Foldable dielectric standoff

Abstract

A compressible dielectric standoff configured to mount at least one antenna to a ground plane of an antenna assembly including a ground plane end configured to contact the ground plane and at least one antenna end configured to contact the at least one antenna, the compressible dielectric standoff being movable between a compressed state in which the ground plane end is spaced a first distance from the at least one antenna end and an expanded state in which the ground plane end is spaced a second distance from the at least one antenna end, the first distance being less than the second distance.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to antennas, and more specifically to antennas with foldable elements.

Background Art

[0002] Antennas typically occupy a significant weight and volume when packaged for transport. For example, even in the case of a patch antenna that is a thin flat antenna consisting of a flat sheet or "patch" attached to a large ground plane, the weight and volume allocation for accommodating such an antenna can be large. In the design of patch antennas, for example in space applications, the patch is fixed in place on the ground plane with a rigid dielectric substrate layer sandwiched therebetween. To accommodate more patches to improve the performance of the antenna, it is necessary to increase the size of the ground plane and the rigid dielectric substrate layer, which will occupy more weight and volume in the launch vehicle or transport vehicle used to transport the antenna. For example, patch antennas used in broadband low-frequency applications are usually very large and heavy. However, in launch vehicles for applying patch antennas in space, the weight and volume allocation are limited. Therefore, to save the weight and volume of the launch vehicle, it is necessary to either sacrifice the performance of the patch antenna and reduce the size of the ground plane and the number of patches fixed to the ground plane, or launch the patch antenna with a larger launch vehicle, which requires additional operation and deployment costs and considerations.

Summary of the Invention

[0003] The improved antenna is provided with a foldable dielectric standoff, which enables the antenna to be attached to the ground plane. Therefore, during the transportation or launch of the space antenna, the antenna can be part of the antenna array that is packed more densely in a non-operating state in the transportation vehicle. This reduces the weight and volume allocation of the antenna array so that the antenna array can be mounted on the transportation vehicle, and / or enables more antenna arrays to be mounted inside the transportation vehicle, thus supporting a higher-performance system.

[0004] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a compressible dielectric standoff configured to attach at least one antenna to the ground plane of an antenna assembly includes a ground plane end configured to contact the ground plane and at least one antenna end configured to contact at least one antenna. The compressible dielectric standoff is movable between a compressed state in which the ground plane end is separated from the at least one antenna end by a first distance and an expanded state in which the ground plane end is separated from the at least one antenna end by a second distance, and the first distance is smaller than the second distance.

[0005] According to an embodiment of any paragraph(s) of the present disclosure, the compressible dielectric standoff further includes an elastic frame extending between the ground plane end and the at least one antenna end.

[0006] According to another embodiment of any paragraph(s) of the present disclosure, the elastic frame includes at least one elastic arm extending between the ground plane end and the at least one antenna end.

[0007] According to another embodiment of any paragraph(s) of the present disclosure, the at least one elastic arm includes at least one elastic joint configured such that the at least one elastic arm bends.

[0008] According to another embodiment of any paragraph(s) of the present disclosure, at least one elastic arm includes two or more maximum compression stops configured to abut against each other when the compressible dielectric standoff is in a compressed state and prevent the ground plane end and the at least one antenna end from being separated by less than a first distance.

[0009] According to another embodiment of any paragraph(s) of the present disclosure, at least one elastic arm has a serpentine shape.

[0010] According to another embodiment of any paragraph(s) of the present disclosure, the compressible dielectric standoff further includes a maximum extension lock configured to prevent the ground plane end and the at least one antenna end from being separated by more than a second distance.

[0011] According to another embodiment of any paragraph(s) of the present disclosure, the maximum extension lock includes a flexible thread attached between and extending between the ground plane end and the at least one antenna end. The length of the flexible thread between the ground plane end and the at least one antenna end is the second distance.

[0012] According to another embodiment of any paragraph(s) of the present disclosure, the extension lock includes a semi-rigid arm extending between the ground plane end and the at least one antenna end. The length of the semi-rigid arm between the ground plane end and the at least one antenna end is the second distance.

[0013] According to another embodiment of any paragraph(s) of the present disclosure, the semi-rigid arm is configured to bend under a compressive force sufficient to move the compressible dielectric standoff from an extended state to a compressed state and is configured to prevent bending under an incidental force smaller than the compressive force.

