Patent ID: 11862840
Assignee: EAGLE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Field: Telecommunications (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC H | IPC H

Claim 0:
1. A method for deploying a reflector, comprising:
supporting a collapsible mesh reflector surface with a perimeter truss assembly (PTA) comprised of a plurality of battens and at least one storable extendible member (SEM) longeron extending around a periphery of the PTA to define a hoop;
positioning the battens at distributed locations along an elongated length of the at least one SEM longeron;
bending the at least one SEM longeron around a plurality of truss corners, where each truss corner is respectively defined at one of the plurality of battens;
increasing a deployed length of the at least one SEM longeron extending around at least a portion of a perimeter of the PTA to urge the PTA from a collapsed configuration, in which the battens are closely spaced, to an expanded configuration in which a distance between the battens is increased as compared to the collapsed configuration so as to enlarge an area enclosed by the hoop;
transitioning the collapsible mesh reflector surface from a compactly stowed state when the PTA is in the collapsed configuration to a tensioned state when the PTA is in the expanded configuration;
using at least one friction-reducing member at each of the truss corners to reduce a friction force exerted on the at least one SEM longeron during times when the longeron is moving transversely around the truss corner; and
shaping the mesh reflector surface in the tensioned state by using a network of cords supported by the battens to urge the mesh reflector surface to a shape that is configured to concentrate RF energy in a predetermined pattern.