Patent ID: 6388637
Filing Date: 2002-05-14
Classification: H01Q,Y10S

Abstract:
A deployable space borne antenna, comprising:a reflector support structure; a plurality of reflector cells mounted side by side in a concave spherical array in an interior portion of the support structure so as to form a radar aperture; each reflector cell includes a parabolic RF signal reflector and an RF feed assembly; each reflector having a flexible reflecting surface and a plurality of elongated edges defining a geometric shape, and including respective corner portions at the intersection of pairs of edges; respective rigid support members located at the corner portions of the reflector for stiffening the reflector and the elongated edges, and also for providing a support for the array of feed elements; a set of flexible support members extending between the rigid support members of each reflector cell and the respective array of feed elements for positioning the array above the RF signal reflector, and a mechanism located beneath each of the RF signal reflectors for pulling the respective flexible reflecting surface down to a substantially parabolic shape.