Patent ID: 11876280
Assignee: VIASAT INC.
Field: Telecommunications (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC H | IPC H

Claim 0:
1. An artificial magnetic conductor (AMC) antenna apparatus comprising:
a ground plane comprising:
a base layer comprising a conductive base surface;
a frequency selective surface layer above the base layer, the FSS layer comprising a plurality of conductive patches separated from one another; and
a plurality of flexible conductors, each electrically connecting one of the conductive patches to the conductive base surface;

a flexible antenna element layer above the FSS layer, comprising at least one antenna element;
a latch mechanism between the base layer and the FSS layer, configured to transition from an unlatched state to a latched state, wherein in the latched state, the conductive base surface is fixedly separated from the FSS layer by a predetermined distance; and
an inflatable bladder system between the base layer and the FSS layer, configured to receive a gas input during deployment of the AMC antenna apparatus and inflate to produce force sufficient to cause the latch mechanism to transition from the unlatched state to the latched state.