Magnetic shutter antenna

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11114760-B2
Application number	US-201816197335-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 20, 2018
Priority date	Nov 20, 2017
Publication date	Sep 7, 2021
Grant date	Sep 7, 2021

Abstract

In one example embodiment, a magnetic shutter antenna is provided including at least one dipole magnet comprising a first end and a second end and at least one shutter of magnetically soft material comprising at least one opening and disposed proximate the first end of the at least one dipole magnet. The antenna further includes a motor coupled to the shutter and configured to move the shutter between a first closed position comprising the magnetic material being positioned adjacent the first end of the dipole magnet and a second open configuration comprising the opening being positioned adjacent the first end of the dipole magnet. Alternation between the first closed position and the second open position modulates a magnetic flux emitting from the first end of the at least one dipole magnet.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A magnetic shutter antenna comprising:
at least one dipole magnet comprising a first end and a second end;
at least one shutter of magnetically soft material comprising at least one opening and disposed proximate the first end of the at least one dipole magnet; and
a motor coupled to the shutter, the motor configured to move the shutter between a first closed position comprising the magnetic material being positioned adjacent the first end of the dipole magnet and a second open configuration comprising the opening being positioned adjacent the first end of the dipole magnet,
wherein alternation between the first closed position and the second open position modulates a magnetic flux emitting from the first end of the at least one dipole magnet.

2. The magnetic shutter antenna of claim 1 wherein the motor is adapted to rotate the at least one shutter to alternate the antenna between the first closed position and the second open position and modulate the magnetic flux emitting from the first end of the dipole magnet.

3. The magnetic shutter antenna of claim 2 wherein the at least one dipole magnet comprises a plurality of dipole magnets disposed in an array.

4. The magnetic shutter antenna of claim 2 wherein the at least one dipole magnet comprises a plurality of dipole magnets disposed in a radial array.

5. The magnetic shutter antenna of claim 4 wherein the radial array of dipole magnets comprises a center recess disposed between the plurality of dipole magnets.

6. The magnetic shutter antenna of claim 5 wherein the motor is disposed within the recess.

7. The magnetic shutter antenna of claim 6 wherein the at least one dipole magnet comprises at least two dipole magnets that form a magnetic component of the motor.

8. The magnetic shutter antenna of claim 6 wherein the at least one dipole magnet comprises at least two dipole magnets that form a component of the motor and the motor comprises at least one rotor configured to index grooves formed in an internal surface of the at least two dipole magnets.

9. The magnetic shutter antenna of claim 1 wherein the motor is adapted to translate the at least one shutter to alternate the antenna between the first closed position and the second open position and modulate the magnetic flux emitting from the first end of the dipole magnet.

10. A magnetic shutter antenna comprising:
at least one dipole magnet comprising a first end and a second end;
a first shutter of magnetically soft material comprising at least one opening and disposed proximate the first end of the at least one dipole magnet;
a second shutter of magnetically soft material comprising at least one opening and disposed proximate the second end of the at least one dipole magnet; and
at least one motor coupled to the first and second shutters, the at least one motor configured to move the first and second shutters between a first closed position comprising the magnetic material of the first and second shutters being positioned adjacent the first and second ends of the at least one dipole magnet and a second open configuration comprising the openings of the first and second shutters being positioned adjacent the first and second end of the at least one dipole magnet,
wherein alternation between the first closed position and the second open position modulates a magnetic flux emitting from the first and second ends of the at least one dipole magnet.

11. The magnetic shutter antenna of claim 10 wherein the motor is adapted to rotate the first and second shutters to alternate the antenna between the first closed position and the second open position and modulate the magnetic flux emitting from the first end of the dipole magnet.

12. The magnetic shutter antenna of claim 11 wherein the at least one dipole magnet comprises a plurality of dipole magnets disposed in an array.

13. The magnetic shutter antenna of claim 11 wherein the at least one dipole magnet comprises a plurality of dipole magnets disposed in a radial array.

14. The magnetic shutter antenna of claim 13 wherein the radial array of dipole magnets comprises a center recess disposed between the plurality of dipole magnets.

15. The magnetic shutter antenna of claim 14 wherein the motor is disposed within the recess.

16. The magnetic shutter antenna of claim 15 wherein the at least one dipole magnet comprises at least two dipole magnets that form a magnetic component of the motor.

17. The magnetic shutter antenna of claim 15 wherein the at least one dipole magnet comprises at least two dipole magnets that form a component of the motor and the motor comprises at least one rotor configured to index grooves formed in an internal surface of the at least two dipole magnets.

18. The magnetic shutter antenna of claim 10 wherein the motor is adapted to translate the at least one shutter to alternate the antenna between the first closed position and the second open position and modulate the magnetic flux emitting from the first end of the dipole magnet.

19. A method of transmitting a signal with an antenna, the method comprising:
providing a magnetic shutter antenna comprising:
at least one dipole magnet comprising a first end and a second end;
at least one shutter of magnetically soft material comprising at least one opening and disposed proximate the first end of the at least one dipole magnet; and
a motor coupled to the shutter, the motor configured to move the shutter between a first closed position comprising the magnetic material being positioned adjacent the first end of the dipole magnet and a second open configuration comprising the opening being positioned adjacent the first end of the dipole magnet,

controlling the motor to alternate the at least one shutter between the first closed position and the second open position modulates a magnetic flux emitting from the first end of the at least one dipole magnet.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the operation of controlling the motor comprises controlling the motor to rotate or translate the at least one shutter between the first closed position and the second open position.

Assignees

• Univ Colorado Regents

Inventors

• Golkowski Mark
• Park Jae-Do
• Rorrer Ronald A L
• Celinski Zbigniew

Classifications

• H01Q3/2611

  Means for null steering; Adaptive interference nulling · CPC title

• H01Q3/20

  wherein the primary active element is fixed and the reflecting device is movable · CPC title

• H01Q3/04

  for varying one co-ordinate of the orientation · CPC title

• H01Q3/44 Primary

  varying the electric or magnetic characteristics of reflecting, refracting, or diffracting devices associated with the radiating element · CPC title

• H01Q1/1264

  Adjusting different parts or elements of an aerial unit · CPC title