The invention is directed to deployable reflectarray antenna structure. In one embodiment, the deployable reflectarray antenna structure includes a pair of flexible electrical elements, a feed antenna, and a deployment mechanism that employs a plurality of tapes to respectively transition the pair of flexible electrical elements from an undeployed state in which the elements are folded towards a deployed state in which the deployment mechanism and electrical elements cooperate to form a reflectarray and a subreflector of a reflectarray antenna structure. Further, the deployment mechanism also operates to position the reflectarray and subreflector relative to one another and to the feed antenna so as to realize a reflectarray antenna structure.

Antenna reflector has a reflector surface which forms a predetermined dish-like shape. The reflector surface includes an inner section which radially extends a first predetermined distance from a main dish axis. This inner section is immovably supported on a fixed backing structure. The reflector surface also includes an outer section comprising a deployable perimeter. A deployable support structure is comprised of a plurality of rib tips hingedly secured to the fixed backing structure, each having an elongated shape, and extending in a direction away from the main dish axis. The rib tips are configured to rotate on hinge members relative to the fixed backing structure from a first position in which the reflector antenna is made more compact for stowage, to a second position in which a diameter of the reflector surface is increased at a time of deployment.

A lightweight and portable space frame antenna includes a first plurality of reflector panels and a second plurality of reflector panels each being sized and configured such that each one of said first plurality of reflector panels can be nested inside a corresponding one of said second plurality of reflector panels, thereby defining a nested pairing; a plurality of helical cam latching devices for joining together each of the first and second pluralities of reflector panels; a reflector hub consisting of two pieces, wherein the first and second pluralities of reflector panels are mounted on the reflector hub to form a parabolic reflector; a foldable positioner for supporting the parabolic reflector; a telescoping actuator that is structured and disposed for providing elevation adjustment and may be selectively disconnected from the parabolic reflector; and an elevation-azimuth bar that is structured and disposed for providing azimuth adjustment through a bearing-free azimuth rotation.

A lightweight and portable space frame antenna includes a first plurality of reflector panels and a second plurality of reflector panels each being sized and configured such that each one of said first plurality of reflector panels can be nested inside a corresponding one of said second plurality of reflector panels, thereby defining a nested pairing; a plurality of helical cam latching devices for joining together each of the first and second pluralities of reflector panels; a reflector hub consisting of two pieces, wherein the first and second pluralities of reflector panels are mounted on the reflector hub to form a parabolic reflector; a foldable positioner for supporting the parabolic reflector; a telescoping actuator that is structured and disposed for providing elevation adjustment and may be selectively disconnected from the parabolic reflector; and an elevation-azimuth bar that is structured and disposed for providing azimuth adjustment through a bearing-free azimuth rotation.

A reflective antenna comprising a flexible reflective sheet extending between a central hub and a perimeter edge, and a reflective sheet support mechanism comprising one or more spiral ribs articulated to the reflector sheet at least at several locations along the perimeter edge of the reflective sheet; wherein at a collapsed, stowed position of the reflective antenna the one or more spiral ribs are coiled about a common center and the reflective sheet is folded at a compact configuration, and at an expanded, deployed position the one or more spiral ribs are radially expanded and the reflective sheet is stretched over the expanded one or more spiral ribs, imparting the reflective sheet a parabolic shape.

The invention is directed to deployable reflectarray antenna structure. In one embodiment, the deployable reflectarray antenna structure includes a pair of flexible electrical elements, a feed antenna, and a deployment mechanism that employs a plurality of tapes to respectively transition the pair of flexible electrical elements from an undeployed state in which the elements are folded towards a deployed state in which the deployment mechanism and electrical elements cooperate to form a reflectarray and a subreflector of a reflectarray antenna structure. Further, the deployment mechanism also operates to position the reflectarray and subreflector relative to one another and to the feed antenna so as to realize a reflectarray antenna structure.

The invention is directed to deployable reflectarray antenna structure. In one embodiment, the deployable reflectarray antenna structure includes a pair of flexible electrical elements, a feed antenna, and a deployment mechanism that employs a plurality of tapes to respectively transition the pair of flexible electrical elements from an undeployed state in which the elements are folded towards a deployed state in which the deployment mechanism and electrical elements cooperate to form a reflectarray and a subreflector of a reflectarray antenna structure. Further, the deployment mechanism also operates to position the reflectarray and subreflector relative to one another and to the feed antenna so as to realize a reflectarray antenna structure.

A reflector antenna, preferably a fixed mesh reflector antenna, and a process for manufacturing the reflector antenna, is disclosed that includes forming a support structure, placing a reflector surface on a mold, attaching the support structure to the reflector surface, measuring the geometry of the reflector surface, adjusting the surface geometry of the reflector if appropriate to obtain improved accuracy for the reflector surface, and fixedly connecting the support structure and the reflector surface. In an embodiment, the antenna reflector system includes a mesh reflector surface, a plurality of spline support elements, a plurality of splines connected to the reflector surface, and a plurality of adjustable spline supports attachable to the spline support elements and the splines, wherein the adjustable spline supports are adjustably repositionable with respect to the spline support elements, and also fixedly connectable to the spline support elements.

A foldable and expandable antenna reflector, and method of making and using the same are disclosed. The antenna reflector includes a reflector and a support structure where the support structure includes a hub assembly; a hub tower extending from the hub assembly; a plurality of drive strut assemblies that are connected to the hub assembly; and a plurality of rib assemblies connected to the hub tower and to the plurality of drive strut assemblies. Each rib assembly has a multi-piece rib hinge assembly so that each drive strut assembly is pivotably connected to one of the rib hinge assemblies and applies a force to expand the rib assembly in response to the hub assembly applying a force to at least one of the drive strut assemblies to thereby fold or expand the antenna reflector from a first folded configuration to a second expanded configuration.

This invention concerns a multibeam antenna with adjustable pointing, comprising a single reflection arrangement and a plurality of radiating sources arranged opposite the reflection arrangement and suited to emit and/or receive radiofrequency (RF) signals, the reflection arrangement defining a centre, a focal plane, and a focal point located on the focal plane.

The antenna is characterised in that at least one of the radiating sources (mobile source) is movable substantially independently of the or each other radiating source on a scanning surface to adjust the pointing of the antenna, wherein the scanning surface coincides with the focal plane or is tangential to it at the focal point.