1. Roll-out solar generator having a roll-out solar cell structure, and a roll-out array structure which has a first cross member (13) and is connected with a stowage housing for the solar cell structure,
wherein the array structure can be rolled out independently of the solar cell structure and has guiding devices for rolling out the solar cell structure after the rolling-out of the array structure has taken place.
2. Solar generator according to claim 1,
wherein the guiding devices include:
a second cross member which is connected with the solar cell structure and is longitudinally arranged with respect to the array structure, and
first guiding cables,
wherein the first cross member and the second cross member are connected at their ends by the first guiding cables.
3. Solar generator according to claim 2,
wherein the first cross member is constructed as part of a lid unit and the second cross member is constructed as an intermediate bottom of the stowage housing for the solar cell structure.
4. Solar generator according to claim 3,
wherein the stowage housing is constructed such that part elements of the roll-out array structure in the closed condition of the stowage housing can be braced under prestress between the first cross member and the second cross member.
5. Solar generator according to claim 2,
wherein the solar cell structure is connected with two guiding cables which can be mounted between the second cross member and the stowage housing.
6. Solar generator according to claim 3,
wherein the solar cell structure is connected with two guiding cables which can be mounted between the second cross member and the stowage housing.
7. Solar generator according to claim 4,
wherein the solar cell structure is connected with two guiding cables which can be mounted between the second cross member and the stowage housing.
8. Solar generator according to claim 1,
wherein the solar cell structure is arranged in several layers above one another and elastic separating foils are arranged between the individual layers.
9. Solar generator according to claim 2,
wherein the solar cell structure is arranged in several layers above one another and elastic separating foils are arranged between the individual layers.
10. Solar generator according to claim 3,
wherein the solar cell structure is arranged in several layers above one another and elastic separating foils are arranged between the individual layers.
11. Solar generator according to claim 4,
wherein the solar cell structure is arranged in several layers above one another and elastic separating foils are arranged between the individual layers.
12. Solar generator according to claim 5,
wherein the solar cell structure is arranged in several layers above one another and elastic separating foils (28) are arranged between the individual layers.
13. Solar generator according to claim 4,
wherein the array structure comprises several mutually connected part elements, the individual elements being formed by tube elements which are reversibly deformable such that a change of the cross-sectional surface of the part elements can take place perpendicularly to their longitudinal dimension and the part elements are connected with one another at their ends by elastic elements.
14. Solar generator according to claim 5,
wherein the array structure comprises several mutually connected part elements, the individual elements being formed by tube elements which are reversibly deformable such that a change of the cross-sectional surface of the part elements can take place perpendicularly to their longitudinal dimension and the part elements are connected with one another at their ends by elastic elements.
15. Solar generator according to claim 8,
wherein the array structure comprises several mutually connected part elements, the individual elements being formed by tube elements which are reversibly deformable such that a change of the cross-sectional surface of the part elements can take place perpendicularly to their longitudinal dimension and the part elements are connected with one another at their ends by elastic elements.
16. Solar generator according to claim 12,
wherein the array structure comprises several mutually connected part elements, the individual elements being formed by tube elements which are reversibly deformable such that a change of the cross-sectional surface of the part elements can take place perpendicularly to their longitudinal dimension and the part elements are connected with one another at their ends by elastic elements.
17. Solar generator according to claim 13,
wherein at least a first of the part elements is connected at a first end with a first end of a second of the part elements and is connected at a second end with a second end of a third, fourth and fifth part element.
18. Solar generator according to claim 14,
wherein at least a first of the part elements is connected at a first end with a first end of a second of the part elements and is connected at a second end with a second end of a third, fourth and fifth part element.
19. Solar generator according to claim 15,
wherein at least a first of the part elements is connected at a first end with a first end of a second of the part elements and is connected at a second end with a second end of a third, fourth and fifth part element.
20. Solar generator according to claim 16,
wherein at least a first of the part elements is connected at a first end with a first end of a second of the part elements and is connected at a second end with a second end of a third, fourth and fifth part element.
21. Solar generator according to claim 13,
wherein the part elements consist of an elastic material.
