A satellite-borne deployable AIS antenna

Abstract

The present invention provides a satellite-borne deployable AIS antenna, including a cover plate and a shell, wherein the cover plate and the shell are connected to form a whole; the tape antenna is wound and folded between the antenna folding plate and the unfolding rod, and the tape antenna can contact the contact of a micro switch; the end of the tape antenna is connected to the shell through a radio frequency board; one end of the unfolding rod is installed to the shell through a torsion spring and a rotating shaft, and the other end is connected to a tension clamping assembly, and the unfolding rod is connected to the end of the tape antenna and the radio frequency board at the same time through bolts; a notch is provided on one side of the shell to allow the unfolding rod to rotate to the outside of the shell, and the radio frequency socket plug-in and the low-frequency plug-in are connected to the metal shell through screws; the micro switch is installed on the control board to realize the switching transmission of the compression and release signals. In the satellite installation and launch stage, the AIS antenna of the present invention is in a folded state to minimize the satellite envelope size to the greatest extent, and after the satellite-rocket separation in the outer sky, the AIS antenna is controlled to unfold to obtain a large azimuth size to meet the performance requirements.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the field of radio devices, and in particular relates to a satellite-borne deployable AIS antenna. Background Art

[0002] The Automatic Identification System (AIS) is a new type of ship collision avoidance system, which is used for automatic response and identification between ships and shores. Shore-borne AIS is an AIS signal monitoring device installed on the coast of the ocean, which is used to capture the AIS signals of ships in coastal waters in real time. However, due to the limitation of propagation distance, shore-borne AIS cannot cover the status information of global ocean ships. The satellite-borne AIS system is based on the traditional shore-borne AIS, which receives the signals sent by the ship-borne AIS station through low-orbit small satellites and forwards them to the ground station for analysis and processing. Satellite-borne AIS has attracted attention because it can receive AIS signals from ships in a wide range or even in global waters.

[0003] As an important component of satellite-borne AIS, the AIS antenna mainly receives AIS signals transmitted by ships and transmits the signals to the AIS receiver for processing. Traditional AIS antennas cannot be mounted on micro-satellite platforms due to their large size, and AIS antennas often require larger azimuth dimensions due to their low operating frequency, which restricts the development of satellite-borne AIS. Summary of the invention

[0004] In view of this, the present invention aims to propose a satellite-borne deployable AIS antenna. During the satellite installation and launch phase, the AIS antenna is in a folded state to minimize the satellite envelope size. After the satellite and rocket are separated in the outer sky, the AIS antenna is controlled to be deployed to obtain a sufficiently large azimuth size to meet performance requirements.

[0005] To achieve the above object, the technical solution of the present invention is achieved as follows:

[0006] A satellite-borne deployable AIS antenna comprises a cover plate and a shell, wherein the cover plate and the shell are connected to form a whole;

[0007] A control panel is provided in the housing, and a radio frequency plug-in, a low frequency plug-in, a micro switch, a tape antenna, an antenna retracting plate, a tension clamping assembly, a radio frequency board, a torsion spring and an unfolding rod are provided on the control panel;

[0008] The tape measure antenna is wound and folded between the antenna folding plate and the unfolding rod, and the tape measure antenna can contact with the contact point of the micro switch;

[0009] The end of the tape measure antenna is connected to the housing through the radio frequency board; one end of the deployment rod is installed on the housing through a torsion spring and a rotating shaft, and the other end is connected to the tension clamping assembly. The middle part of the deployment rod is connected to the end of the tape measure antenna and the radio frequency board at the same time through bolts; the tension clamping assembly realizes the locking and release of the deployment rod;

[0010] A notch is provided on one side of the shell, and the notch allows the deployment rod to rotate to the outside of the shell.

[0011] The RF socket plug-in and the low-frequency plug-in are connected to the metal shell by screws, serving as the RF and low-frequency interfaces respectively;

[0012] The micro switch is installed on the control panel to realize the switching transmission of the clamping and releasing signals.

[0013] Further, the tension and compression assembly includes a tension rope, a compression member, a heating resistor and a tension spring;

[0014] One end of the tension rope is connected to the housing through a tension spring, and the other end passes through the pressing member, the heating resistor, and the deployment rod to be fixed to the housing, thereby locking the deployment rod;

[0015] In the initial state, the tension rope contracts the deployment rod in the housing under the action of the tension spring.

[0016] Furthermore, the clamping member is sawtooth-shaped and has two slots, each of which has a heating resistor. The tension rope passes around the clamping member and the heating resistor in sequence, so that the tension rope is in full contact with the heating resistor.

[0017] Furthermore, the low-frequency plug-in is welded to the control board through a low-frequency cable to realize low-frequency signal transmission.

[0018] Furthermore, the radio frequency board is a flexible PCB, which can be deformed under the action of external force;

[0019] One end of the RF board is connected to the housing, and the end of the RF board is also connected to the welding wire end of the RF plug-in through a RF line to achieve signal transmission;

[0020] The other end of the radio frequency board is electrically connected to the end of the tape measure antenna.

[0021] Furthermore, the cover plate and the shell are both made of aluminum alloy; the antenna folding plate and the pressing piece are made of polytetrafluoroethylene, and the deployment rod is made of polyimide.

[0022] Compared with the prior art, the satellite-borne deployable AIS antenna described in the present invention has the following advantages:

[0023] (1) The present invention provides a satellite-borne deployable AIS antenna. During the satellite installation and launch phase, the AIS antenna is in a retracted state to minimize the satellite envelope size. After the satellite and rocket are separated in the outer sky, the AIS antenna is controlled to be deployed to obtain a sufficiently large azimuth size to meet performance requirements.

[0024] (2) The satellite-borne deployable AIS antenna of the present invention is small in size and light in weight, which can reduce production costs and is suitable for mass production.

[0025] (3) The present invention provides a satellite-borne deployable AIS antenna, which controls its size to 85 mm × 40 mm × 10 mm through structural design; compared with the conventional 640 mm long Yagi antenna, the present antenna has a greatly reduced volume and space occupancy. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] The accompanying drawings constituting a part of the present invention are used to provide a further understanding of the present invention. The exemplary embodiments of the present invention and their descriptions are used to explain the present invention and do not constitute an improper limitation of the present invention. In the accompanying drawings:

[0027] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a satellite-borne deployable AIS antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention Figure 1 ;

[0028] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a satellite-borne deployable AIS antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention Figure 2 ;

[0029] Figure 3 An exploded diagram of a satellite-borne deployable AIS antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 4 It is a front view of a satellite-borne deployable AIS antenna housing according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of opening a deployment rod of a satellite-borne deployable AIS antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] Description of reference numerals:

[0033] 1. Cover plate; 2. Shell; 3. Control board; 4. RF plug-in; 5. Low frequency plug-in; 6. Micro switch; 7. Antenna retraction plate; 8. Tape antenna; 9. Tension clamping assembly; 91. Tension rope; 92. Clamping piece; 93. Heating resistor; 94. Tension spring; 10. RF board; 11. Torsion spring; 12. Deployment rod; 13. Rotating shaft. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] It should be noted that, in the absence of conflict, the embodiments of the present invention and the features in the embodiments may be combined with each other.

[0035] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside" and the like indicate positions or positional relationships based on the positions or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as limiting the present invention. In addition, the terms "first", "second", and the like are only used for descriptive purposes, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Thus, features defined as "first", "second", and the like may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In the description of the present invention, unless otherwise specified, "multiple" means two or more.

[0036] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "installed", "connected", and "connected" should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection, or it can be indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, or it can be the internal communication of two components. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood by specific circumstances.

[0037] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and in conjunction with embodiments.

[0038] A satellite-borne deployable AIS antenna, such as Figure 1-Figure 5 As shown, it includes a cover plate 1 and a shell 2, wherein the cover plate 1 and the shell 2 are connected to form a whole;

[0039] The housing 2 is provided with a control panel 3, on which a radio frequency plug-in 4, a low frequency plug-in 5, a micro switch 6, a tape antenna 8, an antenna retracting plate 7, a tension clamping assembly 9, a radio frequency board 10, a torsion spring 11 and an unfolding rod 12 are provided;

[0040] The tape measure antenna 8 is wound and folded between the antenna folding plate 7 and the unfolding rod 12. The antenna folding plate 7 and the unfolding rod 12 limit the tape measure antenna 8, and the tape measure antenna 8 can contact the contact of the micro switch 6.

[0041] The end of the tape antenna 8 is connected to the housing 2 through the radio frequency board 10; one end of the unfolding rod 12 is installed on the housing 2 through the torsion spring 11 and the rotating shaft 13, and the other end is connected to the tension clamping component 9, and the middle part of the unfolding rod 12 is connected to the end of the tape antenna 8 and the radio frequency board 10 at the same time through bolts; the tension clamping component 9 realizes the locking and release of the unfolding rod 12;

[0042] A notch is provided on one side of the housing 2, and the notch allows the deployment rod 12 to rotate to the outside of the housing 2.

[0043] The RF socket plug-in and the low-frequency plug-in 5 are connected to the metal shell 2 by screws, respectively serving as the RF and low-frequency interfaces; the micro switch 6 is installed on the control board 3 to realize the switching transmission of the compression and release signals.

[0044] Preferably, the tension clamping assembly 9 includes a tension rope 91, a clamping piece 92, a heating resistor 93 and a tension spring 94; one end of the tension rope 91 is connected to the shell 2 through the tension spring 94, and the other end passes through the clamping piece 92 and the heating resistor 93 in sequence, and passes through the unfolding rod 12 to be fixed to the shell 2, thereby locking the unfolding rod 12; in the initial state, the tension rope 91 retracts the unfolding rod 12 in the shell 2 under the action of the tension spring 94, and the unfolding rod 12 is opened, thereby completing the release of the tape measure antenna 8.

