Patent ID: 7761053

Claim:
A communication system comprising: at least one terrestrial transceiver for at least one of receiving and transmitting signals; and a satellite including: a satellite transceiver, for at least one of receiving from and transmitting signals to the terrestrial transceiver, the satellite transceiver designed for operating effectively within a temperature range, and wherein outside the temperature range the satellite transceiver may operate less effectively and is subject to temperature-based failure; a housing for shielding the satellite transceiver and providing an internal environment in which an operating temperature range for the satellite transceiver is maintained so that the satellite transceiver operates effectively; and a variable emittance thermochromic material, located on the housing and helping to maintain the operating temperature range within the internal environment provided by the housing, the variable emittance thermochromic material including at least one layer of spatially isolated particles, wherein the particles are of a transition metal based complex having temperature dependent properties including a range of non-metallic properties at relatively low temperatures including low emittance, a range of metallic properties at relatively high temperatures and a range of semi-metallic properties, including high emittance, within a temperature range below relatively high temperatures, and the particles are dimensioned such that the particles retain the semi-metallic properties at relatively high temperatures, but would otherwise transition to a range of metallic properties if not spatially isolated and appropriately dimensioned; and a separator for maintaining spatial isolation of the particles.