Invention Grant
- Patent Title: Inflatable reflector antenna and related methods
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Application No.: US16355052Application Date: 2019-03-15
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Publication No.: US10916859B2Publication Date: 2021-02-09
- Inventor: Alan J. Fenn , Jesse Mills , Frank Robey , James W. Finnell, Jr. , Bakari Hassan , Sean Crowley
- Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Applicant Address: US MA Cambridge
- Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Current Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Current Assignee Address: US MA Cambridge
- Agency: Nutter McClennen & Fish LLP
- Main IPC: H01Q15/16
- IPC: H01Q15/16 ; H01Q1/28 ; H01Q1/42

Abstract:
An inflatable antenna is disclosed herein that is capable of being deployed in space and other suitable environments and configured to improve RF performance and mechanical stability. Related methods for manufacturing and deploying such inflatable antennas are also described. The inflatable antenna can be configured to form a Gregorian dual reflector confocal parabolic antenna system when inflated. Various antenna structures, mechanisms, and manufacturing and deployment techniques are also disclosed herein that improve the precision and accuracy of RF reflective surfaces of the primary and secondary reflectors, confocal alignment of the primary and secondary reflectors, mechanical stability, and/or to improve the range of RF operation. The inflatable antenna can be manufactured and deployed with less complexity and more precision than existing inflatable antennas.
Public/Granted literature
- US20200295469A1 INFLATABLE REFLECTOR ANTENNA AND RELATED METHODS Public/Granted day:2020-09-17
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