Harris Corporation

Eagle Technology, LLC

Alan William Mast

Daniel A Robison

Gregory M Jandzio

Charles F Dull

Anders P Pedersen

Brinnan C Riley

Christopher R Newlin

Francis Eugene Parsche

Charles Franklin Middleton, Iv

Douglas E Heckaman

Walter M Whybrew

Jay A Kralovec

Richard DeSalvo

John Warner Shipley

Edward G Palmer

Gus W Deibner

Kristopher M Peebles

A satellite includes a satellite housing, a temperature sensitive component carried by the satellite housing, and a thermal radiator carried by the satellite housing. A thermal switch is movable between a coupled state and a decoupled state. In the coupled state, the temperature sensitive component and the thermal radiator are thermally coupled. In the decoupled state, the temperature sensitive component and the thermal radiator are thermally decoupled.

Satellite with a thermal switch and associated methods

An outer space deployable antenna may include a waveguide antenna feed section. A first plurality of wires and a first plurality of biased hinges may couple the first plurality of wires together to be self-biased to move between a collapsed stored configuration and an extended deployed configuration. A horn antenna section may be coupled to the waveguide antenna feed section and may include a second plurality of wires and a second plurality of biased hinges coupling the second plurality of wires together to be self-biased to move between the collapsed stored configuration and the extended deployed configuration. A flexible electrically conductive layer may cover the waveguide antenna feed section and the horn antenna section in at least the extended deployed configuration.

Deployable horn antenna and associated methods

An outer space deployable antenna may include a support shaft, a plurality of antenna fins, and an actuator. At least one draw cord may be coupled between the antenna fins and the actuator so that the antenna fins are moveable from a flat stored configuration to a fanned-out deployed configuration surrounding the support shaft.

Antenna having deployable antenna fins and associated methods

An outer space deployable antenna may include a ground plane and a flexible antenna coupled to the ground plane and moveable between a flat stored configuration and a conical deployed configuration. The flexible antenna may include a dielectric layer and a plurality of antenna arms. The flexible antenna may have a circular shape with a circular sector notch in the flat stored configuration that closes in the conical deployed configuration.

Deployable conical space antenna and associated methods

An antenna may include a base, a gimbal mount coupled to the base, and a first guide body coupled to the base and having a first guide slot. The antenna may include a second guide body rotatably coupled with respect to the base and having a second guide slot defining a steerable intersection position with respect to the first guide slot. The antenna may also have an antenna member coupled to the gimbal mount and extending through the steerable intersection position, and an actuator configured to selectively rotate the second guide body to steer the antenna member.

Antenna with single motor positioning and related methods

A radio frequency (RF) satellite antenna may include an antenna housing to be carried by the satellite and having first and second opposing antenna element storage compartments. The antenna may further include a first plurality of self-deploying conductive antenna elements moveable between a first stored position within the first antenna element storage compartment, and a first deployed position extending outwardly from the canister and defining a first conical antenna. The antenna may also include a second plurality of self-deploying conductive antenna elements moveable between a second stored position within the second antenna element storage compartment, and a second deployed position extending outwardly from the canister and defining a second conical antenna. The first and second conical antennas may extend in opposing directions and defining a biconical antenna when in the first and second deployed positions.

Deployable biconical radio frequency (RF) satellite antenna and related methods

A method is for making a printed wiring board (PWB) assembly. The method may include forming a first PWB having a plurality of first electrically conductive pads, forming a second PWB including a plurality of electrically conductive traces having exposed ends on an edge surface of the second PWB, and covering the edge surface of the second PWB with an electrically conductive layer. The method may also include selectively removing portions of the electrically conductive layer to define a plurality of second electrically conductive pads electrically connected to corresponding ones of the exposed ends of the electrically conductive traces, and assembling the first and second PWBs together so that the first and second electrically conductive pads are electrically coupled together to define the PWB assembly.

Printed wiring board assembly and related methods

A phased antenna array includes an array of antenna elements, and an electro-optic (EO) readout circuit coupled to the array of antenna elements. The EO readout circuit includes an optical source having a first wavelength division multiplexer (WDM) configured to generate an optical carrier signal including beam carrier wavelengths, a first EO modulator configured to modulate a signal from an antenna element based upon the optical carrier signal, a second WDM coupled downstream from the first EO modulator, and optical-to-electrical converters coupled downstream from the second WDM. The second WDM is configured to multiplex each modulated beam carrier wavelength to a respective optical-to-electrical converter.

Phased antenna array with electro-optic readout circuit with multiplexing and related methods

An antenna device includes a housing having a plurality of printed circuit board (PCB) panels connected together with folded joints therebetween to define a polyhedral shape having a first open end. Each of the PCB panels includes a dielectric substrate and an electrically conductive layer thereon inside of the housing. Wireless communication circuitry is mounted on at least one of the plurality of PCB panels outside the housing, and an antenna feed is connected to the wireless communication circuitry adjacent a second end opposite the first open end of the housing.

Horn antenna including integrated electronics and associated method

An electronic device may include a multilayer circuit board having opposing major surfaces and edge surfaces extending between the opposing major surfaces, wireless processing circuitry on at least one of the opposing major surfaces, and an antenna element on at least one of the edge surfaces. The multilayer circuit board may include a conductive trace coupling the antenna element to the wireless processing circuitry.

Electronic device with edge surface antenna elements and related methods

A multi-tile configured, two-dimensional phased array antenna architecture is configured of an gridwork of sub-array `tiles`, each of which contains a mechanically integrated and RF-integrated antenna elements and RF interface components therefor. Each tile is formed of a multilayer printed wiring board and supports a sub-array of antenna elements and their associated RF circuits, so that the tile itself is effectively an operative phased-array antenna. The gridwork supports the sub-array tiles in sealed engagement with the framework, whereby associated RF networks components at rear sides of the tiles are protected against the free space environment to which the antenna elements on front faces of the tiles are exposed. Each RF interface network contains signal processing circuitry for controlling the operation of a respective one or a set of the antenna elements on the front side of the tile.

Growing community of inventors

Melbourne Beach, FL, United States of America

Alan William Mast