DEPLOYABLE PHASED ARRAY ANTENNA FOR SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS

摘要

ABSTRACT "A PHASED ARRAY ANTENNA, DEPLOYABLE FROM A RETRACTED CONDITION TO A DEPLOYED CONDITION" A phased array antenna, deployable from a retracted condition to a deployed condition, comprising a base member (12) having, at least in part, a polygonal cross-sectional form defined by a plurality of edge regions (12.1 to 12.6), and a plurality of antenna panels (14), each antemia panel being connected, by a respective hinge means (16.1 to 16.6), to a respective one of said edge regions of said base member, such that, in said retracted condition, two or more of the antenna panels are stacked one on top of the other on the base member, and the hinge means being such that the antenna panels are rotatable sequentially one after the other, aroimd a single pivot point for each respective hinge means, from the stack to a position in which each panel is adjacent a respective base edge region to provide said deployed condition wherein the phased array antenna provides an extended area. Fig2G