Surface scattering reflector antenna

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9935375-B2
Application number	US-201314102253-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 10, 2013
Priority date	Dec 10, 2013
Publication date	Apr 3, 2018
Grant date	Apr 3, 2018

Abstract

A surface scattering reflector antenna includes a plurality of adjustable scattering elements and is configured to produce a reflected beam pattern according to the configuration of the adjustable scattering elements.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a substrate; and
a plurality of scattering elements each having an adjustable individual electromagnetic response to an incident electromagnetic wave in an operating frequency range, the plurality of scattering elements being arranged in a pattern on the substrate, the pattern having an inter-element spacing selected according to the operating frequency range;
wherein the substrate and the plurality of scattering elements form a reflective structure that is responsive to reflect a portion of the incident electromagnetic wave to produce an adjustable radiation field responsive to the adjustable individual electromagnetic responses; and
wherein the operating frequency range has a center frequency and a free-space wavelength corresponding to the center frequency, and wherein the inter-element spacing is less than one-third of the free space wavelength.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of scattering elements is a plurality of substantially identical scattering elements.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the inter-element spacing is less than one-fourth of the free space wavelength.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the substrate has a first reflectivity in the operating frequency range and the plurality of scattering elements have a second reflectivity in the operating frequency range, and wherein the first reflectivity is different from the second reflectivity.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the scattering elements form a one-dimensional array on the substrate structure.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a source configured to provide the incident electromagnetic wave.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
control circuitry coupled to the plurality of scattering elements and configured to provide a set of adjustments of the adjustable individual electromagnetic responses.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the scattering elements includes an electrically adjustable material configured to provide the adjustable individual electromagnetic responses.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the adjustable individual electromagnetic response of the plurality of scattering elements is configured to be discretely adjustable.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the adjustable individual electromagnetic response of the plurality of scattering elements is configured to be continuously adjustable.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one scattering element in the plurality of scattering elements includes a metamaterial element.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one scattering element in the plurality of scattering elements includes a complementary metamaterial element.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the reflective structure is substantially planar.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the reflective structure is substantially parabolic.

15. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the source includes a horn antenna.

16. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the source is configured to produce a substantially planar wave.

17. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the source includes a Schwartzchild configuration.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the incident electromagnetic wave is an incident free-space electromagnetic wave.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the substrate includes a metallic layer in contact with a non-metallic layer, and wherein the plurality of scattering elements corresponds to a plurality of apertures in the metallic layer.

20. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the electrically adjustable material includes liquid crystal.

21. An apparatus comprising:
a substrate; and
a plurality of scattering elements each having an adjustable individual electromagnetic response to an incident electromagnetic wave in an operating frequency range, the plurality of scattering elements being arranged in a pattern on the substrate, the pattern having an inter-element spacing selected according to the operating frequency range;
wherein the substrate and the plurality of scattering elements form a reflective structure that is responsive to reflect a portion of the incident electromagnetic wave to produce an adjustable radiation field responsive to the adjustable individual electromagnetic responses; and
wherein the substrate includes a metallic layer in contact with a non-metallic layer, and wherein the plurality of scattering elements corresponds to a plurality of apertures in the metallic layer.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the plurality of scattering elements is a plurality of substantially identical scattering elements.

23. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the operating frequency range has a center frequency and a free-space wavelength corresponding to the center frequency, and wherein the inter-element spacing is less than one-third of the free space wavelength.

24. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the substrate has a first reflectivity in the operating frequency range and the plurality of scattering elements have a second reflectivity in the operating frequency range, and wherein the first reflectivity is different from the second reflectivity.

25. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the scattering elements form a one-dimensional array on the substrate structure.

26. The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising a source configured to provide the incident electromagnetic wave.

27. The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising:
control circuitry coupled to the plurality of scattering elements and configured to provide a set of adjustments of the adjustable individual electromagnetic responses.

28. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein each of the scattering elements includes an electrically adjustable material configured to provide the adjustable individual electromagnetic responses.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the electrically adjustable material includes liquid crystal.

30. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the adjustable individual electromagnetic response of the plurality of scattering elements is configured to be discretely adjustable.

31. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the adjustable individual electromagnetic response of the plurality of scattering elements is configured to be continuously adjustable.

32. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein at least one scattering element in the plurality of scattering elements includes a metamaterial element.

33. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein at least one scattering element in the plurality of scattering elements includes a complementary metamaterial element.

34. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the incident electromagnetic wave is an incident free-space electromagnetic wave.

35. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the scattering elements form a two-dimensional array on the substrate.

36. An apparatus comprising:
a substrate; and
a plurality of scattering elements each having an adjustable individual electromagnetic response to an incident electromagnetic wave in an operating frequency range, the plurality of scattering elements being arranged in a pattern on the substrate, the pattern having an inter-element spacing selected according to the operating frequency range;
wherein the substrate

Assignees

• Elwha Llc

Inventors

• Bowers Jeffrey A
• Brady David Jones
• Driscoll Tom
• Hunt John Desmond
• Hyde Roderick A
• Landy Nathan Ingle
• Lipworth Guy Shlomo
• Mrozack Alexander
• Smith David R
• Tegreene Clarence T

Classifications

• H01Q15/006 Primary

  Selective devices having photonic band gap materials or materials of which the material properties are frequency dependent, e.g. perforated substrates, high-impedance surfaces · CPC title

• H01Q3/44 Primary

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

• H01Q15/14 Primary

  Reflecting surfaces; Equivalent structures {(electromagnetic shields H01Q1/526)} · CPC title

• H01Q19/10

  using reflecting surfaces · CPC title

• H01Q15/0086

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