Space target with multi-spectral energy reflectivity
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
InventorKenneth R. Matosian
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A reflecting target device usable in space or on earth in the testing and simulation of weapons and other energy radiating space hardware. The disclosed embodiment includes an icosahedral reentrant cavity structure providing both infrared and radio-radar frequency retroreflective capability through the use of corner reflectors, conductive grid wires and coating layers. Launch-related apparatus are also described.
Claims16
Multispectral energy responsive space satellite reflecting apparatus comprising:
- a rigid spherical polyhedron incorporating a plurality of adjacent reentrant pyramidal cavities formed by intersecting planar divider members each common to two adjacent cavities and intersecting at pyramid apices located at the center of said spherical polyhedron;
- a plurality of optical reflector members located one in the apex adjacent portion of each said pyramidal cavity in physical separation from the cavity apex and capable of outwardly reflecting optical energy directed into said cavity from an external source;
- and
- a plurality of radio frequency energy reflector members located one in each said pyramidal cavity and disposed over a portion of the interior surface thereof and capable of conducting and reflecting radio frequency energy received from an external source.
Multispectral reflective apparatus comprising:
- means forming a plurality of cavity members having a clsoed first end of small diameter and an open second end of larger diameter, said cavity members being disposed in three dimensions about a central point for forming uniform a spherical body wherein the closed small cavity ends are located adjacent said central point in the spherical body and said open larger diameter ends form uniform the exterior of said spherical body;
- and
- optical retroreflecting means located in each said cavity member adjacent said central point but segregated therefrom for capturing optical energy directed toward said cavity from an external source and for returning said captured energy in the direction of said external source;
- and
- radio frequency energy reflecting means located in each of said cavity members adjacent said retroreflecting means for capturing and reflecting radio frequency energy directed toward said reflective apparatus.
Large mass high thermal conductivity space satellite retroreflection apparatus for returning radio frequency and optical spectrum energy signals along paths parallel disposed of the incidence paths thereof and comprising the combination of:
- a rigid spherical polyhedron structure having a uniform plurality of adjacent reentrant pyramidal cavities of closed apex end and open outward facing apex opposite end, said cavities being formed by intersecting radially disposed planar polyhedron divider members each common to two adjacent cavities and intersecting in co-planar cavity corner lines which have the apex points located along individual cavity lines adjacent the structure center, said polyhedron structure being comprised of homogeneous heat conducting planar metal material and covered within said cavities by an optically reflective coating layer;
- a plurality of cube corner retroreflector members, one for predetermined of said cavities and disposed deep within said cavities adjacent said cavity apices;
- a plurality of optical lens members, one for each predetermined of said cavities and disposed each within a cavity and intermediate said retroreflector member and said open, apex opposite, cavity end;
- and
- microwave energy reflecting means located also in each of said cavity members and disposed over the interior cavity surface thereof for reflecting microwave radio frequency energy received from a remote microwave source back along the incidence path thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.