Deployable Disk Antenna Stacked Plates Mast
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing deployable antenna systems, such as axial mode helix and parabolic reflector antennas, face challenges in achieving high gain while being compact, especially in space-based applications like CubeSats operating in the UHF frequency range, due to size constraints and inefficiencies in gain performance.
Innovation Solution
A disk antenna system comprising a stack of plates with a ground plane, electrically active plates, and a drive plate, where a mast transitions from a stowed to a deployed condition, with flexible suspension members distributing the plates along the mast, allowing for increased spacing and efficient RF energy coupling, and optionally incorporating a spoolable extensible member or telescoping sections for compactness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If axial mode helix antenna is used for compactness, then pre-launch compaction is facilitated, but gain performance deteriorates due to traveling wave mode inefficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna is segmented into multiple discrete plates (drive plate, multiple spaced plates, and ground plate) arranged in a stack, replacing the continuous helix structure. This segmentation allows each plate to be independently positioned at specific spacings to optimize gain while maintaining compact stowage capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from the one-dimensional helical spring structure to a three-dimensional stacked plate configuration. The plates are distributed along the mast axis with specific spacings, creating a volumetric radiation pattern that improves gain performance while maintaining compactness through the stack configuration.
2Reliability
If parabolic reflector antenna is used for high gain, then gain performance is improved, but deployment complexity increases due to structure complexity and moving parts
Solution Approach 1:
The parabolic reflector is segmented into multiple discrete plates distributed along a mast, replacing the continuous curved surface. This segmentation simplifies the structure to flat plates that can be easily deployed and stowed, while maintaining high gain through proper spacing and configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna system is designed to be dynamically deployable, transitioning from a compact stacked configuration during launch to an extended distributed configuration in space. The mast and suspension members enable this dynamic transformation, allowing the same structure to serve both compact transport and high-gain operation requirements.
3Volume of moving object
If helix antenna with spring structure is used for compaction, then pre-launch compaction is facilitated, but un-damped motions occur causing spacecraft reaction wheel issues
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic spring element that causes un-damped motions is extracted and removed from the antenna structure. Instead, a rigid mast with flexible suspension members is used to achieve compaction without the harmful elastic oscillations, eliminating the source of the harmful vibrations while maintaining the compacting capability.
4Device complexity
If single helix antenna is used for simplicity, then structure simplicity is maintained, but dual polarization capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The stacked plate antenna configuration is designed to be universally capable of multiple polarization modes. By adjusting the excitation of the drive plate and the configuration of the spaced plates, the same physical structure can produce linear, circular, or elliptical polarizations, making it multi-functional while maintaining structural simplicity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The disk antenna system achieves high gain with reduced size, efficient deployment, and flexibility in polarization, outperforming conventional antennas in terms of realized gain and sidelobe suppression, while maintaining structural integrity and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The one or more suspension members are flexible tensile members configured to distribute the plurality of plates along the length of the mast in response to the transitioning of the mast from the first condition to the second condition
Data Source
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Figure 3
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AI summary
Disk antenna includes a plurality of conductive plates forming a stack aligned along a principal axis. The plates include a ground plane plate, a plurality of electrically active plates, and a drive plate disposed between the ground plane plate and the plurality of electrically active plates. A mast is configured to transition from a first condition in which the mast is compactly stowed, to a second condition in which the mast is deployed. Suspension members are configured to couple a radiating end of the mast to the plurality of electrically active plates. The plates are compactly stacked when the mast is in the first condition, and urged to distributed locations along the length of the mast in the second condition.