JP2000323919A - Development structure antenna - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To use a wider range and to improve the surface precision of an antenna and a reflector. SOLUTION: A plane film 2 in which antenna elements 1 are arranged on one side and which can be folded, a closed film face 3 whose inner face is connected to the outer edge part of the plane film 2, which covers the plane film 2 and which has air-tightness and a gas applying device 4 which is installed on the closed film face 3 and applies gas into the closed film face 1 are provided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a deployable structure that deploys using a gas, and more particularly to a deployable structure antenna using the deployable structure as an array antenna, a reflector antenna, or another reflector.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a deployment structure for deploying a closed membrane surface using a gas, first of all, as a combination with an antenna element, an American Institute of Aeronautics ann.
d “DEVELOPMENT OF AN” by Astronautics (AIAA-98-2103)
INFLATABLE SPACE SYNTHETICAPERTURE RADAR ”as described in
Some are developed using frames. FIG.
0 is shown. In the present invention, a large number of antenna elements 1 are arranged on a planar film, and a frame 12 provided so as to surround the planar film is inflated with a gas, whereby the planar film provided with the antenna elements 1 is expanded. There is something to expand.

Second, assuming that the closing film itself is used as an antenna, a material which reflects radio waves is applied to one side of the flat closing film as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-93706. There is something. This invention is shown in FIG. According to the present invention, the substance 1 that reflects radio waves
The flat-type closed membrane surface 14 coated with 3 is inflated with a gas and used as an antenna.

[0004] In a deployment structure having such a structure,
The body is made small and gas is injected as needed to function as a bulging antenna.

[0005]

However, in the developed structure having the structure shown in FIG. 10, the frame 12 is arranged on the outside, but it is limited to the vicinity of a plane including a flat film which becomes flat when developed. Since the frame 12 is arranged so as to be bent, there is a problem that bending rigidity and torsional rigidity are low and distortion occurs.

[0006] Further, a developed structure having the structure shown in FIG.
In the vicinity of the zenith of the closed membrane surface 14, wrinkles are unlikely to occur because the membrane force generated due to balance with the internal pressure is almost isotropic, but the film force is anisotropic in the peripheral portion of the flat type closed membrane surface 14. Therefore, there is a problem that wrinkles are likely to be generated due to the property, and the peripheral portion where wrinkles are likely to be generated cannot be used as an antenna or a reflector.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and can utilize a wider range of a structure as a reflector, and can improve the surface accuracy of an antenna or a reflector. The purpose is to obtain a deployed antenna.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a deployed antenna having an antenna element disposed on at least one side surface, a foldable flat film, an inner surface coupled to an outer edge of the flat film, and a flat film. And a gas injection device provided on the closed membrane surface and inflating the closed membrane surface by injecting gas into the closed membrane surface.

[0009] The closing film surface is constituted by a multilayer structure including a curable material, and the curable material is cured after the closing film surface expands.

[0010] Further, the flat membrane has air permeability.

[0011] Further, a vent hole is provided in the flat film to provide air permeability.

Further, the flat film is made of a material having air permeability so as to have air permeability.

The flat film is formed by weaving a wire into a mesh.

[0014] Further, the deployment structure antenna according to another invention comprises an airtight closing film surface, a radio wave reflecting material provided on one inner surface of the closing film surface, and a radio wave reflecting material provided on the closing film surface. A gas injecting device that inflates the closed membrane surface by injecting gas into the closed membrane surface, and is disposed outside the outer periphery of the closed membrane surface so as to surround the closed membrane surface and is connected to the outer peripheral portion of the closed membrane surface so that it can expand and contract And an auxiliary structure for applying an outward pulling tension to the outer peripheral portion of the closed membrane surface during extension.

The auxiliary structure is provided on the hoop-shaped structure having a substantially tubular hermetic structure, and is provided on the hoop-shaped structure. The gas is injected into the hoop-shaped structure to expand the hoop-shaped structure. And a gas injection device.

Further, the auxiliary structure is made of an extendable truss structure, and the truss structure has a tension-stable structure in which a member which is not compressed in its deployed shape is replaced by a member which can withstand only tensile stress.

Furthermore, the auxiliary structure and the outer peripheral portion of the closed membrane surface are connected by a string-shaped member.

[0018]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 shows a deployed antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of this deployed structure antenna. In the figure, 1 is an antenna element, and 2 is a plane film on which a large number of the antenna elements 1 are arranged. A balloon-like closing membrane surface 3 is provided so as to cover the flat membrane 2. This closed membrane surface 3
Is equipped with a gas injection device 4, and the closed film surface 3 is expanded by injecting a gas 5 from the gas injection device 4.

The periphery of the flat film 2 is connected to the inner surface of the closing film surface 3, and as the gas 5 expands the closing film surface 3, tension is generated over the entire circumference and spreads in a flat plate shape.

In the deployed antenna having such a configuration, the rigidity against bending and torsion is improved due to the presence of the closed membrane surface 3, and the deformation of the flat membrane 2 equipped with the antenna element 1 against bending and torsion is improved. Can be reduced. As a result, the deformation of the antenna element arrangement surface can be reduced, and the surface accuracy of the antenna can be improved.

The antenna element 1 is connected to an antenna control device (not shown) by a conductive wire or an optical fiber (not shown).

Embodiment 2 FIG. FIG. 3 shows a cross section of a closed membrane surface according to another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the closing film surface 3 of the first embodiment is a double laminated structure 3a, 3b, and a layer 6 of a curable material is formed therein.

As the layer 6 of a curable material, for example, a thermosetting material can be considered. When this deployable structure antenna is deployed, for example, in outer space, the layer 6 is hardened by the radiation heat of sunlight.

For example, in the outer space, by hardening the layer 6 of the hardenable material after development, even if a hole is made in the closing film surface 3a due to the influence of space debris or the like, the shell structure in which the closed curved surface is formed can be formed. And rigidity against bending and torsion can be maintained.

Embodiment 3 FIG. 4 shows a cross section of a closed membrane surface according to another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a layer 6a of a curable material is formed on the inner surface of the closed membrane surface 3 of the first embodiment. As the material of the layer 6a, a thermosetting material having a hardness that is not sticky before curing compared to the layer 6 of the second embodiment can be considered.

For example, in the outer space, the layer 6a of the curable material is hardened after being developed, so that even if a hole is made in the closed film surface 3 due to the influence of space debris or the like, the shell structure in which the closed curved surface is formed can be formed. And rigidity against bending and torsion can be maintained.

Embodiment 4 FIG. 5 shows a planar film according to still another embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is different from the first to third embodiments in that the planar film 2
Is formed into a flat film 7 with air permeability. For example, the planar film 7 may be made of a material obtained by weaving a wire into a mesh.

Thus, even when there is a difference in the gas injection amount between the front and rear chambers of the flat film and when the heat input is not uniform, the pressure difference between the front and rear of the flat film 7 having the air permeability is eliminated. be able to. Therefore, the antenna element 1
, The deformation of the planar film 7 provided with the antenna element can be reduced, and the deformation of the surface of the antenna element can be reduced.

Further, when gas is injected into the room before and after the flat film 7, even if the gas is injected from only one side by using a flat film having sufficient air permeability, the closed surface film 3 formed by the flat film 7 can be used. Since gas can flow into both of the two rooms, the number of gas injection devices 4 can be reduced.

Embodiment 5 FIG. 6 shows a planar film according to still another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, a vent hole 8 is provided in the flat film 2 as a method for securing air permeability. The gas in the closed membrane surface 3 can be moved through the vent hole 8, and the pressure difference between the front and rear of the flat membrane 2 can be eliminated. Thereby, it is possible to avoid large deformation of the planar film 2.

Embodiment 6 FIG. FIG. 7 shows a deployed antenna according to still another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, as in the conventional example shown in FIG. 11, a substance that reflects radio waves is applied to one side of the inner surface of the flat type closing film surface 3, and the closing film surface 3 is expanded using gas and used as an antenna. This is an example in which a hoop-shaped structure 9 is directly joined to the outer peripheral portion of the closed membrane surface 3 as an auxiliary structure. The hoop-shaped structure 9 has a substantially tube-shaped hermetic structure, and the flat member is folded small and gas-injected by a gas injection device (not shown) to expand in a ring shape.

In this embodiment, a hoop-shaped structure 9 is provided on the outer periphery of the peripheral portion of the closed membrane surface 3 where wrinkles are formed due to the relationship between the tension of the closed membrane surface 3 and the pressure in the closed membrane surface 3. Directly joined.

Thus, the hoop-like structure 9 pulls the outer peripheral portion of the closed membrane surface to make the anisotropic film force isotropic, thereby suppressing the occurrence of wrinkles on the outer peripheral portion of the closed membrane surface 3. In addition, it is possible to use as an antenna or a reflector up to the outer peripheral portion of the closed membrane surface 3.

Embodiment 7 FIG. 8 shows a part of a deployed antenna according to still another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a hoop-shaped structure 9 having a diameter larger than that of the sixth embodiment as an auxiliary structure is arranged on the outer peripheral portion of the closed membrane surface 3, and the outer peripheral portion of the closed membrane surface 3 is connected to the hoop-shaped structure. The structures 9 are connected using a string-shaped member 10. A plurality of the string-shaped members 10 are arranged along the circumference of the hoop-shaped structure 9 at equal intervals.

According to the method of this embodiment, the imbalance of the membrane pressure can be further eliminated, the occurrence of wrinkles at the outer peripheral portion of the closed membrane surface can be suppressed, and the outer peripheral portion of the closed membrane surface is used as a reflector. It becomes possible. Also,
Since the closing membrane surface 3 and the hoop-shaped structure 9 are connected to each other using the string-shaped member 10, the production is easy.

Embodiment 8 FIG. FIG. 9 shows a deployed antenna according to still another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a tension stabilizing structure 11 is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the closed membrane surface 3 as an auxiliary structure. That is, a telescoping truss structure is used instead of the hoop-shaped structure 9 in the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8, and a member which is not compressed in the deployed shape of the truss structure is subjected to only tensile stress. By adopting a tension-stable structure that is replaced by a member that can withstand bending, that is, a member that is extremely flexible against bending and has a small elongation against tensile force, it is lighter than all truss members that have high rigidity that can withstand compression. And the weight of the deployable structure antenna can be reduced. The tension stabilizing structure 11 has a latch mechanism and pulls the outer peripheral portion of the closed membrane surface 3 outward with an appropriate tension after deployment.

As in the above-described embodiment, in the deployed antenna according to the present invention, the outer edge of the foldable flat film provided with the antenna element and the closed film surface formed of an airtight material are provided. By bonding, the entire surface of the flat membrane is covered with the closed membrane surface, and the closed membrane surface is inflated with a gas, so that the closed membrane surface forms a shell structure having a large curvature, and is resistant to bending and twisting. The rigidity can be increased, and the deformation of the planar film provided with the antenna element can be reduced.

Further, by forming a closed film surface covering the entire planar film in a multilayer structure containing a hardening material and hardening after deployment, a gas is opened in the closed film surface due to the influence of space debris and the like, so that gas is generated. Even in the case of escape, the shape of the shell structure formed by the closed curved surface can be maintained, and the film stress can be reduced by removing gas.

Further, by ensuring the air permeability of the flat film on which the antenna element is provided, when a pressure difference occurs between the regions sandwiching the flat film, gas can be moved, and the pressure of the flat film can be reduced. Deformation due to the difference can be avoided.

Further, by providing a vent hole in the flat film on which the antenna element is provided, it is possible to ensure air permeability, and it is possible to avoid deformation of the flat film due to a pressure difference.

Further, by forming the flat film provided with the antenna element from a material having air permeability, it is possible to avoid deformation due to a pressure difference of the flat film.

Further, by forming a flat film provided with the antenna element by weaving a wire into a mesh shape, it is possible to avoid deformation due to a pressure difference of the flat film.

Since the deformation of the flat film causes a phase error between elements in the array antenna and is harmful, an antenna having better performance can be obtained if this can be reduced.

Further, a hoop-shaped structure is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the deployable antenna for inflating the closed membrane surface with gas, and the hoop-shaped structure is directly provided on the outer peripheral portion of the deployable antenna. By combining the outer structure with the outer peripheral portion of the deployable structure antenna, wrinkles generated at the peripheral portion of the deployable structure antenna can be reduced, and the area on the film surface that can be used as an antenna or a reflector in the deployable structure antenna is increased. be able to.

Further, a truss structure is used as the hoop-shaped structure at the outer peripheral portion, and a member which is not compressed in a shape after the truss structure is developed is a member which can only withstand tensile stress, that is, a member which is extremely resistant to bending. By adopting a tension-stable structure that is replaced by a member that is flexible and has a small elongation with respect to the tensile force, it is possible to reduce the weight of the truss member as compared with a case in which the member is made of a highly rigid member that can withstand compression. It can be carried out.

[0046]

According to the present invention, there is provided a deployed antenna having an antenna element disposed on at least one side surface, a foldable flat film, an inner surface joined to an outer edge of the flat film, and an overall flat film. It has a cover membrane surface that is airtight and a gas injection device that is provided on the closure membrane surface and inflates the closure membrane surface by injecting gas into the closure membrane surface. Therefore, the rigidity against bending and torsion can be increased, and the deformation of the planar film provided with the antenna element due to bending and torsion can be reduced, and the deformation of the surface of the antenna element can be reduced.

The closing film surface has a multilayer structure including a curable material, and the curable material cures after the closing film surface expands. Therefore, even if gas is vacated in the closed membrane surface due to the effects of space debris, etc., it is possible to maintain the shape of the shell structure formed by the closed curved surface,
In addition, film stress can be reduced by removing gas.

Further, the flat film has air permeability. Therefore, when a pressure difference occurs due to heat input or the like between the two regions sandwiching the flat film, gas can be moved, and deformation of the flat film due to the pressure difference can be avoided. As a result, the deformation of the surface of the antenna element can be reduced.
Further, the gas can be injected from only one side, and the number of devices for injecting the gas can be reduced.

Further, a vent hole is provided in the flat film to allow air permeability. Therefore, the gas can be moved through the vent hole, and the pressure difference between the front and rear regions of the flat film can be reduced. This makes it possible to avoid deformation due to the pressure difference of the flat film, and also to reduce deformation of the surface of the antenna element. Further, the gas can be injected from only one side, and the number of devices for injecting the gas can be reduced.

Further, the flat film is made of a gas-permeable material to have gas permeability. Therefore, the pressure difference between the front and rear regions of the flat film can be reduced, and deformation due to the pressure difference of the flat film can be avoided, and the deformation of the surface of the antenna element can be reduced. Further, the gas can be injected from only one side, and the number of devices for injecting the gas can be reduced.

The flat film is formed by weaving a wire into a mesh. Therefore, deformation due to the pressure difference of the flat film can be avoided, and the deformation of the surface of the antenna element can be reduced. Further, the gas can be injected from only one side, and the number of devices for injecting the gas can be reduced.

Further, the deployable structure antenna according to another aspect of the present invention provides an airtight closed film surface, a radio wave reflective material provided on one inner surface of the closed film surface, and a radio wave reflective material provided on the closed film surface. A gas injecting device that inflates the closed membrane surface by injecting gas into the closed membrane surface, and is disposed outside the outer periphery of the closed membrane surface so as to surround the closed membrane surface and is connected to the outer peripheral portion of the closed membrane surface so that it can expand and contract And an auxiliary structure for applying an outward pulling tension to the outer peripheral portion of the closed membrane surface during extension. Therefore, the imbalance between the internal pressure and the membrane pressure can be eliminated, the occurrence of wrinkles in the peripheral portion can be suppressed, and the area of the deployed structure antenna that can be used as an antenna or a reflector can be increased.

