Ultralight collapsible and deployable waveguide lens antenna system
AssigneeTRW Inc.
InventorsJames L. Wolcott, John R. Bartholomew, III, Charles W. Chandler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A waveguide lens antenna system is shown which includes a collapsible support structure and a collapsible waveguide lens array. The collapsible waveguide lens array includes a plurality of integrally connected tubular waveguide cells that form an array which focuses transmitted signals onto a satellite signal processing device. The array is coupled to a support structure that is affixed to a mounting surface, such as a satellite, and that correctly positions the array when the array is operationally deployed.
Claims21
A waveguide lens antenna system, comprising:
- a support structure having means to permit its collapsing;
- a lens waveguide antenna mounted to said support structure and including a plurality of integrally connected tubular waveguide cells that form a cell array that focuses transmitted signals onto a signal processing device;
- said lens waveguide antenna having means to permit its collapsing and
- a second support structure mount that operatively connects said collapsible support structure to a mounting surface to correctly position said collapsible lens waveguide antenna relative to said signal processing device when said antenna is operationally deployed.
An antenna, comprising:
- a plurality of tubular lens waveguide cells each having a predetermined length and being interconnected to form a lightweight symmetrical honeycomb array, said plurality of tubular lens waveguide cells being collapsible for storage and shipment thereof;
- and
- a lightweight rigid frame that supports said plurality of tubular lens waveguide cells and that has dimensions substantially equal to those of said array when said array is expanded into operational form, said frame having means to permit its collapsing along with said array for storage and shipment thereof.
A method of manufacturing a waveguide lens antenna, comprising the steps of:
- stacking a plurality of sheets of metalized plastic film having substantially uniform dimensions;
- joint welding each of said plurality of sheets of metalized plastic film to adjacent sheets to bond said plurality of sheets of metalized plastic film in a predetermined configuration;
- cutting said predetermined configuration to form an array of waveguide cells that may be expanded for deployment thereof and collapsed for storage and transport thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.