Heat rejecting spacecraft array antenna
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United States of America Patent
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Mar 4, 1997
Grant Date -
N/A
app pub date -
Jun 30, 1995
filing date -
Jun 30, 1995
priority date (Note) -
Expired
status (Latency Note)
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Abstract
An antenna array for use in space includes an optical solar reflector (OSR)-like structure (310, 510), with sheet of transparent dielectric material (320, 520) and a metallic mirror (322, 522) formed on the sheet. In order to allow the individual antenna elements to radiate electromagnetic energy, the metallic mirror contains apertures (330, 530) which, in one embodiment, define the antenna elements, and which, in another embodiment, are registered with the antenna elements of the array. Where the mirror exists, insolation is reflected, and the heat gain from insolation is minimized. At the locations of the apertures in the mirror, insolation passes through the OSR-like structure, which may tend to increase the temperature of the structure. According to the invention, the apertures are covered with a thin layer (370, 570) of semiconductor material such as germanium or silicon, which does not affect the electromagnetic energy flow. The semiconductor tends to reflect visible light, thereby restoring a substantial amount of the function of the OSR. The semiconductor also emits heat energy, which allows heat to radiate from the apertures to aid in controlling temperatures.
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