[0014] According to another embodiment of any paragraph(s) of the present disclosure, the compressible dielectric standoff further includes a buckling prevention mechanism configured to prevent the compressible dielectric standoff from moving from an expanded state to a compressed state with an accompanying force that is less than the compressive force sufficient to move the compressible dielectric standoff from the expanded state to the compressed state.

[0015] According to another embodiment of any paragraph(s) of the present disclosure, at least one antenna end includes a first stacked antenna end configured to contact a first stacked antenna and a second stacked antenna end configured to contact a second stacked antenna stacked on the first stacked antenna.

[0016] According to another embodiment of any paragraph(s) of the present disclosure, the compressible dielectric standoff includes a first dielectric standoff portion extending from a ground plane end to the first stacked antenna end and a second dielectric standoff portion extending from the first stacked antenna end to the second stacked antenna end.

[0017] According to another embodiment of any paragraph(s) of the present disclosure, the compressible dielectric standoff includes a spring embedded in the first dielectric standoff portion. The second dielectric standoff portion contacts the spring embedded in the first dielectric standoff portion at the first stacked antenna end, and when the compressible dielectric standoff transitions from the expanded state to the compressed state, the second dielectric standoff portion compresses the spring.

[0018] According to another embodiment of any paragraph(s) of the present disclosure, the outer diameter of the second dielectric standoff portion is smaller than the inner diameter of the first dielectric standoff portion.

[0019] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, an antenna assembly includes a ground plane, at least one compressible dielectric standoff attached to the ground plane, and at least one antenna attached to the at least one compressible dielectric standoff such that the at least one antenna is spaced apart from the ground plane. The at least one compressible dielectric standoff is movable between a compressed state in which the ground plane is spaced from the at least one antenna by a first distance and an expanded state in which the ground plane is spaced from the at least one antenna by a second distance. The first distance is less than the second distance.

[0020] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, an antenna assembly array includes a first antenna assembly and a second antenna assembly. The first antenna assembly includes a first ground plane, at least one first compressible dielectric standoff attached to the first ground plane, and at least one first antenna attached to the at least one first compressible dielectric standoff, wherein the at least one first antenna is spaced apart from the first ground plane. The second antenna assembly includes a second ground plane, at least one second compressible dielectric standoff attached to the second ground plane, and at least one second antenna attached to the at least one second compressible dielectric standoff, wherein the at least one second antenna is spaced apart from the second ground plane. The at least one first compressible dielectric standoff and the at least one second compressible dielectric standoff are movable between a compressed state in which the at least one first antenna and the at least one second antenna are each spaced apart from the first ground plane and the second ground plane by a first distance, and an expanded state in which the at least one first antenna and the at least one second antenna are each spaced apart from the first ground plane and the second ground plane by a second distance. The first distance is smaller than the second distance. The antenna array assembly is movable between a volume reduction state in which the second antenna assembly is stacked on top of the first antenna assembly, the at least one first antenna and the at least one second antenna are in contact with each other in a face-to-face relationship, and the at least one first compressible dielectric standoff and the at least one second compressible dielectric standoff are held in a compressed state, and a volume expansion state in which the second antenna assembly is not stacked on top of the first antenna assembly and the at least one first compressible dielectric standoff and the at least one second compressible dielectric standoff are in an expanded state.

[0021] According to embodiments of any paragraph(s) of the present disclosure, in a volume-expanded state, the second antenna assembly is adjacent to the side of the first antenna assembly with a flexible panel interface connecting the first ground plane of the first antenna assembly to the second ground plane of the second antenna assembly.

[0022] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method of deploying an antenna assembly array according to any paragraph(s) of the present disclosure includes loading the antenna assembly array onto a launch vehicle by folding the antenna assembly array into a volume-reduced state, launching the launch vehicle into space, and releasing the antenna assembly from the launch vehicle into an orbit in space by moving the antenna assembly array into a volume-expanded state.

[0023] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a compressible dielectric standoff configured to attach at least one antenna to a ground plane of an antenna assembly includes a ground plane end configured to contact the ground plane, at least one antenna end configured to contact at least one antenna, and means for moving the compressible dielectric standoff between a compressed state in which the ground plane end is separated from the at least one antenna end by a first distance and an expanded state in which the ground plane end is separated from the at least one antenna end by a second distance, the first distance being less than the second distance.

[0024] In the following description and the accompanying drawings, specific exemplary embodiments described in the present disclosure will be described in detail. However, these embodiments illustrate only a few examples of the various ways in which the principles of the present disclosure can be used. Other objects, advantages, and novel features will become apparent when the following detailed description is considered in conjunction with the drawings.

