US 11,912,440 B2
Partially flexible solar array structure
Varouj Baghdasarian, Cupertino, CA (US)
Assigned to Maxar Space LLC, Palo Alto, CA (US)
Filed by Maxar Space LLC, Palo Alto, CA (US)
Filed on Sep. 1, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/463,670.
Prior Publication US 2023/0064039 A1, Mar. 2, 2023
Int. Cl. B64G 1/44 (2006.01); H01L 31/041 (2014.01); H02S 30/20 (2014.01)
CPC B64G 1/443 (2013.01) [H01L 31/041 (2014.12); H02S 30/20 (2014.12)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus, comprising:
a plurality of rectangular rigid solar array panels configured to partially flex when compressed in a first direction and to flatten when not compressed in the first direction; and
a corresponding rectangular frame structure for each of the plurality of solar array panels, each frame structure including:
an opposing pair of rigid frame members each connected to a corresponding side of the corresponding solar array panel; and
an opposing pair of flexible frame members running in the first direction and connected between the opposing pair of rigid frame members and configured to:
flex when the opposing pair of rigid frame members are compressed in the first direction to flex the corresponding solar array panel, and
extend to flatten the corresponding solar array panel when the opposing pair of rigid frame members are not compressed in the first direction.