EASILY DEPLOYABLE PHASED ANTENNA FOR A SPACECRAFT AND SYSTEM OF SUCH ANTENNAS

摘要

The proposed antenna can be made from strips of a shape-memory alloy or other resilient material acting as a spring with attached branches that constitute individual monopole antennas. In the folded state, the antenna looks like a strip roll and can be placed on a satellite. When in orbit, the antenna automatically unfolds after the roll retention mechanism is released and orderly unfolds unrolling from a support frame or otherwise extends. The proposed design of monopole branches utilizes conductors of minimum length and achieves maximum directivity. Each monopole branch is connected to the signal receiver/transmitter by means of signal conduit elements. A system may include at least two such unfolding antennas thus achieving even greater operational effectiveness in regard to signal steerability, interference suppression and reduced moment of the satellite inertia. To prevent chaotic deployment of the antenna, additional measures are used that prevent unwinding of inner layers of the roll before the outer layer is extended.