[0025] The accompanying drawings illustrate various aspects of the present disclosure.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0026]

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[0027] First, referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a schematic diagram of a compressible dielectric standoff 10 configured to attach at least one antenna 12 (e.g., a patch antenna) to a ground plane 14 of an antenna assembly 16 is shown in both the compressed state (FIG. 1) and the expanded state (FIG. 2). The compressible dielectric standoff 10 includes a ground plane end 18 configured to contact the ground plane 14 and at least one antenna end 20 configured to contact at least one antenna 12. The compressible dielectric standoff 10 is movable between a compressed state (FIG. 1) in which the ground plane end 18 is separated from at least one antenna end 20 by a first distance d 1 and an expanded state (FIG. 2) in which the ground plane end 18 is separated from at least one antenna end 20 by a second distance d 2 . Thus, in the compressed state (FIG. 1) of the compressible dielectric standoff 10, the ground plane 14 of the antenna assembly 16 is separated from at least one antenna 12 of the antenna assembly 16 by a first distance d 1 , and in the expanded state (FIG. 2) of the compressible dielectric standoff 10, the ground plane 14 of the antenna assembly 16 is separated from at least one antenna 12 of the antenna assembly 16 by a second distance d 2 . The first distance d 1 is less than the second distance d 2 . For example, the first distance d1 is in a range that is 30% to 90%, 40% to 80%, or 50% to 70% smaller than the second distance d 2 may also be.

[0028] In the compressed state of the compressible dielectric standoff 10 (Figure 1), the antenna assembly 16 is in a non-operating state, and in the expanded state of the compressible dielectric standoff 10 (Figure 2), the antenna assembly 16 is in an operating state. That is, in the expanded state (Figure 2), the compressible dielectric standoff 10 is specially designed and constructed based on the intended frequency and bandwidth of the antenna assembly 16, and the second distance d 2 is predefined for the optimal performance and operation of the antenna assembly 16. The ground plane 14 can include a board with active components, and there may be an electrical interface (conductor) between the board and at least one antenna 12.

[0029] As shown in the schematic diagrams of FIGS. 3 and 4, the antenna assembly 16 has a plurality of compressible dielectric standoffs 10 disposed between the ground plane 14 and at least one antenna 12, and can form a dielectric layer 13. By having a large amount of free space in the dielectric layer 13, the effective loss tangent can be significantly reduced. Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the antenna assembly 16 can have a plurality of antennas 12 stacked on top of each other, and thus a plurality of dielectric layers 13. Thus, in the second layer stacked on top of the first layer, the ground plane end 18 of at least one compressible dielectric standoff 10 of the second layer actually contacts the antenna 12 of the first layer, and the antenna end 20 of at least one compressible dielectric standoff 10 of the second layer contacts the antenna 12 of the second layer. The dielectric of the dielectric layer 13 can be adjusted to have a desired effective dielectric constant by selecting a specific material and a specific number of compressible dielectric standoffs 10. For example, materials that can be used for the compressible dielectric standoff 10 include polymers such as polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyetherimide (PEI), polycarbonate, composite materials, and ceramics. However, these exemplary materials of at least one dielectric standoff 10 are not limiting, and it is understood that other materials may be appropriate depending on the desired effective dielectric constant of the dielectric layer 13.

[0030] As described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, two or more antenna assemblies 16a, 16b as described above can be provided in an antenna assembly array 22 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. For example, the antenna assembly array 22 may include a first ground plane 14a of the first antenna assembly 16a and a second ground plane 14b of the second antenna assembly 16b. At least one first compressible dielectric standoff 10a of the first antenna assembly 16a is attached to the first ground plane 14a, and at least one second compressible dielectric standoff 10b of the second antenna assembly 16b is attached to the second ground plane 14b. At least one first antenna 12a of the first antenna assembly 16a is attached to at least one first compressible dielectric standoff 10a so that at least one first antenna 12a is separated from the first ground plane 14a. Similarly, at least one second antenna 12b of the second antenna assembly 16b is attached to at least one second compressible dielectric standoff 10b so that at least one second antenna 12b is separated from the second ground plane 14b. The first ground plane 14a of the first antenna assembly 16a can be connected to the second ground plane 14b of the second antenna assembly 16b, for example, using a flexible panel interface 24. As described above, at least one first compressible dielectric standoff 10a and at least one second compressible dielectric standoff 10b are such that at least one first antenna 12a and at least one second antenna 12b are each at a first distance d 1 only separated in the compressed state (FIG. 5) and at least one first antenna 12a and at least one second antenna 12b are each at a second distance d 2 only separated from the first ground plane 14a and the second ground plane 14b and are movable between the expanded states.

