Sequencer designs for scanning-beam satellites

We present conceptual designs for the controlling sequencer that would be required on board a communication satellite employing a scanning phased-array antenna. Two basic forms are discussed: one providing separate pointing control for each time slot in the tdma frame and the other providing a compact storage arrangement when the typical beam dwell time is several time slots. The update interface to the telemetry link is discussed briefly. The impending availability of radiation-resistant cmos memories makes the control part of a large (100-element) scanning array feasible in the 1980 time frame, with an estimated power consumption under 50 watts.