Deployable structure for use in establishing a reflectarray antenna

A deployable structure for use in establishing a reflectarray antenna comprising:

• a flexible electrical element for use in a reflectarray antenna;
• wherein the flexible electrical element is folded in an undeployed state;
• wherein the flexible electrical element is unfolded in a deployed state relative to the undeployed state;
• a feed antenna for providing a signal to, or receiving a signal from, the flexible electrical element in the deployed state;
• and
• a deployment mechanism for transitioning the flexible electrical element and the feed antenna from the undeployed state in which the flexible electrical element and the feed antenna are not positioned relative to one another for use in a reflectarray antenna towards a deployed state in which the flexible electrical element and the feed antenna are positioned relative to one another for use in a reflectarray antenna;
• wherein the deployment mechanism includes an endless pantograph structure for transitioning the flexible electrical element from the undeployed state towards the deployed state;
• wherein the endless pantograph structure includes a plurality of pairs of pivotally connected crossing legs connected to one another so as to form a closed loop;
• wherein the endless pantograph structure defines a perimeter that has a first length in the undeployed state and a second length that is greater than the first length when the endless pantograph structure transitions from the undeployed state towards the deployed state;
• wherein the endless pantograph structure is operatively engaged to the flexible electrical element;
• wherein, when the endless pantograph structure transitions from the undeployed state towards the deployed state, the flexible electrical structure transitions from being folded in the undeployed state towards being unfolded and presenting a flat surface in the deployed state;
• wherein the deployment mechanism includes an extendable structure that is operatively connected to the endless pantograph structure and adapted to support the endless pantograph structure and flexible electrical element at a deployed position at which the flexible electrical element is positioned to cooperate with the feed antenna for use in a reflectarray antenna;
• a base operatively connected to the extendable structure, wherein the base is adapted for connection to a satellite structure so as to operatively connect the base, deployment mechanism, and flexible electrical element to the satellite structure;
• wherein, when the flexible electrical element is in the deployed state, the extendable structure is structurally located between the flexible electrical element and the base, and the feed antenna and the flexible electrical element have an offset feed positional relationship in which a boresight of the feed antenna is not parallel to a line perpendicular to the flat surface of the deployed, flexible electrical element.

A deployable structure for use in establishing an antenna comprising:

• a flexible electrical element;
• wherein the flexible electrical element is folded in an undeployed state;
• wherein the flexible electrical element is unfolded in a deployed state relative to the undeployed state;
• and
• a deployment mechanism for transitioning the flexible electrical element from the undeployed state towards a deployed state;
• wherein the deployment mechanism includes an endless pantograph structure and an energy providing device for transitioning the endless pantograph structure from the undeployed state towards the deployed state;
• wherein the endless pantograph structure includes a plurality of pairs of pivotally connected crossing legs connected to one another so as to form a closed loop and is adapted to operatively engage the flexible electrical element;
• wherein the endless pantograph structure defines a perimeter that has a first length in the undeployed state and a second length that is greater than the first length when the endless pantograph structure transitions from the undeployed state towards the deployed state;
• wherein the endless pantograph structure is operatively engaged to the flexible electrical element;
• wherein, when the endless pantograph structure transitions from the undeployed state towards the deployed state, the flexible electrical element transitions from being folded in the undeployed state towards being unfolded;
• wherein the deployment mechanism includes a plurality of extendable structures with each of the plurality of extendable structures operatively connected to the endless pantograph structure and collectively adapted to support the endless pantograph structure and the flexible electrical element in a deployed state in which the flexible electrical element is positioned to cooperate with a feed antenna for use in an antenna;
• a base operatively connected to the extendable structures, wherein the base is adapted for connection to a satellite structure so as to operatively connect the base, deployment mechanism, and flexible electrical element to the satellite structure;
• wherein, when the flexible electrical element is in the deployed state, the extendable structures are structurally located between the flexible electrical element and the base;
• wherein the deployment mechanism adapted to deploy the flexible electrical element such that the deployed flexible electrical element is positioned so as to have an offset feed positional relationship with a feed antenna that has a boresight, the offset feed positional relationship characterized by the boresight of the feed antenna not being parallel to a line perpendicular to a flat surface of the deployed, flexible electrical element.