Surface scattering antenna improvements
First Claim
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1. An antenna, comprising:
- a waveguide; and
a plurality of subwavelength elements distributed along the waveguide with inter-element spacings less than one-third of a free-space wavelength corresponding to an operating frequency of the antenna, where the plurality of subwavelength elements have a plurality of adjustable individual electromagnetic responses to a guided wave mode of the waveguide, and the plurality of adjustable individual electromagnetic responses provide an adjustable radiation field of the antenna;
wherein the waveguide includes a conducting surface, and the plurality of subwavelength elements corresponds to a plurality of conducting patches respectively positioned at least partially above a respective plurality of irises in the conducting surface; and
wherein the plurality of conducting patches is configured to provide a plurality of individual radiation fields responsive to iris-intermediated couplings between the conducting patches and the guided wave mode.
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Abstract
Surface scattering antennas provide adjustable radiation fields by adjustably coupling scattering elements along a wave-propagating structure. In some approaches, the scattering elements are patch elements. In some approaches, the scattering elements are made adjustable by disposing an electrically adjustable material, such as a liquid crystal, in proximity to the scattering elements. Methods and systems provide control and adjustment of surface scattering antennas for various applications.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. An antenna, comprising:
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a waveguide; and a plurality of subwavelength elements distributed along the waveguide with inter-element spacings less than one-third of a free-space wavelength corresponding to an operating frequency of the antenna, where the plurality of subwavelength elements have a plurality of adjustable individual electromagnetic responses to a guided wave mode of the waveguide, and the plurality of adjustable individual electromagnetic responses provide an adjustable radiation field of the antenna; wherein the waveguide includes a conducting surface, and the plurality of subwavelength elements corresponds to a plurality of conducting patches respectively positioned at least partially above a respective plurality of irises in the conducting surface; and wherein the plurality of conducting patches is configured to provide a plurality of individual radiation fields responsive to iris-intermediated couplings between the conducting patches and the guided wave mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An antenna, comprising:
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a waveguide; and a plurality of subwavelength elements distributed along the waveguide with inter-element spacings less than one-third of a free-space wavelength corresponding to an operating frequency of the antenna, where the plurality of subwavelength elements are a plurality of subwavelength patch elements having a plurality of adjustable individual electromagnetic responses to a guided wave mode of the waveguide, and the plurality of adjustable individual electromagnetic responses provide an adjustable radiation field of the antenna; where the plurality of subwavelength elements includes first and second subsets of subwavelength elements having radiation patterns that are substantially orthogonal. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An antenna, comprising:
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a waveguide; and a plurality of subwavelength patch elements distributed along the waveguide with inter-element spacings less than one-third of a free-space wavelength corresponding to an operating frequency of the antenna, where the plurality of subwavelength patch elements have a plurality of adjustable individual electromagnetic responses to a guided wave mode of the waveguide, and the plurality of adjustable individual electromagnetic responses provide an adjustable radiation field of the antenna; wherein the waveguide includes a conducting surface, and the plurality of subwavelength elements corresponds to a plurality of conducting patches respectively positioned at least partially above a respective plurality of irises in the conducting surface; and wherein the antenna further comprises; a plurality of biasing circuits configured to provide respective bias voltages between the plurality of conducting patches and the conducting surface; a set of row control lines each addressing a row of the plurality of biasing circuits; and a set of column control lines each addressing a column of the plurality of biasing circuits. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification