Thales

Centre National Detudes Spatiales

Serge Depeyre

Pierre Bosshard

Jérôme Brossier

Ludovic Schreider

Philippe Lepeltier

Leri Datashvili

Gilles Navarre

Jean-Philippe Taisant

Isabelle Faro

Victorien Belloeil

Laurent Cadiergues

Levi Datashvili

Ludovic Schreinder

A method is provided which includes: defining at least one radiofrequency performance objective to be produced on a selected coverage area on the ground; producing a rigid shell having a predefined profile; producing a reflecting flexible membrane; determining, by successive iterations, N optimum local deformations to be applied at N different points of the flexible membrane; producing N rigid supporting bars of different lengths corresponding to the optimum local deformations to be applied to the flexible membrane; and positioning and rigidly fixing the flexible membrane onto the rigid shell via the N supporting bars.

Method for manufacturing an antenna reflector with shaped surface, reflector with shaped surface obtained by this method and antenna comprising such a reflector

The present invention relates to an in-service reconfigurable antenna reflector comprising a rigid support and a membrane, deformable and having radio-electric reflectivity properties. According to the invention, the reflector comprises a plurality of coupling means connecting the rigid support and the membrane, comprising a first link of finger ball joint type connected to the rigid support, and a second link of finger ball joint type connected to the membrane. Each coupling means furthermore comprises a linear actuator, comprising a rotary motor and a screw-nut assembly, connected to the two links of finger ball joint type, and able to generate, in an operational configuration, a translational motion allowing the deformation of the membrane.

In-service reconfigurable antenna reflector

A multiple-reflector antenna for telecommunications satellites including a shaft, to which are attached at least two sub-reflectors, rotating in relation to a load-bearing structure, and a motor including a rotor able to drive the shaft in rotation, and a stator attached to the load-bearing structure, wherein the multiple-reflector antenna also includes two bearings enabling the shaft to rotate in relation to the load-bearing structure, a torsionally rigid mechanical filter placed between the shaft and the rotor, enabling the rotor to transmit the rotational movement to the shaft, and able to dampen the stresses generated by the shaft on the motor, and locking means able to hold the angular position of the shaft in relation to the load-bearing structure.

Multiple-reflector antenna for telecommunications satellites

A mission-flexibility antenna includes a reflector and at least a first source and a second source of radiofrequency signals, which sources are arranged in front of the reflector, the reflector having a focal point and each source having a phase center, and wherein the sources are independent, fixed and connected to separate radiofrequency feed systems defining different and predefined polarization and/or operating frequency characteristics, and in that it additionally includes means of displacement and orientation of the reflector from a first position in which the focal point of the reflector is placed at the phase center of the first source to a second position in which the focal point of the reflector is placed at the phase center of the second source.

Mission-flexibility antenna, satellite including such an antenna and method for controlling the change of mission of such an antenna

An antenna including a reflector with coverage and frequency flexibility is provided. The antenna comprises a reversible reflector having two separate reflecting surfaces shaped geometrically so as to cover respectively a first and a second geographical zone which are different and have predetermined shapes, in which the two reflecting surfaces are fastened back to back on a common support, and at least two independent sources arranged in a fixed configuration and connected to separate radiofrequency supply chains defining different and predefined operating frequency planes, the reflector having a first deployment position, in which the focal point of the first reflecting surface is located at the phase center of the first source, and a second deployment position, in which the focal point of the second reflecting surface is located at the phase center of the second source. Application notably to the field of satellite telecommunication antennae.

Antenna having a reflector with coverage and frequency flexibility and satellite comprising such an antenna

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Blagnac, France

Serge Depeyre