[0031] Antenna assembly array 22 may be useful for space-based applications where it is necessary to mount the antenna assembly array 22 on a launch vehicle for launch into space and deployment into orbit. Since the weight and volume allocation of the antenna assembly array 22 are limited in the launch vehicle, the antenna assembly array 22 can be mounted on the launch vehicle with the first and second compressible dielectric standoffs 10a, 10b in a compressed state and the antenna assemblies 16a, 16b in a non-operating state. Once launched and deployed in orbit, the antenna assembly array 22 can be deployed such that the first and second compressible dielectric standoffs 10a, 10b expand to an expanded state and the antenna assemblies 16a, 16b are converted to an operating state. Thus, the antenna array 22 is movable between a reduced volume state (Figure 5) and an expanded volume state (Figure 6).

[0032] In the reduced volume state (Figure 5), the second antenna assembly 16b is stacked on top of the first antenna assembly 16a, at least one first antenna 12a and at least one second antenna 12b are in contact with each other in a face-to-face relationship, and at least one first compressible dielectric standoff 10a and at least one second compressible dielectric standoff 10b are held in a compressed state. For example, by bending the antenna assembly array 22 at the flexible panel interface 24, the second antenna assembly 16b can be stacked on top of the first antenna assembly 16a. At least one first compressible dielectric standoff 10a and at least one second compressible dielectric standoff 10b can be biased towards an expanded state. Thus, by stacking the second antenna assembly 16a on top of the first antenna assembly 16b and bringing at least one first antenna 12a and at least one second antenna 12b into contact with each other in a face-to-face relationship, at least one first compressible dielectric standoff 10a and at least one second compressible dielectric standoff 10b can be held in a compressed state against their bias.

[0033] In the expanded volume (Figure 6), the second antenna assembly 16b is not laterally adjacent to the first antenna assembly 16a or stacked on top of the first antenna assembly 16a. As a result, at least one first compressible dielectric standoff 10a and at least one second compressible dielectric standoff 10b are in an expanded state. That is, in the volume-expanded state (Figure 6), the second antenna assembly 16b is not stacked on top of the first antenna assembly 16a, and at least one first antenna 12a and at least one second antenna 12b do not contact each other in a facing relationship. Therefore, at least one first compressible dielectric standoff 10a and at least one second compressible dielectric standoff 10b are not held in a compressed state against their bias. Thus, at least one first compressible dielectric standoff 10a and at least one second compressible dielectric standoff 10b can move freely towards the expanded state.

[0034] Stacking the second antenna assembly 16b on top of the first antenna assembly 16a is presented as a non-limiting example of maintaining the antenna array 22 in a reduced-volume state, and it is understood that other mechanisms can be used to hold at least one first compressible dielectric standoff 10a and at least one second compressible dielectric standoff 10b in a compressed state against their bias. For example, a fixed structure or other holding function can be utilized to temporarily hold at least one first compressible dielectric standoff 10a and at least one second compressible dielectric standoff 10b in a compressed state until the antenna array 22 is ready to be deployed. Once the antenna array 22 is ready to be deployed, the at least one first compressible dielectric standoff 10a and at least one second compressible dielectric standoff 10b can be released to the expanded state by the fixed structure or other holding function.

[0035] The compressible dielectric standoffs 10, 10a, 10b described herein are specially designed to have a desired predetermined stiffness and movement based on their material properties and shape. Various exemplary configurations and features of the compressible dielectric standoffs 10, 10a, 10b will be described hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 7-21. In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 7-19, the compressible dielectric standoffs 10, 10a, 10b include a ground plane end 18 and an antenna end 20, along with the elastic frames 22a, 22b, 22c as described above, and these frames extend between and connect their respective ground plane ends 18 and antenna ends 20. The elastic frames 22a, 22b, 22c include at least one elastic arm 24a, 24b, 24c that extends between and connects the ground plane end 18 and the antenna end 20.

