Abstract

According to one aspect of the invention, a foil assembly for adjusting an alignment and orbital configuration of a foil in a zero gravity configuration is provided. The assembly comprises an ultrathin foil and an electrical conductor mounted along edges of the ultrathin foil. The electrical conductor aligns the ultrathin foil as a flat surface in the zero gravity configuration carrying a first amount of electric charge on its surface. The foil assembly further comprises an electrically conductive element carrying a second amount of electrical charge on its surface, and at least three non-conductive strings connecting the electrical conductor to the electrically conductive element. A controller controls a photon pressure of incident light onto the ultrathin foil by changing an effectively irradiated surface of the ultrathin foil by adjusting the second amount of electrical charge on the electrically conductive element. A distance between sections of the electrical conductor in between the connection points and the electrically conductive element increases when the adjustable second amount of electrical charge increases. The effectively irradiated surface of the ultrathin foil decreases when the distance between the ultrathin foil and the electrically conductive element increases.

IPC Classes  ?

• B64G 1/24 - Guiding or controlling apparatus, e.g. for attitude control
• B64G 1/40 - Arrangements or adaptations of propulsion systems
• B64G 99/00 - Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

Provided is a method for manufacturing an ultrathin foil for deflecting perpendicularly incident light enabling space-based reduction of solar flux is provided. The method comprises depositing, using an ultrasonic nozzle, a solution on a forming substrate. The solution comprises a polymer material and a solvent. The polymer material has a refractive index greater than 1. Thereafter, a non-planar structure is formed on a first surface of the polymer using the forming substrate. The polymer comprises a second surface being non-parallel to the first surface of the polymer and being substantially planar. Thereafter, the solvent is evaporated such that the ultrathin foil remains. The thickness of the foil is between 8nm and 50nm. According to another aspect, an apparatus for manufacturing the ultrathin foil is provided. The apparatus comprises the ultrasonic nozzle for depositing the solution on the forming substrate, the forming substrate, and a carrier cylinder for taking an ultrathin foil from the carrier substrate after evaporating the solvent.

IPC Classes  ?

• C08J 5/18 - Manufacture of films or sheets
• C08J 7/04 - Coating
• C09D 7/20 - Diluents or solvents
• C09D 129/14 - Homopolymers or copolymers of acetals or ketals obtained by polymerisation of unsaturated acetals or ketals or by after-treatment of polymers of unsaturated alcohols
• C09D 131/04 - Homopolymers or copolymers of vinyl acetate
• F24S 23/70 - Arrangements for concentrating solar rays for solar heat collectors with reflectors
• G02B 5/02 - Diffusing elementsAfocal elements
• G02B 5/18 - Diffracting gratings

Abstract

According to the invention, a foil assembly and method is provided for adjusting an alignment and orbital configuration of the foil in space or in a zero gravity configuration. The foil assembly may comprise an ultrathin foil having a length (L) and a width (W). The assembly further comprises a first gyroscope mounted at a first side of the foil and a second gyroscope mounted at a second side of the foil opposite of the first side. The assembly may further include a controller for independently controlling a rotation of each of the first and second gyroscopes in order to tilt the foil along the length (i.e. a tilt control axis of the foil by rotating at least one of the gyroscopes. The controller may be adapted to control tilting of the foil such that a photon pressure of incident light onto the foil is changed. In this manner, an alignment of the foil is changed by the incident photon pressure. The controller therefore controls tilting of the foil such that the photon pressure of incident light onto the foil sets the foil in rotation around a rotation axis of the foil. Further, a method of manufacturing the foil assembly is provided.

IPC Classes  ?

• B64G 1/24 - Guiding or controlling apparatus, e.g. for attitude control
• B64G 1/40 - Arrangements or adaptations of propulsion systems
• B64G 99/00 - Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• B64G 1/28 - Guiding or controlling apparatus, e.g. for attitude control using inertia or gyro effect

Abstract

According to one aspect of the invention, a foil assembly for unfolding an ultrathin foil in zero gravity configurations is provided. The assembly comprises an ultrathin foil having a length (L), a cylindrical spool on which the ultrathin foil is wound, and a first and second tube structure at a first and second end of the foil, respectively. The foil is wound on the cylindrical spool starting from the half of the length (L/2) such that two opposite ends of the foil protrude radially from a spool edge in opposite directions. A force acting on the opposite ends of the foil in opposite directions results in unwinding of the foil. The first and second tube structures are arranged along a width direction of the foil and are parallel to an axis of the cylindrical spool. the first and second tube structures comprise a conductive material and charging the first and second tube structures with electric charge of same polarity causes electric repulsion of the first and second tube structures causing unwinding of the foil from the cylindrical spool. Further, a method for unfolding the foil is provided.

IPC Classes  ?

• B64G 1/24 - Guiding or controlling apparatus, e.g. for attitude control
• B64G 1/40 - Arrangements or adaptations of propulsion systems
• B64G 99/00 - Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

Provided is an ultrathin foil for deflecting perpendicularly incident light enabling space-based reduction of solar flux. The foil comprises a polymer material with a thickness between 8nm and 50nm. The polymer material has a refractive index greater than 1. A first surface of the polymer material is substantially planar. A second surface of the polymer material is non- parallel to the first surface and comprises a non-planar structure. Further provided is an assembly for shading the earth. The assembly comprises a plurality of these ultrathin foils. The assembly is configured to interact with incident light from its path from the sun towards the earth by partially deflecting the incident light. The mass of the assembly and the size of an effectively irradiated area of the assembly are configured such that the assembly is in a force equilibrium of gravitational forces and photon pressure when arranged and positioned at a predetermined position between the earth and the sun.

IPC Classes  ?

• G02B 5/02 - Diffusing elementsAfocal elements
• G02B 5/18 - Diffracting gratings
• B60R 1/00 - Optical viewing arrangementsReal-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles