Surface scattering antennas
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method, comprising:
- selecting a first antenna radiation pattern; and
for an antenna that includes a waveguide supporting a guided wave mode and a plurality of subwavelength scattering elements coupled to the guided wave mode, the scattering elements being adjustable responsive to one or more control inputs, determining first values of the one or more control inputs corresponding to the first selected antenna radiation pattern;
wherein the guided wave mode is within the waveguide;
wherein the waveguide includes an upper conductor, the scattering elements are arranged along the upper conductor, and the guided wave mode is beneath the upper conductor;
wherein the plurality of scattering elements corresponds to a respective plurality of apertures in the upper conductor; and
wherein the plurality of scattering elements includes a respective plurality of conducting islands that are electrically disconnected from the upper conductor, and the antenna further includes a plurality of bias voltage lines configured to provide respective bias voltages between the upper conductor and the respective plurality of conducting islands.
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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 complementary metamaterial 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
45 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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selecting a first antenna radiation pattern; and for an antenna that includes a waveguide supporting a guided wave mode and a plurality of subwavelength scattering elements coupled to the guided wave mode, the scattering elements being adjustable responsive to one or more control inputs, determining first values of the one or more control inputs corresponding to the first selected antenna radiation pattern; wherein the guided wave mode is within the waveguide; wherein the waveguide includes an upper conductor, the scattering elements are arranged along the upper conductor, and the guided wave mode is beneath the upper conductor; wherein the plurality of scattering elements corresponds to a respective plurality of apertures in the upper conductor; and wherein the plurality of scattering elements includes a respective plurality of conducting islands that are electrically disconnected from the upper conductor, and the antenna further includes a plurality of bias voltage lines configured to provide respective bias voltages between the upper conductor and the respective plurality of conducting islands. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A system, comprising:
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antenna control circuitry configured to provide one or more control inputs to an antenna that includes a waveguide supporting a guided wave mode and a plurality of subwavelength scattering elements coupled to the guided wave mode and adjustable responsive to the one or more control inputs; wherein the guided wave mode is within the waveguide; wherein the waveguide includes an upper conductor, the scattering elements are arranged along the upper conductor, and the guided wave mode is beneath the upper conductor; wherein the plurality of scattering elements corresponds to a respective plurality of apertures in the upper conductor; and wherein the plurality of scattering elements includes a respective plurality of conducting islands that are electrically disconnected from the upper conductor, and the antenna further includes a plurality of bias voltage lines configured to provide respective bias voltages between the upper conductor and the respective plurality of conducting islands. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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Specification