Reflective panel for wireless applications

• US 20010026246A1
• Filed: 02/28/2001
• Published: 10/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ohio State Innovation Foundation (Ohio State University)
• Original Assignee: Ohio State University
• Inventors: Burnside, Walter D., Steinberger, David, Chuang, Chiwei
• Granted Patent: US 6,606,076 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/912
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/007 specially adapted for indoor communication
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/14 Reflecting surfaces; Equivalent structures electromagnetic shields H01Q1/526

Abstract

A reflective panel for deflecting electromagnetic waves comprised of a resistive material varying in resistivity across the panel; a center portion on the panel, having a predetermined resistivity; a periphery portion on the panel having a higher resistivity than the center portion; and wherein the center portion of the panel is adapted to reflect the electromagnetic waves and wherein the periphery portion is adapted to minimize diffractions.

Claims

1. A reflective panel for deflecting electromagnetic waves, comprising:

a resistive material varying in resistivity across the panel;

a center portion on the panel, having a predetermined resistivity or range of resistivity;

a periphery portion on the panel having a higher resistivity than said center portion;

wherein said center portion of said panel is adapted to reflect the electromagnetic waves and wherein said periphery portion is adapted to minimize diffractions.

2. A tapered reflective panel according to

claim 1

, wherein said resistive material is made of continuous tapered resistive material.

3. A tapered reflective panel according to

claim 1

, wherein said resistive material is made of discrete levels to simulate the desired taper.

4. A system having a reflective panel according to

claim 1

, wherein the reflective panel is placed behind an interfering antenna to reduce back radiation.

5. A system according to

claim 4

, wherein the reflective pattern is positioned in a predetermined position to deflect the back radiation to a desired wireless sector.

6. A system having a reflective panel according to

claim 1

, wherein a second reflective panel is used with the reflective panel to direct the reflected electromagnetic waves to a desired location .

7. A system according to

claim 6

, wherein said desired location is a wireless computer terminal inside a building.

8. A method for directing electromagnetic waves to a predetermined location, comprising the steps of:

providing a reflective panel, said reflective panel comprised of;

a. resistive material varying in resistivity across the panel;

b. a center portion on the panel, having a predetermined resistivity or range of resistivity;

c. a periphery portion on the panel having a higher resistivity than said center portion;

d. wherein said center portion of said panel is adapted to reflect the electromagnetic waves and wherein said periphery portion is adapted to minimize diffractions;

placing the reflective panel in a predetermined position relative to the predetermined location to deflect the electromagnetic waves to the predetermined location.

9. A system for reflecting electromagnetic waves, comprising:

a reflective panel, said reflective panel further comprised of;

a. resistive material varying in resistivity across the panel;

b. a center portion on the panel, having a predetermined resistivity or range of resistivity;

c. a periphery portion on the panel having a higher resistivity than said center portion;

d. wherein said center portion of said panel is adapted to reflect the electromagnetic waves and wherein said periphery portion is adapted to minimize diffractions;

an interfering antenna; and

wherein said reflective panel is placed behind said interfering antenna to reduce back radiation.