Reconfigurable dielectric waveguide antenna
First Claim
1. An evanescent coupling antenna, comprising:
- a transmission line through which an electromagnetic signal is transmitted;
a metal antenna plate having an evanescent coupling edge with a selectably variable electromagnetic coupling geometry located adjacent the transmission line so as to permit evanescent coupling between the transmission line and the antenna plate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A reconfigurable directional antenna for transmission and reception of electromagnetic radiation includes a transmission line aligned with and adjacent to a metal antenna element with an evanescent coupling edge having a selectively variable electromagnetic coupling geometry. The shape and direction of the beam are determined by the selected coupling geometry of the coupling edge, as determined by the pattern of electrical connections selected for physical edge features of the coupling edge. The electrical connections between the edge features are selected by the selective actuation of an array of “on-off” switches that close and open electrical connections between individual edge features. The selection of the “on” or “off” state of the individual switches thus changes the electromagnetic geometry of the coupling edge, and, therefore the direction and shape of the transmitted or received beam. The actuation of the switches may be accomplished under the control of an appropriately-programmed computer.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. An evanescent coupling antenna, comprising:
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a transmission line through which an electromagnetic signal is transmitted;
a metal antenna plate having an evanescent coupling edge with a selectably variable electromagnetic coupling geometry located adjacent the transmission line so as to permit evanescent coupling between the transmission line and the antenna plate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An evanescent coupling antenna, comprising:
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a transmission line through which an electromagnetic signal is transmitted; and
a multilayer coupling structure spaced from and aligned with the transmission line, the coupling structure comprising;
a metal base layer;
a semiconductor layer disposed on the base layer, the semiconductor layer having an upper surface that is doped to provide a pattern of switch electrodes thereon;
a first insulation layer formed on top of the semiconductor layer so as to leave exposed the switch electrodes;
an array of conductive contacts provided on the first insulation layer, each of the contacts having a first end portion extending through the first insulation layer to contact one of the exposed switch electrodes;
a second insulation layer formed on top of the first insulation layer so as to cover the array of contacts except for an exposed second end portion of each of the contacts; and
a metal antenna layer formed on top of the second insulation layer, the antenna layer defining an evanescent coupling edge having alternating concavities and convexities, each of the convexities overlying an adjacent pair of contacts;
whereby selected electrode pairs may be energized through the contacts to form a conductive link between each energized electrode pair that is capacitively coupled to corresponding ones of the convexities. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An evanescent coupling antenna, comprising:
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a stacked array of planar antenna elements defining substantially parallel planes, each of the antenna elements having an evanescent coupling edge with a selectably variable electromagnetic coupling geometry; and
a transmission line element located adjacent the stacked array of antenna elements so as to permit evanescent coupling between the transmission line element and the coupling edges of the antenna elements. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification