1. A satellite-borne transponder for two or more uplink service areas, comprising:
at least two uplink antennae,
one low noise amplifier and one converter for each uplink antenna,
at least one input filter,
at least one amplification chain, each amplification chain including a channel amplifier, a high power amplifier, and an output filter,
a downlink antenna for an associated downlink service area,
means for associating at least one of the at least two uplink antennae to an uplink service area, the number of uplink antennae associated being determined by a preset Figure of Merit for each associated uplink service area, and
at least one input multiplexer including at least as many passband filters as reception chains, each reception chain including an uplink antenna and a low noise amplifier, and a converter linked to the input multiplexer, each of the passband filters having a passband adjusted to an associated uplink service area and at least one stopband associated with the other uplink service areas.
2. The satellite-borne transponder according to claim 1, wherein
the input multiplexer has a frequency spectrum that is divided into at least as many partial spectra as uplink antennae are linked to the multiplexer,
the passbands of all passband filters, when aggregated, correspond to the spectrum of the input multiplexer, and
the input multiplexer is connected to the high power amplifier of one of the amplification chains.
3. The satellite-borne transponder according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of input filters and input multiplexers, and a plurality of switches for flexible allocation of spectrum and power to uplink service areas connected to the uplink antennae.
4. The satellite-borne transponder according to claim 1, wherein the Figure of Merit for different downlink service areas is at least maintained while communications over the downlink service areas share, on the downlink, power and frequency band, through a plurality of filters, input multiplexers, and switches.
5. The satellite-borne transponder according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of input filters and input multiplexers, and switches for flexible allocation of spectrum and power to uplink service areas connected to uplink antennae, with no degradation of the Figure of Merit for each of the uplink service areas.
6. The satellite-borne transponder according to claim 1, wherein the Figure of Merit for an uplink service area is augmented by dividing the uplink service area into a plurality of sub areas, through a plurality of uplink antennae and input multiplexers.
7. The satellite-borne transponder according to claim 1, wherein power and frequency band requirements for each service area are flexibly allocated to any of the uplink and downlink service areas in order to fulfill needs over each uplink and downlink service area, through a plurality of input filters, input multiplexers, and switches.
8. A satellite communication system for at least two uplink service areas, comprising a satellite-borne transponder according to claim 1.
9. The satellite-borne transponder according to claim 2, comprising a plurality of input filters and input multiplexers, and a plurality of switches for flexible allocation of spectrum and power to uplink service areas connected to the uplink antennae.
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 device for mounting to a surface for supporting objects, said device comprising:
a first body pivotally connected to a second body, each first and second body having a magnet and at least one attachment feature.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein said first body has at least one arm pivotally connected to said second body.
3. The device of claim 1 wherein each said first and second bodies has a friction strip extending across an underside of the body.
4. The device of claim 1 wherein said at least one attachment feature is a protrusion extending from the body.
5. The device of claim 1 wherein the at least one attachment feature is three apertures disposed in a triangular relationship on said outer surface.
6. The device of claim 1 further including an object support having a portion adapted to be connected to the attachment feature.
7. The device of claim 6, wherein the object support has a cylindrical end portion adapted to be connected to the at least one attachment feature.
8. The device of claim 1 wherein the attachment feature is disposed on an outer surface of the body.
9. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the object support has two pairs of spaced apart cylindrical portions.
10. A device for supporting objects, the device adapted to be connected to a body, the device comprising:
an attachment portion and an object support portion, the attachment portion having an end portion and two spaced apart side portions extending in a direction normal to an axis of the end portion.
11. The device of claim 10, wherein the spaced apart side portions are offset at an angle of 45 degrees from the end portion.
12. A device for supporting an object, the device adapted for connection to a body, the device comprising:
a disc having a front surface and a rear surface, the rear surface having a first slot and a second slot angled 45 degrees from the first slot.
13. The device of claim 12, wherein the first slot and second slot have a T-shaped profile.
14. A device for mounting to a surface for supporting objects, said device comprising:
a first body pivotally connected to a second body, each first and second body having a magnet.
15. The device of claim 14 wherein said first body has at least one arm pivotally connected to said second body.
16. The device of claim 14 wherein each said first and second bodies has a friction strip extending across an underside of the body.
17. The device of claim 14 wherein each cavity has at least one attachment feature.
18. The device of claim 17 wherein the at least one attachment feature is three apertures disposed in a triangular relationship on an outer surface of each of the bodies.