Aircraft used as relay or high altitude atmospheric platform

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a long duration, high altitude communication system, and more particularly to a communications system in a sub-orbital plane that is well above any system which is physically connected to the ground, and whose components can stay aloft and on station for long periods.
  • Wireless telecommunications systems currently use either terrestrial (ground) based infrastructures or space (satellite) based infrastructures.
  • Terrestrial based systems include radio towers and antennae on tall buildings, mountains, and the like. Also, balloons that are tethered to the ground have been used.
  • Spaced based systems rely on satellites having telecommunications equipment.
  • Terrestrial based wireless telecommunications systems have been known since the early days of radio, almost a hundred years ago. Their configurations range from simple one-way and two-way radio hookups—to radio and television broadcast networks—to today's sophisticated cellular networks and proposed personal communications networks (PCN)
  • PCN personal communications networks
  • Relay stations are used to send and receive radio transmissions to and from other locations. Because they are on or close to the ground, their radio signals tend on the average to be closer to the horizontal than the vertical. Thus, each relay station can only send and receive signals from a limited distance. The distance that the radio signals can travel is limited because of horizon problems due to the curvature of the earth; line of sight problems due to uneven terrain, trees, and buildings; interference due to other signals or with reflections of the transmitted signal; and attenuation problems due to unwanted absorption of the transmitted signal. To increase the area of coverage, either more powerful equipment must be used, and/or the height of the relay stations must be increased.
  • Satellite systems in geosynchronous orbit (approximately 22,000 miles) have been used for may years with a high degree of reliability.
  • Their prime advantage is their high altitude which enables one satellite to send and receive signals from an area on the earth encompassing hundreds of thousands of square miles.
  • satellites are expensive to manufacture, launch and position, either initially or as replacements. Further, because of the cost associated with their manufacture and launch, and the great difficulty in servicing them, extraordinary care must be taken to assure their reliability.
  • the satellites will have to be programmed to permit this to happen. Thus, very complex routing features will need to be implemented.
  • members of the industry disagree amongst themselves over optimum altitudes, angles of signal propagation, and how to deal with the doppler shifts.
  • the satellites' orbits will decay at faster rates than the higher altitude satellites so that they and the equipment they carry will need to be replaced more often, again incurring substantial expense.
  • the invention relates generally to a telecommunications system that comprises at least two ground stations.
  • Each of the ground stations includes means for sending and means for receiving telecommunication signals.
  • At least one relay station is provided.
  • the relay station includes means for receiving and sending telecommunication signals from and to the ground stations and from and to other relay stations.
  • the relay stations are at an altitude of about 12 to 35 miles. Means are provided for controlling the lateral movement of the relay stations so that once a pre-determined altitude is reached, a predetermined location of each of the relay stations can be achieved and maintained.
  • the invention in another aspect relates to a telecommunications method comprising the steps of providing at least two ground stations and at least one relay station.
  • One of the relay stations is positioned at a predetermined location and at an altitude of about 12 to 35 miles.
  • a telecommunications signal is transmitted from one of the ground stations to one of the relay stations.
  • the relay station then transmits the telecommunications signal to the second ground station or to at least another of the relay stations and then to the second ground station.
  • Each of the relay stations is maintained at a predetermined altitude and location.
  • the invention in still another aspect relates to a relay station for a high altitude sub-orbital telecommunications system. It includes means for receiving and sending telecommunications signals from and to ground stations and/or from and to other relay stations. It also includes means for controlling the lateral and vertical movement of said relay station so that a predetermined altitude and location for the relay station can be achieved and maintained.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic showing a communications system constructed in accordance with a presently preferred form of the invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a elevation view of one of the relay stations comprising the invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a view of a portion of FIG. 2 showing a propulsion system.
  • FIG. 4 is a view of a portion of FIG. 2 showing another form of propulsion system.
  • FIGS. 5A and 5B are a plan view and an elevation view, respectively, of another form of a part of the invention shown in FIG. 2.
  • FIG. 6A, 6B and 6 C are views of further forms of a part of the invention shown in FIG. 2.
  • FIG. 7 is a schematic showing an alternate arrangement of the communications system illustrated in FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 8 is a view of a portion of a relay station.
  • FIG. 9 is a view of a second embodiment of the portion of the relay station shown in FIG. 5.
  • FIG. 10 is a view of a relay station being recovered.
  • the system 10 comprises a ground based portion 12 and an air based portion 14 .
  • the ground based portion 12 may comprise conventional telephone networks 16 with branches that are connected to a ground station 18 having suitable long distance transmitting and receiving means such as antenna 20 .
  • the ground based portion 12 may also comprise mobile telephones of well known types such as cellular telephones that may be carried by individuals 22 or in vehicles 24 .
  • the microwave antennae 20 are operative to transmit and receive telecommunication signals to and from a sub-orbital, high altitude relay station 28 which is located at an altitude of between about 12 to 35 miles.
  • relay stations 28 there are a plurality of relay stations 28 ; each one being on station at a fixed location over the earth.
  • the relay stations are designed to stay aloft and on station at least 20 to 30 days.
  • Each relay station 28 contains means for receiving telecommunication signals from a ground station 20 , individual 22 or vehicle 24 and then transmitting them to another ground station 118 , individual 122 or vehicle 124 either directly or by way of another relay station 130 . Once the signals return to the ground based portion 12 of the system 10 , the telecommunication calls are completed in a conventional manner.
  • the relay station 28 may comprise a lifting device 32 .
  • a suitable lifting device could be an inflatable, lighter than air device such as a high altitude super-pressure balloon of the type developed by Winzen International, Inc. of San Antonio, Tex.
  • the super-pressure balloon 32 is configured so that it floats at a predetermined density altitude. The configuring is accomplished by balancing inflation pressure of the balloon and the weight of its payload against the expected air pressure and ambient temperatures at the desired density altitude. It has been observed that devices of this character maintain a high degree of vertical stability during the diurnal passage notwithstanding that they are subject to high degrees of temperature fluctuation.
  • the lifting device 32 could be an improved zero pressure balloon of the type having means for controlling the extent to which the gas inside the balloon is heated during the day and is cooled at night.
  • controlling the heat of the gas reduces the amount of ballast that will need to be dropped each night.
  • the lifting device 32 could be an overpressure zero pressure balloon.
  • This is a conventional zero pressure balloon that is modified by closing its vents. It is allowed to pressurize within established limits in flight by the controlled release of gas through a valve. This reduces the amount of ballast that must be dropped when the gas cools at night as when a conventional zero pressure balloon would increase in density and lose altitude.
  • the amount of heat inside the balloon can be controlled by making the skin of the balloon, or portions of the skin, from a suitable transparent, electro-chromatic or photo-chromatic material.
  • the balloon skin will be substantially transparent at low light levels and at night. This will permit radiant heat energy to enter the balloon and heat its interior in a manner similar to a greenhouse. During the day, sunlight or a signal sent from the ground will cause the skin to become reflective or opaque. This will reduce the amount of radiant energy that will enter the balloon, thereby keeping the interior of the balloon relatively cool.
  • Another way to control altitude is to use a balloon that includes a central expansible chamber that is filled with a lighter that air gas that is surrounded by an outer substantially non-expansible chamber that is filled with air.
  • compressed air is forced into the outer chamber; to increase altitude, air is vented from the outer chamber.
  • Typical of this system is the Odyssey balloon project of Albuquerque, N. Mex. and described in the New York Times of Jun. 7, 1994, at section C, page 1 .
  • a plurality of tracking stations 36 are provided. They include well known means which can identify a particular relay station 28 without regard to whether it is in a cluster and detect its location and altitude.
  • a thrust system is provided for returning a relay station 28 to its preassigned station should a tracking station 36 detect that it has shifted.
  • the thrust system can be operated automatically to keep the relay stations on station by using control systems that rely on fuzzy logic.
  • each of the relay stations 28 comprises one equipment module 38 .
  • the equipment module comprises a platform.
  • the equipment module 38 can be of any convenient shape and size that is sufficient to support the equipment necessary to accomplish the purpose of the relay station.
  • the equipment module 38 includes a housing 40 which is supported by device 32
  • the housing 40 contains a telecommunication signal transmitter and receiver 44 and a ground link antenna 48 .
  • Antenna 48 is for receiving and sending telecommunications signals between ground stations 20 and the relay station 28 .
  • the relay station 28 also includes a plurality of antennas 52 which are adapted to receive and transmit telecommunications signals from and to other relay stations.
  • the housing 40 also contains a guidance module 56 that transmits the identity and location of the relay station to the tracking stations 36 . It receives instructions from the tracking station for energizing the thrust system.
  • a guidance antenna 58 is provided to enable communication between the tracking station 36 and the guidance module 56 .
  • a suitable re-energizable power supply 60 is mounted on housing 40 , the power supply 60 may comprise a plurality of solar panels 64 .
  • the solar panels capture the sun's light and convert it into electricity which can be used by the telecommunications equipment as well as for guidance and propulsion.
  • the power supply could also comprise a plurality of wind vanes 68 .
  • the wind vanes may be arranged to face in different directions so that at least some of them are always facing the prevailing winds.
  • the wind vanes 68 can be used to generate electric power in a well known manner which also can be used by the telecommunication equipment as well as for guidance and propulsion.
  • an alternate power supply 66 may be provided in the form of a microwave energy system similar to that which has been developed by Endosat, Inc of Rockville, Md.
  • the microwave energy system includes a ground based microwave generator (not shown) that creates a microwave energy beam of about 35 GHz. This beam is directed to receptors 80 on the relay station 28 and there converted to direct current. Further, the microwave energy could come from a source that is in orbit or from free space.
  • the microwave energy system could supply power sufficient to operate the telecommunications system on the relay station as well as provide power for guidance and propulsion.
  • the relay stations 28 may be provided with at least one microwave transmitter and suitable means for aiming the microwave transmitter at a microwave receiving means on another relay station 28 so that a source other than the ground based microwave generator is available to provide microwave energy to the relay stations.
  • the thrust system for the relay station 28 may comprise a plurality of rockets or jets 90 or propellers 94 .
  • the jets 90 and propellers 94 are arranged in a horizontal plane along mutually perpendicular axes which are supported by pods 100 on the housing 40 .
  • the relay station 28 can be directed to and maintained at a pre-determined location over the earth.
  • additional jets or rockets 108 or propellers 112 could be located on vertical axes to assist in bringing the relay station to its pre-determined altitude on launch or restoring it should its drift from that altitude be more than an acceptable amount.
  • Drifting of the relay stations 28 from their pre-determined locations will be detected by the tracking stations 36 .
  • the tracking stations 36 will then energize the thrust members on the relay stations 28 for selected intervals to return them to their pre-determined locations.
  • each relay station 28 can comprise a cluster of between two and four sections 34 .
  • Each section 34 comprises an equipment module 38 that is independently carried by its own lifting device 32 .
  • Some of the equipment modules 38 can carry telecommunications equipment while other equipment modules 38 can carry power generation and transmitting equipment. Thus, energy can be transmitted from the power generation modules by beaming microwave energy to antennae on the communications modules. Since there are several sections 34 comprising a relay station, each section 34 can be smaller and lighter than if there were only one equipment module comprising the relay station 28 . Further, the provision of a cluster of sections 34 creates a redundancy that will keep the relay station in service should the equipment on one of the sections 34 fail.
  • lightweight, unmanned airplanes 114 could be used in lieu of the balloons.
  • the airplanes 114 could be controlled from the ground in a well known manner. However, they are less desirable than balloons. This is because they are constantly changing position to remain aloft, and because their payloads are limited by the lightweight airframes required to reach high altitudes.
  • the airplane could be essentially a flying wing that is comprised of high efficiency solar panels 116 .
  • the solar panels in the wing could drive electric motors and an energy storage system.
  • hydrogen—oxygen regenerative fuel cells 118 could be used to achieve long periods of flight
  • the lightweight airplane 114 could achieve its power from microwave energy that is beamed to antennae 126 on the airplane from a transmitting dish 128 on the ground as described above, or is collected from microwave energy in free space.
  • the telecommunications signal will be conveyed from the caller's telephone by way of a conventional network to the ground station 18 associated with that location.
  • the microwave antenna 20 will then beam a telecommunications signal corresponding to that telephone call to the nearest relay station 28 .
  • Switching circuity of a well known type will direct the signal to another ground station 120 near the recipient. If the recipient is further, the signal will be sent to a further relay station 130 from which it will be directed to a mobile telephone carried by an individual 122 or in a vehicle 124 or to a ground station 140 near the recipient.
  • the signal received by the ground station 120 or 140 will be transmitted to the recipient's telephone by way of a conventional telephone network.
  • the relay stations are at an altitude of about 12-35 miles they are above adverse weather. None-the-less, at that altitude telecommunications power requirements are low enough to enable the use of frequencies that are the same as those used for terrestrial transmission. This means that existing allocated telecommunications frequencies can be used. Since much of the engineering has been done for those telecommunications frequencies, the costs of implementing this system are reduced. Further, maximum use of the existing frequencies can be achieved by currently known digital multiple access technologies such as frequency division multiple access (FDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), code division multiple access (CDMA) or combinations of them.
  • FDMA frequency division multiple access
  • TDMA time division multiple access
  • CDMA code division multiple access
  • the signals generated in the communications system of the invention can be relatively weak since they travel a shorter distance. This is particularly advantageous since the ability to use a weaker signal results in transmitters and receivers that are smaller, lighter, and which require less power to operate.
  • This aspect of the telecommunications system could be enhanced by having the relay stations 28 stationed over more densely populated areas 132 operate at lower altitudes and/or with more narrowly focused angles of reception and propagation 142 than other relay stations 28 that are over less densely populated areas 134 that will operate at higher altitudes and/or with broadly focused angles of reception and propagation 144 as seen in FIGS. 7A and 7B.
  • a substantial unbalance in the volume of traffic handled by the various relay stations comprising the telecommunications system can be reduced.
  • the relay stations 28 that are designated for the more densely populated areas 132 may operate with lower power. This can result in a lower cost of operation.
  • This is another advantage over a satellite based system since in such a system a reduction in the height of the orbit for a particular satellite will increase its decay rate and shorten its life.
  • a recovery system 150 for the relay stations 28 is provided.
  • the recovery system includes a deflation device 152 and a remote controlled recovery parachute 154 .
  • one embodiment of the deflation device 152 includes a housing 160 that is formed integrally with the suitable lighter than air device 32 .
  • the housing 160 includes an outwardly extending and radially directed flange 164 that is integrally connected to the device 32 as by welding or by adhesive.
  • the flange 164 supports a downwardly directed, and generally cylindrical wall 168 that supports a bottom wall 172 .
  • the bottom wall 172 is defined by an open lattice so that the housing 160 is connected to the interior of the device 32 and is at the same pressure.
  • the cylindrical wall 168 supports an inwardly directed flange 176 .
  • a frangible cover 184 is connected to the flange in airtight relation. This can be accomplished by connecting the cover to the flange by an adhesive, or with a suitable gasket between them, or by fabricating the cover as an integral part of the housing 160 .
  • the cylindrical wall 168 , bottom wall 172 and cover 18 define a chamber that contains the remote control recovery parachute 154 .
  • a small chamber 190 is formed on the underside of the cover 184 by a wall 192 .
  • a small explosive pack 194 which is contained within the chamber 190 is responsive to a signal received by antenna 196 .
  • the parachute 154 has its control lines 198 connected to a radio controlled drive member 200 that is contained within the housing 160 .
  • the drive member 200 may include electric motors that are driven in response to signals from the ground to vary the length of the control lines in a well known manner to thereby provide directional control to the parachute.
  • a coded signal is sent to the device where it is received by antenna 196 . This results in the explosive charge 194 being detonated and the frangible cover 184 being removed.
  • the cover 184 is designed to break, the explosive charge can be relatively light so that it does not damage the parachute 154 .
  • the wall 192 helps to direct the explosive force upwardly against the cover rather than toward the device 32 .
  • the parachute 154 will support the device 32 by way of its control lines 198 .
  • the relay station 28 can be directed to a predetermined location on the ground.
  • flange 164 supports cover 204 with an annular airtight gasket between them.
  • the cover 204 is held against the flange 164 by a plurality of circumferentially spaced clamping brackets 210 .
  • the clamping brackets are retractably held in engagement with the cover 204 by electrically driven motors 212 .
  • the motors are energized in response to signals from the ground to retract the brackets 210 .
  • brackets 210 When the brackets 210 are retracted, the pressure of the gases escaping from the device 32 will dislodge the cover and permit the parachute to be deployed.
  • the recovery system 150 can be replaced and the device 32 can be re-inflated and returned to their respective stations.
  • relay stations comprise remotely controlled airplanes 114 , they can be recovered in a well known manner for service and returned to their respective stations.

