Scanning meta-material antenna and method of scanning with a meta-material antenna
First Claim
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1. A method, comprising:
- electronically scanning, by an antenna of an aircraft using avionics circuitry, an environment of the aircraft,wherein the electronically scanning comprises;
transmitting or receiving an electrical frequency over the antenna, wherein the antenna comprises a negative index of refraction meta-material, andapplying, using the avionics circuitry, an electric field to a substrate of the antenna to control a dielectric constant of the negative index of refraction meta-material of the antenna.
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Abstract
Various antennas and systems of antennas can benefit from meta-material construction. For example, avionics antennas including weather antennas may benefit from being constructed of meta-materials. A method can include, for example, electronically scanning, by an antenna of an aircraft, an environment of the aircraft. The electronically scanning can include transmitting or receiving an electrical frequency over the antenna. The antenna can include a negative index of refraction meta-material. The electronically scanning can also include applying an electric field to control a dielectric constant of the antenna.
20 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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electronically scanning, by an antenna of an aircraft using avionics circuitry, an environment of the aircraft, wherein the electronically scanning comprises; transmitting or receiving an electrical frequency over the antenna, wherein the antenna comprises a negative index of refraction meta-material, and applying, using the avionics circuitry, an electric field to a substrate of the antenna to control a dielectric constant of the negative index of refraction meta-material of the antenna. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 22)
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8. An apparatus, comprising:
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avionics circuitry configured to scan an environment of an aircraft in which the avionics circuitry is installed; and an antenna comprising a negative index of refraction meta-material, wherein the avionics circuitry is configured to apply an electric field to a substrate of the antenna to control a dielectric constant of the negative index of refraction meta-material of the antenna, and wherein the avionics circuitry is configured to scan the environment of the aircraft using the antenna. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method, comprising:
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electronically communicating, by an antenna of an aircraft, with a remote device, wherein the electronically communicating comprises; transmitting or receiving an electrical frequency over the antenna, wherein the antenna comprises a negative index of refraction meta-material, and applying, by avionics circuitry of the aircraft, an electric field to a substrate of the antenna to control a dielectric constant of the negative index of refraction meta-material of the antenna, wherein the electrical frequency comprises an avionics frequency. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. An apparatus, comprising:
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means for scanning an environment of an aircraft in which the means for scanning is installed; and antenna means comprising a negative index of refraction meta-material, wherein the means for scanning comprises means for applying an electric field to control a dielectric constant of the negative index of refraction meta-material of the antenna, and wherein the means for scanning is configured to scan the environment of the aircraft using the antenna means. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. The apparatus of 18, further comprising:
a plurality of meta-material antennas configured to create a summed signal in space.
Specification