PARABOLIC DEPLOYABLE ANTENNA
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A deployable antenna comprising:
- a cylindrical container;
a deployment mechanism attached to the cylindrical container;
a hub within the cylindrical container, configured to deploy along a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical 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.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
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.
-
Citations
24 Claims
-
1. A deployable antenna comprising:
-
a cylindrical container; a deployment mechanism attached to the cylindrical container; a hub within the cylindrical container, configured to deploy along a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 19, 20, 21)
-
-
12. A method comprising:
-
providing a deployable antenna, the deployable antenna comprising; a cylindrical container; a deployment mechanism attached to the cylindrical container; a hub within the cylindrical container, configured to deploy along a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical 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 cylindrical 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 (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
22. A telescoping waveguide comprising a waveguide configured to extend from a housing and configured to operate as part of an antenna or RF assembly.
- 23. A constant force spring hinge deployment, comprising a hinge and a spring integrated in one unit as part of a deployable structure.
Specification