Patent ID: 6042240
Filing Date: 2000-03-28
Classification: B64G,F24S,G02B,Y02E

Abstract:
A reflector for reflecting rays of the sun, with the reflector being in orbit about a celestial body, with the reflector comprising, in combination:a) a reflecting unit, with the reflecting unit comprising:i) a respective first axis about which the reflecting unit is rotatable;ii) a set of reflecting subunits arranged about the first axis, with each of the reflecting subunits having a second axis generally perpendicular to the first axis about which each of said subunits is tiltable; andiii) a reflecting surface on each of the subunits facing outwardly relative to the first respective axis and second respective axis of its respective subunit such that rotation of the reflecting unit about the first axis changes an impingement angle of sunlight on the reflecting surfaces facing the sun and such that tilting each of the subunits further changes the impingement angle of sunlight on the reflecting surfaces facing the sun;b) an array of the reflecting units to provide for a plurality of reflecting subunits, with each of the reflecting units being independently controllable such that each of the reflecting units is independently rotatable about its respective first axis and such that each of the subunits is independently controllable such that each of the reflecting surfaces is independently tiltable relative to each of the other reflecting surfaces such that reflected sunlight may be focused onto a single location and object at said single location and may continue to focus sunlight on said object as said object moves; andc) at least one gyroscope on the array for maneuvering the array generally in the direction of the single location and generally stabilizing the array.