22. Solar generator according to claim 14,
wherein the part elements consist of an elastic material.
23. Solar generator according to claim 15,
wherein the part elements consist of an elastic material.
24. Solar generator according to claim 16,
wherein the part elements consist of an elastic material.
25. Solar generator according to claim 17,
wherein the part elements consist of an elastic material.
26. Solar generator according to claim 13,
wherein the part elements consist of a carbon fiber material.
27. Solar generator according to claim 14,
wherein the part elements consist of a carbon fiber material.
28. Solar generator according to claim 15,
wherein the part elements consist of a carbon fiber material.
29. Solar generator according to claim 16,
wherein the part elements consist of a carbon fiber material.
30. Solar generator according to claim 17,
wherein the part elements consist of a carbon fiber material.
31. Solar generator according to claim 21,
wherein the part elements consist of a carbon fiber material.
32. Solar generator according to claim 13,
wherein the part elements are constructed as tube elements.
33. A solar generator assembly comprising:
a stowage housing,
a collapsible-support array structure movable between a support array stowage position in the stowage housing and a support array deployed position extended outwardly of the of the stowage housing, and
a collapsible solar cell structure solar cell movable between a solar cell stowage position in the stowage housing and a solar cell deployed position extended outwardly of the stowage housing and supported at the array structure,
wherein the array structure is movable from the support array stowage position to the support array deployed position independently of movement of the solar cell structure from the solar cell stowage position to the solar cell deployed position.
34. A solar generator assembly according to claim 33, comprising means for first moving the support array to the support array deployed position and subsequently moving the solar cell structure to the solar cell deployed position while being supported on the deployed support array structure.
35. A solar generator assembly according to claim 33,
wherein said support array structure includes elastically deformable parts stacked on top of one another and held in said support array stowage position by a first cross-member which is detachably connected to the stowage housing, said elastically deformable parts being operable to elastically expand to said support array deployed position in response to release of the first cross-member from the stowage housing.
36. A solar generator assembly according to claim 33,
wherein said solar cell structure includes a plurality of layers folded over on each other when in said solar cell structure stowage position, and
wherein guide cables are provide for guidably unfolding said solar cell structure to said solar cell structure deployed position while supported on the deployed support array structure.
37. A solar generator assembly according to claim 35,
wherein said solar cell structure includes a plurality of layers folded over on each other when in said solar cell structure stowage position, and
wherein guide cables are provide for guidably unfolding said solar cell structure to said solar cell structure deployed position while supported on the deployed support array structure.
38. A method of deploying a solar cell structure from a solar generator assembly comprising:
a stowage housing,
a collapsible-support array structure movable between a support array stowage position in the stowage housing and a support array deployed position extended outwardly of the of the stowage housing, and
a collapsible solar cell structure solar cell movable between a solar cell stowage position in the stowage housing and a solar cell deployed position extended outwardly of the stowage housing and supported at the array structure,
wherein the array structure is movable from the support array stowage position to the support array deployed position independently of movement of the solar cell structure from the solar cell stowage position to the solar cell deployed position,
said method of deploying including:
moving the support array structure from the support array stowage position to the support array deployed position, and
subsequently moving the solar cell structure to the solar cell deployed position while supported on the deployed support array structure.
39. A solar generator assembly according to claim 38,
wherein said support array structure includes elastically deformable parts stacked on top of one another and held in said support array stowage position by a first cross-member which is detachably connected to the stowage housing, said elastically deformable parts being operable to elastically expand to said support array deployed position in response to release of the first cross-member from the stowage housing.
40. A solar generator assembly according to claim 38,
wherein said solar cell structure includes a plurality of layers folded over on each other when in said solar cell structure stowage position, and
wherein guide cables are provide for guidably unfolding said solar cell structure to said solar cell structure deployed position while supported on the deployed support array structure.
