Space antenna having deployable, steerable antennas and related methods
AssigneeEagle Technology, LLC
InventorsRobert M. Taylor, Justin J. Luther, Stephen Jenkins
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A deployable space antenna may include a housing and a first telescoping boom and a second telescoping boom extendable from the housing in opposite directions from a stowed position to a deployed position. Each of the first and second telescoping booms may include telescoping boom segments. Each of a plurality of deployable, steerable antennas is carried by respective telescoping boom segment and movable between a stowed position and a deployed position. An antenna controller is configured to steer the deployable, steerable antennas.
Claims24
A deployable space antenna comprising:
- a housing;
- a first telescoping boom and a second telescoping boom extendable from the housing in opposite directions from a stowed position to a deployed position, each of the first and second telescoping booms comprising a plurality of telescoping boom segments;
- a plurality of deployable, steerable antennas, each deployable, steerable antenna carried by a respective telescoping boom segment and being movable between a stowed position and a deployed position, each deployable, steerable antenna comprising an individually steerable reflector and a feed associated therewith;
- and
- an antenna controller configured to steer the plurality of deployable, steerable antennas.
A deployable space antenna comprising:
- a housing;
- a first telescoping boom and a second telescoping boom extendable from the housing in opposite directions from a stowed position to a deployed position, each of the first and second telescoping booms comprising a plurality of telescoping boom segments;
- a plurality of deployable, steerable antennas, each deployable, steerable antenna carried by a respective telescoping boom segment and being movable between a stowed position and a deployed position;
- each deployable, steerable antenna comprising
- an extendable support carried by a respective telescoping boom segment,
- an extendable hoop surrounding the extendable support, and
- at least one actuator coupled to the extendable support to mechanically steer the deployable, steerable antenna;
- and
- an antenna controller configured to steer the plurality of deployable, steerable antennas.
A method for making a deployable space antenna comprising:
- coupling a first telescoping boom and a second telescoping boom to be extendable from a housing in opposite directions from a stowed position to a deployed position, each of the first and second telescoping booms comprising a plurality of telescoping boom segments;
- coupling each of a plurality of deployable, steerable antennas to a respective telescoping boom segment and being movable between a stowed position and a deployed position, each deployable, steerable antenna comprising an individually steerable reflector and a feed associated therewith;
- and
- coupling an antenna controller to steer the plurality of deployable, steerable antennas.
A deployable space antenna comprising:
- a housing;
- a first telescoping boom and a second telescoping boom extendable from the housing in opposite directions from a stowed position to a deployed position, each of the first and second telescoping booms comprising a plurality of telescoping boom segments;
- a plurality of deployable, steerable antennas, each deployable, steerable antenna carried by a respective telescoping boom segment and being movable between a stowed position and a deployed position, adjacent ones of the plurality of steerable, deployable antennas being arranged in a staggered relation defining overlapping antenna patterns;
- and
- an antenna controller configured to steer the plurality of deployable, steerable antennas.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.