Abstract

A sub-orbital, high altitude communications system comprising at least two ground stations and at least one high altitude relay station. Each of the ground stations including means for sending and receiving telecommunications signals. The relay stations include means for receiving and sending telecommunications signals from and to said ground stations and from and to other relay stations. Means are provided for controlling the lateral and vertical movement of the relay stations so that a predetermined altitude and location of each of said relay stations can be achieved and maintained. Means are provided for receiving the relay stations so that they can be serviced for reuse.

Description

    RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS:
  • This patent application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/100,037 filed Jul. 30, 1993 by Seligsohn et al. and entitled SUB-ORBITAL, HIGH ALTITUDE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM[0001]
  • FIELD OF THE INVENTION
  • This invention relates to a long duration, high altitude communication system, and more particularly to a communications system in a sub-orbital plane that is well above any system which is physically connected to the ground, and whose components can stay aloft and on station for long periods. [0002]
  • BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  • Wireless telecommunications systems currently use either terrestrial (ground) based infrastructures or space (satellite) based infrastructures. Terrestrial based systems include radio towers and antennae on tall buildings, mountains, and the like. Also, balloons that are tethered to the ground have been used. Spaced based systems rely on satellites having telecommunications equipment. [0003]
  • Terrestrial based wireless telecommunications systems have been known since the early days of radio, almost a hundred years ago. Their configurations range from simple one-way and two-way radio hookups—to radio and television broadcast networks—to today's sophisticated cellular networks and proposed personal communications networks (PCN) [0004]
  • “Relay stations” are used to send and receive radio transmissions to and from other locations. Because they are on or close to the ground, their radio signals tend on the average to be closer to the horizontal than the vertical. Thus, each relay station can only send and receive signals from a limited distance. The distance that the radio signals can travel is limited because of horizon problems due to the curvature of the earth; line of sight problems due to uneven terrain, trees, and buildings; interference due to other signals or with reflections of the transmitted signal; and attenuation problems due to unwanted absorption of the transmitted signal. To increase the area of coverage, either more powerful equipment must be used, and/or the height of the relay stations must be increased. Increasing power helps to solve the attenuation problem and the interference with other signals problem; but it does not address the horizion, line-of-sight, and interference with relected signal problems. Therefore, it is preferred to increse the height of the relay stations as by putting them on towers, tall buildings and mountain tops. This rolls back the horizon and line-of-sight for the relay station thereby increasing the area that it can cover, and to some extent reduces the attenuation problem and the interference with the reflected signal problem. However, it is not always feasible to place relay stations at optimum locations due to geographic or political factors, or merely because of the inability to obtain permission from a land owner or government. [0005]
  • To some extent these problems are alleviated by wireless telecommunications equipment carried by tethered balloons. However, tethered balloons have their own problems. If the balloons are tethered at low altitudes, their area of coverage will not be any larger than that of a relay station on a tower or tall building making it difficult to justify their cost. Also, since they will be subject to the weather and wind conditions that exist at these altitudes, they are likely to be easily damaged and require frequent replacement. [0006]
  • On the other hand, if they are tethered at altitudes that enable them to relay telecommunications signals over a large enough area to make them economically feasible and to avoid weather conditions, thereby prolonging their life, both the balloons and tethers become hazardous to aircraft and the tethers remain subject to the stress of weather conditions. [0007]
  • Further, it is likely that the tether of a failed balloon will be strewn along hundreds if not thousands or tens of thousands of feet causing damage and risk of injury to property and persons. Additionally, if the tether falls across electric lines there is a risk of fire and power outages. [0008]
  • Accordingly, these disadvantages make tethered ballons unsuitable for use as part of a telecommunications system whose components are to operate for long periods. [0009]
  • To overcome many of the limitations of ground based wireless telecommunications systems, orbital space based telecommunications systems have been constructed using satellite technologies which have evolved since the first days of Sputnik (1957). Satellite systems in geosynchronous orbit (approximately 22,000 miles) have been used for may years with a high degree of reliability. Their prime advantage is their high altitude which enables one satellite to send and receive signals from an area on the earth encompassing hundreds of thousands of square miles. However, satellites are expensive to manufacture, launch and position, either initially or as replacements. Further, because of the cost associated with their manufacture and launch, and the great difficulty in servicing them, extraordinary care must be taken to assure their reliability. [0010]
  • Moreover, because of a satellite's high altitude, there is a delay in radio transmission of about ⅛ of a second in each direction. This significantly limits the satellite's ability to carry and conduct familiar two way (duplex) voice communications. Also, due to its high altitude, its radio transmission equipment requires more power than required by comparable terrestrial systems. This raises costs and affects the size and weight of equipment both on the satellite and on the ground. [0011]
  • When a satellite fails, as assuredly they all must do, either electronically, or by decay of orbit, attempts to recover or repair them are extremely expensive. Further, the attempts, whether or not successful, subject personnel and equipment to the risk of injury or loss. On the other hand, a failed satellite may be left in orbit. It will be another piece of “space junk,” until its orbit decays to the extent that it plunges through the atmosphere toward earth. If it is not fully consumed during the plunge, it may cause damage to persons or property when it strikes the earth. [0012]
  • In an attempt to solve the problems attendant to existing high altitude satellite systems, it has been proposed to orbit the satellites at an altitude of either about 500 miles or at about 5,000 miles. While this will reduce power requirements and transmission delay times, it creates other problems. This is because at these lower altitudes the satellites are not geosynchronous. Therefore, telecommunications signals may be required to be transmitted between several satellites during a particular communication. This is because the circumferential position of each satellite relative to the earth is continuously changing. Therefore, a particular satellite that is over a ground station at the beginning of a communication may orbit to such an extent during the communication that it loses the signal from the ground. To maintain the connection, the signal from the ground will have to be transferred to another satellite that is closer to the ground station. Also, the satellites will have to be programmed to permit this to happen. Thus, very complex routing features will need to be implemented. In addition, members of the industry disagree amongst themselves over optimum altitudes, angles of signal propagation, and how to deal with the doppler shifts. Furthermore, because of their lower altitude, the satellites' orbits will decay at faster rates than the higher altitude satellites so that they and the equipment they carry will need to be replaced more often, again incurring substantial expense. [0013]
  • The problems described could be substantially reduced by a telecommunications infrastructure using long duration, high altitude, recoverable telecommunications stations that can be kept on station and which are located in a sub-orbital plane, and which have the ability to receive telecommunication signals from a ground station and relay them to another similar station or to a further ground station. [0014]
  • Since the propagation of radio signals to and from the relay stations would be nearly vertical; line of sight, reflective interference and attenuation problems would be minimized. This is because there would be less liklihood of tall buildings, trees or terrain to block, relect, or absorb the radio signals. This means that less power would be needed to send a signal a given distance than if it were transmitted horizontally at or near the ground. Further, because the system would operate at altitudes that are less than ten percent of the lowest proposed satellite systems, less power would be required for telecommunications signals with no noticable delay in transmission. [0015]
  • This will create a means for providing relatively low cost, is efficient, wireless telecommunications without incurring the economic and physical limitations associated with terrestrial based network infrastructures, tethered balloon systems or orbiting space based network infrastructures. [0016]
  • SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
  • Accordingly, with the foregoing in mind the invention relates generally to a telecommunications system that comprises at least two ground stations. Each of the ground stations includes means for sending and means for receiving telecommunication signals. At least one relay station is provided. The relay station includes means for receiving and sending telecommunication signals from and to the ground stations and from and to other relay stations. [0017]
  • The relay stations are at an altitude of about 12 to 35 miles. Means are provided for controlling the lateral movement of the relay stations so that once a pre-determined altitude is reached, a predetermined location of each of the relay stations can be achieved and maintained. [0018]
  • In another aspect the invention relates to a telecommunications method comprising the steps of providing at least two ground stations and at least one relay station. One of the relay stations is positioned at a predetermined location and at an altitude of about 12 to 35 miles. A telecommunications signal is transmitted from one of the ground stations to one of the relay stations. The relay station then transmits the telecommunications signal to the second ground station or to at least another of the relay stations and then to the second ground station. Each of the relay stations is maintained at a predetermined altitude and location. [0019]
  • In still another aspect the invention relates to a relay station for a high altitude sub-orbital telecommunications system. It includes means for receiving and sending telecommunications signals from and to ground stations and/or from and to other relay stations. It also includes means for controlling the lateral and vertical movement of said relay station so that a predetermined altitude and location for the relay station can be achieved and maintained. [0020]
  • DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
  • The invention can be further understood by referring to the accompanying drawing of a presently preferred form thereof, and wherein [0021]
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic showing a communications system constructed in accordance with a presently preferred form of the invention. [0022]
  • FIG. 2 is a elevation view of one of the relay stations comprising the invention. [0023]
  • FIG. 3 is a view of a portion of FIG. 2 showing a propulsion system. [0024]
  • FIG. 4 is a view of a portion of FIG. 2 showing another form of propulsion system. [0025]
  • FIGS. 5A and 5B are a plan view and an elevation view, respectively, of another form of a part of the invention shown in FIG. 2. [0026]
  • FIG. 6A, 6B and [0027] 6C are views of further forms of a part of the invention shown in FIG. 2.
  • FIG. 7 is a schematic showing an alternate arrangement of the communications system illustrated in FIG. 1. [0028]
  • FIG. 8 is a view of a portion of a relay station. [0029]
  • FIG. 9 is a view of a second embodiment of the portion of the relay station shown in FIG. 5. [0030]
  • FIG. 10 is a view of a relay station being recovered.[0031]
  • DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
  • Referring now to FIG. 1, the [0032] system 10 comprises a ground based portion 12 and an air based portion 14.
  • The ground based [0033] portion 12 may comprise conventional telephone networks 16 with branches that are connected to a ground station 18 having suitable long distance transmitting and receiving means such as antenna 20. The ground based portion 12 may also comprise mobile telephones of well known types such as cellular telephones that may be carried by individuals 22 or in vehicles 24. The microwave antennae 20 are operative to transmit and receive telecommunication signals to and from a sub-orbital, high altitude relay station 28 which is located at an altitude of between about 12 to 35 miles.
  • Preferably, there are a plurality of [0034] relay stations 28; each one being on station at a fixed location over the earth. As presently preferred, the relay stations are designed to stay aloft and on station at least 20 to 30 days.
  • Each [0035] relay station 28 contains means for receiving telecommunication signals from a ground station 20, individual 22 or vehicle 24 and then transmitting them to another ground station 118, individual 122 or vehicle 124 either directly or by way of another relay station 130. Once the signals return to the ground based portion 12 of the system 10, the telecommunication calls are completed in a conventional manner.
  • The [0036] relay station 28 may comprise a lifting device 32.
  • While ordinary zero pressure balloons have been considered as suitable lifting devices for high altitude flights, they are not suitable for systems that must operate for periods longer than about a week or ten days. This is because as the gas in a zero pressure balloon cools each night, its density increases. As a result, it descends until it reaches a density altitude that is equal to its own density. Therefore, to remain aloft the zero pressure balloon must drop about 8-9% of its weight each night to compensate for its increased density or it may strike the earth. [0037]
  • A suitable lifting device could be an inflatable, lighter than air device such as a high altitude super-pressure balloon of the type developed by Winzen International, Inc. of San Antonio, Tex. The [0038] super-pressure balloon 32 is configured so that it floats at a predetermined density altitude. The configuring is accomplished by balancing inflation pressure of the balloon and the weight of its payload against the expected air pressure and ambient temperatures at the desired density altitude. It has been observed that devices of this character maintain a high degree of vertical stability during the diurnal passage notwithstanding that they are subject to high degrees of temperature fluctuation.
  • In the alternative the [0039] lifting device 32 could be an improved zero pressure balloon of the type having means for controlling the extent to which the gas inside the balloon is heated during the day and is cooled at night. Thus, controlling the heat of the gas reduces the amount of ballast that will need to be dropped each night.
  • As a further alternative, the lifting [0040] device 32 could be an overpressure zero pressure balloon. This is a conventional zero pressure balloon that is modified by closing its vents. It is allowed to pressurize within established limits in flight by the controlled release of gas through a valve. This reduces the amount of ballast that must be dropped when the gas cools at night as when a conventional zero pressure balloon would increase in density and lose altitude.
  • While the overpressure zero pressure balloon still experiences diurnal altitude changes, it requires significantly less ballast and gas loss than the zero pressure balloon with the heat control. Therefore, flight time and payload may be substaintially greater than for zero pressure balloons. However, the expansion and contraction of the gas inside the balloon during a twenty-four hour period that accompany altitude changes places enormous stress on it so that the payload that it carries is reduced. [0041]
  • Therefore, it is desirable to control the altitude of the balloon and the expansion and contraction of the gases inside it so that the stresses on it are reduced. This can be accomplished by using a means for controlling the amount that the gas inside the balloon is heated during the day and is cooled at night. Thus, to the extent that the stress on the balloon can be controlled, payloads of up to three to four tons can be carried for relatively long periods. [0042]
  • The amount of heat inside the balloon can be controlled by making the skin of the balloon, or portions of the skin, from a suitable transparent, electro-chromatic or photo-chromatic material. Thus, the balloon skin will be substantially transparent at low light levels and at night. This will permit radiant heat energy to enter the balloon and heat its interior in a manner similar to a greenhouse. During the day, sunlight or a signal sent from the ground will cause the skin to become reflective or opaque. This will reduce the amount of radiant energy that will enter the balloon, thereby keeping the interior of the balloon relatively cool. [0043]
  • Another way to control altitude is to use a balloon that includes a central expansible chamber that is filled with a lighter that air gas that is surrounded by an outer substantially non-expansible chamber that is filled with air. To reduce altitude, compressed air is forced into the outer chamber; to increase altitude, air is vented from the outer chamber. Typical of this system is the Odyssey balloon project of Albuquerque, N. Mex. and described in the New York Times of Jun. 7, 1994, at section C, page [0044] 1.
  • A plurality of tracking [0045] stations 36 are provided. They include well known means which can identify a particular relay station 28 without regard to whether it is in a cluster and detect its location and altitude.
  • As will be explained, a thrust system is provided for returning a [0046] relay station 28 to its preassigned station should a tracking station 36 detect that it has shifted. The thrust system can be operated automatically to keep the relay stations on station by using control systems that rely on fuzzy logic.
  • Referring to FIG. 2, it can be seen that each of the [0047] relay stations 28 comprises one equipment module 38. In a presently preferred form of the invention, the equipment module comprises a platform. However, the equipment module 38 can be of any convenient shape and size that is sufficient to support the equipment necessary to accomplish the purpose of the relay station.
  • As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 the [0048] equipment module 38 includes a housing 40 which is supported by device 32 The housing 40 contains a telecommunication signal transmitter and receiver 44 and a ground link antenna 48. Antenna 48 is for receiving and sending telecommunications signals between ground stations 20 and the relay station 28. The relay station 28 also includes a plurality of antennas 52 which are adapted to receive and transmit telecommunications signals from and to other relay stations. The housing 40 also contains a guidance module 56 that transmits the identity and location of the relay station to the tracking stations 36. It receives instructions from the tracking station for energizing the thrust system. A guidance antenna 58 is provided to enable communication between the tracking station 36 and the guidance module 56.
  • A suitable [0049] re-energizable power supply 60 is mounted on housing 40, the power supply 60 may comprise a plurality of solar panels 64. In a well known manner the solar panels capture the sun's light and convert it into electricity which can be used by the telecommunications equipment as well as for guidance and propulsion.
  • In addition the power supply could also comprise a plurality of [0050] wind vanes 68. The wind vanes may be arranged to face in different directions so that at least some of them are always facing the prevailing winds. The wind vanes 68 can be used to generate electric power in a well known manner which also can be used by the telecommunication equipment as well as for guidance and propulsion.
  • As seen in FIG. 4, an alternate power supply [0051] 66 may be provided in the form of a microwave energy system similar to that which has been developed by Endosat, Inc of Rockville, Md. The microwave energy system includes a ground based microwave generator (not shown) that creates a microwave energy beam of about 35 GHz. This beam is directed to receptors 80 on the relay station 28 and there converted to direct current. Further, the microwave energy could come from a source that is in orbit or from free space.
  • In a manner similar to the solar energy system, the microwave energy system could supply power sufficient to operate the telecommunications system on the relay station as well as provide power for guidance and propulsion. [0052]
  • Further, the [0053] relay stations 28 may be provided with at least one microwave transmitter and suitable means for aiming the microwave transmitter at a microwave receiving means on another relay station 28 so that a source other than the ground based microwave generator is available to provide microwave energy to the relay stations.
  • As seen in FIGS. 3 and 4 the thrust system for the [0054] relay station 28 may comprise a plurality of rockets or jets 90 or propellers 94. The jets 90 and propellers 94 are arranged in a horizontal plane along mutually perpendicular axes which are supported by pods 100 on the housing 40. By selective energization of various ones of the jets or propellers the relay station 28 can be directed to and maintained at a pre-determined location over the earth.
  • If desired, additional jets or [0055] rockets 108 or propellers 112 could be located on vertical axes to assist in bringing the relay station to its pre-determined altitude on launch or restoring it should its drift from that altitude be more than an acceptable amount.
  • Drifting of the [0056] relay stations 28 from their pre-determined locations will be detected by the tracking stations 36. The tracking stations 36 will then energize the thrust members on the relay stations 28 for selected intervals to return them to their pre-determined locations.
  • As an alternative, as seen in FIGS. 5A and 5B each [0057] relay station 28 can comprise a cluster of between two and four sections 34. Each section 34 comprises an equipment module 38 that is independently carried by its own lifting device 32.
  • Some of the [0058] equipment modules 38 can carry telecommunications equipment while other equipment modules 38 can carry power generation and transmitting equipment. Thus, energy can be transmitted from the power generation modules by beaming microwave energy to antennae on the communications modules. Since there are several sections 34 comprising a relay station, each section 34 can be smaller and lighter than if there were only one equipment module comprising the relay station 28. Further, the provision of a cluster of sections 34 creates a redundancy that will keep the relay station in service should the equipment on one of the sections 34 fail.
  • As another alternative, as seen in FIGS. 6A, 6B and [0059] 6C, lightweight, unmanned airplanes 114 could be used in lieu of the balloons. The airplanes 114 could be controlled from the ground in a well known manner. However, they are less desirable than balloons. This is because they are constantly changing position to remain aloft, and because their payloads are limited by the lightweight airframes required to reach high altitudes.
  • As seen in FIG. 6A power to maintain the [0060] airplanes 114 aloft for long periods could be achieved by using solar power In this instance the airplane could be essentially a flying wing that is comprised of high efficiency solar panels 116. The solar panels in the wing could drive electric motors and an energy storage system.
  • Additionally, as seen in FIG. 6B hydrogen—oxygen [0061] regenerative fuel cells 118 could be used to achieve long periods of flight Further, as seen in FIG. 6C the lightweight airplane 114 could achieve its power from microwave energy that is beamed to antennae 126 on the airplane from a transmitting dish 128 on the ground as described above, or is collected from microwave energy in free space.
  • When the [0062] system 10 is operating the customer will be unaware of its existence. Thus, when a call is placed, the telecommunications signal will be conveyed from the caller's telephone by way of a conventional network to the ground station 18 associated with that location. The microwave antenna 20 will then beam a telecommunications signal corresponding to that telephone call to the nearest relay station 28. Switching circuity of a well known type will direct the signal to another ground station 120 near the recipient. If the recipient is further, the signal will be sent to a further relay station 130 from which it will be directed to a mobile telephone carried by an individual 122 or in a vehicle 124 or to a ground station 140 near the recipient. The signal received by the ground station 120 or 140 will be transmitted to the recipient's telephone by way of a conventional telephone network. Once a communication link is established between two telephones by way of the ground stations and relay stations, the parties can communicate.
  • Since the relay stations are at an altitude of about 12-35 miles they are above adverse weather. None-the-less, at that altitude telecommunications power requirements are low enough to enable the use of frequencies that are the same as those used for terrestrial transmission. This means that existing allocated telecommunications frequencies can be used. Since much of the engineering has been done for those telecommunications frequencies, the costs of implementing this system are reduced. Further, maximum use of the existing frequencies can be achieved by currently known digital multiple access technologies such as frequency division multiple access (FDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), code division multiple access (CDMA) or combinations of them. [0063]
  • Therefore, by comparison to telecommunications signals from satellites, the signals generated in the communications system of the invention can be relatively weak since they travel a shorter distance. This is particularly advantageous since the ability to use a weaker signal results in transmitters and receivers that are smaller, lighter, and which require less power to operate. [0064]
  • This aspect of the telecommunications system could be enhanced by having the [0065] relay stations 28 stationed over more densely populated areas 132 operate at lower altitudes and/or with more narrowly focused angles of reception and propagation 142 than other relay stations 28 that are over less densely populated areas 134 that will operate at higher altitudes and/or with broadly focused angles of reception and propagation 144 as seen in FIGS. 7A and 7B. By doing this, a substantial unbalance in the volume of traffic handled by the various relay stations comprising the telecommunications system can be reduced. Further, as explained earlier, the relay stations 28 that are designated for the more densely populated areas 132 may operate with lower power. This can result in a lower cost of operation. This is another advantage over a satellite based system since in such a system a reduction in the height of the orbit for a particular satellite will increase its decay rate and shorten its life.
  • As best seen in FIGS. 2, 8, [0066] 9 and 10 a recovery system 150 for the relay stations 28 is provided. As will be more fully explained, the recovery system includes a deflation device 152 and a remote controlled recovery parachute 154.
  • Referring to FIGS. 2 and 8 one embodiment of the [0067] deflation device 152 includes a housing 160 that is formed integrally with the suitable lighter than air device 32. The housing 160 includes an outwardly extending and radially directed flange 164 that is integrally connected to the device 32 as by welding or by adhesive. The flange 164 supports a downwardly directed, and generally cylindrical wall 168 that supports a bottom wall 172. As seen in FIG. 8, the bottom wall 172 is defined by an open lattice so that the housing 160 is connected to the interior of the device 32 and is at the same pressure.
  • Near its upper end the [0068] cylindrical wall 168 supports an inwardly directed flange 176. A frangible cover 184 is connected to the flange in airtight relation. This can be accomplished by connecting the cover to the flange by an adhesive, or with a suitable gasket between them, or by fabricating the cover as an integral part of the housing 160.
  • The [0069] cylindrical wall 168, bottom wall 172 and cover 18 define a chamber that contains the remote control recovery parachute 154.
  • A [0070] small chamber 190 is formed on the underside of the cover 184 by a wall 192. A small explosive pack 194 which is contained within the chamber 190 is responsive to a signal received by antenna 196.
  • The [0071] parachute 154 has its control lines 198 connected to a radio controlled drive member 200 that is contained within the housing 160. The drive member 200 may include electric motors that are driven in response to signals from the ground to vary the length of the control lines in a well known manner to thereby provide directional control to the parachute.
  • To recover the relay station a coded signal is sent to the device where it is received by [0072] antenna 196. This results in the explosive charge 194 being detonated and the frangible cover 184 being removed.
  • Since the [0073] cover 184 is designed to break, the explosive charge can be relatively light so that it does not damage the parachute 154.
  • In this regard the [0074] wall 192 helps to direct the explosive force upwardly against the cover rather than toward the device 32.
  • After the cover has been removed, the gases will begin to escape from the interior of the [0075] device 32 through bottom wall 172 and the opening in the top of the housing. The force of air exiting from the device 32 when the cover is first removed will be sufficient to deploy the parachute.
  • As seen in FIG. 10 the [0076] parachute 154 will support the device 32 by way of its control lines 198. As explained above, the relay station 28 can be directed to a predetermined location on the ground.
  • In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9 [0077] flange 164 supports cover 204 with an annular airtight gasket between them. The cover 204 is held against the flange 164 by a plurality of circumferentially spaced clamping brackets 210. The clamping brackets are retractably held in engagement with the cover 204 by electrically driven motors 212. The motors are energized in response to signals from the ground to retract the brackets 210.
  • When the [0078] brackets 210 are retracted, the pressure of the gases escaping from the device 32 will dislodge the cover and permit the parachute to be deployed.
  • After the relay station has been serviced, the [0079] recovery system 150 can be replaced and the device 32 can be re-inflated and returned to their respective stations.
  • If the relay stations comprise remotely controlled [0080] airplanes 114, they can be recovered in a well known manner for service and returned to their respective stations.
  • While the invention has been described with regard to particular embodiments, it is apparent that other embodiments will be obvious to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Thus, the scope of the invention should not be limited by the description, but rather, by the scope of the appended claims [0081]

Claims (176)

1. A telecommunications apparatus comprising
at least two ground stations, each of said ground stations including means for sending and receiving telecommunications signals,
at least one relay station, said relay station including means for receiving and sending telecommunications signals from and to said ground stations and from and to others of said relay stations,
said relay station being at a predetermined altitude that is between about 12 and 35 miles,
said relay station being at a fixed predetermined location over the earth for transmitting and receiving telecommunications signals from and to said ground stations and from and to others of said relay stations,
means on said relay station for controlling the vertical and lateral movement of said relay station so that said predetermined altitude and fixed predetermined location of said relay station are achieved and maintained for sending and receiving said telecommunications signals to and from said ground stations and said other relay stations.
2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein
said means for controlling the vertical and lateral movement of said relay station so that said predetermined altitude and location of said relay station are achieved and maintained comprises
first means, said first means being operative to selectively or simultaneously identify the current altitude or location of said relay station,
second means, said second means being operative to selectively or simultaneously identify said predetermined altitude or location for said relay station,
and means for moving said relay station from said current altitude or location to said predetermined altitude or location.
3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein
said means for controlling said relay station at said predetermined altitude or location comprises a thrust system, and
means for selectively energizing said thrust system.
4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein
said means for controlling the vertical and lateral movement of said relay station so that said predetermined altitude and location of said relay station are achieved and maintained comprises
first means, said first means being operative to selectively or simultaneously identify the current altitude and location of said relay station,
second means, said second means being operative to selectively or simultaneously identify a predetermined altitude and location for said relay station,
and means for moving said relay station from said current altitude and location to said predetermined altitude and/or location.
5. An apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said means for controlling said relay station at said predetermined altitude and location comprises a thrust system, and means for selectively energizing said thrust system.
6. An apparatus as defined in claims 3 or 5 wherein said thrust system comprises propellers.
7. An apparatus as defined in claims 3 or 5 wherein said thrust system comprises rockets.
8. An apparatus as defined in claims 3 or 5 wherein said thrust system comprises jets.
9. An apparatus as defined in claims 3 or 5 wherein
said means for energizing said thrust system includes means for receiving and converting solar energy to electric energy.
10. An apparatus as defined in claims 3 or 5 wherein
said means for energizing said thrust system includes means for receiving and converting wind energy to electric energy.
11. An apparatus as defined in claims 3 or 5 wherein
said means for energizing said thrust system includes means for receiving and converting microwave energy to electric energy.
12. An apparatus as defined in claim 11 including
at least one ground based microwave transmitter, and
means for aiming a microwave beam at said microwave receiving means on said relay station.
13. An apparatus as defined in claim 11 including
a second relay station,
at least one microwave transmitter based on said second relay station, and
means on said second relay station for aiming a microwave beam at said receiving means on said relay station.
14. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 including
a ground based telecommunications network, and
at least one of said ground stations is connected to said telecommunications network.
15. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein
at least one of said ground stations is mobile.
16. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein
at least one of said ground stations is stationary.
17. An apparatus as defined in claims 2 or 4 wherein
said relay station is lighter than air.
18. An apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein
said means for controlling said lateral movement comprises a thrust system, and
electric means for driving said thrust system.
19. An apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein
said thrust system comprises a plurality of propellers.
20. An apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein
said thrust system comprises a plurality of rockets.
21. An apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein
said thrust system comprises a plurality of jets.
22. An apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein
said relay station comprises an inflatable device, and
means connected to said inflatable device for deflating it while it is aloft.
23. An apparatus as defined in claim 22 wherein
said means for deflating said inflatable device is operative in response to a signal from a remote source.
24. An apparatus as defined in claim 23 wherein said means for deflating said inflatable device includes
an opening in said inflatable device,
closing means closing said opening and being operative to seal said opening against the escape of gases from said inflatable device, and
an explosive charge connected to said closing means, said explosive charge being operative when detonated to remove said closing means from said opening.
25. An apparatus as defined in claim 23 wherein said means for deflating said inflatable device includes
an opening in said inflatable device,
closing means closing said opening against the escape of gases from said inflatable device, and
a plurality of clamping brackets for releasably retaining said closing means in sealing relation with said opening,
at least one electrically driven motor supported by said inflatable device, said electrically driven motor being in engagement with said clamping brackets and being operative when energized to move said clamping brackets so that they release said closing means from said opening.
26. An apparatus in defined in claim 22 wherein
said inflatable device includes a parachute having control lines for controlling its descent when it is recovered.
27. An apparatus as defined in claim 26 including
means for deploying said parachute, and
means for connecting said means for deploying said parachute to said means for deflating said inflatable device so that said parachute is deployed when said inflatable device is deflated.
28. An apparatus as defined in claim 27 including
radio controlled means supported by said inflatable device and being connected to the control lines for said parachute,
said radio controlled means being operative to provide directional control to said parachute as it descends.
29. An apparatus as defined in claim 22 wherein
said relay station comprises a balloon.
30. An apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein
said relay station comprises a super pressure balloon.
31. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein
said relay station comprises a balloon.
32. An apparatus as defined in claim 31 wherein
said balloon includes means for controlling its altitude.
33. An apparatus as defined in claim 32 wherein
said balloon comprises a zero pressure balloon.
34. An apparatus as defined in claim 32 wherein said balloon comprises an overpressure zero pressure balloon.
35. An apparatus as defined in claim 31 wherein
said balloon comprises a super pressure balloon.
36. An apparatus as defined in claim 31 wherein
said balloon includes means for controlling the temperature of the gas that it contains.
37. An apparatus as defined in claim 31 wherein
said balloon includes a skin, and
at least a portion of said skin is comprised of electro-chromatic material.
38. An apparatus as defined in claim 34 wherein
said balloon comprises a zero pressure balloon.
39. An apparatus as defined in claim 34 wherein
said balloon comprises an overpressure zero pressure balloon.
40. An apparatus as defined in claim 31 wherein
said balloon includes a skin, and
at least a portion of said skin is comprised of photo-chromatic material.
41. An apparatus as defined in claim 40 wherein
said balloon comprises a zero pressure balloon.
42. An apparatus as defined in claim 40 wherein
said balloon comprises an overpressure zero pressure balloon.
43. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein
some of said relay stations comprise a plurality of sections,
at least one of said sections including means for selectively receiving and sending telecommunications signals from and to said ground stations and/or others of said relay stations, and
at least one of said sections including means for providing energy for said means for receiving and sending telecommunications signals and/or said means for controlling the lateral and vertical movement of said relay stations.
44. An apparatus as defined in claim 43 wherein
at least two of said sections include means for selectively receiving and sending telecommunications signals from and to said ground stations and/or others of said relay stations, so that if said last named means on one of said sections fails, the other section will continue to operate and thereby keep the relay station in service.
45. An apparatus as defined in claim 43 wherein
at least two of said sections include means for providing energy for said means for receiving and sending telecommunications signals and/or said means for controlling the lateral and vertical movement of said relay stations, so that if said last named means on one of said sections fails, the other section will continue to operate and thereby keep the relay station in service.
46. An apparatus as defined in claim 43 wherein
said means for providing energy includes means for receiving microwave energy and converting it to electric energy.
47. An apparatus as defined in claim 46 wherein
said means for receiving microwave energy includes means for collecting microwave energy from space.
48. An apparatus as defined in claim 46 including
at least one ground microwave transmitter, and
said means for receiving microwave energy receives microwave energy from said ground microwave transmitter.
49. An apparatus as defined in claim 43 wherein
said means for providing energy includes means for converting solar energy to microwave energy and transmitting it to said means for receiving microwave energy.
50. An apparatus as defined in claim 43 wherein
said means for providing energy includes means for converting chemical energy to microwave energy and transmitting it to said means for receiving microwave energy.
51. An apparatus as defined in claim 43 wherein
said means for providing energy includes means for converting wind energy to microwave energy and transmitting it to said means for receiving microwave energy.
52. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said
relay station comprises a light weight airplane.
53. An apparatus as defined in claim 49 wherein
said airplane includes means for providing energy for said means for receiving and sending telecommunications signals and/or said means for controlling the lateral and vertical movement of said relay stations.
54. An apparatus as defined in claim 53 wherein
said means for providing energy includes means for receiving microwave energy and converting it to electric energy.
55. An apparatus as defined in claim 54 including at least one ground microwave transmitter, and
said means for receiving microwave energy receives microwave energy from said ground microwave transmitter.
56. An apparatus as defined in claim 53 wherein
said means for providing energy includes means for converting solar energy to microwave energy and transmitting it to said means for receiving microwave energy.
57. An apparatus as defined in claim 53 wherein
said means for providing energy includes means for converting chemical energy to microwave energy and transmitting it to said means for receiving microwave energy.
58. An apparatus as defined in claim 53 wherein
said means for providing energy includes means for converting wind energy to microwave energy and transmitting it to said means for receiving microwave energy.
59. An apparatus as defined in claim 53 wherein said means for receiving microwave energy includes means for collecting microwave energy from space.
60. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein
said means for selectively receiving and sending telecommunications signals from and to said ground stations and/or others of said relay stations operates at frequencies that are the same as those allocated to terrestrial telecommunications.
61. An apparatus as defined in claim 60 wherein
the use of said frequencies is increased by digital multiple access technologies.
62. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein
there are a plurality of relay stations, and
relay stations stationed over more densely populated areas are lower than relay stations stationed over less densely populated areas.
63. An apparatus as defined in claim 62 wherein
said lower relay stations require less power for their telecommunications signals than said higher relay stations.
64. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein
there are a plurality of relay stations,
the relay stations over more densely populated areas have a narrow focus for the angle of reception and propagation of telecommunications signals, and
the relay stations over less densely populated areas have a broad focus for the angle of reception and propagation of telecommunications signals.
65. An apparatus as defined in claim 64 wherein
said relay stations whose angles of reception and propagation are narrow require less power for their telecommunications signals than said relay stations whose angles of reception and propagation are broad.
66. A telecommunications method comprising the steps of
providing at least two ground stations and at least one relay station,
positioning said relay station at a fixed predetermined location over the earth and at a predetermined altitude for receiving and transmitting telecommunications signals to and from said ground stations and other relay stations, said predetermined altitude being between about 12 and 35 miles,
transmitting a telecommunications signal from a first one of said ground stations to said relay station,
receiving said telecommunications signal at said relay station and transmitting said signal to a second ground station, and
maintaining said relay station at said fixed predetermined altitude and location for sending and receiving said telecommunications signals to and from said ground stations and said other relay stations.
67. A method as defined in claim 66 including the steps of
identifying a current altitude and location over the earth of said relay station,
identifying a predetermined altitude and location for said relay station, and
moving said relay station from said current altitude and/or location to said predetermined altitude and location.
68. A method as defined in claim 66 including the steps of identifying a current altitude or location over the earth of said relay station,
identifying said predetermined altitude or location for said relay station, and
moving said relay station from said current altitude or location to said predetermined altitude or location.
69. A method as defined in claims 67 or 68 wherein the step of moving said relay station includes the step of
applying a thrust force to said relay station in the direction in which it is to move.
70. A method as defined in claim 69 including the step of
enabling said relay stations to receive and store energy, and
using said energy to create said thrust force and to enable said relay station to transmit and receive telecommunications signals.
71. A method as defined in claim 70 wherein
said relay stations can receive and store solar energy.
72. A method as defined in claim 70 wherein
said relay stations can receive and store microwave energy.
73. A method as defined in claim 70 wherein
said relay stations can receive and store wind energy.
74. A method as defined in claim 70 wherein
said energy is chemical energy.
75. A method as defined in claim 67 or 68 including the step of
returning said relay station to a predetermined location on the earth.
76. A method as defined in claim 66 wherein
at least one of said ground stations is mobile.
77. A method as defined in claim 66 wherein
said relay station is lighter than air.
78. A method as defined in claim 77 wherein
said relay station is inflated with a gas.
79. A method as defined in claim 77 including
step of controlling the altitude of said relay station.
80. A method as defined in claim 79 wherein
said step of controlling the altitude of said relay station includes controlling the temperature of said gas.
81. A method as defined in claim 80 wherein
the temperature of said gas is controlled by controlling the amount of solar radiant energy that enters said balloon.
82. A method as defined in claim 81 wherein
said step of controlling the amount of solar energy that enters said balloon includes the step of changing the transparency of the skin of said balloon.
83. A method as defined in claim 82 wherein
at least a portion of said skin is comprised of electro-chromatic material.
84. A method as defined in claim 83 wherein
said balloon comprises a zero pressure balloon.
85. An method as defined in claim 83 wherein
said balloon comprises an overpressure zero pressure balloon.
86. A method as defined in claim 82 wherein
said balloon includes a skin, and
at least a portion of said skin is comprised of photo-chromatic material.
87. A method as defined in claim 86 wherein
said balloon comprises a zero pressure balloon.
88. A method as defined in claim 86 wherein
said balloon comprises an overpressure zero pressure balloon.
89. A method as defined in claim 66 wherein
the step of providing a relay station includes the step of providing it with a plurality of sections,
selectively receiving and sending telecommunications signals from and to said ground stations and/or other relay stations by at least one of said sections,
transmitting energy to said last named section from at least one of said other sections, and
said energy is operative to enable said telecommunications.
90. A method as defined in claim 89 wherein
the step of receiving and sending telecommunications signals from and to said ground stations and/or other relay stations is by at least two of said sections so that if there is a failure of the ability to send and/or receive telecommunications signals from or to one of said sections, the other section will continue to operate and thereby keep the relay station in service.
91. A method as defined in claim 89 wherein
the step of transmitting energy to said section that selectively receives and sends telecommunications signals from and to said ground stations and/or other relay stations includes
