Expandible antenna
AssigneeASI Technology Corporation
InventorsIgor Alexeff, Ted Anderson, Elwood G. Norris
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An expandible antenna device comprising an expandible shell defining an interior chamber, wherein the shell is radially expandible from a central axis within the chamber; an elongated support structure disposed along the central axis and at least partially within the chamber; and an antenna element coupled to the shell such that the antenna is dimensionally stable when the shell is in an expanded position is disclosed. Additionally, an antenna element comprised of conductive elements joined by fluid filled bulbs or tubes wherein the fluid is capable of ionization is also disclosed.
Claims54
An expandible antenna device comprising:
- a) an expandible shell defining an interior chamber, wherein said shell is radially expandible from a central axis within the chamber;
- b) an elongated support structure disposed along the central axis and at least partially within the chamber, wherein the support structure has a first opening outside of the shell, a second opening inside of the shell, and a channel formed therebetween such that a fluid is transportable from outside of the support structure to the interior chamber;
- and
- c) an antenna element coupled to the shell such that the antenna is dimensionally stable when the shell is in an expanded position.
An expandible antenna device comprising:
- a) an expandible shell defining an interior chamber, wherein said shell is radially expandible from a central axis within the chamber;
- b) an elongated support structure disposed along the central axis and at least partially within the chamber;
- c) an antenna element coupled to the shell such that the antenna element is dimensionally stable when the shell is in an expanded position;
- and
- d) a secondary support structure disposed between the elongated support structure and the shell.
An expandible antenna device comprising:
- a) an expandible shell defining an interior chamber, wherein said shell is radially expandible from a central axis within the chamber;
- b) an elongated support structure disposed along the central axis and at least partially within the chamber;
- and
- c) an antenna element coupled to the shell such that the antenna element is dimensionally stable when the shell is in an expanded position, wherein the antenna element is comprised of a dielectric tube containing a conductive fluid.
A method of deploying and operating an antenna element from a collapsed and protected configuration to a desired expanded and operational position, comprising:
- a) locating the antenna element, having an expandible shell which surrounds an elongated axis at a desired location for deployment, said antennal element being supported by a secondary support structure;
- b) radially expanding the shell such that the antenna element deploys from the central axis to a radially expanded position;
- and
- c) processing an electromagnetic wave through the antenna element.
An antenna element comprising:
- (a) two conductive elements;
- and
- (b) a fluid filled bulb positioned between the conductive elements such that when the fluid filled bulb is energized, the conductive elements electrically communicate with one another, and when the fluid filled bulb is not energized, the conductive elements do not electrically communicate with one another.
An electromagnetic wave transmitter and receiver comprising:
- (a) at least one conductive element;
- (b) a transmitter/receiver for sending and receiving signal to and from the conductive element;
- and
- (b) a fluid filled bulb positioned between the at least one conductive element and the transmitter/receiver such that when the fluid filled bulb is energized, the conductive element and the transmitter/receiver electrically communicate with one another, and when the fluid filled bulb is not energized, the conductive element and the transmitter/receiver do not electrically communicate with one another.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.