The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 10, 1991
Filed:
Oct. 05, 1989
Calvin W Gillard, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Lockheed Missiles & Space Company, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Abstract
The figure of an unfurled antenna comprising a radio-frequency reflective fabric (10) is mapped and controlled by a system comprising a plurality of light-emitting devices (14, 15) mounted at precisely specified locations on ribs (11), which support the fabric (10). Light from each of the light-emitting devices (14, 15) passes through a corresponding window assembly (16) on a hub (12), which support the ribs (11) and also houses a telescope of the Schmidt-Cassegrain type. A biconical reflector (27) mounted within the hub (12) directs rays of light from all the light-emitting devices (14, 15) to a primary mirror (21) of the telescope, from which the rays are reflected to a secondary mirror (22), which focuses the rays so as to form images on photodetector arrays (31) and (32). The images formed on the photodetector arrays (31) and (32) are swaths of light, which cross the photodetector arrays (31) and (32) at positions determined by the actual positions of the light-emitting devices (14, 15). Determination of centroid positions of the swaths of light crossing the photodetector arrays (31) and (32) enables the actual figure of the antenna to be mapped. Electronic signals generated by the photodetector arrays (31) and (32) are processed by a processor (35), which compares the actual figure of the antenna with a specified figure, and which generates electronic signals to activate actuator mechanisms (38) to move individual ribs (11) as necessary to bring the actual figure of the antenna into conformity with the specified figure.
Data source: USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office) public patent records. Weekly synchronization. How IDiyas builds this profile