Parabolic deployable antenna
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A deployable antenna comprising:
- a container;
a deployment mechanism attached to the container;
a hub within the container, configured to deploy along a longitudinal axis of the container upon activation of the deployment mechanism;
a plurality of root ribs attached to the hub and configured to rotate away from the longitudinal axis upon deployment;
a plurality of tip ribs, each tip rib attached to a corresponding root rib by a rotating hinge, the plurality of tip ribs configured to rotate away from the longitudinal axis upon deployment;
a mesh attached to the plurality of root and tip ribs;
a horn attached to the hub, the horn extending along the longitudinal axis and located centrally to the mesh;
a sub-reflector attached to the horn and configured to extend away from the horn along the longitudinal axis upon deployment; and
a waveguide attached to the hub, the waveguide being configured to fit within the horn before deployment and to remain in its pre-deployment location while the hub and the horn are extended away along the longitudinal axis upon deployment,wherein;
the mesh, horn, root ribs, tip ribs and sub-reflector are configured to operate between 2 and 50 GHz,andthe deployable antenna is a Cassegrain antenna optimized to operate at 35.75 GHz with a bandwidth of 20 MHz.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A deployable antenna is described. The antenna comprises a mesh attached to foldable ribs, a hub and a sub-reflector. The antenna can be stowed in a tight space for launching in space, and later deployed by extending out of its container. The antenna is designed to work in the Ka band or other bands and can increase data rates and function as a radio antenna.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A deployable antenna comprising:
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a container; a deployment mechanism attached to the container; a hub within the container, configured to deploy along a longitudinal axis of the container upon activation of the deployment mechanism; a plurality of root ribs attached to the hub and configured to rotate away from the longitudinal axis upon deployment; a plurality of tip ribs, each tip rib attached to a corresponding root rib by a rotating hinge, the plurality of tip ribs configured to rotate away from the longitudinal axis upon deployment; a mesh attached to the plurality of root and tip ribs; a horn attached to the hub, the horn extending along the longitudinal axis and located centrally to the mesh; a sub-reflector attached to the horn and configured to extend away from the horn along the longitudinal axis upon deployment; and a waveguide attached to the hub, the waveguide being configured to fit within the horn before deployment and to remain in its pre-deployment location while the hub and the horn are extended away along the longitudinal axis upon deployment, wherein; the mesh, horn, root ribs, tip ribs and sub-reflector are configured to operate between 2 and 50 GHz, and the deployable antenna is a Cassegrain antenna optimized to operate at 35.75 GHz with a bandwidth of 20 MHz. - View Dependent Claims (2, 5, 7, 19, 20)
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3. A deployable antenna comprising:
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a container; a deployment mechanism attached to the container; a hub within the container, configured to deploy along a longitudinal axis of the container upon activation of the deployment mechanism; a plurality of root ribs attached to the hub and configured to rotate away from the longitudinal axis upon deployment; a plurality of tip ribs, each tip rib attached to a corresponding root rib by a rotating hinge, the plurality of tip ribs configured to rotate away from the longitudinal axis upon deployment; a mesh attached to the plurality of root and tip ribs; a horn attached to the hub, the horn extending along the longitudinal axis and located centrally to the mesh; and a sub-reflector attached to the horn and configured to extend away from the horn along the longitudinal axis upon deployment, wherein the mesh, horn, root ribs, tip ribs and sub-reflector are configured to operate between 2 and 50 GHz, wherein the deployment mechanism comprises a cool gas generator attached to a piston, the piston being attached to the hub and configured to push the hub upon activation of the cool gas generator. - View Dependent Claims (6, 21, 22)
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4. A deployable antenna comprising:
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a container; a deployment mechanism attached to the container; a hub within the container, configured to deploy along a longitudinal axis of the container upon activation of the deployment mechanism; a plurality of root ribs attached to the hub and configured to rotate away from the longitudinal axis upon deployment; a plurality of tip ribs, each tip rib attached to a corresponding root rib by a rotating hinge, the plurality of tip ribs configured to rotate away from the longitudinal axis upon deployment; a mesh attached to the plurality of root and tip ribs; a horn attached to the hub, the horn extending along the longitudinal axis and located centrally to the mesh; and a sub-reflector attached to the horn and configured to extend away from the horn along the longitudinal axis upon deployment, wherein the mesh, horn, root ribs, tip ribs and sub-reflector are configured to operate between 2 and 50 GHz, wherein the deployment mechanism comprises a plurality of motorized screws. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 23, 24)
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10. A method comprising:
