Artificial satellite and artificial satellite system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12420956-B2
Application number	US-202418923918-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 23, 2024
Priority date	Oct 26, 2023
Publication date	Sep 23, 2025
Grant date	Sep 23, 2025

Abstract

An artificial satellite and artificial satellite system has power transmission and reception efficiency and includes an expandable solar panel that generates power, expandable power transmitting antennas, and expandable beam members to connect the solar panel and the power transmitting antennas to each other. The beam members are expanded from being provided in the artificial satellite, on a plurality of rotational symmetry axes of an imaginary polyhedron formed with substantially a center of the artificial satellite as an origin. The beam members are arranged at substantially equal distances in directions of the rotational symmetry axes. A light receiving surface of the solar panel and installation surfaces of the power transmitting antennas, when expanded, are substantially perpendicular to a solar panel rotational symmetry axis passing through a center of the solar panel, and being arranged on opposite sides of a plane passing through the center of the artificial satellite.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An artificial satellite for use in space solar power generation and transmission, comprising:
an expandable solar panel configured to receive solar light and generate power;
a plurality of expandable power transmitting antennas configured to transmit power generated by the expandable solar panel to a power receiving facility; and
a plurality of expandable beam members configured to connect the expandable solar panel and the plurality of expandable power transmitting antennas to each other,
the plurality of expandable beam members being expanded from a state of being provided in the artificial satellite, and on a plurality of rotational symmetry axes of an imaginary polyhedron formed with substantially a center of the artificial satellite as an origin, the plurality of expandable beam members being arranged at substantially equal distances in directions of the rotational symmetry axes,
at least one light receiving surface of the expandable solar panel and at least one of installation surfaces of the plurality of expandable power transmitting antennas when expanded from the artificial satellite being substantially perpendicular to a solar panel rotational symmetry axis as a rotational symmetry axis passing through substantially a center of the expandable solar panel, and being arranged on opposite sides of a plane passing through substantially the center of the artificial satellite, and
the installation surfaces of the plurality of expandable power transmitting antennas facing in respective different directions when expanded from the artificial satellite.

2. The artificial satellite according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a rotation control unit configured to control rotation of the artificial satellite,
wherein the artificial satellite transmits power to the power receiving facility while rotating.

3. An artificial satellite system configured by flying the artificial satellite according to claim 1 in plural number, the plurality of artificial satellites being configured to transmit power to a same power receiving facility.

4. The artificial satellite according to claim 1 , wherein
power is selectively transmitted to a predetermined power receiving facility from among a predetermined plurality of power receiving facilities by rotating the artificial satellite about the center of the solar panel.

5. The artificial satellite according to claim 1 , wherein
the plurality of expandable power transmitting antennas respectively transmit power to a plurality of respective power receiving facilities installed in respective different directions.

6. The artificial satellite according to claim 1 , wherein
one or more of the power transmitting antennas are disposed on a same installation surface as the expandable solar panel of the artificial satellite.

7. The artificial satellite according to claim 1 , wherein
the solar panel is disposed on a same installation surface as the expandable power transmitting antennas of the artificial satellite.

8. The artificial satellite according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a power converting device.

9. The artificial satellite according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a tension controller for a tension member; and
a structure controller for a beam member,
wherein postures of the solar panel and the power transmitting antennas are changed.

Assignees

• Hitachi Ltd

Inventors

• Watanabe Koichi
• Funane Tsukasa
• Ito Makoto
• Tanabe Yosuke
• Kimura Hisatoshi

Classifications

• B64G1/428

  Power distribution and management · CPC title

• B64G1/443

  Photovoltaic cell arrays · CPC title

• B64G1/24

  Guiding or controlling apparatus, e.g. for attitude control · CPC title

• B64G1/42

  Arrangements or adaptations of power supply systems · CPC title

• B64G1/10 Primary

  Artificial satellites; Systems of such satellites; Interplanetary vehicles (space shuttles B64G1/14) · CPC title