초록 ▼

A space deployable antenna reflector surface is formed as a continuous laminate that is shaped to conform with a prescribed energy-focusing surface geometry. The laminate is formed of very thin layers of flexible material, such as very thin sheets of graphite epoxy, containing collapsible radial and

A space deployable antenna reflector surface is formed as a continuous laminate that is shaped to conform with a prescribed energy-focusing surface geometry. The laminate is formed of very thin layers of flexible material, such as very thin sheets of graphite epoxy, containing collapsible radial and perimeter stiffening regions or stiffeners. Due to its thinness, the reflector laminate is collapsible into a folded shape, that facilitates stowage in a restricted volume, such as aboard the space shuttle. The stiffening elements of the laminate antenna structure of the invention facilitate deploying and maintaining the reflector in its intended geometric shape, and collapsing the reflector laminate into a compact serpentine stowed configuration.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An apparatus comprising:a flexible, energy-directing medium having a substantially continuous surface and shaped to conform with a prescribed geometry; and a distribution of plural of layers of flexible material attached with respective portions of the surface of said medium and forming a plurali

1. An apparatus comprising:a flexible, energy-directing medium having a substantially continuous surface and shaped to conform with a prescribed geometry; and a distribution of plural of layers of flexible material attached with respective portions of the surface of said medium and forming a plurality of collapsible stiffening elements which, in a deployed configuration of said medium, cause said medium to conform with said prescribed geometry and, in a non-deployed configuration of said medium, cause said medium to conform with a stowage configuration, wherein said geometry comprises a surface of revolution, and said plural layers of flexible material include layers of flexible material distributed along radial portions of said surface of revolution, so as to incorporate a plurality of collapsible radial stiffening elements with said flexible, energy-directing medium, and wherein said plural layers of flexible material further include layers of flexible material extending along a perimeter portion of said medium, so as to incorporate a plurality of collapsible circumferential stiffening elements with said perimeter portion of said medium.