Foldable Radio Wave Antenna

• US 20160020523A1
• Filed: 07/17/2014
• Published: 01/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cubic Corporation
• Original Assignee: GATR Technologies (Cubic Corporation)
• Inventors: Clayton, William R., Gierow, Paul A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,960,498 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/161 Collapsible reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/132 Horn reflector antennas; Off-set feeding

Abstract

A foldable radio wave antenna includes a foldable parabolic reflector member formed a foldable tension member attachable to the peripheral rim of the reflector member.

Claims

1. A foldable radio wave antenna comprising:

a foldable reflector member formed in a parabolic dish shape having a peripheral rim; and

a foldable tension member attachable to said peripheral rim.

4. The foldable radio wave antenna of claim 1, further comprising a zipper for attaching and detaching said tension member to said reflector member peripheral rim.

5. The foldable radio wave antenna of claim 1, wherein said reflector member is formed to have a focal point-to-depth ratio of between about 0.25 to about 0.30.

6. The foldable radio wave antenna of claim 1, wherein said reflector member comprises a laminate having a thickness of about 50 mils.

7. The foldable radio wave antenna of claim 6, wherein said reflector member comprises a laminate of a fiber composite material, an electromagnetically reflective fabric, an elastomer and an aramid.

8. The foldable radio wave antenna of claim 1, wherein said tension member is detachable from said reflector member.

2. The foldable radio wave antenna of claim 2, wherein said reflector member comprises a laminate of a fiber composite material, an electromagnetically reflective fabric, an elastomer and an aramid.

3. The foldable radio wave antenna of claim 3, wherein said tension member is a laminate of a fiber composite material and an elastomer.

9. A radio wave antenna comprising:

a refoldable parabolic reflector having shape memory; and

a refoldable planar tension member attached to a peripheral rim of said reflector.

10. The radio wave antenna of claim 9, wherein said reflector comprises a laminate of a fiber composite, an electromagnetically reflective material and an elastomer.

11. The radio wave antenna of claim 10, wherein said laminate also includes an aramid.

12. The radio wave antenna of claim 9, wherein said tension member is detachable from said reflector.

13. The radio wave antenna claim 9, further comprising a first opening defined in said reflector and a second opening defined in said tension member, said first and second openings for mounting said antenna to an antenna control system.

14. The radio wave antenna of claim 9, further comprising a feed horn.

15. The radio wave antenna of claim 14, wherein said reflector comprises a laminate of a fiber composite, an electromagnetically reflective fabric and an elastomer.

16. The radio wave antenna of claim 15, wherein said laminate also includes an aramid.

17. The radio wave antenna of claim 16, wherein said tension member is detachable from said reflector.

18. A radio wave antenna comprising:

a single piece, pliant parabolic reflector formed from a laminate of a woven fiber composite, an elastomer and an electromagnetically reflective fabric.

19. The radio wave antenna of claim 18, wherein said laminate further comprises an aramid.

20. The radio wave antenna of claim 19, further comprising a pliant circular, planar member having a circumferential edge attached to a peripheral rim of said reflector, said circular, planar member comprising a laminate of a woven fiber composite and an elastomer.