the step of transmitting energy by at least two of said sections so that if there is a failure of the ability to transmitting energy from one of said sections, the other section will continue to operate and thereby keep the relay station in service.
92. A method as defined in claim 89 wherein
said energy that is transmitted is microwave energy,
converting said microwave energy to electric energy, and
using said electric energy for said telecommunication.
93. A method as defined in claim 89 wherein
said step of transmitting energy to said last named section includes the steps of
collecting solar energy at said other section, converting said solar energy to microwave energy, and
transmitting said microwave energy.
94. A method as defined in claim 89 wherein
said step of transmitting energy to said last named section includes the steps of
collecting wind energy at said other section, converting said wind energy to microwave energy, and
transmitting said microwave energy.
95. A method as defined in claim 89 wherein
said step of transmitting energy to said last named section includes the steps of
providing chemical energy at said other section, converting said chemical energy to microwave energy, and
transmitting said microwave energy.
96. A method as defined in claim 89 wherein
said step of transmitting energy to said last named section includes the steps of
collecting microwave energy at said other section, and
transmitting said microwave energy.
97. A method as defined in claim 66 wherein
said telecommunications signals are at the same frequencies as those allocated to terrestrial telecommunications signals.
98. A method as defined in claim 97 including the step of
increasing the number of channels available for communication on said frequencies by digital multiple access technologies.
99. A method as defined in claim 98 wherein
said digital multiple access technology includes TDMA.
100. A method as defined in claim 98 wherein
said digital multiple access technology includes FDMA.
100. A method as defined in claim 98 wherein said digital multiple access technology includes CDMA.
101. A method as defined in claim 66 including the step of
providing a plurality of relay stations,
locating relay stations stationed over more densely populated areas at lower altitudes than relay stations located over less densely populated areas.
102. A method as defined in claim 101 wherein
said relay stations at lower altitudes require less power for telecommunications signals than said higher relay stations.
103. A method as defined in claim 66 including the step of
providing a plurality of relay stations,
providing a narrow focus for the angle of reception and propagation of telecommunications signals for those relay stations over more densely populated areas, and
providing a broad focus for the angle of reception and propagation of telecommunications signals for those relay stations over less densely populated areas.
104. A method as defined in claim 103 including the steps of
providing said relay stations whose angles of reception and propagation are narrow with less power for their telecommunications signals than said relay stations whose angles of reception and propagation are broad.
105. A method as defined in claim 66 wherein said relay station is lighter than air.
106. A method as defined in claim 105 wherein said relay station is inflatable.
107. A method as in claim 105 wherein said relay station is a super pressure balloon.
108. A method as in claim 106 wherein said relay station is a super pressure balloon.
109. A method as defined in claim 66 wherein
the step of transmitting said telecommunications signal to said second ground station includes the steps of
providing a second relay station,
transmitting said telecommunications signal from said first relay station to said second relay station, and
transmitting said telecommunications signal from said second relay station to said second ground station.
110. A method as defined in claim 66 wherein
the step of transmitting said signal to said second ground station includes the steps of
providing a second relay station,
transmitting said communications signal from said first relay station to said second relay station, and
transmitting said communications signal from said second relay station to said second ground station.
111. A telecommunications apparatus comprising
at least two ground stations, each of said ground stations including means for sending and receiving telecommunications signals,
at least one relay station, said relay station including means for receiving and sending telecommunications signals from and to said ground stations and from and to others of said relay stations,
first means for identifying the current altitude and location of said relay station,
second means for identifying a predetermined altitude and a fixed predetermined location over the earth for said relay station, said predetermined altitude being between about 12 to 35 miles, and
and means on said relay station for moving said relay station from said current altitude and location to said predetermined altitude and fixed predetermined location over the earth for sending and receiving signals to and from said ground stations and said other relay stations.
112. An apparatus as defined in claim 111 wherein
said means for controlling said relay station at said predetermined altitude and location comprises a thrust system,
said thrust system comprises a plurality of elements, and
means for selectively energizing selected ones of said plurality of elements so that the direction in which said relay station moves is controlled.
113. A telecommunications apparatus comprising
at least two ground stations, each of said ground stations including means for sending and receiving telecommunications signals,
at least one relay station, said relay station including means for receiving and sending telecommunications signals from and to said ground stations and from and to others of said relay stations,
first means for identifying the current altitude or location of said relay station,
second means for identifying a predetermined altitude or a fixed predetermined location over the earth for said relay station, said predetermined altitude being between about 12 to 35 miles, and
and means on said relay station for moving said relay station from said current altitude and location to said predetermined altitude or fixed predetermined location over the earth for sending and receiving signals to and from said ground stations and said other relay stations.
114. An apparatus as defined in claim 113 wherein
said means for controlling said relay station at said predetermined altitude or location comprises a thrust system,
said thrust system comprises a plurality of elements, and
means for selectively energizing selected ones of said plurality of elements so that the direction in which said relay station moves is controlled.
115. An apparatus as defined in claims 112 or 114 wherein
said thrust system comprises propellers.
116. An apparatus as defined in claims 112 or 114 wherein
said thrust system comprises rockets.
117. An apparatus as defined in claim 112 or 114 wherein
said thrust system comprises jets.
118. An apparatus as defined in claim 112 or 114 wherein
said means for energizing said thrust system includes means for receiving and converting solar energy to electric energy.
119. An apparatus as defined in claim 112 or 114 wherein
said means for energizing said thrust system includes means for receiving and converting wind energy to electric energy.
120. An apparatus as defined in claim 112 or 114 wherein
said means for energizing said thrust system includes means for receiving and converting microwave energy to electric energy.
121. An apparatus as defined in claim 120 including
at least one ground based microwave transmitter, and
means for aiming a microwave beam from said transmitter at said microwave receiving means on said relay station.
122. An apparatus as defined in claim 120 including
a second relay station,
at least one microwave transmitter based on said second relay station, and
means on said second relay station for aiming a microwave beam from said transmitter at said microwave receiving means on said relay station.
123. An apparatus as defined in claims 111 or 112 wherein
said relay station is lighter than air.
124. An apparatus as defined in claim 123 wherein
said means for controlling said lateral movement comprises a thrust system, and
electric means for driving said thrust system.
125. An apparatus as defined in claim 124 wherein
said thrust system comprises a plurality of propellers.
126. An apparatus as defined in claim 124 wherein
said thrust system comprises a plurality of rockets.
127. An apparatus as defined in claim 124 wherein
said thrust system comprises a plurality of jets.
128. An apparatus as defined in claim 123 wherein
said relay station is a super pressure balloon.
129. An apparatus as defined in claim 123 wherein
said relay station comprises an inflatable device, and
means connected to said inflatable device for deflating it while it is aloft.
130. An apparatus as defined in claim 129 wherein
said means for deflating said inflatable device is operative in response to a signal from a remote source.
131. An apparatus as defined in claim 130 wherein
said means for deflating said inflatable device includes
an opening in said inflatable device,
closing means closing said opening and being operative to seal said opening against the escape of gases from said inflatable device, and
an explosive charge connected to said closing means, said explosive charge being operative when detonated to remove said closing means from said opening.
132. An apparatus as defined in claim 130 wherein
said means for deflating said inflatable device includes
an opening in said inflatable device,
closing means closing said opening against the escape of gases from said inflatable device, and
a plurality of clamping brackets for releasably retaining said closing means in sealing relation with said opening,
at least one electrically driven motor supported by said inflatable device, said electrically driven motor being in engagement with said clamping brackets and being operative when energized to move said clamping brackets so that they release said closing means from said opening.
133. An apparatus in defined in claim 129 wherein
said inflatable device includes a parachute having control lines for controlling its descent when it is recovered.
134. An apparatus as defined in claim 133 including
means for deploying said parachute, and
means for connecting said means for deploying said parachute to said means for deflating said inflatable device so that said parachute is deployed when said inflatable device is deflated.
135. An apparatus as defined in claim 134 including
radio controlled means supported by said inflatable device and being connected to the control lines for said parachute,
said radio controlled means being operative to provide directional control to said parachute as it descends.
136. An apparatus as defined in claim 129 wherein said relay station is a super pressure balloon.
137. An apparatus as defined in claims 111 or 113 including
a ground based telecommunications network, and
at least one of said ground stations is connected to said telecommunications network.
138. An apparatus as defined in claim 111 or 113 wherein
at least one of said ground stations is mobile.
139. An apparatus as defined in claim 111 or 113 wherein
at least one of said ground stations is stationary.
140. A relay station for a high altitude sub-orbital telecommunications system which is to be disposed at a predetermined altitude of between about 12 to 35 miles and at a fixed predetermined location over the earth comprising
means for receiving and sending telecommunications signals from and to ground stations and from and to other relay stations, and
means for controlling the vertical and lateral movement of said relay station so that said predetermined altitude and said fixed predetermined location of said relay station is achieved and maintained for sending and receiving said telecommunications signals to and from said ground stations and said other relay stations.
141. An apparatus as defined in claim 140 wherein
said means for maintaining said relay station at said predetermined altitude and location comprises a thrust system, and
means for energizing said thrust system.
142. An apparatus as defined in claim 140 wherein
said means for controlling the lateral and vertical movement of said relay station so that a predetermined altitude and location of said relay station is achieved and maintained comprises
first means for identifying the current altitude and location of said relay station, and
second means for identifying a predetermined altitude and location for said relay station, and
an energizable thrust system on said relay station, said thrust system being selectively operative to move said relay station from its current altitude and location to said predetermined altitude and location.
143. An apparatus as defined in claim 141 wherein
said means for controlling the lateral and vertical movement of said relay station so that a predetermined altitude and location of said relay station is achieved and maintained comprises
first means for identifying the current altitude or location of said relay station, and
second means for identifying a predetermined altitude or location for said relay station, and
an energizable thrust system on said relay station, said thrust system being selectively operative to move said relay station from its current altitude or location to said predetermined altitude or location.
144. An apparatus as defined in claim 142 or 143 wherein
said thrust system comprises propellers.
145. An apparatus as defined in claim 142 or 143 wherein
said thrust system comprises rockets.
146. An apparatus as defined in claim 142 or 143 wherein
said thrust system comprises jets.
147. An apparatus as defined in claim 142 or 143 wherein
said means for energizing said thrust system includes means for receiving and converting solar energy to electric energy.
148. An apparatus as defined in claim 142 or 143 wherein
said means for energizing said thrust system includes means for receiving and converting wind energy to electric energy.
149. An apparatus as defined in claim 142 or 143 wherein
said means for energizing said thrust system includes means for receiving and converting microwave energy to electric energy.
150. An apparatus as defined in claim 149 including
at least one ground based microwave transmitter, and
means for aiming a microwave beam at said microwave receiving means on said relay station.
151. An apparatus as defined in claim 150 including
at least one microwave transmitter based on said relay station, and
means on said relay station for aiming a microwave beam at said receiving means on another relay station.
152. An apparatus as defined in claim 140 wherein
said relay station comprises a balloon.
153. An apparatus as defined in claim 152 wherein
said balloon includes means for controlling the temperature of the gas that it contains.
154. An apparatus as defined in claim 153 wherein
said balloon includes a skin, and
at least a portion of said skin is comprised of electro-chromatic material.
155. An apparatus as defined in claim 154 wherein
said balloon comprises a zero pressure balloon.
156. An apparatus as defined in claim 154 wherein
said balloon comprises an overpressure zero pressure balloon.
157. An apparatus as defined in claim 155 wherein
said balloon includes a skin, and
at least a portion of said skin is comprised of photo-chromatic material.
158. An apparatus as defined in claim 156 wherein
said balloon comprises a zero pressure balloon.
159. An apparatus as defined in claim 157 wherein
said balloon comprises an overpressure zero pressure balloon.
160. An apparatus as defined in claim 152 wherein
said balloon includes means for controlling its altitude.
161. An apparatus as defined in claim 160 wherein
said balloon comprises a zero pressure balloon.
162. An apparatus as defined in claim 160 wherein
said balloon comprises an overpressure zero pressure balloon.
163. An apparatus as defined in claim 162 wherein
said balloon comprises a super pressure balloon.
164. An apparatus as defined in claim 140 wherein
said relay station is lighter than air.
165. An apparatus as defined in claim 164 wherein
said means for controlling said lateral movement comprises a thrust system, and
electric means for driving said thrust system.
166. An apparatus as defined in claim 164 wherein
said thrust system comprises a plurality of propellers.
167. An apparatus as defined in claim 164 wherein
said thrust system comprises a plurality of rockets.
168. An apparatus as defined in claim 164 wherein
said thrust system comprises a plurality of jets.
169. An apparatus as defined in claim 164 wherein
said relay station comprises an inflatable device, and
means connected to said inflatable device for deflating it while it is aloft.
170. An apparatus as defined in claim 169 wherein
said means for deflating said inflatable devices is operative in response to a signal from a remote source.
171. An apparatus as defined in claim 170 wherein said means for deflating said inflatable device includes
an opening in said inflatable device,
a cover closing said opening and being operative to seal said opening against the escape of gases from said inflatable device, and
an explosive charge connected to said cover, said explosive charge being operative when detonated to remove said cover from said opening.
172. An apparatus as defined in claim 170 wherein said means for deflating said inflatable device includes
an opening in said inflatable device,
a cover closing said opening against the escape of gases from said inflatable device, and
a plurality of clamping brackets for releasably retaining said cover in sealing relation with said opening,
at least one electrically driven motor supported by said inflatable device, said electrically driven motor being in engagement with said clamping brackets and being operative when energized to move said clamping brackets so that they release said cover from said opening.
173. An apparatus in defined in claim 169 wherein
said inflatable device includes a parachute for controlling its descent when it is recovered.
174. An apparatus as defined in claim 173 including
means for deploying said parachute, and
means for connecting said means for deploying said parachute to said means for deflating said inflatable device so that said parachute is deployed when said inflatable device is deflated.
175. An apparatus as defined in claim 173 including
radio controlled means supported by said inflatable device and being connected to the control lines for said parachute, and
said radio controlled means is operative to provide directional control to said parachute as it descends.
US10/180,217 1993-07-30 2002-06-25 Sub-orbital, high altitude communications system Abandoned US20030040273A1 (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US10/180,217 US20030040273A1 (en) 1993-07-30 2002-06-25 Sub-orbital, high altitude communications system
US10/307,116 US8483120B2 (en) 1993-07-30 2002-11-26 High efficiency sub-orbital high altitude telecommunications system
US11/228,144 US7567779B2 (en) 1993-07-30 2005-09-16 Sub-orbital, high altitude communications system

