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:
Oct. 13, 2015
Filed:
Apr. 12, 2013
Brian R Spence, Solvang, CA (US);
Stephen F White, Ventura, CA (US);
Mark V Douglas, Santa Barbara, CA (US);
Brian R Spence, Solvang, CA (US);
Stephen F White, Ventura, CA (US);
Mark V Douglas, Santa Barbara, CA (US);
Deployable Space Systems, Inc., Santa Barbara, CA (US);
Abstract
An elastically deployable three-dimensional panel structure for a solar array that can be collapsed to a flattened state and subsequently rolled, bended, or folded to achieve a compact stowage volume. The panel structure has top facing planar surface region on which one or more photovoltaic modules are attached, and other non-planar regions, located at the structure edges, that increase the deployed stiffness and strength of the structure. The deployable structure may include one or more panel structure modules mechanically interconnected in series and one or more photovoltaic modules electrically interconnected and mechanically adhered to the panel structure surface or tensioned within an openings within in the panel structure. Structural deployment is motivated by the elastic strain energy of the one or more panel structures from their stowed state. Deployment control is provided to ensure a known and repeatable deployment path through interlocking strips attached to one or more panel structures.