Satellite Communication Patent Issued to Skeyeon
Facilitates Communication for Satellites in Very Low Earth Orbit
Very Low Earth Orbiting (VLEO) satellite technology firm Skeyeon has announced the issuance of their latest patent, US11,671,169, titled "Radio frequency data downlink for a high revisit rate, near earth orbit satellite system." This patent, issued on June 6, 2023, sets the bar even higher in orbital satellite communications, according to the company.
This patent, devised by inventors Dan Nobbe and Ron Reedy, unveils an innovative method for facilitating communication between an orbiting satellite stationed at VLEO (200km-350km or ≈125 to 215 miles) with a steerable antenna and a comprehensive network of ground stations. It’s designed to meet the growing demand for a cost-efficient, low-power, high-data-rate satellite downlink system. This invention stands out because it can meet mission payload needs for small orbital vehicles below 300km (≈186 miles) while maintaining an impressive camera resolution of approximately 1 meter. Coupled with a robust network of ground stations, it reduces the time it takes to retrieve a high-resolution image of a specific point on the earth to under an hour.
Skeyeon's Patent Portfolio: A Glimpse
With this addition, Skeyeon now boasts seven issued US patents across four distinct patent families:
Family 1: Satellite designs featuring a beveled edge and materials that minimize drag and damage from atmospheric particle interactions.
Family 2: Materials that demonstrate resilience to atomic oxygen while maintaining low drag properties.
Family 3: Methods for streamlining communication between orbiting satellites and networks of ground stations.
Family 4: Innovations around generating thrust in low earth orbit satellites, including a system for ingesting and manipulating ambient air particles.
The people behind Skeyeon's patent portfolio include Ronald E. Reedy, Thomas E. Schwartzentruber, Timothy K. Minton, and Dan Nobbe. Alongside their seven issued patents, Skeyeon is also actively working on six other pending patent applications in the US and internationally.