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providing a deployable antenna, the deployable antenna comprising; a container; a deployment mechanism attached to the container; a hub within the container, configured to deploy along a longitudinal axis of the container upon activation of the deployment mechanism; a plurality of root ribs attached to the hub and configured to rotate away from the longitudinal axis upon deployment; a plurality of tip ribs, each tip rib attached to a corresponding root rib by a rotating hinge, the plurality of tip ribs configured to rotate away from the longitudinal axis upon deployment; a mesh attached to the plurality of root and tip ribs; a horn attached to the hub, the horn extending along the longitudinal axis and located centrally to the mesh; and a sub-reflector attached to the horn and configured to extend away from the horn along the longitudinal axis upon deployment; and a waveguide attached to the hub, the waveguide being configured to fit within the horn before deployment and to remain in its pre-deployment location while the hub and the horn are extended away along the longitudinal axis upon deployment, wherein; the mesh, horn, root ribs, tip ribs and sub-reflector are configured to operate between 2 and 50 GHz, the deployable antenna is a Cassegrain antenna optimized to operate at 35. 75 GHz with a bandwidth of 20 MHz; activating the deployment mechanism, thereby deploying the hub along a longitudinal axis of the container; rotating the root and tip ribs away from the longitudinal axis; and extending the horn and sub-reflector along the longitudinal axis. - View Dependent Claims (11, 14, 16)
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12. A method comprising:
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providing a deployable antenna, the deployable antenna comprising; a container; a deployment mechanism attached to the container; a hub within the container, configured to deploy along a longitudinal axis of the container upon activation of the deployment mechanism; a plurality of root ribs attached to the hub and configured to rotate away from the longitudinal axis upon deployment; a plurality of tip ribs, each tip rib attached to a corresponding root rib by a rotating hinge, the plurality of tip ribs configured to rotate away from the longitudinal axis upon deployment; a mesh attached to the plurality of root and tip ribs; a horn attached to the hub, the horn extending along the longitudinal axis and located centrally to the mesh; and a sub-reflector attached to the horn and configured to extend away from the horn along the longitudinal axis upon deployment, wherein the mesh, horn, root ribs, tip ribs and sub-reflector are configured to operate between 2 and 50 GHz; activating the deployment mechanism, thereby deploying the hub along a longitudinal axis of the container; rotating the root and tip ribs away from the longitudinal axis; and extending the horn and sub-reflector along the longitudinal axis, wherein the deployment mechanism comprises a cool gas generator attached to a piston, the piston being attached to the hub and configured to push the hub upon activation of the cool gas generator. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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13. A method comprising:
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providing a deployable antenna, the deployable antenna comprising; a container; a deployment mechanism attached to the container; a hub within the container, configured to deploy along a longitudinal axis of the container upon activation of the deployment mechanism; a plurality of root ribs attached to the hub and configured to rotate away from the longitudinal axis upon deployment; a plurality of tip ribs, each tip rib attached to a corresponding root rib by a rotating hinge, the plurality of tip ribs configured to rotate away from the longitudinal axis upon deployment; a mesh attached to the plurality of root and tip ribs; a horn attached to the hub, the horn extending along the longitudinal axis and located centrally to the mesh; and a sub-reflector attached to the horn and configured to extend away from the horn along the longitudinal axis upon deployment, wherein the mesh, horn, root ribs, tip ribs and sub-reflector are configured to operate between 2 and 50 GHz; activating the deployment mechanism, thereby deploying the hub along a longitudinal axis of the container; rotating the root and tip ribs away from the longitudinal axis; and extending the horn and sub-reflector along the longitudinal axis, wherein the deployment mechanism comprises a plurality of motorized screws. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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17. A deployable antenna comprising:
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a container; a deployment mechanism attached to the container; a hub within the container, configured to deploy along a longitudinal axis of the container upon activation of the deployment mechanism; a plurality of root ribs attached to the hub and configured to rotate away from the longitudinal axis upon deployment; a plurality of tip ribs, each tip rib attached to a corresponding root rib by a rotating hinge, the plurality of tip ribs configured to rotate away from the longitudinal axis upon deployment; a mesh attached to the plurality of root and tip ribs; a horn attached to the hub, the horn extending along the longitudinal axis and located centrally to the mesh; a sub-reflector attached to the horn and configured to extend away from the horn along the longitudinal axis upon deployment; arms on the root ribs and top ribs; first slots on the horn; second slots on the container, wherein; the arms, first slots and second slots are configured to operate release of, and vibration suppression for, the deployable antenna, and the mesh, horn, root ribs, tip ribs and sub-reflector are configured to operate between 2 and 50 GHz. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification