Deployable phasing system for emulating reflective surfaces
View Patent ↗A deployable microwave phasing structure having a plurality of planar sub-panels, each of the planar sub-panels having a reflective surface configured to reflect microwaves. In one embodiment, the phasing structure includes a plurality of joints configured to inter-connect the plurality of planar sub-panels to provide a first reflective surface geometry. In one embodiment, the deployable microwave phasing structure includes a plurality of joints configured to inter-connect the plurality of planar sub-panels to provide a first reflective surface geometry. According to another aspect of the invention, the phasing structure includes a phasing arrangement configured to provide an electromagnetic response of a second reflective surface geometry.
1. A deployable microwave phasing structure comprising:
a plurality of planar sub-panels, said planar sub-panels each having a reflective surface configured to reflect microwaves;
a plurality of joints configured to inter-connect the plurality of planar sub-panels to provide a first reflective surface geometry, the plurality of joints enabling at least two of the plurality of planar sub-panels to fold together along an axis that is non-normal to any portion of the first reflective surface geometry; and
a phasing arrangement configured to provide an electromagnetic response of a second reflective surface geometry.
2. The deployable microwave phasing structure of claim 1 , wherein said phasing arrangement is configured to reflect microwaves within an operating frequency band.
3. The deployable microwave phasing structure of claim 1 , wherein said phasing arrangement comprises a plurality of electromagnetically-loading structures supported by said plurality of planar sub-panels.
4. The deployable microwave phasing structure of claim 3 , wherein said phasing arrangement further comprises a ground plane.
5. The deployable microwave phasing structure of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of joints are further configured to arrange said plurality of planar sub-panels into a plurality of states.
6. The deployable microwave phasing structure of claim 5 , wherein said plurality of states comprises at least one of a deployed state, intermediate state and collapsed state.
7. The deployable microwave phasing structure of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of planar sub-panels are low windload panels, having low wind resistance.
8. The deployable microwave phasing structure of claim 1 , wherein said reflective surface is substantially planar and said first reflective surface geometry is substantially non-planar.
9. A deployable microwave phasing structure comprising:
a plurality of planar sub-panels, said planar sub-panels each having a reflective surface configured to reflect microwaves;
a folding means for inter-connecting the plurality of planar sub-panels to provide a non-planar first reflective surface geometry, the folding means enabling at least two of the plurality of planar sub-panels to fold together along an axis that is non-normal to any portion of the first reflective surface geometry; and
a phasing means for providing an electromagnetic response of a second reflective surface geometry.
10. The deployable microwave phasing structure of claim 9 , wherein said phasing means is configured to reflect microwaves within an operating frequency band.
11. The deployable microwave phasing structure of claim 9 , wherein said phasing means comprises a plurality of electromagnetically-loading structures supported by said plurality of planar sub-panels.
12. The deployable microwave phasing structure of claim 11 , wherein said phasing means further comprises a ground plane.
13. The deployable microwave phasing structure of claim 9 , wherein said folding means further arranges said plurality of planar sub-panels into a plurality of states.
14. The deployable microwave phasing structure of claim 13 , wherein said plurality of states comprises at least one of a deployed state, intermediate state and collapsed state.
15. The deployable microwave phasing structure of claim 9 , wherein said plurality of planar sub-panels are low windload panels, having low wind resistance.
16. The deployable microwave phasing structure of claim 9 , wherein said reflective surface is substantially planar and said first reflective surface geometry is substantially non-planar.
17. A foldable microwave phasing structure comprising:
a plurality of planar sub-panels configured to reflect microwaves, said planar sub-panels each panel having a reflective surface;
a phasing arrangement configured to impart a phase shift on said microwaves to provide an electromagnetic response of a second reflective surface geometry; and
at least one joint configured to:
inter-connect said plurality of planar sub-panels; and
arrange said plurality of planar sub-panels into a plurality of states to provide a non-planar first reflective surface geometry, the at least one joint enabling at least two of the plurality of planar sub-panels to fold together along an axis that is non-normal to any portion of the first reflective surface geometry.
18. The deployable microwave phasing structure of claim 17 , wherein said phasing arrangement is configured to reflect microwaves within an operating frequency band.
19. The deployable microwave phasing structure of claim 17 , wherein said phasing arrangement comprises a plurality of electromagnetically-loading structures supported by said plurality of planar sub-panels.
20. The deployable microwave phasing structure of claim 19 , wherein said phasing arrangement further comprises a ground plane.
21. The deployable microwave phasing structure of claim 17 , wherein said at least one joint is further configured to arrange said plurality of planar sub-panels into a plurality of states.
22. The deployable microwave phasing structure of claim 21 , wherein said plurality of states comprises at least one of a deployed state, intermediate state and collapsed state.
23. The deployable microwave phasing structure of claim 17 , wherein said plurality of planar sub-panels are low windload panels, having low wind resistance.
24. The deployable microwave phasing structure of claim 17 , wherein said reflective surface is substantially planar and said first reflective surface geometry is substantially non-planar.