Winding ribbed electrostatically formed film reflector antenna

Abstract

The application discloses a winding rib type electrostatic forming film reflecting surface antenna device, which comprises a center wheel cylinder, the center wheel cylinder is a prism, and a plurality of elastic winding ribs are fixedly connected to the side surface of the center wheel cylinder; a flexible cable is arranged between two adjacent elastic winding ribs; a base cable net electrode is laid above the elastic winding rib and the flexible cable; the base cable net electrode is composed of triangular meshes; a film reflecting surface is arranged above the base cable net electrode; the film reflecting surface is in a parabolic shape; the base cable net electrode and the film reflecting surface are connected with an electrostatic power supply through a cable; and the film reflecting surface is connected with the center wheel cylinder. The application adopts an elastic winding rib type deployable structure as a support structure of the whole antenna system. The winding rib type structure can be folded and unfolded, and only occupies a small space when being folded, and the folding volume is significantly reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of satellite antenna technology, specifically relating to a wound rib electrostatically formed thin-film reflector antenna in the field of satellite antennas. Background Technology

[0002] With the continuous development of aerospace technology, the requirements for the performance of spaceborne antennas are constantly increasing. For example, antennas must be lightweight for easy transport, and their reflective surfaces must have high precision to ensure high observation accuracy and powerful signal transmission and reception capabilities. Currently, relatively mature spaceborne deployable reflective surface antennas, such as radial rib, frame-type, and perimeter truss mesh-type deployable reflective surface antennas, struggle to simultaneously meet the requirements of high storage capacity and high precision. Therefore, various new concept antennas, represented by electrostatically formed thin-film reflective surface antennas, have emerged. Electrostatically formed thin-film reflective surface antennas are active reflective surfaces that generate an electrostatic field between a high-voltage electrode and a grounded metal-plated thin film. The shape of the thin-film reflective surface is controlled by electrostatic force. They have significant advantages in terms of surface density, deployment performance, and shape retention under on-orbit thermal conditions, thus attracting high attention and extensive research from numerous international aerospace research institutions.

[0003] However, due to limitations in the carrying capacity of transport vehicles, it is impossible to transport large-scale space antennas in their entirety. Therefore, deployable antennas with high packing ratios have emerged as a viable option. These include radial rib deployable antennas, wound rib deployable antennas, ring column deployable antennas, and peripheral truss deployable antennas. These deployable antennas offer high packing ratios, high deployment reliability, and light weight. The accuracy of the reflector surface can be adjusted by regulating the length of the cables. They are currently the most actively researched type of space antenna. However, as the antenna aperture increases, the number of cables increases exponentially, posing a significant challenge to adjusting the surface accuracy.

[0004] Therefore, in the research of spaceborne deployable antennas, proposing a wound rib electrostatically formed thin-film reflector antenna with high packing ratio and stable structure is of great practical significance. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and propose a wound rib electrostatically formed thin film reflector antenna, which solves the problems of large storage volume and design of support structure in current electrostatically formed thin film antennas.

[0006] The technical solution adopted in this invention is a wound-rib type electrostatically formed thin-film reflector antenna, including a central cylinder, which is a prism. Several elastic wound ribs are fixedly connected to the side of the central cylinder. A flexible cable is arranged between two adjacent elastic wound ribs. A basic cable mesh electrode is laid above the flexible cable and the elastic wound ribs. The basic cable mesh electrode is composed of a triangular mesh. A thin-film reflector is arranged above the basic cable mesh electrode. The thin-film reflector is parabolic in shape. The basic cable mesh electrode and the thin-film reflector are connected to an electrostatic power supply through a cable. The thin-film reflector is connected to the central cylinder.

[0007] The present invention is further characterized in that: the upper surface of the central wheel cylinder is a parabolic surface and has the same focal diameter ratio as the thin film reflective surface (5).

[0008] The number of sides of the central wheel cylinder corresponds to the number of elastic winding ribs, and the roots of the elastic winding ribs are fixed to the sides of the central wheel cylinder by screws.

[0009] The cross-section of the elastic winding rib is straight or has a certain curvature to increase bending stiffness. A thin strip plate with a small thickness can be selected. The strip plate of the elastic winding rib is parabolic in longitudinal direction. Several small holes are opened on the edge of the elastic winding rib, and the flexible cable and the base cable net electrode are connected through the small holes of the elastic winding rib.

[0010] The materials for the elastic winding ribs can be stainless steel, carbon fiber, or beryllium bronze.

[0011] The flexible cable includes a back cable, which is fixed to the small holes at the bottom edge of two adjacent elastic winding ribs. The back cable is connected to a vertical cable, which is connected to the base cable net electrode through the vertical cable. The small holes at the top edge of two adjacent elastic winding ribs are connected to electrode cables, and the base cable net electrode is connected to the elastic winding rib through the electrode cables.

[0012] The basic cable mesh electrode includes cables and thin film electrodes. The cables are woven into a triangular mesh, and the thin film electrodes are triangles corresponding to the triangular mesh woven by the cables. The thin film electrodes and the triangular mesh woven by the cables are matched and connected to form the basic cable mesh electrode, which is connected to the elastic winding rib.

[0013] The thin-film reflective surface includes a thin film and a thin-film skirt cable. The thin-film reflective surface is provided with a thin-film skirt cable around its periphery and inner ring. The periphery of the thin-film reflective surface is connected to the end support column of the elastic winding rib through the thin-film skirt cable. The thin-film skirt cable is fixed through the reserved hole of the end support column of the elastic winding rib. The inner ring of the thin-film reflective surface is connected to the upper surface of the central wheel cylinder through the thin-film skirt cable.

[0014] The materials for the film can be selected from aluminized polyimide film, Mylar film, and Kapton film.

[0015] The materials for the membrane skirt cable can be aramid rope, carbon fiber rope, or polyimide fiber rope.

[0016] The beneficial effects of this invention are:

[0017] 1. The present invention adopts an elastically wound rib-type deployable structure as the support structure of the entire antenna system. This wound rib-type structure can be folded up and unfolded. When folded up, it occupies only a small space, significantly reducing the folded volume and lowering the transmission cost.

[0018] 2. The present invention adopts an elastically wound rib type deployable structure to support the thin film reflective surface and the basic cable mesh electrode. The basic cable mesh electrode can be installed at the reserved holes on the edges of two adjacent elastically wound ribs, which has the advantage of simple structure and reduces the design complexity of the antenna system. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the workpiece structure of the wound rib electrostatic forming thin film reflector antenna of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the wound rib structure of the wound rib electrostatic forming thin film reflector antenna of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the flexible cable structure of the wound rib electrostatically formed thin film reflector antenna of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the basic cable-net electrode of the wound rib electrostatic forming thin film reflector antenna of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the thin film reflector surface of the wound rib electrostatically formed thin film reflector surface antenna of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the antenna structure of the wound rib electrostatic forming thin film reflector antenna of the present invention.

[0025] In the diagram, 1. Central wheel cylinder; 2. Elastic winding rib; 3. Flexible cable; 4. Basic cable net electrode; 5. Thin film reflective surface; 6. Electrostatic power supply;

[0026] 31. Backward cable, 32. Vertical cable, 33. Electrode cable, 41. Cable, 42. Thin film electrode, 51. Thin film, 52. Thin film skirt cable. Detailed Implementation

[0027] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. This embodiment is implemented based on the technical solution of the present invention, and provides detailed implementation methods and specific operation processes, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiment.

[0028] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 As shown, the present invention includes a central wheel cylinder 1, elastic winding ribs 2, flexible cables 3, a base cable mesh electrode 4, a thin film reflective surface 5, and an electrostatic power supply 6. The multiple elastic winding ribs 2 are installed around the outside of the central wheel cylinder 1; the flexible cables 3 are arranged alternately between adjacent elastic winding ribs; the base cable mesh electrode 4 is laid on top of the flexible cables 3; the thin film reflective surface 5 is arranged on top of the base cable mesh electrode 4; the electrostatic power supply 6 provides a high potential to the base cable mesh electrode 4 through a cable, and provides a ground potential to the thin film reflective surface 5, so that the thin film reflective surface 5 forms a parabolic shape.

[0029] like Figure 2 As shown, the central wheel cylinder 1 has an octagonal prism structure, and its upper surface is a parabola, which is consistent with the focal diameter ratio of the thin film reflector 5. Each side is provided with 4 threaded holes. The elastic winding rib 2 is fixed to the side of the central wheel cylinder 1 by screws, and when the elastic winding rib 2 is unfolded, it forms the support frame of the antenna.

[0030] like Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 4 As shown, the cross-section of the elastic winding rib 2 is straight or has a certain curvature to increase bending stiffness. A thin strip plate with a small thickness can be selected. Furthermore, the longitudinal direction of the elastic winding rib 2 is parabolic, and the specific parabolic equation is related to the focal diameter ratio of the reflecting surface. Several small holes are provided on the edge of the elastic winding rib 2 to facilitate subsequent connection with the flexible cable 3 and the base cable mesh electrode 4. Furthermore, the material of the elastic winding rib 2 can be stainless steel, carbon fiber, or other materials with high strength, high elasticity, and resistance to high and low temperatures.

[0031] like Figure 3 As shown, the flexible cable 3 includes a back cable 31, a vertical cable 32, and an electrode cable 33. The back cable 31 is fixed in the pre-drilled holes at the lower edges of two adjacent elastic winding ribs 2. The back cable 31 is connected to the base cable net electrode 4 through the vertical cable 32. The base cable net electrode 4 is connected to the elastic winding rib 2 through the electrode cable 33. The electrode cable 33 is fixed in the pre-drilled holes at the upper edges of two adjacent elastic winding ribs 2.

[0032] like Figure 4 As shown, the basic cable mesh electrode 4 includes a cable 41 and a thin film electrode 42. The cable 41 is woven into a triangular mesh. The thin film electrode 42 is laid out into a corresponding triangular mesh, cut, and then glued onto several triangles formed by the cable to form the basic cable mesh electrode 4.

