Patent US5787671A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5787671A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Modular deployable antenna
Assignee: NTT Inc
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Filing: 1995-09-28
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Granted: 1998-08-04
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Expires: 2015-09-28
Abstract
Abstract The present invention provides a transformable linked structure, a deployable diagonal structure, a plane stowage-type deployable truss and a line stowage-type deployable truss with high rigidity and reliability constituted by the above-described transformable linked structure and the above-described deployable diagonal structure, and also provides a plane/line stowage truss structure extremely approximated to a spherical surface using the two types of deployable trusses. The present invention discloses a module linked structure for linking deployable trusses securely and a holding/releasing mechanism for realizing reliable holding and release. Further, the present invention provides a modular deployable antenna with high precision even if it is large-sized which is realized by spreading mesh on the plane/line stowage truss structure.
Inventors
- 👤 Akira Meguro
- 👤 Jin Mitsugi
- 👤 Kazuhide Ando
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 10:11
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64G; B64G99/00; B64G1/00; B64G1/22; B64G1/222; B64G1/2221; B64G1/2222; B64G1/2224; B64G1/2228; B64G1/2229; B64G1/66; H; H01; H01Q; H01Q1/00; H01Q1/08; H01Q1/27; H01Q1/28; H01Q1/288; B64G1/10; B64G1/1007; B64G1/1021; B64G1/1035; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S52/00; Y10S52/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
63 words
An approximate spherical structure comprising: a plurality of truncated, regular, hexagonal pyramids defining one of a top and a bottom surface; one of said plurality of truncated, regular hexagonal pyramids defining a base truncated pyramid which comprises a plurality of sides, and the others of said truncated pyramids being arranged radially from the sides of the base truncated pyramid to form said structure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
63 words
An approximate spherical structure comprising: a plurality of truncated, regular, hexagonal pyramids defining one of a top and a bottom surface; one of said plurality of truncated, regular hexagonal pyramids defining a base truncated pyramid which comprises a plurality of sides, and the others of said truncated pyramids being arranged radially from the sides of the base truncated pyramid to form said structure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
An approximate spherical structure according to claim 1, wherein: said plurality of truncated, regular, hexagonal pyramids comprise side members respectively and are linked to each other through said side members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
An approximate spherical structure according to claim 1, wherein: said plurality of truncated regular, hexagonal pyramids respectively comprise side members shared with adjacent pyramids of said plurality of truncated, regular, hexagonal pyramids.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
An approximate spherical structure according to claim 1, wherein: said approximate spherical structure comprises a plane/line stowage truss structure in the shape of a truncated pyramid with even angles; and said truss structure having a curved expanse as a whole upon being deployed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
130 words
An approximate spherical structure according to claim 1, wherein: said approximate spherical structure comprises a plane/line stowage truss structure comprising: a transformable frame including a link structure having two opposite parallel members; two opposite nonparallel members forming a quadrangle by being coupled to said two opposite parallel members through a hinge; and an intermediate coupling member coupled through a hinge in the middle of said two opposite parallel members so that said intermediate coupling member is parallel to one of said two opposite nonparallel members, wherein the distance between hinges for the other of said two opposite nonparallel members can be changed so that one end of one of said two opposite parallel members can be moved along one end of a corresponding one of said two opposite nonparallel members.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
109 words
An approximate spherical structure according to claim 1, wherein: said approximate spherical structure comprises a plane/line stowage truss structure comprising: two opposite parallel members; two opposite nonparallel members forming a quadrangle by being coupled to said two opposite parallel members through a hinge; and an intermediate coupling member coupled through a hinge in the middle of said two opposite parallel members so that said intermediate coupling member is parallel to one of said two opposite nonparallel members, wherein the distance between hinges for the other of said two opposite nonparallel members can be changed so that the other of said two opposite nonparallel members can be elongated and shortened.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
136 words
An approximate spherical structure according to claim 1, wherein: said approximate spherical structure comprises a plane/line stowage truss structure including a plane stowage-type deployable truss having a transformable frame including a link structure comprising: two opposite parallel members; two opposite nonparallel members forming a quadrangle by being coupled to said two opposite parallel members through a hinge; and an intermediate coupling member coupled through a hinge in the middle of said two opposite parallel members so that said intermediate coupling member is parallel to one of said two opposite nonparallel members, wherein the distance between hinges for the other of said two opposite nonparallel members can be changed so that one end of one of said two opposite parallel members can be moved along one end of a corresponding one of said two opposite nonparallel members.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
158 words
An approximate spherical structure according to claim 1, wherein: said approximate spherical structure comprises a plane/line stowage truss structure including a linked structure, comprising: two opposite parallel members; two opposite nonparallel members forming a quadrangle by being coupled to said two opposite parallel members through a hinge; and an intermediate coupling member coupled through a hinge in the middle of said two opposite parallel members so that said intermediate coupling member is parallel to one of said two opposite nonparallel members, wherein the distance between hinges for the other of said two opposite nonparallel members can be changed; and diagonal members each having one end coupled to the corner of said the other of said two opposite nonparallel members and each having the other end coupled to said one of said two opposite nonparallel members through a slider and wherein said slider can be moved along the axial direction of said one of said two opposite nonparallel members.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
185 words
An approximate spherical structure according to claim 1, wherein: said approximate spherical structure comprises a plane/line stowage truss structure including a linked structure, comprising: two opposite parallel members; two opposite nonparallel members forming a quadrangle by being coupled to said two opposite parallel members through a hinge; and an intermediate coupling member coupled through a hinge in the middle of each of said two opposite parallel members so that said intermediate coupling member is parallel to one of said two opposite nonparallel members, wherein a distance between hinges for the other of said two opposite nonparallel members can be changed by moving one end of one of said two opposite parallel members along one end of a corresponding one of said two opposite non-parallel members; and diagonal members each having one end coupled to the corner of said the other of said two opposite nonparallel members and each having the other end coupled to said one of said two opposite nonparallel members through a slider and wherein said slider can be moved along the axial direction of said one of said two opposite nonparallel members.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
116 words
An approximate spherical structure according to claim 1, wherein: said approximate spherical structure comprises a plane/line stowage truss structure comprising: at least one deployable diagonal structure, comprising: two opposite longitudinal members; and two diagonal members rotatably connected each other at a mid-span thereof, each having one end connected to one of said two opposite longitudinal members and each having the other end connected to the other of said two opposite longitudinal members, and having a folding/unfolding portion respectively between the mid-span and one end thereof, wherein said deployable diagonal structure is stowed or deployed by folding or unfolding the folding/unfolding portion in such a way that said two opposite longitudinal members approach or separate each other.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
108 words
An approximate spherical structure according to claim 1, wherein: said approximate spherical structure comprises a plane/line stowage truss structure comprising: at least one deployable diagonal structure, comprising: two opposite longitudinal members; and two diagonal members rotatably connected each other at a mid-span thereof, and each having one end connected to one end of each of said two opposite longitudinal members and each having the other end connected to a slider through which each of said two opposite longitudinal members passes, wherein said deployable diagonal structure is stowed or deployed by sliding said slider in such a way that said two opposite longitudinal members approach or separate each other.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
140 words
An approximate spherical structure according to claim 1, wherein: said approximate spherical structure comprises a plane/line stowage truss structure comprising: at least one deployable diagonal structure, comprising: two opposite longitudinal members; and two diagonal members rotatably connected each other at a mid-span thereof, one diagonal member having both ends connected to said two opposite longitudinal members respectively and having a folding/unfolding portion between the mid-span and one end thereof, the other diagonal member having one end connected to one of said two opposite longitudinal members and having the other end connected to a slider through which the other of said two opposite longitudinal member passes, wherein said deployabale diagonal structure is stowed or deployed by folding or unfolding the folding/unfolding portion and sliding said slider in such a way that said two opposite longitudinal members approach or separate each other.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
115 words
An approximate spherical structure according to claim 1, wherein: said approximate spherical structure comprises a plane/line stowage truss structure comprising: first six horizontal members forming a hexagon on one side; second six horizontal members forming a hexagon on the other side; and six longitudinal members, each having both ends connected to vertices of the hexagon on one side and the hexagon on the other side thereby forming six sides, wherein a set of opposite sides comprise two sets of fixed frames; the other sides comprise two sets of adjacent transformable frames; and deploying/stowing operation is performed as a whole in such a way that the two sets of fixed frames separate or approach each other.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
109 words
An approximate spherical structure according to claim 13, further comprising: a central longitudinal member piercing the center of the hexagons on one side and on the other side; a first radial member linking one side of said central longitudinal member and one side of each longitudinal member located on each fixed frame; and a second radial member linking the other side of the central longitudinal member and the other side of each longitudinal member located on each fixed frame; wherein each of said adjacent transformable frames comprise said central longitudinal member, a set of the first and second radial members and two corresponding members of said six longitudinal members.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
91 words
An approximate spherical structure according to claim 14, further comprising: a first folding/unfolding member linking one side of the central longitudinal member and one side of each longitudinal member located in the center of said adjacent transformable frames; and a second folding/unfolding member linking the other side of the central longitudinal member and the other side of each longitudinal member located in the center of said adjacent transformable frames, wherein the first and second folding/unfolding members extend straight when deployed, holding the hexagons on one side and on the other side.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
127 words
An approximate spherical structure according to claim 1, wherein: said approximate spherical structure comprises a plane/line stowage truss structure comprising: first even horizontal members forming an even-numbered polygon on one side; second even horizontal members forming an even-numbered polygon on the other side; and even longitudinal members, each having both ends connected to vertices of the even-numbered polygon on one side and the even-numbered polygon on the other side thereby forming even sides; wherein each of said first and second horizontal members is coupled to each of said even longitudinal members to swing along each side; at least every other side comprises a transformable frame; and deploying/stowing operation is performed as a whole in such a way that said even longitudinal members separate or approach each other.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
99 words
An approximate spherical structure according to claim 16, further comprising: a central longitudinal member piercing the center of even-number polygons on one side and on the other side; a first radial member linking one side of said central longitudinal member and one side of each longitudinal member; and a second radial member linking the other side of the central longitudinal member and the other side of each longitudinal member; wherein each of said adjacent transformable frames comprise said central longitudinal member, a set of the first and second radial members and two corresponding members of said even longitudinal members.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
96 words
An approximate spherical structure according to claim 17, further comprising: a first folding/unfolding member linking one side of the central longitudinal member and one side of each of said even longitudinal members located in the center of adjacent transformable frames; and a second folding/unfolding member linking the other side of the central longitudinal member and the other side of each of said even longitudinal members located in the center of adjacent transformable frames, wherein the first and second folding/unfolding members extend straight when deployed, holding said even-numbered polygons on one side and on the other side.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-08-03 | 2002-02-02 | 2002-08-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-08-03 | 2006-02-02 | 2006-08-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-08-03 | 2010-02-02 | 2010-08-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |