Abstract: Systems and methods presented herein are generally directed to providing power to a radio frequency module of a radar antenna. For example, a system comprises a dedicated power cell that supplies a power signal and includes a dedicated solar power module that generates electrical energy for the power signal. The system also comprises a dedicated signal conditioner coupled to the power cell and to the radio frequency module, the signal conditioner conditioning the power signal for use by the radio frequency module. The radio frequency module receives conditioned power from the signal conditioner to use in processing a radio frequency signal. The radio frequency module may be a Synthetic Aperture Radar (“SAR”) that comprises one or more radiating elements to transmit pulsed electromagnetic energy for use in radar processing. The SAR may also comprise a receiver that receives the pulsed electromagnetic energy reflected from a target.

Abstract: A passive thermal control system maintains the operating temperature range of protected equipment within desired limits by controlling the conductive attributes of thermal interfaces and physical relationships within the system so as to achieve a desired thermal balance. In one embodiment, an integrated cell unit (100) includes a solar array (102), a Lithium ion cell (108) and an antenna assembly (114) such as a phased array antenna. In operation, a thermal gradient (116) is defined between the array (102) and the assembly (114) as the assembly (114) radiates heat from the array (102) into space. The operating temperature range of the cell (108) is controlled by appropriate design of the thermal interfaces between the cell (108) and the assembly (114) and/or interfaces within the assembly (114), such as a thermal interface associated with dielectric spacers provided between emitter pairs of the assembly (114).

Abstract: The power distribution control element significantly improves the efficiency by which solar energy is distributed and controlled to large phased array antenna assemblies by providing current directly from photovoltaic cells to lithium-ion battery cells through a neural-network based charge controller. The small current required to operate each transmit/receive module is provided from an adjacent battery cell rather than a large centralized battery assembly located in the spacecraft bus. In the preferred embodiment, the charge control is regulated by a back-propagation neural network.