Space antenna having extendible hoop and interconnected cords defining polygons and related methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12237571-B2
Application number	US-202318155797-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 18, 2023
Priority date	Jan 18, 2023
Publication date	Feb 25, 2025
Grant date	Feb 25, 2025

Abstract

A space antenna may include an extendible boom movable between stored and deployed positions. An extendible hoop may surround the extendible boom and is movable between the stored and deployed positions. A front cord arrangement may be coupled to the extendible hoop and defines a curved shape in the deployed position, and a reflective layer may be carried thereby. A rear cord arrangement may be behind the front cord arrangement and coupled between the extendible hoop and the extendible boom. The rear cord arrangement may include a rear plurality of interconnected cords defining rear polygons. Tie cords may extend between the front cord arrangement and the rear cord arrangement. A top cord arrangement may be above the reflective layer and coupled between the hoop and the extendible boom.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A space antenna comprising:
an extendible boom movable between stored and deployed positions;
an extendible hoop surrounding the extendible boom and movable between the stored and deployed positions;
a front cord arrangement coupled to the extendible hoop and defining a curved shape in the deployed position;
a reflective layer carried by the front cord arrangement;
a rear cord arrangement behind the front cord arrangement and coupled between the extendible hoop and the extendible boom, the rear cord arrangement comprising a rear plurality of interconnected cords defining a plurality of rear polygons;
a plurality of tie cords extending between the front cord arrangement and the rear cord arrangement; and
a top cord arrangement above the reflective layer and coupled between the hoop and the extendible boom.

2. The space antenna of claim 1 wherein the plurality of rear polygons comprises a plurality of rear triangles.

3. The space antenna of claim 1 wherein the plurality of rear polygons define a plurality of rear non-radial paths between the extendible hoop and the extendible boom.

4. The space antenna of claim 1 wherein the plurality of rear polygons define a plurality of spaced apart rear rings concentric with the extendible boom.

5. The space antenna of claim 1 wherein the plurality of tie cords are parallel to the extendible boom.

6. The space antenna of claim 1 wherein the front cord arrangement comprises a front plurality of interconnected cords defining a plurality of front polygons.

7. The space antenna of claim 6 wherein the plurality of front polygons comprises a plurality of front triangles.

8. The space antenna of claim 6 wherein the plurality of front polygons define a plurality of front non-radial paths between the extendible hoop and the extendible boom.

9. The space antenna of claim 6 wherein the plurality of front polygons define a plurality of spaced apart front rings concentric with the extendible boom.

10. The space antenna of claim 1 wherein the top cord arrangement comprises a top plurality of interconnected cords defining a plurality of top polygons.

11. The space antenna of claim 10 wherein the plurality of top polygons comprises a plurality of top triangles.

12. The space antenna of claim 10 wherein the plurality of top polygons define a plurality of top non-radial paths between the extendible hoop and the extendible boom.

13. The space antenna of claim 10 wherein the plurality of top polygons define a plurality of spaced apart top rings concentric with the extendible boom.

14. The space antenna of claim 1 comprising an antenna feed carried by the extendible boom.

15. A space antenna comprising:
an extendible boom movable between stored and deployed positions;
an extendible hoop surrounding the extendible boom and movable between the stored and deployed positions;
a front cord arrangement coupled to the extendible hoop and defining a curved shape in the deployed position;
a reflective layer carried by the front cord arrangement;
a rear cord arrangement behind the front cord arrangement and coupled between the extendible hoop and the extendible boom, the rear cord arrangement comprising a rear plurality of interconnected cords defining a plurality of rear triangles;
a plurality of tie cords extending between the front cord arrangement and the rear cord arrangement, the plurality of tie cords being parallel to the extendible boom; and
a top cord arrangement above the reflective layer and coupled between the hoop and the extendible boom.

16. The space antenna of claim 15 wherein the plurality of rear triangles define a plurality of rear non-radial paths between the extendible hoop and the extendible boom.

17. The space antenna of claim 15 wherein the plurality of rear triangles define a plurality of spaced apart rear rings concentric with the extendible boom.

18. The space antenna of claim 15 wherein the front cord arrangement comprises a front plurality of interconnected cords defining a plurality of front triangles.

19. The space antenna of claim 18 wherein the plurality of front triangles define a plurality of front non-radial paths between the extendible hoop and the extendible boom.

20. The space antenna of claim 18 wherein the plurality of front triangles define a plurality of spaced apart front rings concentric with the extendible boom.

21. The space antenna of claim 18 wherein the top cord arrangement comprises a top plurality of interconnected cords defining a plurality of top triangles.

22. The space antenna of claim 21 wherein the plurality of top triangles define a plurality of top non-radial paths between the extendible hoop and the extendible boom.

23. The space antenna of claim 21 wherein the plurality of top triangles define a plurality of spaced apart top rings concentric with the extendible boom.

24. The space antenna of claim 15 comprising an antenna feed carried by the extendible boom.

25. A method of making a space antenna comprising:
coupling a front cord arrangement to an extendible hoop to define a curved shape in a deployed position;
coupling a reflective layer to the front cord arrangement;
coupling a rear cord arrangement behind the front cord arrangement and between the extendible hoop and an extendible boom within the extendible hoop, the rear cord arrangement comprising a rear plurality of interconnected cords defining a plurality of rear polygons;
coupling a plurality of tie cords between the front cord arrangement and the rear cord arrangement; and
coupling a top cord arrangement above the reflective layer and between the extendible hoop and the extendible boom.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the plurality of rear polygons comprises a plurality of rear triangles.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the plurality of rear polygons define a plurality of rear non-radial paths between the extendible hoop and the extendible boom.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein the plurality of rear polygons define a plurality of spaced apart rear rings concentric with the extendible boom.

29. The method of claim 25 wherein the plurality of tie cords are parallel to the extendible boom.

30. The method of claim 25 wherein the front cord arrangement comprises a front plurality of interconnected cords defining a plurality of front polygons.

31. The method of claim 25 wherein the top cord arrangement comprises a top plurality of interconnected cords defining a plurality of top polygons.

Assignees

• Eagle Tech Llc

Inventors

• Taylor Robert M
• Rose Christopher L
• Carro John
• Harless Richard I
• Ortega-Morales Miguel
• Fetterman Timothy L
• Lopez David

Classifications

• H01Q1/1235

  Collapsible supports; Means for erecting a rigid antenna · CPC title

• H01Q1/10

  Telescopic elements · CPC title

• H01Q1/08

  Means for collapsing antennas or parts thereof (collapsible loop antennas H01Q7/02; means for collapsing H-antennas or Yagi antennas H01Q19/04) · CPC title

• H01Q15/161

  Collapsible reflectors · CPC title

• H01Q1/1228

  on a boom · CPC title