41. A solar generator assembly according to claim 39,
wherein said solar cell structure includes a plurality of layers folded over on each other when in said solar cell structure stowage position, and
wherein guide cables are provide for guidably unfolding said solar cell structure to said solar cell structure deployed position while supported on the deployed support array structure.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A module for data communication, the module comprising:
a control circuit;
a first wavelength tunable submodule in electrical connection with the control circuit, the first wavelength tunable submodule comprising a tunable laser and a device, system or subassembly for locking the tunable laser to first selected wavelength; and
a second wavelength tunable submodule in electrical connection with the control circuit, the second wavelength tunable submodule comprising a tunable laser and a device, system or subassembly for locking the tunable laser to a second selected wavelength;
wherein the first wavelength tunable submodule and the second wavelength tunable submodule are each individually programmable to operate at the first selected wavelength and the second selected wavelength, the first and second selected wavelengths being the same or different.
2. The module for data communication according to claim 1 wherein the first or second wavelength tunable submodule comprises a photonic integrated wavelength tunable laser and electronics to set and control the wavelength tunable laser in the first or second wavelength tunable submodule at the selected wavelength.
3. The module for data communication according to claim 1 wherein the first wavelength tunable submodule and the second wavelength tunable submodule comprise sizing and control circuitry which is compatible with a standardized form factor.
4. The module for data communication according to claim 1 wherein the first wavelength tunable submodule and the second wavelength tunable submodule are removably connected to the control circuit and interchangeable.
5. A module for data communication, the module comprising:
a control circuit;
a first wavelength tunable submodule in electrical connection with the control circuit, the first wavelength tunable submodule comprising:
a first wavelength tunable transmitter optical subassembly comprising a tunable laser, a device or system for locking the tunable laser to first selected wavelength, and components for receiving a first input electronic signal, converting the first input electronic signal to a first output optical signal and transmitting the first output optical signal;
electronics for setting and controlling the tunable laser at the first selected wavelength, and
a first receiver optical subassembly comprising components for converting a first input optical signal to a first output electronic signal and transmitting the first output electronic signal;
a second wavelength tunable submodule in electrical connection with the control circuit, the second wavelength tunable submodule comprising:
a second wavelength tunable transmitter optical subassembly comprising a tunable laser, a device, system or subassembly for locking the tunable laser to second selected wavelength, and components for receiving a second input electronic signal, converting the second input electronic signal to a second output optical signal and transmitting the second output optical signal at the second selected wavelength,
electronics for setting and controlling the tunable laser at the second selected wavelength, and
a receiver optical subassembly comprising components for converting a second input optical signal to a second output electronic signal and transmitting the second output electronic signal,
wherein the first wavelength tunable transmitter optical subassembly and the second wavelength tunable transmitter optical subassembly are each individually programmable to operate at the first selected wavelength and the second selected wavelength, the first and second selected wavelengths being the same or different.
6. The module for data communication according to claim 5 wherein the first or second wavelength tunable submodule comprises a photonic integrated circuit having a wavelength tunable laser and electronics to set and control the wavelength tunable laser in the first or second wavelength tunable submodule at the selected wavelength.
7. The module for data communication according to claim 5 further comprising a signal combiner device coupled to the first and second wavelength tunable submodules.
8. The module for data communication according to claim 7 wherein the signal combiner device is a combination signal combiner and splitter device.
9. The module for data communication according to claim 8 wherein the combination signal combiner and splitter device is selected from the group consisting of a wavelength multiplexersdemultiplexer, waveband multiplexersdemultiplexers, power splitterscombiners, reconfigurable optical adddrop multiplexers (ROAMS) and combinations of these devices.
10. A module for optical communication using a wavelength tunable submodule array, the module comprising:
a module housing;
a control circuit positioned within the module housing;
a plurality of wavelength tunable submodules in electrical connection with the control circuit, each wavelength tunable submodule comprising a tunable laser and a device, system or subassembly for locking the tunable laser to a selected wavelength, wherein each wavelength tunable submodule is individually programmable to operate at a selected wavelength, the selected wavelength of each wavelength tunable submodule being tunable to the same wavelength or a different wavelength as each of the other of the plurality of wavelength tunable submodules; and
a signal combiner device coupled to the plurality of wavelength tunable submodules.
