Patents by Inventor Joseph N. Footdale

Joseph N. Footdale has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10734941
    Abstract: The Structural Origami ARray (SOAR) concept is an extremely high performance, deployable solar array system that delivers high power output and exceeds state-of-the-art packaging efficiencies. Unlike existing Z-folding panels or rolled architectures, this approach utilizes an origami-inspired two-dimensional packaging scheme of a flexible blanket/substrate that is coupled with a simple and compact deployable supporting structure that stabilizes the array by external tension or internal support. This enables large deployed areas populated with high efficiency photovoltaic (PV) cells or antenna elements, which compactly stows in a square form factor with thin stack height that minimizes impingement on spacecraft bus internal volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: LOADPATH
    Inventors: Sungeun K. Jeon, Joseph N. Footdale
  • Patent number: 10715078
    Abstract: The Structural Origami ARray (SOAR) concept is an extremely high performance, deployable solar array system that delivers high power output and exceeds state-of-the-art packaging efficiencies. Unlike existing Z-folding panels or rolled architectures, this approach utilizes an origami-inspired two-dimensional packaging scheme of a flexible blanket/substrate that is coupled with a simple and compact deployable supporting structure that stabilizes the array by external tension or internal support. This enables large deployed areas populated with high efficiency photovoltaic (PV) cells or antenna elements, which compactly stows in a square form factor with thin stack height that minimizes impingement on spacecraft bus internal volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Inventors: Sungeun K. Jeon, Joseph N. Footdale
  • Patent number: 10236590
    Abstract: A foldable segmented structure includes a substantially center portion and a plurality of strut assemblies radially disposed around the center portion. Each strut assembly includes an inner and outer strut. The inner strut includes a first end portion rotatably coupled at the center portion and a second end portion rotatably coupled to the outer strut at an intermediate portion of the strut assembly. The intermediate portion is spaced apart from the center portion. At least one shell segment is disposed on at least one of the inner and outer strut. Each inner strut is configured to rotatably articulate about the first end portion in a first angular direction. Each outer strut is configured to rotatably articulate about the second end portion in a second angular direction opposite to the first angular direction to form an axially extending structure from the center portion to the intermediate portion in a stowed configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: The United States of America, as Represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Joseph N. Footdale, Jeremy Banik, Jeremiah Sanders
  • Publication number: 20190044475
    Abstract: The Structural Origami ARray (SOAR) concept is an extremely high performance, deployable solar array system that delivers high power output and exceeds state-of-the-art packaging efficiencies. Unlike existing Z-folding panels or rolled architectures, this approach utilizes an origami-inspired two-dimensional packaging scheme of a flexible blanket/substrate that is coupled with a simple and compact deployable supporting structure that stabilizes the array by external tension or internal support. This enables large deployed areas populated with high efficiency photovoltaic (PV) cells or antenna elements, which compactly stows in a square form factor with thin stack height that minimizes impingement on spacecraft bus internal volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Applicant: LoadPath
    Inventors: Sungeun K. Jeon, Joseph N. Footdale
  • Publication number: 20180278200
    Abstract: The Structural Origami ARray (SOAR) concept is an extremely high performance, deployable solar array system that delivers high power output and exceeds state-of-the-art packaging efficiencies. Unlike existing Z-folding panels or rolled architectures, this approach utilizes an origami-inspired two-dimensional packaging scheme of a flexible blanket/substrate that is coupled with a simple and compact deployable supporting structure that stabilizes the array by external tension or internal support. This enables large deployed areas populated with high efficiency photovoltaic (PV) cells or antenna elements, which compactly stows in a square form factor with thin stack height that minimizes impingement on spacecraft bus internal volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Sungeun K. Jeon, Joseph N. Footdale
  • Patent number: 8434196
    Abstract: Multi-axis compliant hinges used in conjunction with strut elements to form a collapsible structure. The hinges behaves similar to a pin-clevis hinges but have increased compliance during the deployment sequence allowing connected struts to translate and rotate finite amounts relative to each other. Once deployed, the hinges lock out to form strong and stiff joints. The hinge uses two opposing resilient tape spring surfaces for each axis. The opposing tape spring surfaces of each axis are joined together by rigid inserts at their ends opposite the common connection point and to which structural members or struts are connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America As Represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Thomas W. Murphey, Joseph N. Footdale
  • Patent number: 8384613
    Abstract: A non-planar surface support structure that is compatible with deployable thin shell reflector segments. The structure is composed of multiple four strut closed loops connected to compliant hinges at the nodes to create an effective surface. The deployed surface shape is determined by the strut lengths (L) and the node locations and the packaged compatibility constraint in which L1+L3?L2?L4 approximately equals zero. Each of the compliant hinges have degrees of freedom such that the compact configuration of the support structure is obtained by the translation of two opposite nodes of each loop upwards and the remaining two nodes downwards in a continuous process until all struts are approximately parallel and tightly bundled and the hinges lock out all degrees of freedom in the deployed configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Thomas W. Murphey, Joseph N. Footdale