[0033] like Figure 5As shown, the thin-film reflective surface 5 includes a thin film 51 and a thin-film skirt cable 52. The thin-film reflective surface 5 is made of a thin-film material, such as aluminized polyimide film, Mylar film, Kapton film, etc. Thin-film skirt cables 52 are provided around the periphery and inner ring of the thin-film reflective surface 5. The periphery of the thin-film reflective surface 5 is connected to the end support column of the elastic winding rib 2 via the thin-film skirt cables 52. Specifically, the thin-film skirt cables 52 are fixed through pre-drilled holes in the end support column of the elastic winding rib 2. The inner ring of the thin-film reflective surface 5 is connected to the upper surface of the central wheel cylinder 1 via the thin-film skirt cables 52.

[0034] like Figure 6 As shown in the schematic diagram of the antenna structure of the present invention, in the initial state, the elastic winding rib 2 is wrapped around the central wheel cylinder 1 and fixed by rope. After the transmitter enters the rail, the rope is automatically untied, and the elastic winding rib 2 unfolds to form the support frame of the thin film reflector 5.

[0035] The parts not described in detail in this embodiment are common and well-known methods in the industry, and will not be described in detail here. The above examples are merely illustrative of the present invention and do not constitute a limitation on the scope of protection of the present invention. All designs that are the same as or similar to the present invention are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. An electrostatically formed thin-film reflector antenna based on a deployable structure with wound ribs, comprising a central wheel cylinder (1), the central wheel cylinder (1) being a prism, several elastic wound ribs (2) being fixedly connected to the side of the central wheel cylinder (1), a flexible cable (3) being arranged between two adjacent elastic wound ribs (2), a basic cable mesh electrode (4) being laid above the flexible cable (3) and the elastic wound ribs (2), the basic cable mesh electrode (4) being composed of a triangular mesh, a thin-film reflector (5) being arranged above the basic cable mesh electrode (4), the thin-film reflector (5) being parabolic in shape, the basic cable mesh electrode (4) and the thin-film reflector (5) being connected to an electrostatic power supply (6) via a cable, the thin-film reflector (5) being connected to the central wheel cylinder (1); several small holes are opened on the edges of the elastic wound ribs (2), and the flexible cable (3) and the basic cable mesh electrode (4) are connected through the small holes of the elastic wound ribs (2); The flexible cable (3) includes a back cable (31), which is fixed to the bottom edge holes of two adjacent elastic winding ribs (2). The back cable (31) is connected to a vertical cable (32). The back cable (31) is connected to the base cable net electrode (4) through the vertical cable (32). The top edge holes of the two adjacent elastic winding ribs (2) are connected to an electrode cable (33). The base cable net electrode (4) is connected to the elastic winding rib (2) through the electrode cable (33). The base cable net electrode (4) includes a cable (41) and a thin film electrode (42). The cable (41) is woven into a triangular mesh. The thin film electrode (42) is a triangle corresponding to the triangular mesh woven by the cable (41). The thin film electrode (42) and the triangular mesh woven by the cable (41) are matched and connected to form the base cable net electrode (4). The base cable net electrode (4) is connected to the elastic winding rib (2).

2. The electrostatically formed thin-film reflector antenna based on a wound rib deployable structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The upper surface of the central wheel cylinder (1) is a parabolic surface and has the same focal diameter ratio as the thin film reflective surface (5).

3. The electrostatically formed thin-film reflector antenna based on a wound rib deployable structure according to claim 2, characterized in that: The number of sides of the central wheel cylinder (1) corresponds to the number of elastic winding ribs (2), and the roots of the elastic winding ribs (2) are fixed to the sides of the central wheel cylinder (1) by screws.

4. The electrostatically formed thin-film reflector antenna based on a wound rib deployable structure according to claim 3, characterized in that: The cross-section of the elastic winding rib (2) is straight or has a certain curvature to increase the bending stiffness. A thin strip plate with a small thickness is selected. The strip plate of the elastic winding rib (2) is parabolic in the longitudinal direction.

5. The electrostatically formed thin-film reflector antenna based on a wound rib deployable structure according to claim 4, characterized in that: The material of the elastic winding rib (2) can be stainless steel, carbon fiber or beryllium bronze.

6. The electrostatically formed thin-film reflector antenna based on a wound rib deployable structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The thin film reflective surface (5) includes a thin film (51) and a thin film skirt cable (52). The thin film reflective surface (5) is provided with a thin film skirt cable (52) around its periphery and inner ring. The periphery of the thin film reflective surface (5) is connected to the end support column of the elastic winding rib (2) through the thin film skirt cable (52). The thin film skirt cable (52) is fixed through the reserved hole of the end support column of the elastic winding rib (2). The inner ring of the thin film reflective surface (5) is connected to the upper surface of the central wheel cylinder (1) through the thin film skirt cable (52).

7. The electrostatically formed thin-film reflector antenna based on a wound rib deployable structure according to claim 6, characterized in that: The material of the film (51) can be an aluminized polyimide film, a Mylar film, or a Kapton film.

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