Netune Communications, Inc.

The Boeing Company

Robert G Ehrenberg

Michael R Sorensen

Sujal Sampat

An inflatable structure usable as a satellite terminal. An inflatable structure may include an inflatable membrane for forming the structure and two integral RF reflective portions. When the membrane is inflated, the two RF reflective portions oppose each other to form an antenna. One RF reflective portion may be a main reflector and the other RF reflective portion may be a subreflector, both reflectors curvatures that face each other to form a Gregorian antenna or a Cassegrain antenna. In another embodiment, an inflatable antenna may include an inflatable dish including a RF reflective main reflector and an opposing RF transparent dish wall. An inflatable RF transparent support member and an RF reflective subreflector extend from the dish wall. Again, when the antenna is inflated, the main reflector and the subreflector oppose each other to reflect RF energy toward each other to form an antenna.

Inflatable antenna

A pod mount assembly is configured in a folding quad pod design with four ground-engaging legs , and a rotatable central column . The ground-engaging legs rotatably connect to the base of the central column . The central column contains a telescoping central shaft . The central column is rotatable from a horizontal position into a vertical position. The telescopic shaft is extendable upward from a retracted position within the central column into a extended position there above. The pod mount assembly includes a hydraulic pump and cylinder to rotate the central column and extend the telescopic shaft . The unique folding and collapsible design of the pod mount assembly creates a small form factor for high mobility and ease of deployment. The pod mount assembly acts as the mounting base for an antenna assembly . A controller assembly utilizes a triple tombstone controller configuration for the steering of a dish assembly , with each tombstone controller allowing for independent rotation around a respective axis. The controller assembly includes a pod mount attachment for connecting to the telescopic shaft of the pod mount assembly , a first tombstone , a second tombstone , a vertical support , an axle bracket , a third tombstone , and a back frame attachment for connecting to a back frame . The controller assembly has the steering capability to control articulation in azimuth, elevation, and polarization.

Mount and controller assembly

A back frame helps to minimize distortion of a dish assembly by supporting the shape of the dish assembly and supporting the weight of a feed legs assembly . The back frame includes a template assembly , a center frame , and a feed leg mount . The template assembly includes dish-engaging leaves , and which are double-hinged at an intersection point to provide support for the individual pieces of the dish assembly . The center frame includes legs , and that are connected in a substantially diamond-shaped configuration. The center frame attaches to the dish-engaging leaves at the comers of the diamond-shaped portion. A cross-connect bar provides an attachment point to the controller assembly. The center frame also includes connection arms , and that connect directly to the dish assembly . The feed leg mount bears the weight of the main feed leg of the feed legs assembly to help minimize parametric distortions of the dish assembly due to the weight of the main feed leg . The feed leg mount includes support legs , a rotational mount , and a cross strut . The lower ends of the support legs connect to the rotational mount to provide a pivoting connection point for the main feed leg

Back frame assembly

A horn mount assembly 160 attaches a horn assembly 180 to a main feed leg 122 and provides adjustment on the Y-Z tilt axis and along the z-axis axis. The horn mount assembly includes a wave guide mount circular clamp 162, a flexible wave guide mount 163, a horn circular clamp 164, a feed strut attachment plate 166, a Y-Z tilt jack screw 170, and a Z-axis jack screw 172. The feed strut attachment plate attaches to the main feed leg, while the horn assembly is secured by the horn circular clamp. The flexible wave guide mount is secured by the wave guide mount circular clamp, and a flexible wave guide connects to the flexible wave guide mount. The z-axis jack screw allows the horn assembly to move along the horn transmission beam axis towards and away from the centerpoint of illumination 110 of a dish assembly 100. The Y-Z tilt jack screw allows the horn assembly to pivot in a vertical plane. A polarization drive assembly 190 is used to remotely adjust the polarity of the horn assembly via the horn mount assembly while the antenna system is actively transmitting a signal. The polarization drive assembly 190 includes a worm drive 192, a torque plate 193, a flex drive torque cable 194, an adjustment knob 196, and a cable disconnect 198. The worm drive connects to the horn mount assembly. The torque cable connects the adjustment knob to the worm drive. The torque cable allows an operator to stand behind the dish, and use the adjustment knob to manually adjust the polar orientation of the horn assembly while the antenna system is operating and microwaves are being generated. Furthermore, a laser alignment device 250 is utilized to facilitate aligning the horn mount assembly 160 with the dish assembly 100. The device 250 includes an alignment wave guide mount 252, an alignment horn end mount 254, and an elongated shaft 256.

