Reconfigurable Metamaterial Apparatus and Methods for Microwave Focusing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020028271-A1
Application number	US-201715654980-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 20, 2017
Priority date	Jul 20, 2017
Publication date	Jan 23, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A reconfigurable metamaterial apparatus, having a metamaterial structure capable of focusing incoming radiation, the incoming radiation having at least one of a normal incoming radiation and an off-axis incoming radiation. The metamaterial structure has a matrix frame structure and an array of elements disposed in relation to the matrix frame structure. The array has a refractive index gradient profile. Each element has a material with a specific refractive index corresponding to its location in the array; and each element has an alterability feature for facilitating selectively altering its refractive index. The alterability feature has at least one of an interchangeability feature and a tunability feature. The refractive index gradient profile is at least one of tunable and optimizable for at least one parameter of focal stength and frequency, whereby undesirable signals from the incoming radiation are wave-guidable for areal dissipation, and whereby delicate equipment is protectable.

First claim

What is claimed:

1 . A reconfigurable metamaterial apparatus, comprising:
a matrix frame structure; and an array of elements , each element comprising a material having a specific refractive index corresponding to its location in the array, wherein the refractive index gradient profile is tunablefor one parameter of focal stength and frequency.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising,
an interchangeability feature that facilitates interchanging any such element with another element comprising one of another element in the array having a different refractive index and any other element having a different refractive index.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising,
an alterability feature that facilitates selectively changing symmetry of the refractive index profile along at least one axis.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each element of the array comprises at least one geometry of a helical configuration, a spring configuration, and a material “block” having controlled material properties.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each element of the array comprises at least one material of a metal, an alloy, a metallic material, a polymeric material, a composite material, a dispersive material, a liquid material, a gaseous material, and a plasma material.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 ,
wherein each element of the array is configured for one of alternating handedness and same handedness, and wherein chiral effects are minimizable if each element is configured for alternating handedness, and wherein chiral effects are maximizable if each element is configured for same handedness.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the array of elements is optimizable for frequency in an X-band range.

8 . The apparatus of claim 2 ,
wherein the refractive index profile is predetermined and tunable as a function of a desired focal control, and wherein a mechanical force effects reversibly deforming each element in any direction by at least one of tensing, straining, compressing, torquing, and bending.

9 . The apparatus of claim 2 ,
wherein the refractive index profile is predetermined and tunable as a function of a desired focal control, and an electromotive force, wherein the electromotive force, by way of at least one of a varactor, a variable capacitor, a potentiometer, and a transistor of any kind, adjusts at least one of permittivity and permeability of each element by effecting a change in at least one of capacitance, inductance, resistance and voltage.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 ,
wherein the array of elements is embeddable in the matrix frame structure, and wherein a solid composite material is formable, and wherein each element of the array remains reversibly deformable.

11 . A method of fabricating a reconfigurable metamaterial apparatus, comprising:
providing a metamaterial structure capable of focusing incoming radiation, the incoming radiation comprising at least one of a normal incoming radiation and an off-axis incoming radiation, providing the metamaterial structure comprising:
providing a matrix frame structure; and
providing an array of elements disposed in relation to the matrix frame structure, providing the array comprising providing the array with a refractive index gradient profile, providing the array comprising providing each element with a material having a specific refractive index corresponding to its location in the array, and providing the array comprising providing each element with an alterability feature for facilitating selectively altering its refractive index, providing each element with the alterability feature comprising providing at least one of an interchangeability feature and a tunability feature,
wherein providing the array comprises providing the array with the refractive index gradient profile that is at least one of tunable and optimizable for at least one parameter of focal stength and frequency, whereby undesirable signals from the incoming radiation are wave-guidable for areal dissipation, and whereby delicate equipment is protectable.

12 . The method of claim 11 ,
wherein providing the interchangeability feature facilitates interchanging each such element with another element comprising one of another element in the array having a different refractive index and any other element having a different refractive index, and wherein providing the tunability feature facilitates reversibly deforming each element by at least one of a mechanical force and an electromotive force.

13 . The method of claim 11 ,
wherein providing the alterability feature facilitates selectively changing symmetry of the refractive index profile along at least one axis, and wherein providing the alterability feature facilitates at least one of beam focusing and beam splitting.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein providing the array comprising providing each element with at least one geometry of a helical configuration, a spring configuration, and a material block having at least one controlled material property.

15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein providing the array comprises providing each element with at least one material of a metal, an alloy, a metallic material, a polymeric material, a composite material, a dispersive material, a liquid material, a gaseous material, and a plasma material.

16 . The method of claim 11 ,
wherein providing the array comprises configuring each element for one of alternating handedness and same handedness, and whereby chiral effects are minimizable if providing the array comprises configuring each element for alternating handedness, and whereby chiral effects are maximizable if providing the array comprises configuring each element for same handedness.

17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein providing the array of elements comprises optimizing the array for frequency in an X-band range.

18 . The method of claim 12 ,
wherein providing the array comprises predetermining the refractive index profile and providing each element being tunable as a function of a desired focal control, and wherein providing the array comprises providing each element as reversibly deformable by the mechanical force in any direction by at least one of tensing, straining, compressing, torquing, and bending, and wherein providing the array comprises providing each element as reversibly deformable by the electromotive force, via at least one of a varactor, a variable capacitor, a potentiometer, and a transistor of any kind, and adjusts a permittivity or permeability of the material through changes in capacitance, inductance, resistance and/or voltage.

19 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising embedding the array of elements is in the matrix frame structure, thereby forming a solid composite material, and wherein each element of the array remains reversibly deformable.

20 . A method of focusing waves by way of a reconfigurable metamaterial apparatus, comprising:
providing the reconfigurable metamaterial apparatus, providing the reconfigurable metamaterial comprising providing a metamaterial structure capable of focusing incoming radiation, the incoming radiation comprising at least one of a normal incoming radiation and an off-axis incoming radiation, providing the metamaterial structure comprising:
providing a matrix frame structure; and
providing an array of elements disposed in relation to the matrix frame structure, providing the array comprising providing the array with a refractive index gra

Assignees

• Spawar Systems Ct Pacific
• Us Navy

Inventors

• Wheeland Sara R
• Rockway John D
• Sternberg Oren
• Perez Israel

Classifications

• H01Q15/0086 Primary

  said selective devices having materials with a synthesized negative refractive index, e.g. metamaterials or left-handed materials · CPC title

• H01Q15/10 Primary

  comprising three-dimensional [3D] array of impedance discontinuities, e.g. holes in conductive surfaces or conductive discs forming artificial dielectric · CPC title

• H01Q3/46

  Active lenses or reflecting arrays · CPC title

• H01Q15/02 Primary

  Refracting or diffracting devices, e.g. lens, prism · CPC title