An antenna includes ribs that have been folded to fit within a frame, a conductive mesh coupled to the ribs, an arm that has been folded to fit within the frame, and a feed disposed at a distal end of the arm.

An antenna structure may include a solid antenna structure and a mesh antenna structure. The mesh antenna structure may be coupled to an outer edge of the solid antenna structure through two or more ribs. The two or more ribs may be configured to extend away from the solid antenna structure to expand the mesh antenna structure and increase a surface area of the antenna structure.

A deployable structure for use in establishing a reflectarray antenna is provided that includes a flexible reflectarray and a deployment structure that includes an endless pantograph for deploying the flexible reflectarray from a folded, undeployed state towards a deployed state in which the flexible reflectarray is substantially planar. In a particular embodiment, the deployment structure includes a plurality of tapes that engage the endless pantograph and are used to establish a positional relationship between the deployed reflectarray and another component of the reflectarray antenna.

Method and circuits for balancing a first waveform used to drive an LED are disclosed herein. The first waveform has a first cycle with a first amplitude and a second cycle with a second amplitude. An embodiment of the method includes adjusting the first amplitude of the first cycle to match the second amplitude of the second cycle, the result being a second waveform. The LED is driven with the second waveform.

An antenna device includes a main reflector (11), a sub-reflector (12) including sub-reflector panels and having a reflecting surface facing a reflecting surface of the main reflector, and a primary emitter (13) to receive a radio wave reflected by the sub-reflector (12). Each of sub-reflector panel drive mechanisms coupled to the sub-reflector panels is finely driven. A phase calculator (171) calculates a relative phase of an element electric-field vector corresponding to each of the sub-reflector panels based on a change in received electric-field strength of the radio wave received by the primary emitter (13) during driving of the sub-reflector panel drive mechanisms, and determines positions of the sub-reflector panels at which a phase distribution on an aperture surface of the main reflector (11) is minimized.

Systems and methods for operating a reflector system. The methods comprise: structurally supporting a mesh reflector surface using a circumferential hoop that is coupled to a boom via cords; supporting the circumferential hoop using a series of cords extending at least from a base structure of the reflector system to the circumferential hoop and from the boom to the circumferential hoop (where the line of action of all the cords intersect an axis of symmetry of the circumferential hoop); and preventing rotation of the circumferential hoop using at least a first set of additional cords extending from the base structure of the reflector system to the circumferential hoop (where the additional cords of the first set both point to a first point that is horizontally offset from the axis of symmetry).

A reflector assembly including a truss engaging the first net at a first plurality of points along the first net perimeter edge and engaging a second net at a second plurality of points along the second net perimeter edge. A truss deployment assembly moves the truss between a truss stowed condition and a truss deployed condition, the truss in the truss deployed condition tensioning said first net or said second net to maintain a substantially flat or parabolic net outer surface. A reflector disposed at the first net sends or receives remote data.

An antenna device includes a main reflector (11), a sub-reflector (12) including sub-reflector panels and having a reflecting surface facing a reflecting surface of the main reflector, and a primary emitter (13) to receive a radio wave reflected by the sub-reflector (12). Each of sub-reflector panel drive mechanisms coupled to the sub-reflector panels is finely driven. A phase calculator (171) calculates a relative phase of an element electric-field vector corresponding to each of the sub-reflector panels based on a change in received electric-field strength of the radio wave received by the primary emitter (13) during driving of the sub-reflector panel drive mechanisms, and determines positions of the sub-reflector panels at which a phase distribution on an aperture surface of the main reflector (11) is minimized.

A deployable antenna reflector includes a surface cable network formed of a plurality of cables coupled to each other in a mesh pattern. The surface cable network includes at least one rigid rod member that reduces a maximum tensile force caused in the surface cable network.

A deployable structure comprises a first and second flexible tension members respectively defining a first and second contours of a ring. A first plurality of rigid compression members extends between the first and second contours. Only one end of each first plurality compression member is mounted on the first contour. A second plurality of rigid compression members extends between the first and second contours. Only one end of each second plurality compression member is mounted on the second contour. The first and second plurality of compression members are arranged with a repetitive crossing pattern around the ring. A first plurality of flexible tension members link each end of a compression member mounted on one of said contours to an end of another non-mounted compression member and a second plurality of flexible tension members link each end of a non-mounted compression member to an end of another non-mounted compression member.