# US 10,689,084 B2 · Multifunctional balloon membrane > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,689,084 B2 - Document ID: US10689084B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/114,247 - Filed: 2018-08-28 - Published: 2019-01-03 - Granted: 2020-06-23 - Earliest claimed: 2014-12-30 - Assignees: Space Data Corporation - Applicants: Space Data Corporation - Inventors: Gerald Mark Knoblach - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10689084B2 ## CPC - B64B 1/58: Arrangements or construction of gas-bags; Filling arrangements - B64B 1/40: Balloons (B64B1/58 takes precedence; toy balloons A63H27/10) - B64B 1/62: Controlling gas pressure, heating, cooling, or discharging gas - G01W 1/08: Adaptations of balloons, missiles, or aircraft for meteorological purposes; Radiosondes (transmission of measurements G01D; transmitting circuits H04B; {balloons in general B64B; aeroplanes in general B64D; missiles in general F42B15/00}) - B64B: LIGHTER-THAN AIR AIRCRAFT - G01W: METEOROLOGY (radar, sonar, lidar or analogous systems, designed for meteorological use G01S13/95, G01S15/88, G01S17/95) ## Abstract Disclosed herein is system comprising a lighter-than-air (LTA) device and method of making the same. In an embodiment, the system includes the LTA device, which includes a membrane having a flexible substrate and an active material disposed thereon, wherein the active material is configured to controllably change the surface area of at least a portion of the substrate when an electrical stimulus is applied to the active material. In addition, the system may include a payload box; an altitude control vent mechanism; a meteorological data collection package; a communication unit; and an antenna. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising: a lighter-than-air device comprising a balloon comprising an outer enclosure and an active surface enclosure located inside the outer enclosure, the active surface enclosure being made of a material comprising: a flexible substrate; and an active material disposed on at least a portion of the flexible substrate, wherein the active material deforms mechanically on application of an electrical stimulus across the active material, wherein disposal of the active material on the portion controllably changes a surface area of at least the portion of the flexible substrate when the electrical stimulus is applied to the active material; a payload box; an altitude control vent mechanism; a meteorological data collection package; a communication unit; and an antenna. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the active material comprises one or more layers of graphene, a shape memory alloy, a high thermal expansion coefficient material, a piezoelectric material, an electroactive polymer, or any combination thereof. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the balloon further comprises a photovoltaic material disposed thereon. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the balloon further comprises a conductive material disposed thereon. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the balloon further comprises a device that stores electrical energy disposed thereon. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the device comprises a capacitor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the device comprises an electrochemical cell. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the balloon further comprises an antenna disposed thereon. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein a first portion of the balloon is colored in a first color and a second portion of the balloon is colored in a second color having a heat absorption coefficient different from the first color. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the active surface enclosure is filled with a first gaseous material and a region between the outer enclosure and the active surface enclosure is filled with a second gaseous material, wherein the first gaseous material is lighter than air. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a cable that connects the meteorological data collection package to the lighter-than-air device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the cable comprises a fiberoptic cable having a length such that the meteorological data collection package is sufficiently distanced from the balloon to reduce an effect of turbulence caused by the balloon on meteorological data sensed by the meteorological data collection package. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the fiberoptic cable is configured to transmit the meteorological data from the meteorological data collection package to a communications unit. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the fiberoptic cable is configured to perform as an arc wire allow arcing through the fiberoptic cable. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the payload box comprises hardware contained within the payload box and placed on or interconnected with a circuit board. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the payload box comprises a processor configured to (a) receive an electrical signal input and provide an electrical signal output, and (b) interact with a plurality of components for (i) controlling a flotation altitude, a temperature, a destruction of the balloon, a ballast drop and (ii) receiving, processing and transmitting communication signals received and transmitted to and from ground stations, personal communication devices or other information communications. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a battery or a fuel cell. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising an on/off switch configured to activate providing power to a power supply regulation circuit with output available power. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising an antenna stabilization unit configured to stabilize the antenna. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the antenna comprises a physical GPS antenna that communicates through a GPS receiver.