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 Title: |
US5527001:
Modular communication satellite
[ Derwent Title ]
>> View Certificate of Correction for this publication
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| Country: |
US United States of America
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| Inventor: |
Stuart, James R.; Louisville, CO
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| Assignee: |
Teledesic Corporation, Kirkland, WA
other patents from TELEDESIC CORPORATION (710519) (approx. 10)
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| Published / Filed: |
1996-06-18
/ 1993-06-11
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| Application Number: |
US1993000075425
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| IPC Code: |
Advanced:
B64G 1/10;
B64G 1/22;
B64G 1/44;
B64G 1/66;
H01Q 1/08;
H01Q 1/28;
H04B 7/204;
B64G 1/00;
B64G 1/50;
B64G 1/58;
Core:
B64G 1/42;
H01Q 1/27;
B64G 1/46;
more...
IPC-7:
B64G 1/10;
B64G 1/44;
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| ECLA Code: |
B64G1/10A; B64G1/22D; B64G1/44A; B64G1/66; H01Q1/08; H01Q1/28F; H04B7/204B;
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| U.S. Class: |
Current:
244/159.4;
136/245;
136/292;
244/172.6;
244/172.7;
Original:
244/158.R;
244/173;
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| Field of Search: |
244/173,158 R,164,169,171
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| Priority Number: |
| 1993-06-11 |
US1993000075425 |
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| Abstract: |
A Modular Communication Satellite (10) for a Satellite Communication System is disclosed. The preferred embodiment of the invention includes a foldable, high-gain, electronically steered antenna array (12) that is always pointed toward the Earth (E). The unfolded spacecraft resemble an oblate flower. Polygonal antenna panels (92, 94, 96, 102, 104, & 106) are attached to each other and to a primary bus structure (22) by antenna deployment hinges (90). The upper portion of the satellite (10) incorporates intersatellite antenna arrays (26) of individual intersatellite antennas (28), which are always pointed tangentially to the Earth (E). An Astromast.TM. boom (32) is mounted between the space facing surface of the primary bus structure (22) and an assembly of solar array storage booms (36). The Astromast.TM. boom (32) can expand and rotate amorphous silicon solar arrays (38) which are unfurled from within the solar array storage booms (36). The amorphous silicon solar arrays (38) gather solar radiation to provide power the satellite (10), and furnish thermal control for the satellite (10) by shielding it from solar radiation. The satellite is capable of being nested or stacked in a compact arrangement that fits within a payload bay of a launch vehicle (LV).
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| Attorney, Agent or Firm: |
Anglin & Giaccherini ;
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| Primary / Asst. Examiners: |
Grant, William;
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| Maintenance Status: |
CC Certificate of Correction issued
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| INPADOC Legal Status: |
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Family Legal Status Report
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| Designated Country: |
AT BB BG BR BY CA CH CN CZ DE DK EP ES FI GB HU JP KP KR KZ LK LU LV MG MN MW NL NO NZ OA PL PT RO RU SD SE SK UA UZ
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| Family: |
Show 3 known family members
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First Claim:
Show all 17 claims |
What is claimed is:
1. A satellite apparatus (10) capable of being placed in a low Earth orbit using a launch vehicle (LV) for providing communications among a plurality of portable, mobile, and fixed terminals and among other of said satellite apparatus comprising:
- an Earth-facing antenna array (12);
- said Earth-facing antenna array (12) including a plurality of substantially polygonal, planar antenna panels (92, 94, 96, 102, 104, & 106);
- said plurality of substantially polygonal, planar antenna panels (92, 94, 96, 102, 104, & 106) being maintained in an orbital orientation which aims said plurality of substantially polygonal, planar antenna panels (92, 94, 96, 102, 104, & 106) generally towards the Earth;
- a plurality of hinge elements (90); said plurality of hinge elements (90) being used to mechanically couple said plurality of substantially polygonal, planar antenna panels (92, 94, 96, 102, 104, & 106);
- said antenna array (12) being capable of being stowed in a coaxially nested arrangement with other of said antenna arrays (12) for transportation in said launch vehicle (LV);
- a space-facing array (26);
- said space-facing array (26) including a plurality of intersatellite antennas (28); each of said plurality of intersatellite antennas (28) capable of being maintained in an orbital orientation which aims said intersatellite antennas (28) generally tangential to surface of the Earth;
- a solar array (38) for supplying power to said Earth-facing antenna array (12);
- said solar array (38) being capable of being stored substantially near said Earth-facing antenna array (12);
- said solar array (38) being capable of being deployed away from said Earth-facing antenna array (12) and unfurled to a fully extended position (120);
- said solar array (38) including a layer of photovoltaic cells (112);
- said solar array (38) being movably connected to said Earth-facing antenna array (12);
- said solar array (38) being capable of being rotated independently about a plurality of axes to optimize the collection of solar radiation; and
- said solar array (38) being capable of being positioned to provide shielding of solar radiation from said Earth-facing antenna array (12).
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| Background / Summary: |
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| Drawing Descriptions: |
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| Description: |
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| Forward References: |
Show 15 U.S. patent(s) that reference this one
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| Foreign References: |
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| Other Abstract Info: |
DERABS G1995-036814
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| Other References: |
"Thermionic Energy Conversion & Metallic-Fluid . . . ," by James F. Morris, pp. 271-282.
"Thermal Control," by Agrawal, published in Design of Geosynchronous Spacecraft, 1986, pp. 266-321.
"Turning a Crate into a Satellite," excerpt re Thermal Controls, by Blonstein, published in The Technology of Space Communications, 1981, pp. 41-44.
"Deployment of an Inflatable Solar Array," advertisement from L'Garde, Inc.
"Ballooning Through Space," by Eugene Rossel et al., published in Technology, pp. 33-35.
Excerpt re Amorphous Silcon on p. 766 in "Proceedings of the 24th Intersociety . . . ," edited by Jackson et al., published in Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers, vol. 2, Aug. 6-11, 1989, pp. 765-767.
"Entering the space Arena with Amorphous Silicon Solar Arrays," by Eugene Rossel, p. 5.
AX 1991 IEEE National Radar Conference; "A Space-Fed Phased Array for Surveillance from Space" by Hightower et al.; pp. 41-45.
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