[0036] For example, in the elastic frame 22a of the compressible dielectric standoffs 10, 10a, 10b shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, at least one elastic arm 24a has a serpentine shape. At least one elastic arm 24a is configured to bend when a compressive force is applied, and the compressive force is sufficient to move the compressible dielectric standoffs 10, 10a, 10b from an extended state (FIG. 8) to a compressed state (FIG. 7). At least one elastic arm 24a can connect the ground plane end 18 and the antenna end 20 at one or more respective lateral ends, as shown, or at any other point along the lengths of the ground plane end 18 and the antenna end 20. At least one elastic arm 24a can be made of the same material as the ground plane end 18 and the antenna end 20 and can have a thinner thickness. The length of at least one elastic arm 24a can be about 2.54 centimeters and the thickness can be about 0.127 centimeters, but it is understood that the exact dimensions are determined by the antenna height, compressive force, and dielectric constant required for the particular application in which it is used.

[0037] In the elastic frames 22b of the compressible dielectric standoffs 10, 10a, 10b shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, at least one elastic arm 24b has a folded configuration in which at least one elastic arm 24b includes at least one elastic joint 26 and is configured to bend at that joint. For example, each of the at least one elastic arm 24b can include an elastic joint 26 at a central point between the positions where each of the at least one elastic arm 24b connects to the ground plane end 18 and the antenna end 20. Each of the at least one elastic arm 24b also includes an elastic joint 26, and each of the at least one elastic arm 24b is connected to the ground plane end 18 and / or the antenna end 20. At least one elastic arm 24b is configured to bend at each of the at least one elastic joint 26 when a compressive force is applied, and the compressive force is sufficient to compress the compressible dielectric standoffs 10, 10a, 10b from the expanded state (FIG. 10) to the compressed state (FIG. 9). The elastic arms 24b can be configured not to bend to the maximum amount to move the compressible dielectric standoffs 10, 10a, 10b to the expanded state (FIG. 10) via at least one elastic joint 26. For example, at least one elastic joint 26 can include a hinge having a fully open state. The compressible dielectric standoffs 10, 10a, 10b are configured to be in the expanded state (FIG. 10) when the hinge is in the fully open state, and the compressible dielectric standoffs 10, 10a, 10b do not expand further from this expanded state. At least one elastic arm 24b can be made of the same material as the ground plane end 18 and the antenna end 20. At least one elastic joint 26 can be made of the same material as the ground plane end 18, the antenna end 20, and at least one elastic arm 24b and can have a thinner thickness. The length of at least one elastic arm 24b can be about 2.54 centimeters and the thickness can be about 0.127 centimeters, but it is understood that the exact dimensions are determined by the antenna height, compressive force, and dielectric constant required for the particular application in which it is used.

[0038] The elastic frames 22c of the compressible dielectric standoffs 10, 10a, 10b shown in FIGS. 11 to 14, at least one elastic arm 24c is similar to at least one elastic arm 24b described above, and each of at least one elastic arm 24c includes at least one elastic joint 26 at a central point between the locations where it connects to the ground plane end 18 and the antenna end 20. However, at least one elastic arm 24c further includes two or more maximum compression stops 28 configured to prevent the compressible dielectric standoffs 10, 10a, 10b from contacting each other when in a compressed state (FIGS. 11 and 13) and the at least one elastic arm 24c from being compressed beyond its elastic limit (or beyond a first distance d 1 ). As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, at least one of the two or more maximum compression stops 28 can be provided on one side of the central point of at least one elastic arm 24c where the elastic joint 26 is located, and at least another one of the two or more maximum compression stops 28 can be provided on the other side of the central point of each of the at least one elastic arm 24c where the elastic joint 26 is located. However, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, at least one of the two or more maximum compression stops 28 can additionally or alternatively extend inwardly from the ground plane end 18 and at least one antenna end 20 towards each other. In any position, the two or more maximum compression stops 28 are configured to contact each other when the compressible dielectric standoffs 10, 10a, 10b are moved from an extended state (FIGS. 12 and 14) to a compressed state (FIGS. 11 and 13), preventing the ground plane end 18 and the at least one antenna end 20 from being separated by less than a first distance d 1 .

[0039] Referring to FIGS. 15 to 17, the compressible dielectric standoffs 10, 10a, 10b have a second distance d at which the performance in the operation of the antenna assembly 16 is optimized between the ground plane end 18 and the at least one antenna end 20 2A maximum extension lock 30 configured to prevent separation beyond a certain distance may further be included. The elastic frames 22a, 22b, 22c of the compressible dielectric standoffs 10, 10a, 10b shown in FIGS. 15 - 16 are similar to those described above with reference to FIGS. 11 - 14. However, the maximum extension lock 30 is not limited to these embodiments and it is understood that it can be applied to any of the compressible dielectric standoffs 10, 10a, 10b having the elastic frames 22a, 22b, 22c described herein. The maximum extension lock 30 may include a flexible thread 32 attached and extending between the ground plane end 18 and at least one antenna end 20. The flexible thread 32 can be attached to the ground plane end 18 and at least one antenna end 20 at each end, for example, using at least one fastener 34 as shown in FIG. 15. The length of the flexible thread 32 between the ground plane end 18 and at least one antenna end 20 is a second distance d 2 is. The material of the thread 32 may include, but is not limited to, for example, nylon.

[0040] Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 16, the maximum extension lock 30 can include a semi - rigid rod 36 attached and extending between the ground plane end 18 and at least one antenna end 20. The semi - rigid rod 36 can be attached to the ground plane end 18 and at least one antenna end 20 at each end using at least one fastener 34, or alternatively, as shown in FIG. 16, can be formed as an integral part with the ground plane end 18 and at least one antenna end 20 of the compressible dielectric standoffs 10, 10a, 10b. The length of the rod 36 between the ground plane end 18 and at least one antenna end 20 is a second distance d 2In an embodiment where the maximum expansion lock 30 is the semi-rigid rod 36, when the compressible dielectric standoffs 10, 10a, 10b are in the expanded state, the semi-rigid rod 36 can also provide a buckling prevention function for the compressible dielectric standoffs 10, 10a, 10b. Specifically, the semi-rigid rod 36 is flexible enough to bend when a compressive force sufficient to move the compressible dielectric standoffs 10, 10a, 10b from the expanded state to the compressed state (as shown in FIG. 17) is applied, but is rigid enough to withstand and prevent bending when any incidental force smaller than the compressive force is applied. Thus, when the compressible dielectric standoffs 10, 10a, 10b are in the expanded state and are subjected to any accidental vibrations or forces, the semi-rigid rod 36 functioning as a buckling prevention member prevents the compressible dielectric standoffs 10, 10a, 10b from transitioning from the expanded state to the compressed state.

[0041] As shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the compressible dielectric standoffs 10, 10a, 10b may additionally or alternatively have a designated buckling prevention mechanism 40. The elastic frames 22a, 22b, 22c of the compressible dielectric standoffs 10, 10a, 10b shown in FIGS. 18 and 19 are similar to those described above with reference to FIGS. 11 - 14, but the set buckling prevention mechanism 40 is not limited to these embodiments and is understood to be applicable to the compressible dielectric standoffs 10, 10a, 10b having any of the elastic frames 22a, 22b, 22c described herein. The buckling prevention mechanism 40 of this embodiment includes a buckling prevention rod 42 extending from the antenna end 20 and a buckling prevention rod stop 44 extending from the ground plane 18, and the buckling prevention rod 42 and the buckling prevention rod stop 44 extend towards each other. Alternatively, the buckling prevention rod 42 may extend from the ground plane end 18 and the buckling prevention rod stop 44 may alternatively extend from the antenna end 20. The buckling prevention rod 42 is configured to abut at least one buckling prevention rod stop 44 when the compressible dielectric standoffs 10, 10a, 10b are in the expanded state (FIG. 18). When a compressive force sufficient to move the compressible dielectric standoffs 10, 10a, 10b from the expanded state (FIG. 18) to the compressed state (FIG. 19) is applied to the compressible dielectric standoffs 10, 10a, 10b, the buckling prevention rod 42 is configured to slide and pass over the buckling prevention rod stop 44. However, when any accompanying force smaller than the compressive force is applied, the buckling prevention rod 42 is configured to abut against the buckling prevention rod stop 44 and not slide over it. The buckling prevention rod 42 and the buckling prevention rod stop 44 shown in FIGS. 18 and 19 are presented as non - limiting examples, and it is understood that the buckling prevention rod 42 and the buckling prevention rod stop 44 can take various different shapes. For example, the buckling prevention rod stop 44 may have a plurality of rods as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19 or, alternatively, may have, for example, a single conical rod. It is understood that other shapes and configurations may be employed to achieve the purpose of the buckling prevention rod 42 and the buckling prevention rod stop 44 described herein.

