Transmitting wideband signals through an electrically small antenna using antenna modulation

• US 10,097,217 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2015
• Issued: 10/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc. (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University)
• Original Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc. (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University)
• Inventors: Manteghi, Majid
• Primary Examiner(s): Trinh, Sonny
• Application Number:
  US15/529,129
• Publication Number:
  US 20170279471A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,054 Days
• Field of Search: 455121, 4551931, 455107, 343745
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/25 Ultra-wideband [UWB] systems, e.g. multiple resonance systems; Pulse systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/328 between a radiating element and ground
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/06 Details
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/04 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

The present invention provides methods and devices to radiate wideband signals. The devices may include a tunable high Q narrowband antenna having a plurality of ports including a feed port and a tuning port as well as a tuning element coupled to the tuning port of the antenna. One or more voltage sources supply energy for radiating a radio frequency signal. A modulating signal generator may also be provided for generating a high data rate signal coupled at the tuning element for modulating the tuning element.

Claims

1. An electrically small device configured to radiate wideband signals, comprising:

a tunable high Q narrowband antenna having a plurality of ports including a feed port and a tuning port;

a tuning element coupled to the tuning port of said antenna;

a voltage source supplying energy to said antenna for radiating a radio frequency signal;

a modulating signal generator for generating a high data rate signal coupled at the tuning element for modulating the tuning element;

said tuning element comprises a plurality of capacitors coupled to the tuning port of said antenna with a plurality of switches; and

said plurality of switches alternately couple said voltage source to the plurality of capacitors and said plurality of switches couple said plurality of capacitors to the tuning port of said antenna with a modulating signal generator controlling the plurality of switches according to a high data rate signal for modulating the tuning element while supplying energy to said antenna for radiating the radio frequency signal.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the tuning element comprises at least one variable reactive component.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the variable reactive component comprises one or more of a capacitor, an inductor, and a resistor element.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the voltage source is coupled to the feed port of said antenna and supplies a continuous wave (CW) radio frequency signal.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the voltage source is coupled to the feed port of said antenna and supplies a variable radio frequency signal.

6. The device of claim 1, further including a modulating signal generator that controls said plurality of switches at the tuning element according to a high data rate signal for modulating the tuning element.

7. An electrically small device configured to radiate wideband signals, comprising:

a tunable high Q narrowband antenna having a plurality of ports including a feed port and a tuning port;

a tuning element coupled to the tuning port of said antenna;

a voltage source supplying energy to said antenna for radiating a radio frequency signal;

a modulating signal generator for generating a high data rate signal coupled at the tuning element for modulating the tuning element;

said voltage source comprises a variable radio frequency source for supplying energy to said antenna; and

said modulating signal generator further controls the variable radio frequency source according to a high data rate signal for modulating the energy to said antenna for radiating the radio frequency signal.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the tuning element comprises at least one variable reactive component.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the variable reactive component comprises one or more of a capacitor, an inductor, and a resistor element.

10. The device of claim 7, wherein the voltage source is coupled to the feed port of said antenna and supplies a continuous wave (CW) radio frequency signal.

11. The device of claim 7, wherein the voltage source is coupled to the feed port of said antenna and supplies a variable radio frequency signal.

12. The device of claim 7, further including a modulating signal generator that controls said plurality of switches at the tuning element according to a high data rate signal for modulating the tuning element.

13. An electrically small device configured to radiate wideband signals, comprising:

a tunable high Q narrowband antenna having a plurality of ports including a feed port and a tuning port;

a tuning element coupled to the tuning port of said antenna;

a voltage source supplying energy to said antenna for radiating a radio frequency signal;

a modulating signal generator for generating a high data rate signal coupled at the tuning element for modulating the tuning element;

said voltage source comprises a variable radio frequency source for supplying energy to said antenna; and

said one of the plurality of ports of said antenna is further coupled a variable radio frequency source to further control the variable radio frequency source supplying energy to said antenna for radiating the radio frequency signal.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the tuning element comprises at least one variable reactive component.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the variable reactive component comprises one or more of a capacitor, an inductor, and a resistor element.

16. The device of claim 13, wherein the voltage source is coupled to the feed port of said antenna and supplies a continuous wave (CW) radio frequency signal.

17. The device of claim 13, wherein the voltage source is coupled to the feed port of said antenna and supplies a variable radio frequency signal.

18. The device of claim 13, further including a modulating signal generator that controls said plurality of switches at the tuning element according to a high data rate signal for modulating the tuning element.

19. A method of radiating wideband high data rate radio frequency signals, comprising:

providing a tunable high Q narrowband antenna with a plurality of ports including a feed port and a tuning port;

coupling a tuning element to the tuning port of said antenna;

supplying a voltage source for radiating radio frequency signal energy from said antenna;

generating a high data rate signal coupled at the tuning element for modulating the tuning element with a modulating signal generator;

providing the tuning element with a plurality of capacitors coupled to the tuning port of said antenna with a plurality of switches; and

said plurality of switches alternately couple the voltage source to the plurality of capacitors and said plurality of switches couple the plurality of capacitors to the tuning port of said antenna with the modulating signal generator controlling the plurality of switches according to the high data rate signal for modulating the tuning element while supplying energy to said antenna for radiating the radio frequency signal.

20. The method of claim 19, further providing the tuning element with a plurality of capacitors coupled to the tuning port of said antenna through a plurality of switches;

and controlling the plurality of switches at the tuning element with a modulating signal generator according to a high data rate signal for modulating the tuning element.