Patent ID: 8259033

Claim:
A shape-memory reflector configured to maintain both a first stowed configuration and a deployed configuration, the shape-memory reflector comprising: a reflector surface comprising a non-shape memory material; and a plurality of noncircular shape-memory stiffeners having a first end and a second end and substantially parallel with each other, wherein the plurality of shape-memory stiffeners are coupled with the reflector surface and the plurality of shape-memory stiffeners extend from the first end to the second end across a portion of the reflector surface, wherein the shape-memory stiffeners comprise a shape memory polymer; and wherein in the deployed configuration the plurality of shape-memory stiffeners are unpleated and the reflector surface defines a deployed three dimensional geometry; wherein in the stowed configuration the plurality of shape-memory stiffeners are pleated into a first plurality of pleats, and the reflector surface is pleated into a second plurality of pleats; and wherein when one or more of the shape-memory stiffeners in the stowed configuration are heated to a temperature greater than a glass transition temperature of the shape-memory material the shape memory stiffeners actuate the reflector surface into the deployed configuration.