[0042] In the compressible dielectric standoffs 10, 10a, 10b shown in FIGS. 20-21, at least one antenna end 20 includes a first laminated antenna end 20a configured to contact a first laminated antenna 12 1 and a second laminated antenna end 20b configured to contact a second laminated antenna 12 1 laminated on top of the first laminated antenna 12 2 . The compressible dielectric standoffs 10, 10a, 10b according to this embodiment further include a first dielectric standoff portion 46 extending from a ground plane end 18 to the first laminated antenna end 20a, and a second dielectric standoff portion 48 extending from the first laminated antenna end 20a to the second laminated antenna end 20b. A spring 50 is embedded in the first dielectric standoff portion 46. Specifically, the spring 50 is held inside the inner diameter of the first dielectric standoff portion 46. The second dielectric standoff portion 48 contacts the spring at the first laminated antenna end. The outer diameter of the second dielectric standoff portion 48 is smaller than the inner diameter of the first dielectric standoff portion 46, and when the compressible dielectric standoffs 10, 10a, 10b move from an expanded state (FIG. 21) to a compressed state (FIG. 20), the second dielectric standoff portion 48 contacts and compresses the spring 50 embedded in the first dielectric standoff portion 46.

[0043] With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the method 100 for deploying the antenna assembly array described above will now be briefly described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 22. Thus, the antenna assembly array may be as described above and may include an antenna assembly 16 having compressible dielectric standoffs 10, 10a, 10b according to any of the embodiments described herein. Method 100 includes a step 102 of mounting the antenna assembly array on a launch vehicle. The step 102 of mounting the antenna assembly array on a launch vehicle may, as described above, include folding the antenna assembly array into a reduced volume state (FIG. 5). Method 100 then includes a step 104 of launching the launch vehicle into space. Next, method 100 includes a step 106 of releasing the antenna assembly from the launch vehicle into an orbit in space. Thus, the step 106 of releasing the antenna assembly may, as described above, include moving the antenna assembly from a reduced volume state (FIG. 5) to an expanded volume state (FIG. 6).

[0044] The foregoing disclosure has illustrated and described particular preferred one or more embodiments, but it will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading this specification and the accompanying drawings that equivalent changes and modifications will occur to them. Specifically, with respect to the various functions performed by the foregoing elements (components, assemblies, devices, compositions, etc.), the terms used to describe such elements (including references to "means") are intended to correspond to any element that performs the specified function of the described element (i.e., is functionally equivalent), even if not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure that performs the function in the exemplary embodiments or embodiments (s) illustrated herein, unless otherwise specified. In addition, although a particular feature may have been described above with respect to one or more of the exemplary embodiments illustrated, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of one or more other embodiments as may be desirable or advantageous for any given or particular application.

Claims

**Claim 1** A compressible dielectric standoff configured to attach at least one antenna to a ground plane of an antenna assembly, the compressible dielectric standoff comprising: A ground plane end configured to contact the ground plane; At least one antenna end configured to contact the at least one antenna; and An elastic frame extending between the ground plane end and the at least one antenna end; The compressible dielectric standoff is movable between a compressed state in which the ground plane end is separated from the at least one antenna end by a first distance and an expanded state in which the ground plane end is separated from the at least one antenna end by a second distance, the first distance being less than the second distance; The elastic frame includes at least one elastic arm extending between the ground plane end and the at least one antenna end; A compressible dielectric standoff. **Claim 2** The compressible dielectric standoff according to claim 1, wherein the at least one elastic arm includes at least one elastic joint configured such that the at least one elastic arm bends at the at least one elastic joint. **Claim 3** The compressible dielectric standoff according to claim 1, wherein the at least one elastic arm includes two or more maximum compression stops configured to contact each other when the compressible dielectric standoff is in the compressed state and prevent the ground plane end and the at least one antenna end from being separated by less than the first distance. **Claim 4** The compressible dielectric standoff according to claim 1, wherein the at least one elastic arm has a meandering shape. **Claim 5** A compressible dielectric standoff configured to attach at least one antenna to a ground plane of an antenna assembly, the compressible dielectric standoff comprising: A ground plane end configured to contact the ground plane; At least one antenna end configured to contact the at least one antenna; and An elastic frame extending between the ground plane end and the at least one antenna end; The compressible dielectric standoff is movable between a compressed state in which the ground plane end is separated from the at least one antenna end by a first distance and an extended state in which the ground plane end is separated from the at least one antenna end by a second distance, the first distance being less than the second distance. The compressible dielectric standoff further includes a buckling prevention mechanism configured such that the compressible dielectric standoff resists moving from the extended state to the compressed state by an incidental force less than a compressive force sufficient to move the compressible dielectric standoff from the extended state to the compressed state. Compressible dielectric standoff.

6. An antenna assembly comprising: A ground plane, At least one compressible dielectric standoff attached to the ground plane, At least one antenna attached to the at least one compressible dielectric standoff, the at least one antenna being spaced from the ground plane, and A maximum extension lock configured to prevent the ground plane end and the at least one antenna end from separating by more than a second distance. The at least one compressible dielectric standoff is movable between a compressed state in which the ground plane is separated from the at least one antenna by a first distance and an extended state in which the ground plane is separated from the at least one antenna by the second distance, the first distance being less than the second distance. Antenna assembly.

7. The maximum extension lock includes a flexible thread attached between and extending between the ground plane end and the at least one antenna end, the length of the flexible thread between the ground plane end and the at least one antenna end being the second distance. The antenna assembly according to claim 6.

8. The maximum extension lock includes a semi-rigid arm extending between the ground plane end and the at least one antenna end, the length of the semi-rigid arm between the ground plane end and the at least one antenna end being the second distance. The antenna assembly according to claim 6.

9. The semi-rigid arm is configured to bend with a compressive force sufficient to move the compressible dielectric standoff from the expanded state to the compressed state, and is configured to resist bending with an incidental force smaller than the compressive force, the antenna assembly according to claim 8.

10. A compressible dielectric standoff configured to attach at least one antenna to a ground plane of an antenna assembly, the compressible dielectric standoff comprising: A ground plane end configured to contact the ground plane; At least one antenna end configured to contact the at least one antenna, the at least one antenna end comprising: A first stacked antenna end configured to contact a first stacked antenna; and A second stacked antenna end configured to contact a second stacked antenna stacked on the first stacked antenna, At least one antenna end, and Means for moving the compressible dielectric standoff between a compressed state in which the ground plane end is separated from the at least one antenna end by a first distance and an expanded state in which the ground plane end is separated from the at least one antenna end by a second distance, the first distance being smaller than the second distance, Including, The compressible dielectric standoff comprises: A first dielectric standoff portion extending from the ground plane end to the first stacked antenna end; and A second dielectric standoff portion extending from the first stacked antenna end to the second stacked antenna end, The compressible dielectric standoff further comprising.

11. Further including a spring embedded in the first dielectric standoff portion, The second dielectric standoff portion contacts the spring embedded in the first dielectric standoff portion at the first stacked antenna end such that the second dielectric standoff portion compresses the spring when the compressible dielectric standoff transitions from the expanded state to the compressed state, the compressible dielectric standoff according to claim 10.

12. The compressible dielectric standoff according to claim 11, wherein an outer diameter of the second dielectric standoff portion is smaller than an inner diameter of the first dielectric standoff portion.

13. An antenna assembly array, A first antenna assembly, comprising: a first ground plane, at least one first compressible dielectric standoff attached to the first ground plane, and at least one first antenna attached to the at least one first compressible dielectric standoff, the at least one first antenna being spaced apart from the first ground plane; and a second antenna assembly, comprising: a second ground plane, at least one second compressible dielectric standoff attached to the second ground plane, and at least one second antenna attached to the at least one second compressible dielectric standoff, the at least one second antenna being spaced apart from the second ground plane; wherein the at least one first compressible dielectric standoff and the at least one second compressible dielectric standoff are movable between a compressed state in which the at least one first antenna and the at least one second antenna are each spaced apart from the first ground plane and the second ground plane by a first distance, and an expanded state in which the at least one first antenna and the at least one second antenna are each spaced apart from the first ground plane and the second ground plane by a second distance, the first distance being less than the second distance; the antenna assembly array is movable between a volume reduction state in which the second antenna assembly is stacked on the first antenna assembly and the at least one first antenna and the at least one second antenna are in contact with each other in a face-to-face relationship, thereby holding the at least one first compressible dielectric standoff and the at least one second compressible dielectric standoff in the compressed state, and a volume expansion state in which the second antenna assembly is not stacked on the first antenna assembly and the at least one first compressible dielectric standoff and the at least one second compressible dielectric standoff are in the expanded state. Antenna assembly array.

14. In the volume-expanded state, the second antenna assembly includes a flexible panel interface that connects the first ground plane of the first antenna assembly to the second ground plane of the second antenna assembly, and is adjacent to the side of the first antenna assembly. The antenna assembly array according to claim 13.

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