The auxiliary structure is provided on the hoop-shaped structure having a substantially tubular hermetic structure, and is provided on the hoop-shaped structure. The gas is injected into the hoop-shaped structure to expand the hoop-shaped structure. And a gas injection device. Therefore, the auxiliary structure can be easily formed, and a tension for pulling the outer peripheral portion of the closed membrane surface outward can be given with an appropriate strength.

The auxiliary structure is made of an extendable truss structure, and the truss structure has a tension-stable structure in which a member that is not compressed in its deployed shape is replaced with a member that can withstand only tensile stress. Therefore, the weight can be reduced as compared with the case where all the truss members are made of high-rigidity members that can withstand compression, and the weight of the deployed structure antenna can be reduced.

Further, the auxiliary structure and the outer peripheral portion of the closed membrane surface are connected by a string-shaped member. Therefore, it is possible to easily create the deployment structure antenna,
Further, it is easy to make the tension for pulling the outer peripheral portion of the closed membrane surface outward in the circumferential direction uniform.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a deployed antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the deployed structure antenna of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a closed membrane surface according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a closed membrane surface according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a planar film according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a planar film according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows a deployed antenna according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows a part of a deployed antenna according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 shows a deployed antenna according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a configuration of a conventional deployment structure.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing another configuration of a conventional deployment structure.

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 antenna element, 2 plane film, 3, 3 a, 3 b closed film surface, 4 gas injection device, 5 gas, 6, 6 a layer of curable material, 7 plane film with air permeability, 8 vent hole, 9 hoop Structure (auxiliary structure), 10
String member, 11 tension stable structure (auxiliary structure), 12
Frame, 13 A substance that reflects radio waves (radio wave reflective substance).

Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5J020 AA03 BA05 BA06 BA08 CA02 DA03 5J046 AA04 AA19 AB03 AB05 AB14 AB15 DA02

Claims (10)

[Claims] An antenna element is disposed on at least one side surface of the flat film, and a foldable flat film, an inner surface of which is coupled to an outer edge of the flat film, and covers the flat film entirely and is airtight. A deployment antenna, comprising: a surface; and a gas injection device provided on the surface of the closed film, and inflating the surface of the closed film by injecting gas into the surface of the closed film. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the closure film surface is formed in a multilayer structure including a curable material, and the curable material cures after expansion of the closure film surface. Deployment structure antenna. 3. The deployed structure antenna according to claim 1, wherein the planar film has air permeability. 4. The deployed antenna according to claim 3, wherein a vent hole is provided in the flat film to provide air permeability. 5. The deployed structure antenna according to claim 3, wherein said flat film is made of a material having air permeability so as to have air permeability. 6. The deployed structure antenna according to claim 5, wherein the flat film is formed by weaving a wire into a mesh shape. 7. An airtight closing film surface, a radio wave reflecting material provided on one inner surface of the closing film surface, and a gas provided on the closing film surface and injecting a gas into the closing film surface. A gas injection device for inflating the closing membrane surface, a structure which is disposed outside the outer periphery of the closing membrane surface so as to surround the closing membrane surface, is connected to the outer peripheral portion of the closing membrane surface, and has an expandable / contractible structure. And an auxiliary structure for applying an outward pulling tension to an outer peripheral portion of the closed membrane surface when extended. 8. The hoop-shaped structure, wherein the auxiliary structure is provided on the hoop-shaped structure and has a substantially tubular closed structure, and the hoop-shaped structure is formed by injecting a gas into the hoop-shaped structure. 8. The deployment structure antenna according to claim 7, further comprising a gas injection device for expanding an object. 9. The truss structure according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary structure comprises a stretchable truss structure, and the truss structure has a tension-stable structure in which a member which is not compressed in a deployed shape is replaced by a member which withstands only tensile stress. The deployed structure antenna according to claim 7, wherein: 10. The deployed structure antenna according to claim 7, wherein the auxiliary structure and the outer peripheral portion of the closed membrane surface are connected by a string-shaped member.