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:
Aug. 10, 2004
Filed:
Nov. 06, 2002
Applicant:
Inventors:
Lisa R. Hill, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA (US);
Gregory P. Carman, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Assignee:
Northrop Grumman Corporation, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G02F 1/01 ; G02B 2/600 ; G09G 3/20 ; H01Q 1/520 ; E05D 1/00 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G02F 1/01 ; G02B 2/600 ; G09G 3/20 ; H01Q 1/520 ; E05D 1/00 ;
Abstract
Reconfigurable radiant energy reflectors ( ) of very low areal densities are formed of a laminate of a thin layer of a shape memory alloy ( ) and a thin film or membrane material ( ). The outer surface of the membrane provides the energy reflecting surface ( ) and a support member ( ) is attached to the laminate for application in a system. In a preferred embodiment, the shape memory alloy ( ) is compositionally graded ( ) and exhibits a two-way shape memory effect and a heater ( ) serves as the actuator to the reflector.