Deployable antenna reflector
AssigneeUnited States of America as represented by the Administrator of NASA
InventorsJuan M. Fernandez, Andrew F. Paddock, Kevin DeMarco
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Self-deploying reflector array architectures include stacked multiple panels attached to a central panel by sets of heat actuated flexible hinges on their non-functional sides create surface of revolution, cylindrical and flat reflector arrays in accordance with panel curvature. Robotic in-space assembly of multiple smaller arrays allows for creation of reflector array of 10 or more meters to support S-band and above RF (≥2 GHz) transmission.
Claims19
An antenna reflector array having at least a stowed position and a deployed position, the array comprising:
- multiple panels and a central panel, each of the multiple and central panels including a functional side and a non-functional side, wherein in the stowed position, the multiple and central panels are in a stacked configuration;
- at least one heat actuated flexible hinge, each of the at least one flexible hinges being connected at a first end thereof to a non-functional side of one of the multiple panels and at a second end thereof to the non-functional side of the central panel, the heat actuated flexible hinges being controllable between a first shape and a second shape, and further wherein, when at least one of the heat actuated flexible hinges changes from the first shape to the second shape, the multiple panels connected thereto are moved from a first position to a second position;
- and
- multiple closing mechanisms, each of the multiple closing mechanisms being movably attached to at least one of the heat actuated flexible hinges and an associated one of the multiple panels, wherein each of the multiple closing mechanisms is triggered when its associated panel is in the second position, the multiple closing mechanisms moving its associated panel to a third position responsive to the trigger, the third position resulting in the final deployed position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.