Multiple petal deployable telescope
AssigneeUtah State University Research Foundation
InventorsTrent Newswander, Blake Crowther, James Champagne, Adam Norris
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An opto-mechanical deployable telescope includes a hub, at least one deployable multiple petal primary mirror mounted to the hub, a deployment assembly, and a deployment engine assembly. The deployment assembly is operable to move the at least one primary mirror between a stowed position and a deployed position. The deployment engine assembly is operable to power the deployment assembly using stored mechanical energy. The deployment assembly includes a kinematic or semi-kinematic interface between the hub and the at least one primary mirror to hold petals of the at least one primary mirror in alignment relative to each other in the deployed position.
Claims18
An opto-mechanical deployable telescope, comprising:
- a hub;
- at least one deployable multiple petal primary mirror mounted to the hub;
- a deployment assembly operable to move the at least one primary mirror between a stowed position and a deployed position;
- and
- a deployment engine assembly operable to power the deployment assembly using stored mechanical energy;
- wherein:
- the deployment assembly includes a kinematic or semi-kinematic interface between the hub and the at least one primary mirror to hold petals of the at least one primary mirror in alignment relative to each other in the deployed position;
- and
- each petal of the at least one primary mirror is separately attached to the hub with a hinge connection, the hinge connection providing radial movement of the petals when in the deployed position that permits the deployment assembly rather than the hinge connection to control alignment of the petals.
An opto-mechanical deployable telescope, comprising:
- a hub;
- a deployable primary mirror positioned on the hub and comprising a plurality of petals, the plurality of petals being pivotable from a stowed position to a deployed position;
- and
- a deployment assembly configured to operate the plurality of petals between the stowed and deployed positions and hold the plurality of petals in alignment relative to each other in the deployed position using a kinematic or semi-kinematic interface between the hub and the plurality of petals:
- wherein each petal of the at least one primary mirror is separately attached to the hub with a hinge connection, the hinge connection providing radial movement of the petals when in the deployed position that permits the deployment assembly rather than the hinge connection to control alignment of the petals.
A method of deploying an opto-mechanical deployable telescope, comprising:
- providing a hub, at least one primary mirror mounted to the hub, and a deployment assembly, the at least one primary mirror including a plurality of petals;
- moving the plurality of petals from a stowed position to a deployed position with the deployment assembly;
- aligning the plurality of petals relative to each other with the deployment assembly while moving the plurality of petals into the deployed position, wherein aligning the plurality of petals includes providing a semi-kinematic interface between the plurality of petals and the hub;
- wherein each petal of the at least one primary mirror is separately attached to the hub with a hinge connection, the hinge connection providing radial movement of the petals when in the deployed position that permits the deployment assembly rather than the hinge connection to control alignment of the petals.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.