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US10003793A 1993-07-30 1993-07-30
US10/180,217 US20030040273A1 (en) 1993-07-30 2002-06-25 Sub-orbital, high altitude communications system

Related Parent Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US10003793A Continuation-In-Part 1993-07-30 1993-07-30
US15770198A Continuation 1993-07-30 1998-09-21

Related Child Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US10/307,116 Continuation-In-Part US8483120B2 (en) 1993-07-30 2002-11-26 High efficiency sub-orbital high altitude telecommunications system
US11/228,144 Continuation US7567779B2 (en) 1993-07-30 2005-09-16 Sub-orbital, high altitude communications system

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20030040273A1 true US20030040273A1 (en) 2003-02-27

Family

ID=22277801

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US10/180,217 Abandoned US20030040273A1 (en) 1993-07-30 2002-06-25 Sub-orbital, high altitude communications system
US11/228,144 Expired - Lifetime US7567779B2 (en) 1993-07-30 2005-09-16 Sub-orbital, high altitude communications system

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US11/228,144 Expired - Lifetime US7567779B2 (en) 1993-07-30 2005-09-16 Sub-orbital, high altitude communications system

Country Status (21)

Country Link
US (2) US20030040273A1 (en)
EP (1) EP0711476B1 (en)
JP (1) JPH09503892A (en)
KR (1) KR100442209B1 (en)
CN (1) CN1073311C (en)
AT (1) ATE185659T1 (en)
AU (1) AU685149B2 (en)
BR (1) BR9407157A (en)
CA (1) CA2168353C (en)
DE (2) DE69421184T2 (en)
ES (2) ES2141244T3 (en)
FR (1) FR2712128B1 (en)
GB (1) GB2296634B (en)
GR (1) GR3032336T3 (en)
HK (1) HK1013180A1 (en)
IT (1) IT1290878B1 (en)
PL (1) PL180378B1 (en)
PT (1) PT711476E (en)
RU (1) RU2185026C2 (en)
UA (1) UA43849C2 (en)
WO (1) WO1995004407A1 (en)

