Granted Patent B2

US 12,512,904 · App. 18/525,844 · Granted Dec 30, 2025

Inventors: Nader Michael Lotfy (Pasadena, CA); Eric James Aagaard (Los Angeles, CA)

Assignee: AeroVironment, Inc.

H04B7/18513H02S40/38

Abstract

Claims (10)

1 . A method for communicating a message with a solar cell array in a high altitude long endurance aircraft, the method comprising:

a) displaying a message on a solar cell array on the high altitude long endurance aircraft;

b) detecting the message using a satellite; and

c) relaying the detected message from the satellite to a platform below the high altitude long endurance aircraft.

2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising reverse biasing selective solar strings so as to emit a message from the solar cell array comprising at least one of a pattern, character, letter, number, symbol, image, or combination thereof.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein displaying the message comprises emitting at least one of a direct, coded, or aesthetic message.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein displaying the message comprises emitting at least one of a time variant, or intensity variant encoded message.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein displaying the message comprises emitting at least one of a duration encoded, a frequency encoded, or an intensity encoded message.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying the message comprises emitting at least one of (1) a visible light message; or (2) an infrared message.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying the message comprises displaying a visual display message on the solar cell array.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (5)

References Cited (13)