초록 ▼

A reflector for focusing sunlight upon a single location. The reflector is preferably positioned in orbit about a celestial body to focus sunlight on objects such as space debris to heat up and vaporize such debris. The reflector includes a plurality of units in an array, with each of the units incl

A reflector for focusing sunlight upon a single location. The reflector is preferably positioned in orbit about a celestial body to focus sunlight on objects such as space debris to heat up and vaporize such debris. The reflector includes a plurality of units in an array, with each of the units including a plurality of subunits. Each of the units rotates about a first axis and each of the subunits is tiltable about a second axis which is perpendicular to the second axis. A reflecting surface is mounted on each of the subunits such that the reflecting surface rotates with its respective unit and tilts with its respective subunit. Such rotation and tilting permits sunlight to be directed theoretically anywhere on one side of a plane. Each of the units and each of the subunits is independently controllable, and this permits each of the units directs sunlight to a single location onto a single object, which then heats up rapidly to a relatively great temperature until it vaporizes under the intense heat. A second reflecting structure having a massive flat planar reflecting surface may be positioned off to the rear side of the array to reflect sunlight onto the rear side. The rearwardly directed sunlight may then be focused by the reflecting surfaces of the units since the array is one unit thick and since the reflecting surfaces rotate into and out of front and rear positions. Accordingly, this second reflecting structure permits sunlight to be focused behind the array.

대표청구항 ▼

[ I claim:] [1.] A reflector for reflecting rays of the sun, with the reflector being in orbit about a celestial body, with the reflector comprising, in combination:a) a reflecting unit, with the reflecting unit comprising:i) a respective first axis about which the reflecting unit is rotatable;ii) a

[ I claim:] [1.] A reflector for reflecting rays of the sun, with the reflector being in orbit about a celestial body, with the reflector comprising, in combination:a) a reflecting unit, with the reflecting unit comprising:i) a respective first axis about which the reflecting unit is rotatable;ii) a set of reflecting subunits arranged about the first axis, with each of the reflecting subunits having a second axis generally perpendicular to the first axis about which each of said subunits is tiltable; andiii) a reflecting surface on each of the subunits facing outwardly relative to the first respective axis and second respective axis of its respective subunit such that rotation of the reflecting unit about the first axis changes an impingement angle of sunlight on the reflecting surfaces facing the sun and such that tilting each of the subunits further changes the impingement angle of sunlight on the reflecting surfaces facing the sun;b) an array of the reflecting units to provide for a plurality of reflecting subunits, with each of the reflecting units being independently controllable such that each of the reflecting units is independently rotatable about its respective first axis and such that each of the subunits is independently controllable such that each of the reflecting surfaces is independently tiltable relative to each of the other reflecting surfaces such that reflected sunlight may be focused onto a single location and object at said single location and may continue to focus sunlight on said object as said object moves; andc) at least one gyroscope on the array for maneuvering the array generally in the direction of the single location and generally stabilizing the array.