Electromagnetic cloaking and translation apparatus, methods, and systems

• US 20090218523A1
• Filed: 02/29/2008
• Published: 09/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Kare, Jordin T.
• Application Number:
  US12/074,247
• Publication Number:
  US 20090218523A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/505.100
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 20/00 Nanooptics, e.g. quantum optics or photonic crystals
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 3/00 Camouflage, i.e. means or methods for concealment or disguise for vessels B63G8/34, B63G13/02 ; sound camouflage, i.e. simulating gun fire noise, F41A33/04; dummy or decoy targets F41J; chaff per se F41J2/00; ammunition for dispensing chaff F42B5/15, F42B12/70; radar absorbing fabrics H01Q17/005
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 1/002 made of materials engineered to provide properties not available in nature, e.g. metamaterials
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 1/007 made of negative effective refractive index materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/0086 said selective devices having materials with a synthesized negative refractive index, e.g. metamaterials or left-handed materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 17/00 Devices for absorbing waves radiated from an antenna; Combinations of such devices with active antenna elements or systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/30 Arrangements for providing operation on different wavebands

Abstract

Apparatus, methods, and systems provide electromagnetic cloaking and/or translation. In some approaches the electromagnetic cloaking and/or translation is achieved with transformation media. In some approaches the electromagnetic cloaking and/or translation is achieved with metamaterials.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a first electromagnetic transducer operable at a first frequency and having a first field of regard;

a second electromagnetic transducer operable at a second frequency different than the first frequency, the second electromagnetic transducer positioned at least partially inside the first field of regard; and

a first electromagnetic cloaking structure operable to at least partially divert electromagnetic radiation at the first frequency around the second electromagnetic transducer.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second has a second field of regard, the first is positioned at least partially inside the second field of regard, and the apparatus further comprises:

a second electromagnetic cloaking structure operable to at least partially divert electromagnetic radiation at the second frequency around the first.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first is positioned at a first spatial location and the apparatus further comprises:

a first electromagnetic translation structure operable to provide a first apparent location of the first different than the first spatial location for electromagnetic radiation in the first frequency band.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising:

a focusing structure defining a focal region, where the first apparent location is in or substantially near the focal region.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the focusing structure includes a reflective structure.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the focusing structure includes a refractive structure.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the focusing structure includes a diffractive structure.

8. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the focusing structure is characterized by an f-number f/x where x is less than or equal to 5.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein x is less than or equal to 2.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein x is less than or equal to 1.

11. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the second is positioned at a second spatial location, and the first apparent location is substantially equal to the second spatial location.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

a focusing structure defining a focal region, where the first apparent location is in or substantially near the focal region.

13. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the second is positioned at a second spatial location and the apparatus further comprises:

a second electromagnetic translation structure operable to provide a second apparent location of the second different than the second spatial location for electromagnetic radiation at the second frequency.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the second apparent location is at or substantially near the first apparent location.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:

a focusing structure defining a focal region, where the first apparent location is in or substantially near the focal region.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first is positioned at a first spatial location and the apparatus further comprises:

a first electromagnetic translation structure operable to provide a first apparent location of the first different than the first spatial location for electromagnetic radiation at the first frequency.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the second is positioned at a second spatial location at or substantially near the first apparent location.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

a focusing structure defining a focal region, where the first apparent location is in or substantially near the focal region.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the second is positioned at a second spatial location and the apparatus further comprises:

a second electromagnetic translation structure operable to provide a second apparent location of the second different than the second spatial location for electromagnetic radiation at the second frequency.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the second apparent location is at or substantially near the first apparent location.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising:

a focusing structure defining a focal region, where the first apparent location is in or substantially near the focal region.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first is positioned at a first spatial location, the second is positioned at a second spatial location, and the apparatus further comprises:

an electromagnetic translation structure operable to provide an apparent location of the second different than the second spatial location for electromagnetic radiation at the second frequency.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the apparent location is at or substantially near the first spatial location.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising:

a focusing structure defining a focal region, where the apparent location is in or substantially near the focal region.