11. The module for optical communication according to claim 10 wherein the signal combiner device is positioned in the interior of the module housing.
12. The module for optical communication according to claim 10 wherein the signal combiner device is positioned exterior to the module housing.
13. The module for optical communication according to claim 10 wherein the signal combiner device is a combination signal combiner and splitter device.
14. The module for optical communication according to claim 10 wherein the plurality of wavelength tunable submodules comprises N+1 submodules, where N is an integer selected from 1, 3, or 9.
15. A system for optical communication using a plurality of wavelength tunable submodule arrays, the system comprising:
a reconfigurable adddrop multiplexer;
a first module coupled to the reconfigurable adddrop multiplexer, the first module comprising a first control circuit, and a first plurality of wavelength tunable submodules in electrical connection with the control circuit, each wavelength tunable submodule comprising a tunable laser and a device, system or subassembly for locking the tunable laser to a selected wavelength, wherein each wavelength tunable submodule is individually programmable to operate at a selected wavelength, the selected wavelength of each wavelength tunable submodule being tunable to the same wavelength or a different wavelength as each of the other of the plurality of wavelength tunable submodules; and
a second module coupled to the reconfigurable adddrop multiplexer, the second module comprising a second control circuit, and a second plurality of wavelength tunable submodules in electrical connection with the control circuit, each wavelength tunable submodule comprising a tunable laser and a device, system or subassembly for locking the tunable laser to a selected wavelength, wherein each wavelength tunable submodule is individually programmable to operate at a selected wavelength, the selected wavelength of each wavelength tunable submodule being tunable to the same wavelength or a different wavelength as each of the other of the plurality of wavelength tunable submodules.
16. A system for data communication using a wavelength tunable submodule array, the system comprising:
a chipset;
a module comprising a plurality of wavelength tunable submodules in electrical connection with the chip set, the plurality of wavelength tunable submodules effective as parallel transceivers, independent transceivers, or a combination thereof, and a control circuit in electrical connection with wavelength tunable submodules, each wavelength tunable submodule comprising a tunable laser and a device, system or subassembly for locking the tunable laser to a selected wavelength, wherein each wavelength tunable submodule is individually programmable to operate at a selected wavelength, the selected wavelength of each wavelength tunable submodule being tunable to the same wavelength or a different wavelength as each of the other of the plurality of wavelength tunable submodules; and
a signal combiner device coupled to the plurality of wavelength tunable submodules.
17. The system according to claim 16 wherein the plurality of wavelength tunable submodules comprise parallel transceivers.
18. The system according to claim 16 wherein the plurality of wavelength tunable submodules comprise one or more independent transceivers.
19. The system according to claim 16 wherein the plurality of wavelength tunable submodules comprise a subgroup of multiple laser wavelengths.
20. The system according to claim 16 wherein the chipset comprises a plurality of chipsets.
21. The system according to claim 20 wherein the plurality of chipsets corresponds to a subgroup of multiple laser wavelengths transmitted by a corresponding subgroup of wavelength tunable submodules.
22. A module array for data communication; the module array comprising:
a first chipset;
a first plurality of wavelength tunable submodules, integrated onto, and in electrical connection with the first chipset, where each wavelength tunable submodule comprises a tunable laser and a device, system or subassembly for locking the tunable laser to a selected wavelength;
a second chipset;
a second plurality of wavelength tunable submodules, integrated onto, and in electrical connection with the second chipset, where each wavelength tunable submodule comprises a tunable laser and a device, system or subassembly for locking the tunable laser to a selected wavelength,
wherein the and the first plurality of wavelength tunable submodules, integrated onto the first chipset, is in electrical or optical communication with the second plurality of wavelength tunable submodules, integrated onto the second chipset to form the module array.
23. The module array according to claim 22 wherein the first or second plurality of wavelength tunable submodules further comprises a signal combiner device, integrated onto the respective first or second chipset.
24. The module array according to claim 22 wherein the first or second plurality of wavelength tunable submodules comprises an array of tunable transmitter or tranceiver submodules integrated onto the respective first or second chipset with a signal combiner device.