Cited By (36)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2007003206A1 (en) * 2005-06-30 2007-01-11 Kamal Alavi Unmanned aircraft as a platform for telecommunication or other scientific purposes
US20090221285A1 (en) * 2008-02-29 2009-09-03 Dobosz Paul J Communications system
US20100311460A1 (en) * 2006-10-25 2010-12-09 Juergen Hofmann Method and arrangement for power control
US8781727B1 (en) 2013-01-15 2014-07-15 Google Inc. Methods and systems for performing flocking while executing a long-range fleet plan
US8849571B1 (en) 2012-12-26 2014-09-30 Google Inc. Methods and systems for determining fleet trajectories with phase-skipping to satisfy a sequence of coverage requirements
US8862403B1 (en) 2012-12-28 2014-10-14 Google Inc. Methods and systems for determining altitudes for a vehicle to travel
US8874356B1 (en) 2013-01-24 2014-10-28 Google Inc. Methods and systems for decomposing fleet planning optimizations via spatial partitions
US8880326B1 (en) 2013-02-20 2014-11-04 Google Inc. Methods and systems for determining a cyclical fleet plan satisfying a recurring set of coverage requirements
US8948927B1 (en) 2012-12-27 2015-02-03 Google Inc. Methods and systems for determining a distribution of balloons based on population densities
US9014957B2 (en) 2012-12-29 2015-04-21 Google Inc. Methods and systems for determining fleet trajectories to satisfy a sequence of coverage requirements
US9010691B1 (en) * 2013-11-05 2015-04-21 Google Inc. Parachute deployment system
US20150295638A1 (en) * 2014-04-11 2015-10-15 Mark Keremedjiev Low latency global communication through wireless networks
US9195938B1 (en) 2012-12-27 2015-11-24 Google Inc. Methods and systems for determining when to launch vehicles into a fleet of autonomous vehicles
US9424752B1 (en) 2012-12-26 2016-08-23 Google Inc. Methods and systems for performing fleet planning based on coarse estimates of regions
US9528687B1 (en) * 2013-07-09 2016-12-27 X Development Llc Transmission apparatus for beam expansion
US9540091B1 (en) 2016-02-11 2017-01-10 World View Enterprises Inc. High altitude balloon systems and methods
US9561858B2 (en) 2015-03-09 2017-02-07 World View Enterprises Inc. Rigidized assisted opening system for high altitude parafoils
US20170057607A1 (en) * 2001-04-18 2017-03-02 Space Data Corporation Systems and applications of lighter-than-air (lta) platforms
US20170057608A1 (en) * 2001-04-18 2017-03-02 Space Data Corporation Systems and applications of lighter-than-air (lta) platforms
WO2017059545A1 (en) * 2015-10-09 2017-04-13 Van Wynsberghe Erinn Geostationary high altitude platform
US9632503B2 (en) 2001-04-18 2017-04-25 Space Data Corporation Systems and applications of lighter-than-air (LTA) platforms
US9635706B1 (en) 2013-01-02 2017-04-25 X Development Llc Method for determining fleet control policies to satisfy a sequence of coverage requirements
US9669918B1 (en) 2015-07-28 2017-06-06 X Development Llc Sealing ducts into a balloon
US9678193B2 (en) 2001-04-18 2017-06-13 Space Data Corporation Systems and applications of lighter-than-air (LTA) platforms
US9694910B2 (en) 2013-02-22 2017-07-04 World View Enterprises Inc. Near-space operation systems
US9747568B1 (en) 2012-12-26 2017-08-29 X Development Llc Methods and systems for determining when to decommission vehicles from a fleet of autonomous vehicles
US9823663B2 (en) 2001-04-18 2017-11-21 Space Data Corporation Unmanned lighter-than-air-safe termination and recovery methods
US10029776B1 (en) 2015-09-18 2018-07-24 X Development Llc Seals for gored balloon
US10059421B2 (en) 2014-12-30 2018-08-28 Space Data Corporation Multifunctional balloon membrane
US10124875B1 (en) 2017-01-09 2018-11-13 World View Enterprises Inc. Continuous multi-chamber super pressure balloon
US10207802B2 (en) 2014-12-24 2019-02-19 Space Data Corporation Breaking apart a platform upon pending collision
CN109617594A (en) * 2018-12-18 2019-04-12 西安思丹德信息技术有限公司 The instruction wireless transmission system for images and method of frequency division multiple access and time division multiple acess hybrid scheme
US10336432B1 (en) 2017-01-09 2019-07-02 World View Enterprises Inc. Lighter than air balloon systems and methods
US10403160B2 (en) 2014-12-24 2019-09-03 Space Data Corporation Techniques for intelligent balloon/airship launch and recovery window location
US20200021238A1 (en) * 2015-12-16 2020-01-16 Skycom Corporation Lighter-than-air platform
US10574341B1 (en) * 2015-10-13 2020-02-25 Loon Llc Channel reconfigurable millimeter-wave RF system

Families Citing this family (100)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20030236070A1 (en) * 2002-06-25 2003-12-25 Seligsohn Sherwin I. Sub-orbital, high altitude communications system
PL181701B3 (en) * 1995-06-07 2001-09-28 Internat Multi Media Corp Sub-oriental high-altitude highly efficient telecommunication system
WO1997015992A1 (en) * 1995-10-27 1997-05-01 Israel Aircraft Industries Ltd. Strato state platform and its use in communication
US5915207A (en) 1996-01-22 1999-06-22 Hughes Electronics Corporation Mobile and wireless information dissemination architecture and protocols
US6324398B1 (en) * 1996-02-26 2001-11-27 Lucent Technologies Inc. Wireless telecommunications system having airborne base station
FR2752215B1 (en) * 1996-08-07 1998-09-25 Centre Nat Etd Spatiales METHOD AND DEVICE FOR RECOVERING A STRASTOSPHERIC BALLOON AT THE END OF THE MISSION
AU7575498A (en) * 1997-05-16 1998-12-08 Spherecore, Inc. Aerial communications network
US6119979A (en) * 1997-09-15 2000-09-19 Sky Station International, Inc. Cyclical thermal management system
GB2330985A (en) * 1997-11-03 1999-05-05 Wireless Systems Int Ltd A radio repeater comprising two transceivers connected by a data link
DE19923450A1 (en) * 1998-11-17 2000-05-25 Fraunhofer Ges Forschung Flying body for fixed positioning in stratosphere, has supply arrangement with photoelectric converter pivotable to position active surface optimally with respect to incident electromagnetic radiation
WO2000054433A1 (en) * 1999-03-08 2000-09-14 Lockheed Martin Corporation Method and apparatus for positioning a low cost, long duration high altitude instrument platform utilizing unmanned airborne vehicles
FR2795043B1 (en) * 1999-06-21 2001-10-19 Cit Alcatel HIGH ALTITUDE FLYING VEHICLE AS A RADIUS RELAY AND METHOD FOR MOUNTING THE VEHICLE
US6628941B2 (en) * 1999-06-29 2003-09-30 Space Data Corporation Airborne constellation of communications platforms and method
US6768906B2 (en) * 1999-09-13 2004-07-27 Motorola, Inc. System and technique for plane switchover in an aircraft based wireless communication system
CN1373944A (en) * 1999-09-13 2002-10-09 摩托罗拉公司 Multi-airplane cellular communications system
US7802756B2 (en) 2000-02-14 2010-09-28 Aerovironment Inc. Aircraft control system
RU2002124855A (en) 2000-02-14 2004-02-10 Аеровиронмент Инк. (Us) Aircraft
US7027769B1 (en) 2000-03-31 2006-04-11 The Directv Group, Inc. GEO stationary communications system with minimal delay
US6675013B1 (en) 2000-06-26 2004-01-06 Motorola, Inc. Doppler correction and path loss compensation for airborne cellular system
US6813257B1 (en) 2000-06-26 2004-11-02 Motorola, Inc. Apparatus and methods for controlling short code timing offsets in a CDMA system
US6507739B1 (en) 2000-06-26 2003-01-14 Motorola, Inc. Apparatus and methods for controlling a cellular communications network having airborne transceivers
US6856803B1 (en) 2000-06-26 2005-02-15 Motorola, Inc. Method for maintaining candidate handoff list for airborne cellular system
US6804515B1 (en) 2000-06-27 2004-10-12 Motorola, Inc. Transportable infrastructure for airborne cellular system
US6829479B1 (en) 2000-07-14 2004-12-07 The Directv Group. Inc. Fixed wireless back haul for mobile communications using stratospheric platforms
US8265637B2 (en) * 2000-08-02 2012-09-11 Atc Technologies, Llc Systems and methods for modifying antenna radiation patterns of peripheral base stations of a terrestrial network to allow reduced interference
US7257418B1 (en) 2000-08-31 2007-08-14 The Directv Group, Inc. Rapid user acquisition by a ground-based beamformer
US6941138B1 (en) * 2000-09-05 2005-09-06 The Directv Group, Inc. Concurrent communications between a user terminal and multiple stratospheric transponder platforms
DE10137498A1 (en) * 2001-07-31 2003-05-15 Siemens Ag Base station with sensor system for measuring local data
EP1633123A1 (en) 2001-10-24 2006-03-08 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Method and system for billing access of a device on a wireless local area network
CA2391252C (en) * 2002-06-25 2010-08-10 21St Century Airships Inc. Airship and method of operation
RU2287910C1 (en) * 2005-10-14 2006-11-20 Владимир Миронович Вишневский Method and overhead telecommunication platform for organizing regional wireless data-transfer networks
EP1971519A1 (en) * 2006-01-10 2008-09-24 Alavi Kamal Unmanned aircraft for telecommunicative or scientific purposes
JP4505647B2 (en) * 2006-03-16 2010-07-21 国立大学法人 筑波大学 Ground condition observation method and ground condition observation system
FR2920615B1 (en) * 2007-08-31 2011-01-28 Centre Nat Etd Spatiales INSTRUMENT FOR ACQUIRING AND DISTRIBUTING LAND-OBSERVING IMAGES WITH HIGH SPACE AND TEMPORAL RESOLUTION
US9426768B1 (en) * 2009-07-22 2016-08-23 The Boeing Company Aircraft communications during different phases of flight
DE102009036504A1 (en) * 2009-08-07 2011-02-17 Rheinmetall Defence Electronics Gmbh relay unit
US20110092257A1 (en) * 2009-10-16 2011-04-21 Burt Steven D Wireless communication device
CN102092471B (en) * 2009-12-12 2013-12-11 襄樊宏伟航空器有限责任公司 Floating platform for mooring hot air airship
US8489256B2 (en) 2010-04-13 2013-07-16 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Automatic parafoil turn calculation method and apparatus
US8390444B2 (en) 2010-04-30 2013-03-05 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Sensor-location system for locating a sensor in a tract covered by an earth-based sensor network
GB2480804A (en) 2010-05-25 2011-12-07 New Create Ltd Controllable buoyant system
KR20120070899A (en) * 2010-12-22 2012-07-02 한국전자통신연구원 Apparatus and method for airborne self-powered wireless communication
KR101132316B1 (en) * 2011-08-02 2012-04-05 (주)아이엠피 Controlling method for a broadcasting system having a evacuation scenario
US8718477B2 (en) 2012-01-09 2014-05-06 Google Inc. Balloon network with free-space optical communication between super-node balloons and RF communication between super-node and sub-node balloons
US8634974B2 (en) 2012-01-09 2014-01-21 Google Inc. Using predicted movement to maintain optical-communication lock with nearby balloon
US20130177322A1 (en) * 2012-01-09 2013-07-11 Google Inc. Establishing Optical-Communication Lock with Nearby Balloon
US8733697B2 (en) * 2012-01-09 2014-05-27 Google Inc. Altitude control via rotation of balloon to adjust balloon density
US8820678B2 (en) * 2012-01-09 2014-09-02 Google Inc. Relative positioning of balloons with altitude control and wind data
US8825847B1 (en) * 2012-02-03 2014-09-02 Google Inc. Location-aware “ghost” caching in a balloon network
US9281896B2 (en) 2012-02-03 2016-03-08 Google Inc. Location-aware profiles in a balloon network
US8918047B1 (en) * 2012-06-26 2014-12-23 Google Inc. Use of satellite-based routing processes with a balloon network
US9033274B2 (en) 2012-07-11 2015-05-19 Google Inc. Balloon altitude control using density adjustment and/or volume adjustment
US8988253B2 (en) * 2012-07-16 2015-03-24 Google Inc. Recovery of balloon materials
US8996024B1 (en) 2012-07-23 2015-03-31 Google Inc. Virtual pooling of local resources in a balloon network
US9285450B2 (en) * 2012-09-27 2016-03-15 Google Inc. Balloon-based positioning system and method
US9532174B2 (en) 2012-12-03 2016-12-27 X Development Llc Method for ensuring data localization on an ad hoc moving data network
US9520940B2 (en) 2012-12-14 2016-12-13 X Development Llc Method for preventing storage of prohibited data on an Ad Hoc moving data network
US20160183145A1 (en) * 2013-01-14 2016-06-23 Comtech Ef Data Corp. Seamless Antenna Hanover System and Related Methods for Non-Geosynchronous Satellites
US9174738B1 (en) 2013-04-14 2015-11-03 Google Inc. Drag disk, small
US9281554B1 (en) 2013-04-16 2016-03-08 Google Inc. Balloon with pressure mechanism to passively steer antenna
US9016634B1 (en) 2013-04-30 2015-04-28 Google Inc. Payload cut-down mechanism
US9093754B2 (en) * 2013-05-10 2015-07-28 Google Inc. Dynamically adjusting width of beam based on altitude
US8998128B2 (en) 2013-05-28 2015-04-07 Google Inc. Umbrella valves to inflate bladder in balloon envelope
US9174720B1 (en) 2013-05-28 2015-11-03 Google Inc. Actuated umbrella valves to deflate bladder in balloon envelope
US9514269B1 (en) * 2013-07-17 2016-12-06 X Development Llc Determining expected failure modes of balloons within a balloon network
US9319905B2 (en) * 2013-08-30 2016-04-19 Google Inc. Re-tasking balloons in a balloon network based on expected failure modes of balloons
US9829561B2 (en) 2013-09-04 2017-11-28 X Development Llc Balloon-based positioning system and method
US10615873B1 (en) * 2013-12-18 2020-04-07 Loon Llc Hybrid RF/optical communications with RF system that provides continuous service during downtime in optical handoff
US9847828B2 (en) 2013-12-18 2017-12-19 X Development Llc Adjusting beam width of air-to-ground communications based on distance to neighbor balloon(s) in order to maintain contiguous service
US9676468B1 (en) 2013-12-20 2017-06-13 X Development Llc Aluminized parachute as solar shield
US9463863B1 (en) 2013-12-30 2016-10-11 Google Inc. Superpressure balloon with ballonet cut from contiguous gores
US9168994B2 (en) 2013-12-30 2015-10-27 Google Inc. Cutter rail guide, block, armature, and blade
US9573671B1 (en) 2013-12-31 2017-02-21 X Development Llc Fabric diffuser for high flowrate inflation
US9090323B1 (en) 2014-02-12 2015-07-28 Google Inc. Controlling descent of a zero pressure balloon
RU2555461C1 (en) * 2014-03-03 2015-07-10 Михаил Григорьевич Карпухин Steam-lifted airship and complex electric power station as automatic high-altitude flying versatile station
WO2015161040A1 (en) * 2014-04-16 2015-10-22 Massachusetts Institute Of Technology Distributed airborne beamforming system
US9894158B2 (en) * 2014-05-19 2018-02-13 EpiSys Science, Inc. Method and apparatus for control of multiple autonomous mobile nodes based on dynamic situational awareness data
WO2016025444A1 (en) * 2014-08-13 2016-02-18 Dronetech Studio, Llc Parachute deployment system for an unmanned aerial vehicle
US9596020B2 (en) 2014-08-18 2017-03-14 Sunlight Photonics Inc. Methods for providing distributed airborne wireless communications
US9083425B1 (en) 2014-08-18 2015-07-14 Sunlight Photonics Inc. Distributed airborne wireless networks
US9302782B2 (en) 2014-08-18 2016-04-05 Sunlight Photonics Inc. Methods and apparatus for a distributed airborne wireless communications fleet
US8897770B1 (en) * 2014-08-18 2014-11-25 Sunlight Photonics Inc. Apparatus for distributed airborne wireless communications
US9346531B1 (en) 2014-09-09 2016-05-24 Google Inc. Balloon gas release flight termination system
US9313667B1 (en) * 2014-12-17 2016-04-12 The Boeing Company Cellular communication network through unmanned aerial vehicle cellular communication links
US9789960B2 (en) 2015-01-14 2017-10-17 Raymond Hoheisel Payload orientation control and stabilization
US10092203B2 (en) 2015-08-21 2018-10-09 Verily Life Sciences Llc Using skin resistance measurements to determine timing of bio-telemetry measurements
FR3041839B1 (en) * 2015-09-29 2019-08-16 Centre National D'etudes Spatiales (Cnes) ARCHITECTURE FOR OBSERVING A PLURALITY OF OBJECTS THROUGH SEVERAL AEROSPATIOUS MACHINERY AND ASSOCIATED OBSERVATION DATA COLLECTION METHOD
US10059420B1 (en) 2015-12-07 2018-08-28 X Development Llc Payload separation for balloon flight termination
JP6495161B2 (en) * 2015-12-28 2019-04-03 Kddi株式会社 Communication relay device
CN108885457A (en) * 2016-04-29 2018-11-23 Bhp比利顿创新公司 Wireless communication system
US9908609B1 (en) 2016-06-02 2018-03-06 X Development Llc Explosive strip for venting gas from a balloon
US10759535B2 (en) 2016-06-14 2020-09-01 Raymond Hoheisel Airborne launch of inflatable devices
US9832705B1 (en) * 2016-09-02 2017-11-28 The University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill Methods, systems, and computer readable media for topology management and geographic routing in mobile ad-hoc networks
CN106788676B (en) * 2016-12-09 2020-02-21 清华大学 Unmanned aerial vehicle management method based on frequency modulation data broadcasting, unmanned aerial vehicle, monitoring terminal and management center
FR3069523A1 (en) * 2017-07-27 2019-02-01 Prodose METHOD OF MAKING A NETWORK FOR THE SUPPLY OF THE INTERNET IN PARTICULAR ON THE SURFACE OF THE GLOBE TERRESTRIAN, A PLANE FOR CARRYING OUT IT
JP6689802B2 (en) * 2017-09-14 2020-04-28 ソフトバンク株式会社 Communication relay device, system and management device
JP6689804B2 (en) * 2017-09-19 2020-04-28 ソフトバンク株式会社 Communication relay device, system and management device
US11709273B2 (en) * 2018-04-12 2023-07-25 Aerostar International, Llc Stratospheric position, navigation, and timing system
EP3803263B1 (en) * 2018-06-01 2023-09-20 BAE SYSTEMS plc Fuze indication system
US10925114B1 (en) 2019-11-11 2021-02-16 Loon Llc Remote monitoring of geographically distributed assets using mobile platforms