Adjustable horn mount assembly

An alignment jig aids in the positioning of a horn assembly . The alignment jig includes an upper jig arm , a right side jig arm , a left side jig arm , and a reference ring . The jig arms are positioned at the top, right side, and left side of an antenna dish assembly , and each contain a telescoping jig arm and . These telescoping jig arms of the alignment jig dramatically decrease the unexpanded size of the alignment jig, thereby increasing the portability of the alignment jig. The ends of the telescoping jig arms attach to the dish assembly through the use of screw clamps , and . The reference ring suspending from the intersecting point of the jig arms and is positioned and oriented so that it correspondingly mates with the horn assembly when the horn assembly has been properly positioned and oriented. A horn mount assembly and a feed legs assembly are adjusted until the horn assembly is brought into proper alignment with the reference ring of the alignment jig. This device greatly simplifies the procedure of aligning the horn assembly with the dish assembly, which is usually a complicated and time-consuming task.

Alignment jig assembly

A quick disconnect assembly simply and quickly connects two components to one another with the high degree of accuracy while eliminating small, losable parts. The quick disconnect assembly includes a receiver and a fork . The receiver is attached to a first fitting on a first component . A fork end brace extends out from the receiver to provide an attachment flange for the fork. The second component has a second fitting that is correspondingly shaped to mate against the first fitting and to house within the receiver. The fork is attached via a lanyard to the second fitting. The fork includes a securement knob having threadings that projects through the base of the fork. Rotation of the knob advances or retracts the threadings. The legs of the fork contain protrusions and are correspondingly shaped to mate with depressions and in the receiver. In order to connect the second component to the first component, the second fitting of the second component is inserted into the receiver and against the first fitting of the first component. The fork is then lowered over the receiver until the ends of the fork seat under the fork end brace. The fork is rotated about the end brace until the fork leg protrusions seat within the receiver depressions, and the fork is substantially flush against the receiver. The securement knob is then hand tightened, causing the threadings to secure into a correspondingly threaded aperture in the receiver to complete the installation.

Quick disconnect assembly

A collapsible, steerable antenna system is configured for rapid deployment that is highly accurate and sophisticated, yet easy to assemble. The antenna system includes a pod mount assembly , a steering head controller assembly , a back frame , a dish assembly , a feed leg assembly , a horn mount assembly , and a horn assembly . The pod mount assembly includes a plurality of ground engaging pod legs and a telescopic shaft which lifts and supports the controller assembly . The controller assembly selectively engages with the back frame and aligns the dish assembly via the back frame . The back frame engages and supports the dish assembly to help minimize parametric distortion of the dish assembly . The dish assembly includes a plurality of wedge-shaped pieces which connect to form the dish assembly. The feed leg assembly includes a main feed leg and side feed legs. The horn mount assembly connects the horn assembly to the main feed leg. The horn assembly directs the transmission signal towards the dish assembly when sending a signal.

Steerable antenna assembly

A feed legs assembly connects a horn and mount assembly to a back frame in an antenna assembly. The feed legs assembly includes a main feed leg , a right side feed leg , and a left side feed leg . The main feed leg includes an amp frame , a feed strut , a quick release latch , an amplifier , a mating wave guide fitting , a flexible wave guide , wave guide end fitting , and a horn mount attachment . The amp frame provides a protective structure around the amplifier , and wave guide end fitting , as well as lowering the overall profile and center of balance of the main feed leg . The wave guide end fitting of the flexible wave guide attaches to the mating wave guide fitting of the amplifier and carries the transmission signal to the horn. The side feed legs connect to the main feed leg to the back frame. The side feed legs attach to the main feed leg and back frame through Hein joints , and and act as long turnbuckles. By rotating the entire side feed legs along the side feed leg longitudinal axes, the effective length of the side feed legs is adjusted, thereby raising the main feed leg (and attached horn and mount assembly) upwards and inwards towards a dish assembly or downward and away from a dish assembly. Lockdown nuts , and can be tightened to secure the side feed legs into position and prevent undesired movement of the turnbuckles.

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Torrance, CA, United States of America

Robert G Ehrenberg