25. A method, comprising:

operating a first at a first frequency, the first having a first field of regard that includes a second; and

during the operating of the first, removing electromagnetic effects of the second at the first frequency, by at least partially cloaking the second from electromagnetic radiation at the first frequency.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the at least partially cloaking of the second includes at least partially diverting electromagnetic radiation at the first frequency around the second.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

operating the second at a second frequency different than the first frequency, the second having a second field of regard that includes the first; and

during the operating of the second, removing electromagnetic effects of the first at the second frequency by at least partially cloaking the first from electromagnetic radiation at the second frequency.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the at least partially cloaking of the first includes at least partially diverting electromagnetic radiation at the second frequency around the first.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

during the operating of the first, providing a first apparent location of the first different than a first actual location of the first by spatially translating electromagnetic radiation at the first frequency within the first field of regard.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the spatially translating of electromagnetic radiation at the first frequency includes refracting of electromagnetic radiation at the first frequency.

31. The method of claim 30, where the refracting of electromagnetic radiation at the first frequency is substantially nonreflectively refracting of electromagnetic radiation at the first frequency.

32. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

during the operating of the second, providing a second apparent location of the second different than a second actual location of the second by spatially translating electromagnetic radiation at the second frequency within the second field of regard.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the spatially translating of electromagnetic radiation at the second frequency includes refracting of electromagnetic radiation at the second frequency.

34. The method of claim 33, where the refracting of electromagnetic radiation at the second frequency is substantially nonreflectively refracting of electromagnetic radiation at the second frequency.

35. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

during the operating of the first, providing a first apparent location of the first different than a first actual location of the first by spatially translating electromagnetic radiation at the first frequency within the first field of regard.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

operating the second at a second frequency different than the first frequency, the second having a second field of regard; and

during the operating of the second, providing a second apparent location of the second different than a second actual location of the second by spatially translating electromagnetic radiation at the second frequency within the second field of regard.

37. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

operating the second at a second frequency different than the first frequency, the second having a second field of regard; and

during the operating of the second, providing an apparent location of the second different than an actual location of the second by spatially translating electromagnetic radiation at the second frequency within the second field of regard.

38. An apparatus, comprising:

a first operable at a first frequency and having a first field of regard;

a second operable at a second frequency different than the first frequency, the second positioned at least partially inside the first field of regard; and

a transformation medium having electromagnetic properties selected to at least partially cloak the second from electromagnetic radiation at the first frequency.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the second has a second field of regard that includes the first, and wherein the electromagnetic properties of the transformation medium are further selected to at least partially cloak the first from electromagnetic radiation at the second frequency.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the electromagnetic properties of the transformation medium are further selected to provide a first apparent location of the first different than a first actual location of the first for electromagnetic radiation at the first frequency.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the electromagnetic properties of the transformation medium are further selected to provide a second apparent location of the second different than a second actual location of the second for electromagnetic radiation at the second frequency.

42. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the electromagnetic properties of the transformation medium are further selected to provide a first apparent location of the first different than a first actual location of the first for electromagnetic radiation at the first frequency.

43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the electromagnetic properties of the transformation medium are further selected to provide a second apparent location of the second different than a second actual location of the second for electromagnetic radiation at the second frequency.

44. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the electromagnetic properties of the transformation optical medium are further selected to provide an apparent location of the second different than an actual location of the second for electromagnetic radiation at the second frequency.

45. An apparatus, comprising:

a first electromagnetic transducer operable at a first frequency;

a second electromagnetic transducer operable at a second frequency different than the first frequency; and

a transformation optical medium having electromagnetic properties selected to provide a first apparent location of the first electromagnetic transducer different than a first actual location of the first electromagnetic transducer for electromagnetic radiation at the first frequency, and further selected to provide a second apparent location of the second electromagnetic transducer different than a second actual location of the second electromagnetic transducer for electromagnetic radiation at the second frequency.

46-74. -74. (canceled)