Satellite orbital monitoring and detection system using fractal superscatterer satellite reflectors (FSR)

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11249178-B2
Application number	US-202016733116-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 2, 2020
Priority date	Jan 2, 2019
Publication date	Feb 15, 2022
Grant date	Feb 15, 2022

Abstract

Metamaterials are employed with satellites, e.g., small satellites, to increase the observability of such satellites. Any type of suitable metamaterial can be used. In exemplary embodiments fractal-based patterns or structures may be used. A super scatterer having a metasurface is employed for the satellite and enhances the radar reflection for a given area of the satellite. Such detection can be used for monitoring and/or controlling the orbits of satellite space craft.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A satellite system comprising:
a satellite body; and
a metasurface disposed on a surface of the satellite body, wherein the metasurface includes a plurality of close-spaced resonators disposed on a substrate, wherein the resonators are spaced apart from one another by a separation distance such that they do not physically touch one another, and wherein the metasurface is operative to increases a radar cross section of the satellite at one or more specific frequencies or bands,
wherein a resultant radar cross section of the plurality of close-spaced resonators disposed on the substrate as disposed on the surface of the satellite, resultant from incident energy at the one or more specific frequencies or bands, is larger than a resultant radar cross section of the substrate devoid of the plurality of close-spaced resonators.

2. An orbital monitoring system comprising:
a satellite body; and
a metasurface disposed on a surface of the satellite body, wherein the metasurface includes a plurality of close-spaced resonators disposed on a substrate, wherein the resonators are spaced apart from one another by a separation distance such that they do not physically touch one another, and wherein the metasurface is operative to increases a radar cross section of the satellite at one or more specific frequencies or bands,
wherein a resultant radar cross section of the plurality of close-spaced resonators disposed on the substrate as disposed on the surface of the satellite, resultant from incident energy at the one or more specific frequencies or bands, is larger than a resultant radar cross section of the substrate devoid of the plurality of close-spaced resonators; and
a radar receiver operative to receive reflections from the metasurface,
wherein the radar receiver is operative to detect the position of the satellite body.

3. The orbital monitoring system of claim 2 , further comprising a radar transmitter operative to produce radar energy and direct it to the satellite body.

4. The satellite system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of spaced-apart resonators comprises a plurality of fractal cells.

5. The satellite system of claim 4 , wherein each of the fractal cells includes a closed conductive path.

6. The orbital monitoring system of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of spaced-apart resonators comprises a plurality of fractal cells.

7. The orbital monitoring system of claim 6 , wherein each of the fractal cells includes a closed conductive path.

Assignees

• Fractal Antenna Systems Inc

Inventors

• Cohen Nathan

Classifications

• H01Q15/0086

  said selective devices having materials with a synthesized negative refractive index, e.g. metamaterials or left-handed materials · CPC title

• G01S13/758

  using a signal generator powered by the interrogation signal · CPC title

• G01S13/753

  using frequency selective elements, e.g. resonator · CPC title

• G01S13/06 Primary

  Systems determining position data of a target · CPC title

• B64G3/00

  Observing or tracking cosmonautic vehicles · CPC title