[0045] Preferably, the clamping piece 92 is serrated and has two slots, with a heating resistor 93 respectively disposed in the two slots. The tension rope 91 passes around the clamping piece 92 and the heating resistor 93 in sequence, so that the tension rope 91 is in full contact with the heating resistor 93. The tension rope 91 passes over the heating resistor 93 and is in full contact with the heating resistor 93, which does not affect the movement of the tension rope 91 and can also ensure the success rate of fusing.

[0046] Preferably, the low-frequency plug-in 5 is welded to the control board 3 via a low-frequency cable to realize low-frequency signal transmission.

[0047] Preferably, the radio frequency board 10 is a flexible PCB, which can be deformed under the action of external force;

[0048] One end of the RF board 10 is connected to the shell 2, and the end of the RF board 10 is also connected to the welding wire end of the RF plug-in 4 through a RF line to achieve signal transmission; the other end of the RF board 10 is electrically connected to the end of the tape antenna 8.

[0049] As another embodiment of the radio frequency board 10 , a common PCB can also be used, and then connected to the welding wire end of the radio frequency plug-in 4 through a flexible cable.

[0050] Preferably, the cover plate 1 and the shell 2 are made of aluminum alloy to meet the requirements of grounding, shielding and lightweight; the antenna folding plate 7 and the clamping piece 92 are made of polytetrafluoroethylene to meet the requirements of insulation and high temperature resistance and low cost; the deployment rod 12 is made of polyimide to meet the requirements of heat insulation and strength.

[0051] Working principle: after launching into space and completing the separation of the rocket and the satellite, the deployment signal is transmitted to the control board 3 through the low-frequency plug-in 5. The control board 3 controls the heating resistor 93 to heat up through the current. When the temperature reaches a certain level, the tension rope 91 is melted. Figure 5 The unfolding rod 12 is unfolded into place under the drive of the torsion spring 11, and the tape antenna 8 is unfolded along with the unfolding rod 12. At the same time, the contact of the micro switch 6 pops open and releases the unfolding signal to the control board 3. After the unfolding, the tape antenna 8 receives the signal, transmits it to the RF board 10, and then transmits it to the on-board equipment through the RF socket for processing.

[0052] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A satellite-borne deployable AIS antenna, characterized in that: The size is 85mm×40mm×10mm; it includes a cover plate and a shell, and the cover plate and the shell are connected to form a whole; A control panel is provided in the housing, and a radio frequency plug-in, a low frequency plug-in, a micro switch, a tape antenna, an antenna retracting plate, a tension clamping assembly, a radio frequency board, a torsion spring and an unfolding rod are provided on the control panel; The tape measure antenna is wound and folded between the antenna folding plate and the unfolding rod, and the tape measure antenna can contact with the contact point of the micro switch; The end of the tape measure antenna is connected to the housing through the radio frequency board; one end of the deployment rod is installed on the housing through a torsion spring and a rotating shaft, and the other end is connected to the tension clamping assembly. The middle part of the deployment rod is connected to the end of the tape measure antenna and the radio frequency board at the same time through bolts; the tension clamping assembly realizes the locking and release of the deployment rod; A notch is provided on one side of the shell, and the notch allows the deployment rod to rotate to the outside of the shell. The RF socket plug-in and the low-frequency plug-in are connected to the metal shell by screws, serving as the RF and low-frequency interfaces respectively; The micro switch is installed on the control panel to realize the switching transmission of the pressing and releasing signals; The tension and compression assembly comprises a tension rope, a compression member, a heating resistor and a tension spring; One end of the tension rope is connected to the housing through a tension spring, and the other end passes through the pressing member, the heating resistor, and the deployment rod to be fixed to the housing, thereby locking the deployment rod; In the initial state, the tension rope retracts the deployment rod into the housing under the action of the tension spring; The clamping piece is sawtooth-shaped and provided with two slots, each of which is provided with a heating resistor. The tension rope passes around the clamping piece and the heating resistor in sequence, so that the tension rope is in full contact with the heating resistor.

2. The satellite-borne deployable AIS antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that: The low-frequency plug-in is welded to the control board through a low-frequency cable to realize low-frequency signal transmission.

3. The satellite-borne deployable AIS antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that: The radio frequency board is a flexible PCB that can be deformed under the action of external force; One end of the RF board is connected to the housing, and the end of the RF board is also connected to the welding wire end of the RF plug-in through a RF line to achieve signal transmission; The other end of the radio frequency board is electrically connected to the end of the tape measure antenna.

4. The satellite-borne deployable AIS antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cover plate and the shell are both made of aluminum alloy; the antenna folding plate and the pressing piece are made of polytetrafluoroethylene, and the unfolding rod is made of polyimide.

Images