Citations (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2626348A (en) * 1945-08-08 1953-01-20 Westinghouse Electric Corp Airborne radio relay and broadcast system
US2699495A (en) * 1950-10-03 1955-01-11 Motorola Inc Automatic switchover system for radio relay
US3092770A (en) * 1956-06-26 1963-06-04 Leslie E Shoemaker Emergency long range communication system
US3614031A (en) * 1970-04-09 1971-10-19 Henry Demboski Balloon destruct descent and recovery system
US3663762A (en) * 1970-12-21 1972-05-16 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Mobile communication system
US3742358A (en) * 1970-12-30 1973-06-26 R Cesaro Tethered airborne communications and information transfer system
US3906166A (en) * 1973-10-17 1975-09-16 Motorola Inc Radio telephone system
US4440366A (en) * 1980-11-03 1984-04-03 Commonwealth Of Australia Parachute control apparatus
US4931028A (en) * 1988-08-15 1990-06-05 Jaeger Hugh D Toy blimp
US5149015A (en) * 1991-08-19 1992-09-22 Davis R Scott Radio controlled hot air balloon
US5206882A (en) * 1991-03-11 1993-04-27 Schloemer Gerald R System for and method of creating and assigning address codes in a cellular spread spectrum system
US5448623A (en) * 1991-10-10 1995-09-05 Space Systems/Loral, Inc. Satellite telecommunications system using network coordinating gateways operative with a terrestrial communication system
US5479397A (en) * 1991-04-02 1995-12-26 Airtouch Communications Of California CDMA transmission delay method and apparatus
US5519761A (en) * 1994-07-08 1996-05-21 Qualcomm Incorporated Airborne radiotelephone communications system
US5559865A (en) * 1994-07-08 1996-09-24 Qualcomm Incorporated Airborne radiotelephone communications system

Family Cites Families (87)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US651361A (en) 1899-05-20 1900-06-12 Charles E Wilson Electric telegraphy.
US744936A (en) 1903-01-17 1903-11-24 Andrew Plecher Receiver for wireless telegraphs or telephones.
US1296687A (en) 1917-02-16 1919-03-11 Western Electric Co Means for signaling from captive balloons.
US1650461A (en) 1925-10-10 1927-11-22 Nilson Arthur Reinhold Antenna device
US2151336A (en) 1934-07-05 1939-03-21 Telefunken Gmbh Radio signaling apparatus
US2598064A (en) * 1942-01-07 1952-05-27 Rca Corp Air-borne radio relaying system
US2462102A (en) 1945-08-02 1949-02-22 Edwin J Istvan Modulated reflecting-resonant target
US2542823A (en) 1945-10-19 1951-02-20 Westinghouse Electric Corp Short-wave broadcast net
US2627021A (en) 1949-07-07 1953-01-27 Rca Corp Airborne transoceanic radio relay system
US2748266A (en) * 1952-12-18 1956-05-29 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Radiant energy relay system
US2740598A (en) 1953-03-10 1956-04-03 Gen Mills Inc Apparatus for remote control of balloon altitude
US2886263A (en) 1956-02-10 1959-05-12 Donald M Ferguson High altitude balloon for meteorological use
US3030500A (en) 1959-01-15 1962-04-17 Electromagnetic Res Corp Communication system utilizing trade wind inversion duct
US3045952A (en) 1959-03-23 1962-07-24 Lawrence E Underwood Antenna support structure
US3114517A (en) 1959-05-12 1963-12-17 Raytheon Co Microwave operated space vehicles
US3153878A (en) 1960-04-11 1964-10-27 Jr Bonne Smith Flying solarthermic toy airship
US3119578A (en) 1960-09-09 1964-01-28 Litton Systems Inc Balloon deflation apparatus
US3146976A (en) 1962-10-18 1964-09-01 Maurice J Houdou Parachute
US3193223A (en) 1963-07-31 1965-07-06 Davis Stuart Parachute release control
US3260017A (en) 1964-04-17 1966-07-12 Robert A Wolfe Electrically actuated toy space station having lamp means
US3302906A (en) 1965-03-08 1967-02-07 Raven Ind Inc Positive destruction device for balloon
US3390851A (en) 1966-11-30 1968-07-02 Vitro Corp Of America Balloon recovery apparatus
DE1923744C3 (en) 1969-05-09 1978-05-24 Siemens Ag, 1000 Berlin Und 8000 Muenchen Messaging system
FR2077798B1 (en) 1970-02-16 1973-10-19 France Etat
US3971454A (en) 1971-04-20 1976-07-27 Waterbury Nelson J System for generating electrical energy to supply power to propel vehicles
US3746282A (en) 1971-05-03 1973-07-17 Goodyear Aerospace Corp High altitude streamlined balloon
JPS516609A (en) 1974-07-05 1976-01-20 Nippon Telegraph & Telephone EISEITSUSHI NHOSHIKI
FR2282366A1 (en) * 1974-08-19 1976-03-19 Centre Nat Etd Spatiales Controlled or automatic balloon release mechanism - with clamp on neck of envelope released by explosive bolts
US4073516A (en) 1975-06-06 1978-02-14 Alberto Kling Wind driven power plant
US4039947A (en) * 1976-06-29 1977-08-02 Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated Protection switching system for microwave radio
US4042192A (en) 1976-07-19 1977-08-16 Walter Forrest L Balloon with deflation and maneuvering ports
DE2642061C2 (en) 1976-09-18 1983-11-24 Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm GmbH, 8000 München Position control and orbit change method for a three-axis stabilizable satellite, in particular for a geostationary satellite and device for carrying out the method
US4402476A (en) 1977-01-28 1983-09-06 Wiederkehr Matthew H Exhaust valve and maneuvering structure for lighter-than-air aircraft
US4204656A (en) 1977-02-02 1980-05-27 Seward Dewitt C Airship control system
JPS53148907A (en) 1977-05-31 1978-12-26 Nec Corp Radio transmission system throught non-anchored balloon
FR2408228A1 (en) 1977-11-04 1979-06-01 Kamsu Tema Dieudonne Hydrogen filled balloon antenna support - is secured by ring of cables anchored to ground or building
US4174082A (en) 1977-12-15 1979-11-13 Frederick Eshoo Solar powered hot air balloon
US4262864A (en) 1977-12-15 1981-04-21 Fredrick Eshoo Solar balloon maneuvering system
GB2027403B (en) * 1978-07-25 1982-06-16 Rolls Royce Controlling dirigibles
US4402475A (en) 1978-10-19 1983-09-06 Airships International, Inc. Thrusters for airship control
GB2051247A (en) 1979-05-23 1981-01-14 Morris Julian Solar powered jet propulsion unit
US4236234A (en) 1979-07-25 1980-11-25 Fairfield Industries, Inc. Radio frequency seismic gathering system employing an airborne blimp
US4368415A (en) 1979-09-14 1983-01-11 British Aerospace Converting solar power to electric power
US4364532A (en) 1979-11-29 1982-12-21 North American Construction Utility Corp. Apparatus for collecting solar energy at high altitudes and on floating structures
GB2082995B (en) * 1980-08-27 1984-02-08 Mcnulty John Anthony Airborne relay station
FR2539383A1 (en) 1983-01-19 1984-07-20 Nguyen Tan Chuonv Remote-controlled lightweight toric aircraft for aerial remote detection
JPS59169229A (en) * 1983-03-16 1984-09-25 Fujitsu Ltd Duplex switch control system
GB2137051B (en) 1983-03-22 1986-07-30 Secuurigard International Limi Radio direction finders
FR2561719A1 (en) 1984-03-20 1985-09-27 Haentjens Rene Air-supported air generator called ''Aeolian''
US5056447A (en) * 1988-10-13 1991-10-15 Labrador Gaudencio A Rein-deer kite
US4689625A (en) * 1984-11-06 1987-08-25 Martin Marietta Corporation Satellite communications system and method therefor
FR2574369B1 (en) 1984-12-06 1987-01-09 Centre Nat Etd Spatiales PILOTABLE AEROSTATIC BALLOON
US4686322A (en) 1985-08-12 1987-08-11 Rca Corporation Solar panel
US4651956A (en) 1986-01-17 1987-03-24 Raven Industries, Inc. Deflation and control system for hot air balloons
US4729750A (en) 1986-02-18 1988-03-08 David Prusman Flying toy controllable in three dimensions
GB2196919A (en) 1986-09-26 1988-05-11 Airport Ind Improvements in or relating to airships
US4709884A (en) 1987-01-16 1987-12-01 Gustafson Troy C Parachute apparatus for model airplane
FR2622754B1 (en) 1987-10-29 1990-01-12 Alcatel Espace RADIO-OPTICAL TRANSMISSION SYSTEM, ESPECIALLY IN THE FIELD OF SPATIAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS
CA1295019C (en) 1987-11-24 1992-01-28 John F. Martin Microwave-powered aircraft
JPH01180129A (en) 1988-01-12 1989-07-18 Nec Corp Radio repeater station
FR2639607B1 (en) 1988-11-30 1992-04-24 Centre Nat Etd Spatiales METHOD FOR ALTITUDE STABILIZATION OF A STRATOSPHERIC BALLOON AND BALLOON SUITABLE FOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION
US4995572A (en) 1989-06-05 1991-02-26 Piasecki Aircraft Corporation High altitude multi-stage data acquisition system and method of launching stratospheric altitude air-buoyant vehicles
JP2732674B2 (en) * 1989-07-10 1998-03-30 株式会社東芝 Data transmission equipment
US5285208A (en) 1989-09-05 1994-02-08 Motorola, Inc. Power management system for a worldwide multiple satellite communications system
US5089055A (en) 1989-12-12 1992-02-18 Takashi Nakamura Survivable solar power-generating systems for use with spacecraft
DE4009772A1 (en) * 1990-03-27 1991-10-02 Wolfgang Schmidt Turbo-driven air ship - uses electrically driven fans powered from solar cells, fuel cells or generators
AU8657291A (en) 1990-09-27 1992-04-28 Hakan Colting Airship and method for controlling its flight
FR2669455B1 (en) 1990-11-21 1993-01-08 Dassault Electronique AIR AND / OR TERRESTRIAL REMOTE DETECTION INSTALLATION, PARTICULARLY FOR THE DETECTION OF FOREST FIRES.
FR2673418A1 (en) * 1991-03-01 1992-09-04 Erval Alain Lighter-than-air-machine with steerable propulsion device
US5186418A (en) * 1991-07-31 1993-02-16 University Corporation For Atmospheric Research Self guided recoverable airborne instrument module
CA2078932C (en) 1991-10-10 2003-12-02 Robert A. Wiedeman Satellite telecommunications system using network coordinating gateways operative with a terrestrial communication system
US5386953A (en) 1991-11-08 1995-02-07 Calling Communications Corporation Spacecraft designs for satellite communication system
US5186414A (en) 1992-04-20 1993-02-16 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Hybrid data link
US5268694A (en) 1992-07-06 1993-12-07 Motorola, Inc. Communication system employing spectrum reuse on a spherical surface
US5379320A (en) 1993-03-11 1995-01-03 Southern California Edison Company Hitless ultra small aperture terminal satellite communication network
JP3002077B2 (en) 1993-08-12 2000-01-24 ケイディディ株式会社 Mobile satellite communication system using orbiting satellites
DE69431582T2 (en) 1993-08-12 2003-03-06 Nortel Networks Ltd Antenna device for base station
US5503350A (en) * 1993-10-28 1996-04-02 Skysat Communications Network Corporation Microwave-powered aircraft
US5678783A (en) 1994-05-05 1997-10-21 Wong; Alfred Y. System and method for remediation of selected atmospheric conditions and system for high altitude telecommunications
US6324398B1 (en) 1996-02-26 2001-11-27 Lucent Technologies Inc. Wireless telecommunications system having airborne base station
US6151308A (en) 1996-12-30 2000-11-21 Motorola, Inc. Elevated communication hub and method of operation therefor
US5949766A (en) 1996-12-30 1999-09-07 Motorola, Inc. Ground device for communicating with an elevated communication hub and method of operation thereof
AU7575498A (en) 1997-05-16 1998-12-08 Spherecore, Inc. Aerial communications network
US5982337A (en) 1998-02-20 1999-11-09 Marconi Aerospace Systems Inc. Cellular antennas for stratosphere coverage of multi-band annular earth pattern
WO2000079705A1 (en) 1999-06-17 2000-12-28 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Mobile communication system
FR2795043B1 (en) 1999-06-21 2001-10-19 Cit Alcatel HIGH ALTITUDE FLYING VEHICLE AS A RADIUS RELAY AND METHOD FOR MOUNTING THE VEHICLE
US6756937B1 (en) 2000-06-06 2004-06-29 The Directv Group, Inc. Stratospheric platforms based mobile communications architecture

