Patent ID: 8508430

Claim:
A method of deploying an antenna reflector including a plurality of extendable ribs coupled to a centrally located hub, each extendable rib of said plurality of extendable ribs including an inner rib rotatably coupled to said centrally located hub and an outer rib slidingly coupled to said inner rib, said method comprising: rotating said plurality of extendable ribs from a stowed position in which said plurality of extendable ribs are generally aligned with a central axis of said centrally located hub, to a rotated position in which said plurality of extendable ribs extend in radial directions relative to said central axis; linearly displacing said outer rib along an elongated length of said inner rib from a proximal position adjacent to said centrally located hub to an extended position distal from said centrally located hub; and supporting a flexible antenna reflector surface on a guideline truss structure that is under tension when said outer rib is in said extended position with said guideline truss structure including a plurality of arch cords extending between distal ends of opposing ones of said outer ribs, and a plurality of standoff cords respectively secured to a plurality of attachment points disposed on each of said outer ribs, said plurality of standoff cords extending between each said outer rib and a respective one of said arch cords at a plurality of intermediate locations along a length of said outer rib between opposing ends thereof; and wherein said outer rib is linearly displaced along said elongated length external of said inner rib.