Tactical support structure for tracking spherical satellite antenna

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021336321-A1
Application number	US-202117239014-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 23, 2021
Priority date	Apr 23, 2020
Publication date	Oct 28, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

An inflatable tracking antenna assembly may include an inflatable antenna. The inflatable antenna may be configurable in a packed configuration and a deployed configuration. In the deployed configuration the inflatable antenna may be generally spherical in shape. The assembly may include an antenna support structure. The support structure may include a plurality of support arms that couple with lateral sides of the inflatable antenna. The support structure may include a base that is coupled with each of the plurality of support arms. The base may include an azimuth actuator that adjusts an azimuth position of the inflatable antenna and an elevation actuator that adjusts an elevation angle of the inflatable antenna. The support structure may include a plurality of support legs that extend outward from the base.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An inflatable tracking antenna assembly, comprising:
an inflatable antenna, the inflatable antenna being configurable in a packed configuration and a deployed configuration, wherein in the deployed configuration the inflatable antenna is generally spherical in shape; an antenna support structure, comprising:
a plurality of support arms that couple with lateral sides of the inflatable antenna;
a base that is coupled with each of the plurality of support arms, wherein the base comprises an azimuth actuator that adjusts an azimuth position of the inflatable antenna and an elevation actuator that adjusts an elevation angle of the inflatable antenna; and
a plurality of support legs that extend outward from the base.

2 . The inflatable tracking antenna assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the inflatable antenna comprises at least two mating features; each of the at least two mating features is disposed on a lateral side surface of the inflatable antenna; and a top end of each of the plurality of support arms comprises a corresponding mating feature that is engageable with a respective one of the at least two first mating features of the inflatable antenna.

3 . The inflatable tracking antenna assembly of claim 2 , wherein:
an electrical connection between the base and the inflatable antenna is provided via engagement of the at least two mating features and the corresponding mating features.

4 . The inflatable tracking antenna assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a timing belt coupled with the inflatable antenna and the elevation actuator, wherein the elevation actuator maneuvers the timing belt to adjust the elevation angle of the inflatable antenna.

5 . The inflatable tracking antenna assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the base comprises a stationary portion and a rotatable portion disposed atop the stationary portion; and the azimuth actuator rotates the rotatable portion relative to the stationary portion to adjust the azimuth position of the inflatable antenna.

6 . The inflatable tracking antenna assembly of claim 5 , further comprising:
a slip ring disposed between the stationary portion and the rotatable portion, the slip ring facilitating communication of electrical signals between the stationary portion and the rotatable portion.

7 . The inflatable tracking antenna assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
each of the plurality of support arms and each of the plurality of support legs is engageable and disengageable with the base without use of any tools.

8 . A tracking support structure for an inflatable antenna, comprising:
a plurality of support arms that couple with lateral sides of the inflatable antenna; a base that is coupled with each of the plurality of support arms, wherein the base comprises:
a stationary portion;
a rotatable portion disposed atop the stationary portion;
an azimuth actuator rotates the rotatable portion relative to the stationary portion to adjust an azimuth position of the inflatable antenna; and
an elevation actuator that adjusts an elevation angle of the inflatable antenna; and
a plurality of support legs that extend outward from the base.

9 . The tracking support structure for an inflatable antenna of claim 8 , wherein:
each of the plurality of support arms is packable into a smaller form factor when the tracking base is disassembled.

10 . The tracking support structure for an inflatable antenna of claim 8 , wherein:
each of the plurality of support arms is formed from multiple segments.

11 . The tracking support structure for an inflatable antenna of claim 10 , wherein:
the segments are permanently coupled with and foldable relative to one another.

12 . The tracking support structure for an inflatable antenna of claim 10 , wherein:
at least some of the multiple segments are generally linear.

13 . The tracking support structure for an inflatable antenna of claim 10 , wherein:
the multiple segments are fully separable from one another.

14 . The tracking support structure for an inflatable antenna of claim 8 , further comprising:
a slip ring disposed between the stationary portion and the rotatable portion, the slip ring facilitating communication of electrical signals between the stationary portion and the rotatable portion.

15 . A tracking support structure for an inflatable antenna, comprising:
a plurality of support arms that couple with lateral sides of the inflatable antenna; and a base that is coupled with each of the plurality of support arms, wherein the base comprises:
a stationary portion;
a rotatable portion disposed atop the stationary portion;
an azimuth actuator rotates that rotatable portion relative to the stationary portion to adjust an azimuth position of the inflatable antenna; and
an elevation actuator that adjusts an elevation angle of the inflatable antenna.

16 . The tracking support structure for an inflatable antenna of claim 15 , wherein:
each of the plurality of support arms is curved.

17 . The tracking support structure for an inflatable antenna of claim 10 , further comprising:
one or more rollers disposed on an upward facing surface of one or both of the base and one or more of the plurality of support arms.

18 . The tracking support structure for an inflatable antenna of claim 10 , further comprising:
a plurality of support legs that extend outward from the base, wherein each of the plurality of support legs comprises a leveling support.

19 . The tracking support structure for an inflatable antenna of claim 10 , wherein:
a top end of each of the plurality of support arms comprises mating features that are engageable with corresponding mating features of the inflatable antenna.

20 . The tracking support structure for an inflatable antenna of claim 10 , wherein:
the tracking support structure is packable into one or more handheld storage containers between deployments.

Assignees

• Cubic Corp

Inventors

• Gierow Paul
• Clayton William
• Borchers Scott

Classifications

• H01Q3/08

  for varying two co-ordinates of the orientation · CPC title

• H01Q1/082 Primary

  Balloon antennas · CPC title

• H01Q1/081 Primary

  Inflatable antennas · CPC title

• H01Q3/01

  varying the shape of the antenna or antenna system · CPC title

• H01Q1/428

  Collapsible radomes; rotatable, tiltable radomes · CPC title