Patent Citations (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2626348A (en) * 1945-08-08 1953-01-20 Westinghouse Electric Corp Airborne radio relay and broadcast system
US2699495A (en) * 1950-10-03 1955-01-11 Motorola Inc Automatic switchover system for radio relay
US3092770A (en) * 1956-06-26 1963-06-04 Leslie E Shoemaker Emergency long range communication system
US3614031A (en) * 1970-04-09 1971-10-19 Henry Demboski Balloon destruct descent and recovery system
US3663762A (en) * 1970-12-21 1972-05-16 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Mobile communication system
US3742358A (en) * 1970-12-30 1973-06-26 R Cesaro Tethered airborne communications and information transfer system
US3906166A (en) * 1973-10-17 1975-09-16 Motorola Inc Radio telephone system
US4440366A (en) * 1980-11-03 1984-04-03 Commonwealth Of Australia Parachute control apparatus
US4931028A (en) * 1988-08-15 1990-06-05 Jaeger Hugh D Toy blimp
US5206882A (en) * 1991-03-11 1993-04-27 Schloemer Gerald R System for and method of creating and assigning address codes in a cellular spread spectrum system
US5479397A (en) * 1991-04-02 1995-12-26 Airtouch Communications Of California CDMA transmission delay method and apparatus
US5149015A (en) * 1991-08-19 1992-09-22 Davis R Scott Radio controlled hot air balloon
US5448623A (en) * 1991-10-10 1995-09-05 Space Systems/Loral, Inc. Satellite telecommunications system using network coordinating gateways operative with a terrestrial communication system
US5519761A (en) * 1994-07-08 1996-05-21 Qualcomm Incorporated Airborne radiotelephone communications system
US5559865A (en) * 1994-07-08 1996-09-24 Qualcomm Incorporated Airborne radiotelephone communications system

Cited By (66)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10429489B2 (en) 1999-06-29 2019-10-01 Space Data Corporation Systems and applications of lighter-than-air (LTA) platforms
US9964629B2 (en) 1999-06-29 2018-05-08 Space Data Corporation Systems and applications of lighter-than-air (LTA) platforms
US10710695B2 (en) 2001-04-18 2020-07-14 Space Data Corporation Systems and applications of lighter-than-air (LTA) platforms
US9632503B2 (en) 2001-04-18 2017-04-25 Space Data Corporation Systems and applications of lighter-than-air (LTA) platforms
US10894592B2 (en) 2001-04-18 2021-01-19 Space Data Corporation Systems and applications of lighter-than-air (LTA) platforms
US9823663B2 (en) 2001-04-18 2017-11-21 Space Data Corporation Unmanned lighter-than-air-safe termination and recovery methods
US20170057608A1 (en) * 2001-04-18 2017-03-02 Space Data Corporation Systems and applications of lighter-than-air (lta) platforms
US9678193B2 (en) 2001-04-18 2017-06-13 Space Data Corporation Systems and applications of lighter-than-air (LTA) platforms
US9908608B2 (en) * 2001-04-18 2018-03-06 Space Data Corporation Systems and applications of lighter-than-air (LTA) platforms
US20170057607A1 (en) * 2001-04-18 2017-03-02 Space Data Corporation Systems and applications of lighter-than-air (lta) platforms
US9643706B2 (en) * 2001-04-18 2017-05-09 Space Data Corporation Systems and applications of lighter-than-air (LTA) platforms
US9658618B1 (en) 2001-04-18 2017-05-23 Space Data Corporation Systems and applications of lighter-than-air (LTA) platforms
WO2007003206A1 (en) * 2005-06-30 2007-01-11 Kamal Alavi Unmanned aircraft as a platform for telecommunication or other scientific purposes
US8738064B2 (en) * 2006-10-25 2014-05-27 Nokia Siemens Networks Gmbh & Co. Kg Method and arrangement for power control
US20100311460A1 (en) * 2006-10-25 2010-12-09 Juergen Hofmann Method and arrangement for power control
US20090221285A1 (en) * 2008-02-29 2009-09-03 Dobosz Paul J Communications system
US9424752B1 (en) 2012-12-26 2016-08-23 Google Inc. Methods and systems for performing fleet planning based on coarse estimates of regions
US8849571B1 (en) 2012-12-26 2014-09-30 Google Inc. Methods and systems for determining fleet trajectories with phase-skipping to satisfy a sequence of coverage requirements
US9747568B1 (en) 2012-12-26 2017-08-29 X Development Llc Methods and systems for determining when to decommission vehicles from a fleet of autonomous vehicles
US8948927B1 (en) 2012-12-27 2015-02-03 Google Inc. Methods and systems for determining a distribution of balloons based on population densities
US10354535B1 (en) 2012-12-27 2019-07-16 Loon Llc Methods and systems for determining when to launch vehicles into a fleet of autonomous vehicles
US9195938B1 (en) 2012-12-27 2015-11-24 Google Inc. Methods and systems for determining when to launch vehicles into a fleet of autonomous vehicles
US9651382B1 (en) 2012-12-28 2017-05-16 Google Inc. Methods and systems for determining altitudes for a vehicle to travel
US8862403B1 (en) 2012-12-28 2014-10-14 Google Inc. Methods and systems for determining altitudes for a vehicle to travel
US9275551B2 (en) 2012-12-29 2016-03-01 Google Inc. Methods and systems for determining fleet trajectories to satisfy a sequence of coverage requirements
US9014957B2 (en) 2012-12-29 2015-04-21 Google Inc. Methods and systems for determining fleet trajectories to satisfy a sequence of coverage requirements
US9635706B1 (en) 2013-01-02 2017-04-25 X Development Llc Method for determining fleet control policies to satisfy a sequence of coverage requirements
US8781727B1 (en) 2013-01-15 2014-07-15 Google Inc. Methods and systems for performing flocking while executing a long-range fleet plan
US8874356B1 (en) 2013-01-24 2014-10-28 Google Inc. Methods and systems for decomposing fleet planning optimizations via spatial partitions
US8880326B1 (en) 2013-02-20 2014-11-04 Google Inc. Methods and systems for determining a cyclical fleet plan satisfying a recurring set of coverage requirements
US10829229B2 (en) 2013-02-22 2020-11-10 World View Enterprises Inc. Near-space operation systems
US11613364B2 (en) 2013-02-22 2023-03-28 World View Enterprises Inc. Near-space operation systems
US9694910B2 (en) 2013-02-22 2017-07-04 World View Enterprises Inc. Near-space operation systems
US9528687B1 (en) * 2013-07-09 2016-12-27 X Development Llc Transmission apparatus for beam expansion
US9010691B1 (en) * 2013-11-05 2015-04-21 Google Inc. Parachute deployment system
US20150295638A1 (en) * 2014-04-11 2015-10-15 Mark Keremedjiev Low latency global communication through wireless networks
US9602190B2 (en) * 2014-04-11 2017-03-21 Mark Keremedjiev Low latency global communication through wireless networks
US20170117954A1 (en) * 2014-04-11 2017-04-27 Mark Keremedjiev Low latency global communication through wireless networks
US9998208B2 (en) * 2014-04-11 2018-06-12 Mark Keremedjiev Low latency global communication through wireless networks
US10696400B2 (en) 2014-12-24 2020-06-30 Space Data Corporation Breaking apart a platform upon pending collision
US10207802B2 (en) 2014-12-24 2019-02-19 Space Data Corporation Breaking apart a platform upon pending collision
US10403160B2 (en) 2014-12-24 2019-09-03 Space Data Corporation Techniques for intelligent balloon/airship launch and recovery window location
US10059421B2 (en) 2014-12-30 2018-08-28 Space Data Corporation Multifunctional balloon membrane
US10689084B2 (en) 2014-12-30 2020-06-23 Space Data Corporation Multifunctional balloon membrane
US11608181B2 (en) 2015-03-09 2023-03-21 World View Enterprises Inc. Rigidized assisted opening system for high altitude parafoils
US10787268B2 (en) 2015-03-09 2020-09-29 World View Enterprises Inc. Rigidized assisted opening system for high altitude parafoils
US9561858B2 (en) 2015-03-09 2017-02-07 World View Enterprises Inc. Rigidized assisted opening system for high altitude parafoils
US10472040B1 (en) 2015-07-28 2019-11-12 Loon Llc Sealing ducts into a balloon
US9669918B1 (en) 2015-07-28 2017-06-06 X Development Llc Sealing ducts into a balloon
US10029776B1 (en) 2015-09-18 2018-07-24 X Development Llc Seals for gored balloon
US10173764B1 (en) 2015-09-18 2019-01-08 Loon Llc Seals for gored balloon
US10404353B2 (en) * 2015-10-09 2019-09-03 Erinn Van Wynsberghe Geostationary high altitude platform
US10924178B2 (en) * 2015-10-09 2021-02-16 Erinn Van Wynsberghe Geostationary high altitude platform
WO2017059545A1 (en) * 2015-10-09 2017-04-13 Van Wynsberghe Erinn Geostationary high altitude platform
US10574341B1 (en) * 2015-10-13 2020-02-25 Loon Llc Channel reconfigurable millimeter-wave RF system
US20200021238A1 (en) * 2015-12-16 2020-01-16 Skycom Corporation Lighter-than-air platform
US9540091B1 (en) 2016-02-11 2017-01-10 World View Enterprises Inc. High altitude balloon systems and methods
US10988227B2 (en) 2016-02-11 2021-04-27 World View Enterprises Inc. High altitude balloon systems and methods using continuous multi-compartment super pressure balloon
US10737754B1 (en) 2017-01-09 2020-08-11 World View Enterprises Inc. Continuous multi-chamber super pressure balloon
US10829192B1 (en) 2017-01-09 2020-11-10 World View Enterprises Inc. Lighter than air balloon systems and methods
US10336432B1 (en) 2017-01-09 2019-07-02 World View Enterprises Inc. Lighter than air balloon systems and methods
US11447226B1 (en) 2017-01-09 2022-09-20 World View Enterprises Inc. Lighter than air balloon systems and methods
US11511843B2 (en) 2017-01-09 2022-11-29 World View Enterprises Inc. Lighter than air balloon systems and methods
US10124875B1 (en) 2017-01-09 2018-11-13 World View Enterprises Inc. Continuous multi-chamber super pressure balloon
US11904999B2 (en) 2017-01-09 2024-02-20 World View Enterprises Inc. Lighter than air balloon systems and methods
CN109617594A (en) * 2018-12-18 2019-04-12 西安思丹德信息技术有限公司 The instruction wireless transmission system for images and method of frequency division multiple access and time division multiple acess hybrid scheme

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES2113814B1 (en) 1998-11-01
US20060063529A1 (en) 2006-03-23
ES2113814A1 (en) 1998-05-01
EP0711476A4 (en) 1996-07-10
GB9601719D0 (en) 1996-03-27
FR2712128A1 (en) 1995-05-12
CA2168353C (en) 2008-01-08
WO1995004407A1 (en) 1995-02-09
CN1132008A (en) 1996-09-25
ATE185659T1 (en) 1999-10-15
PL180378B1 (en) 2001-01-31
CA2168353A1 (en) 1995-02-09
DE69421184T2 (en) 2000-08-24
PL313220A1 (en) 1996-06-10
BR9407157A (en) 1996-09-17
JPH09503892A (en) 1997-04-15
GB2296634A (en) 1996-07-03
IT1290878B1 (en) 1998-12-14
RU2185026C2 (en) 2002-07-10
GR3032336T3 (en) 2000-04-27
EP0711476A1 (en) 1996-05-15
FR2712128B1 (en) 1997-04-04
PT711476E (en) 2000-04-28
US7567779B2 (en) 2009-07-28
KR100442209B1 (en) 2004-11-06
DE69421184D1 (en) 1999-11-18
UA43849C2 (en) 2002-01-15
AU7365494A (en) 1995-02-28
HK1013180A1 (en) 1999-08-13
DE4495639T1 (en) 1996-10-31
ES2141244T3 (en) 2000-03-16
AU685149B2 (en) 1998-01-15
ITRM940510A0 (en) 1994-07-29
EP0711476B1 (en) 1999-10-13
CN1073311C (en) 2001-10-17
ITRM940510A1 (en) 1996-01-29
GB2296634B (en) 1998-05-06

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US7567779B2 (en) Sub-orbital, high altitude communications system
US7844218B2 (en) Sub-orbital, high altitude communications system
RU96107413A (en) SUB-ORBITAL, ALTITUDE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
US6944450B2 (en) Communications system
US20090145999A1 (en) Method and Apparatus for Stratospheric and Space Structures
KR20020060077A (en) A floating constellation communication system
WO1997033790A1 (en) High-altitude lighter-than-air stationary platforms including ion engines
US20150280811A1 (en) Airborne cell tower system for wireless communications in remote and rural geographic areas
WO1997015992A1 (en) Strato state platform and its use in communication
Davey et al. High altitude platform stations for Australia
RU2733181C1 (en) Balloon-to-space power system (bsps)
Ilcev et al. Weather observation via stratospheric platform stations
RU2739220C1 (en) Solar aerostatical-mobile power plants (sampp)
Bentley et al. Syncom satellite program
Ilcev et al. Development of stratospheric communication platforms (SCP) for rural applications
Ilcev Development of Airships Stratospheric Platform Systems (SPS)
Back et al. Commercial satellite communication
Henderson A power transmission concept for a European SPS system
Johnstone et al. The BSB satellite control system
Skippins et al. High Altitude Platforms to Provide Internet in Developing Countries
Stuchlik et al. The NASA long duration balloon project

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION

AS Assignment

Owner name: KENYON & KENYON LLP, NEW YORK

Free format text: ATTORNEY'S LIEN;ASSIGNOR:WIRELESS UNIFIELD NETWORK SYSTEMS CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:031237/0328

Effective date: 20130815

AS Assignment

Owner name: KENYON & KENYON LLP, NEW YORK

Free format text: ATTORNEY'S LIEN;ASSIGNOR:WIRELESS UNIFIED NETWORK SYSTEMS CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:031355/0212

Effective date: 20130918