1. A method for managing radio frequency (RF) transmissions from an RF system of at least one mobile platform operating within a predetermined coverage region to a space-based transponder orbiting within said coverage region, in a manner to maintain a signal-to-noise ratio (EbNo) of said RF transmissions within a predetermined range, the method comprising the steps of:
using a first control loop to monitor, by a central controller, a signal-to-noise ratio of said RF transmissions from said mobile platform that are received by said satellite transponder, and to transmit first power correction commands to said mobile platform via said satellite transponder for maintaining said signal-to-noise ratio of said RF transmissions from said mobile platform to within a predetermined range; and
using a second control loop including a mobile system of said mobile platform to monitor and further adjust a power level of said RF transmissions from said mobile platform to said satellite transponder, inbetween receipt of said commands from said central controller, by transmitting second power correction commands to said mobile platform, to maintain said power level of said RF transmissions from said mobile platform at a level previously commanded by said first power correction commands, inbetween receipt of updated power correction command signals from said central controller.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said predetermined signal-to-noise range comprises a range of about 1 dB.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein said predetermined signal-to-noise range is above a threshold signal-to-noise ratio of said central controller.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of using said central controller to determine if said RF transmission from said mobile platform remains outside of said predetermined signal-to-noise ratio for more than about one second and, if so, commanding the mobile platform to cease said RF transmissions.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of monitoring by a central controller comprises monitoring by a ground-based central controller located within said coverage region.
6. A method for managing radio frequency (RF) transmissions from an RF system of at least one mobile platform operating within a predetermined coverage region to a space-based signal relaying device orbiting within said coverage region, in a manner to maintain a signal-to-noise ratio (EbNo) of said RF transmissions within a predetermined range, the method comprising:
forming a first control loop to enable a controller to monitor and determine power level correction commands for commanding said mobile platform to adjust a power level of said RF transmissions transmitted from an antenna of said mobile platform, to thereby maintain a power spectral density (PSD) of said RF transmissions, as experienced by a receiver of said space-based signal relay device, within a predetermined limit; and
forming a second control loop between said space-based signal relaying device and said mobile platform for further enabling changes to said power level of said RF transmissions from said antenna of said mobile platform to further ensure said PSD of said RF transmissions does not exceed said predetermined limit.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein forming said first control loop comprises:
using said controller to receive said RF transmissions: and
comparing said signal-to-noise ratio of said received RF transmissions with predetermined, reference signal-to-noise ratios and using said comparison to generate commands sent by said controller to said space-based transponder to extrapolate said PSD of said RF signal transmitted from said antenna from said signal-to-noise ratio of said RF transmissions.
8. The method of claim 6, wherein said second control loop enables said mobile platform to make changes to a power level of signals transmitted from said mobile platform in between receipt of said power level correction commands from said central controller.
9. A method for managing radio frequency (RF) transmissions from an RF system of at least one mobile platform operating within a predetermined coverage region to a space-based transponder orbiting within said coverage region, in a manner to maintain a signal-to-noise ratio (EbNo) of said RF transmissions within a predetermined range, the method comprising:
using a controller to form a first power level control loop for monitoring a power level of RF signals relayed by said space-based transponder, from said mobile platform, to said controller, for controlling a power level of said RF signals being transmitted by said mobile platform;
using said controller to generate first power level commands and transmitting said first power level commands to said space-based transponder for subsequent relay back to said mobile platform, for enabling said power level of said RF signals to be adjusted by said mobile platform; and
forming a second power level control loop between said mobile platform and said space-based transponder, wherein said mobile platform is able to implement second power level commands to said RF signals being transmitted from its said RF system independently of, and in between, said receipt of said first power level commands from said controller, to further control said power level of said RF signals being transmitted by said mobile platform.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein said controller further monitors an aggregate power spectral density (PSD) of signals received from a plurality of said mobile platforms operating within said predetermined coverage region to ensure that said aggregate PSD does not exceed a predetermined maximum value.
11. A method for managing radio frequency (RF) transmissions from an RF system of at least one mobile platform operating within a predetermined coverage region to a space-based transponder orbiting within said coverage region, in a manner to maintain a signal-to-noise ratio (EbNo) of said RF transmissions within a predetermined range, the method comprising:
using a controller to form a first power level control loop for monitoring a power level of said RF transmissions being relayed by said space-based transponder from said mobile platform to said controller;
using said controller to generate first power level commands and transmitting said first power level commands to said space-based transponder for subsequent relay back to said mobile platform for use by said mobile platform in adjusting a power level of said RF signals; and
forming a second power level control loop between said mobile platform and said space-based transponder, independent of said first power level control loop, for enabling said mobile platform to monitor a power level of said RF transmissions transmitted from said mobile platform.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A circuit breaker constructed for connection to an external conductor, the circuit breaker comprising:
a housing having an internal cavity and an external terminal recess separated by a wall having at least a first vent opening;
separable contacts in the internal cavity including a fixed contact and a movable contact;
a main conductor extending from the fixed contact in the internal cavity through the wall into the external terminal recess;
an arc chute in the internal cavity between the separable contacts and the wall in which an arc generated during opening of the separable contacts is extinguished with the generation of arc gases;
a terminal assembly seated in the external terminal recess and comprising:
a terminal collar into which the main conductor extends;
an electrically conductive stand received in the terminal collar and seated on the main conductor, the electrically conductive stand having a transverse through opening aligned with the first vent opening in the wall through which the arc gases escape the housing;
a terminal screw threaded through the terminal collar to clamp the external conductor against the electrically conductive stand to electrically connect the external conductor with the main conductor;
wherein the electrically conductive stand has a tapped bore in a bottom face below the through opening aligned with a through bore in the main conductor and the terminal collar has a base wall with a through hole aligned with the through bore, and wherein the terminal assembly further includes a retainer screw extending through the through hole and the through bore and engaging the threaded bore in the electrically conductive stand to mechanically secure the terminal collar and the electrically conductive stand to the main conductor; and
wherein the transverse through opening in the electrically conductive stand is lined with an electrically insulative material.
2. A terminal assembly for a circuit breaker having a housing with an external terminal recess and a vent opening for discharging arc gases into the terminal recess, and a main conductor extending out of the housing adjacent the vent opening and into the external terminal recess for connection to an external conductor, the terminal assembly comprising:
a terminal collar in the external terminal recess through which the main conductor extends;
an electrically conductive stand positioned in the terminal collar with a first surface in contact with the main conductor and having a transverse through opening aligned with the vent opening in the housing;
a terminal screw threaded through the terminal collar toward the main conductor to clamp the external conductor against a second surface on the electrically conductive stand opposite the first surface, whereby arc gas discharged through the vent opening passes through the transverse opening in the electrically conductive stand between the main conductor and the external conductor;
wherein the electrically conductive stand has a tapped bore in the first surface and a retainer screw extends trough the terminal collar and the main conductor into the tapped bore to secure the terminal collar to the main conductor;
wherein the through opening in the electrically conductive stand has a cross sectional area that is greater than a cross sectional area of the vent opening; and
wherein the through opening in the electrically conductive stand is lined with an electrically insulative material.
3. A terminal assembly for a circuit breaker having a housing with an external terminal recess and a vent opening for discharging arc gases into the terminal recess, and a main conductor extending out of the housing adjacent the vent opening and into the external terminal recess for connection to an external conductor, the terminal assembly comprising:
a terminal collar in the external terminal recess through which the main conductor extends;
an electrically conductive stand positioned in the terminal collar with a first surface in contact with the main conductor and having a transverse through opening aligned with the vent opening in the housing;
a terminal screw threaded through the terminal collar toward the main conductor to clamp the external conductor against a second surface on the electrically conductive stand opposite the first surface, whereby arc gas discharged through the vent opening passes through the transverse opening in the electrically conductive stand between the main conductor and the external conductor; and
wherein the transverse through opening in the electrically conductive stand is lined with an electrically insulative material.