Macdonald, Dettwiler and Associates Corporation

Richard Horth

Philippe Loiselle

Yves Gaudette

Stéphane Lamoureux

Steve Larouche

Eric Choinière

Éric Darnel

François Lanciault

Mathieu Riel

Aiping Liang

ÉRic Choiniére

Provided herein is a deployable antenna assembly, a method of deploying an antenna, and systems and methods for sequentially deploying an extendable structure. The deployable antenna assembly includes an extendable pillar configured to extend in an axial direction along a deployment axis of the deployable antenna assembly to deploy an antenna. The extendable pillar includes at least one extendable element configured to convert between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration where the deployed configuration is longer in the axial direction than the stowed configuration. The extendable pillar also includes a launcher configured to initiate conversion of the plurality of extendable elements from the stowed configuration to the deployed configuration, thereby extending the extendable pillar and deploying the antenna.

Deployable antenna assembly and system and method for deploying an extendable structure

An interchange mechanism for deploying at least one reflector for reconfiguration of a spacecraft antenna. The interchange mechanism includes a rotary actuator having a fixed section mounted on an antenna structure and a mobile section rotating relative to the fixed section about a rotation axis. At least one carrier supports a reflector and is freely rotatably mounted on the fixed section for rotation about the rotation axis between first and second angular positions. An arm mounted on the mobile section carries a carrier engaging mechanism that successively and releasably engages the at least one carrier and displaces the at least one carrier from the first to the second angular position when the arm and the mobile section rotate in a first direction.

Antenna reflector interchange mechanism

A steerable antenna configuration having all actuators and the feed source mounted on a stationary side of the antenna thereby eliminating the need of having to supply power and/or communication signal through, a rotation mechanism. A first actuator rotates a reflector assembly about a first axis, and a second actuator rotates at least a main reflector of the reflector assembly about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. The second axis is rotatable about the first axis via the first actuator.

Wide scan steerable antenna

A steerable antenna architecture, or configuration, for optimal steering of transmitting and/or receiving beam over wide scan angles, is capable of steering the beam on a full hemisphere (2&#x3c0; steradians), with no singularity or key-hole within a coverage area and with only one RF rotary joint. The architecture includes a dual-reflector assembly defining an antenna focal point located close to a main reflector surface and a signal feed chain having a signal source located adjacent to the antenna focal point and defining a feed axis substantially pointing towards a sub-reflector intersection point. A first actuator rotates the feed chain and the dual-reflector assembly about a first rotation axis generally perpendicular to the feed axis and not intersecting with the coverage area. A second actuator rotates one of the main reflector and the dual-reflector assembly about a second rotation axis aligned with the feed axis.

Wide scan steerable antenna with no key-hole

Growing community of inventors

Kirkland, Canada

Richard Horth