Space Occulter Hypergaussian Edge Panels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Space-based occulters with high thermal expansion materials, such as Kapton, experience unreliable operation due to excessive contraction and expansion, affecting their ability to maintain a stable shape and effectively block starlight for high contrast imaging applications like detecting Earth-like planets.
Innovation Solution
A space-based occulter with hypergaussian edge panels made of materials with near-zero coefficient of thermal expansion, such as carbon fiber reinforced polymer, and a deployment mechanism using telescoping booms and hinges that allow for accordion folding, ensuring dimensional stability and reliable operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If Kapton blanket structure is used for the occulter, then the occulter is readily foldable and can be inserted into a 5 meter diameter fairing for launching, but the occulter experiences excessive contraction and expansion due to high CTE, resulting in unreliable operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from Kapton (high CTE) to Invar (near-zero CTE), fundamentally altering the thermal expansion characteristics to eliminate excessive contraction and expansion while maintaining the foldable structure for launch compatibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses Invar, a composite material consisting of iron and nickel alloys, which combines magnetic properties with near-zero thermal expansion, creating a material that simultaneously provides structural stability and thermal dimensional invariance for the occulter
2Shape
If Kapton edges are used for the occulter, then the occulter can be formed with a flower-like shape, but the edges undergo excessive thermal expansion and contraction, affecting the occulter's ability to maintain a stable shape
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from Kapton to Invar for the edges, fundamentally altering the thermal expansion characteristics to maintain stable flower-like shape while enabling the necessary folding and deployment operations
3Device complexity
If a material with high CTE is used for the occulter, then the occulter can be made with simple structure, but the material undergoes excessive thermal expansion and contraction, resulting in unreliable operation for high contrast imaging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from high CTE to near-zero CTE, fundamentally altering the thermal behavior to maintain structural simplicity while achieving reliable operation for high contrast imaging applications
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 solution provides a dimensionally stable occulter that effectively blocks starlight, minimizing thermal distortion and ensuring consistent performance for high contrast imaging, enabling the detection of faint objects near bright sources like planets orbiting distant stars.
Implementation Method 1
Each hypergaussian edge panel is made substantially of a material having a near zero coefficient of thermal expansion
Data Source
AI summary
A space-based occulter is selectively movable between stowed and deployed configurations. A base hub has a longitudinally oriented center axis. A plurality of petals are provided, each petal extending radially outward from, and spaced radially apart from, the base hub when in the deployed configuration. Each petal has a hypergaussian edge made up of a plurality of hypergaussian edge panels. Each hypergaussian edge panel defines a portion of the hypergaussian edge of the petal. Each hypergaussian edge panel is made substantially of a material having a near zero coefficient of thermal expansion. A circular central portion is located radially between the base hub and the plurality of petals. A covering skin extends laterally between the hypergaussian edges of each petal and over the circular central portion. The covering skin defines a substantially planar surface oriented substantially perpendicular to the center axis when the occulter is in the deployed configuration.