Active array antenna with flexible membrane elements and tensioning arrangement
First Claim
1. An array antenna comprising:
- a frame having a two-dimensional array of a plurality of openings;
an electromagnetically radiating tile disposed in each opening; and
mounting means for holding at least one tile in a corresponding opening of the frame, each of the mounting means comprising at least two biasing members, each biasing member exerting a biasing force on the tile relative to the frame.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An array antenna including: a frame having a two-dimensional array of a plurality of openings; an electromagnetically radiating tile disposed in each opening; and mounting means for holding at least one tile in a corresponding opening of the frame, each of the mounting means comprising at least two biasing members, each biasing member exerting a biasing force on the tile relative to the frame. Preferably, each biasing member is a leaf spring having first and second ends attached to the frame and a bowed section attached to the tile. Furthermore, it is preferred that each biasing member further have a way to vary the biasing force with temperature, such as fabricating the bow portion from a first and second material, each having a different coefficient of thermal expansion. Also provided is a spacecraft which utilizes the array antenna of the present invention.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. An array antenna comprising:
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a frame having a two-dimensional array of a plurality of openings;
an electromagnetically radiating tile disposed in each opening; and
mounting means for holding at least one tile in a corresponding opening of the frame, each of the mounting means comprising at least two biasing members, each biasing member exerting a biasing force on the tile relative to the frame. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. In a spacecraft including a plurality of array antennas, each of the array antennas comprising:
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a frame having a two-dimensional array of a plurality of openings;
an electromagnetically radiating tile disposed in each opening; and
mounting means for holding at least one tile in a corresponding opening of the frame, each of the mounting means comprising at least two biasing members, each biasing member exerting a biasing force on the tile relative to the frame. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. An array antenna comprising:
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a frame having a two-dimensional array of a plurality of openings;
a flexible electromagnetically radiating tile disposed in each opening; and
mounting means for holding at least one tile in a corresponding opening of the frame, each of the mounting means comprising at least two biasing members, each biasing member exerting a biasing force on the tile relative to the frame to maintain the tile in tension.
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32. In a spacecraft including a plurality of array antennas, each of the array antennas comprising:
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a frame having a two-dimensional array of a plurality of openings;
a flexible electromagnetically radiating tile disposed in each opening; and
mounting means for holding at least one tile in a corresponding opening of the frame, each of the mounting means comprising at least two biasing members, each biasing member exerting a biasing force on the tile relative to the frame to maintain the tile in tension.
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33. An array antenna comprising:
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a frame having a two-dimensional array of a plurality of openings;
an electromagnetically radiating tile disposed in each opening; and
mounting means for holding at least one tile in a corresponding opening of the frame, each of the mounting means comprising at least two biasing members, each biasing member exerting a biasing force on the tile relative to the frame, each biasing member further having means for varying the biasing force in response to a change in temperature.
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34. In a spacecraft including a plurality of array antennas, each of the array antennas comprising:
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a frame having a two-dimensional array of a plurality of openings;
an electromagnetically radiating tile disposed in each opening; and
mounting means for holding at least one tile in a corresponding opening of the frame, each of the mounting means comprising at least two biasing members, each biasing member exerting a biasing force on the tile relative to the frame, each biasing member further having means for varying the biasing force in response to a change in temperature.
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Specification