Patent attributes
An inflatable antenna may include a support structure comprised of a flexible material, the support structure having an inner wall and an outer wall, the inner wall and the outer wall defining an inflation region; a flexible antenna element contained within the support structure; a feed line and a phase line connected to the flexible antenna element; an inflatable bladder contained within the inflation region; and an inflation apparatus coupled to the support structure and in fluid communication with the inflatable bladder. In some embodiments, the inflatable bladder may be readily inserted and removed from the support structure through an opening within the support structure. The inflatable antenna may operate in the UHF satellite communications band. The feed line and phase line may be perpendicularly oriented with respect to the flexible antenna element. In some embodiments, the support structure may not include an inner wall.
