Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
An apparatus for controlling the figure of a flexible antenna, said apparatus comprising: a) a framework for supporting said flexible antenna, said framework comprising a plurality of support members independently movable with respect to each other; b) means attached to said plurality of support members for generating a corresponding plurality of optical signals; c) means responsive to said plurality of optical signals for indicating precise locations of said support members, and concomitantly for determining an actual figure for said flexible antenna during a specified time interval; and d) means responsive to said actual figure for generating electrical signals to actuate mechanical means for moving said support members independently of each other so as to change said actual figure of said flexible antenna as determined for said specified time interval into conformity with a specified figure.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
135 words
An apparatus for controlling the figure of a flexible antenna, said apparatus comprising: a) a framework for supporting said flexible antenna, said framework comprising a plurality of support members independently movable with respect to each other; b) means attached to said plurality of support members for generating a corresponding plurality of optical signals; c) means responsive to said plurality of optical signals for indicating precise locations of said support members, and concomitantly for determining an actual figure for said flexible antenna during a specified time interval; and d) means responsive to said actual figure for generating electrical signals to actuate mechanical means for moving said support members independently of each other so as to change said actual figure of said flexible antenna as determined for said specified time interval into conformity with a specified figure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means attached to said plurality of support members for generating said corresponding plurality of optical signals comprises a plurality of light-emitting devices, each of said light-emitting devices being attached to a specified portion of said framework for supporting said flexible antenna.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said framework comprises a plurality of ribs extending generally radially from a hub, said flexible antenna being attached to said ribs.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said means attached to said plurality of support members for generating said corresponding plurality of optical signals comprises a plurality of light-emitting devices, each of said light-emitting devices being attached to a corresponding one of said ribs.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein two of said light-emitting devices are attached to each of said ribs.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means responsive to said plurality of optical signals for determining said precise locations of said support members comprises means for focussing said optical signals onto photodetector means, said photodetector means being responsive to said optical signals so as to generate electronic signals that are indicative of said precise locations of said support members.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said means for focussing said optical signals comprises a telescope of the Schmidt-Cassegrain type, and means for directing said optical signals to said telescope.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said means for directing said optical signals to said telescope comprises a biconical reflector configured so as to direct said optical signals to said telescope as beams of light that are substantially parallel to an optic axis of said telescope.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said photodetector means comprises a beamsplitter for dividing each of said optical signals into two components, and a pair of photodetector arrays, each photodetector array being positioned substantially at a focal surface of a corresponding one of said components of each of said optical signals.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein each of said photodetector arrays comprises four linear arrays of photodetector devices arranged as sides of a square.