DEPLOYABLE ANTENNA APPARATUS WITH INFLATE TO LATCH MECHANISM

Abstract: an amc antenna apparatus includes a ground plane and a flexible antenna element layer above the ground plane. the ground plane includes a conductive base surface, a plurality of flexible conductors, and a frequency selective surface (fss) layer above the base surface, where the fss layer includes a plurality of conductive patches separated from one another. each of the flexible conductors electrically connects one of the conductive patches to the base surface. a latch mechanism is arranged between the base layer and the fss layer. an inflatable bladder system between the base layer and the fss layer is configured to receive a gas input during deployment of the antenna apparatus and inflate to produce force sufficient to cause the latch mechanism to transition from an unlatched state to a latched state in which the conductive base surface is fixedly separated from the fss layer at a predetermined distance.

Inventor(s): David C. Wittwer, David D. Greenidge, Michael T. Kretsch, Kevin D. House, Mark D. Vossler

CPC Classification: H01Q1/081 ({Inflatable antennas})

Search for rejections for patent application number 20250174872