Electromagnetic cloaking and translation apparatus, methods, and systems

• US 20090218524A1
• 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:
  US12/074,248
• Publication Number:
  US 20090218524A1
• 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: 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

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

1-45. -45. (canceled)

46. An apparatus, comprising:

a steerable electromagnetic transducer having a field of view that is adjustable to include an obstruction; and

an electromagnetic cloaking structure operable to at least partially divert electromagnetic radiation around the obstruction.

47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the steerable electromagnetic transducer is electrically steerable.

48. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the steerable electromagnetic transducer is mechanically steerable.

49. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the steerable electromagnetic transducer is an antenna.

50. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the antenna is a receiver antenna.

51. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the antenna is a transmitter antenna.

52. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the antenna is a phased-array antenna.

53. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the antenna is operable in at least one frequency band, and the electromagnetic cloaking structure is operable to at least partially divert electromagnetic radiation in the at least one frequency band around the obstruction.

54. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the obstruction is at least a portion of a radome.

55. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the electromagnetic cloaking structure includes a metamaterial.

56. An apparatus, comprising:

an aperture antenna having an aperture-blocking element; and

an electromagnetic cloaking structure operable to at least partially divert electromagnetic radiation around the aperture-blocking element.

57. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the aperture antenna is a reflector antenna.

58. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the aperture-blocking element is a support member.

59. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein the support member is a feed support member.

60. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein the support member is a subreflector support member.

61. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the aperture-blocking element is a front-feed waveguide.

62. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the aperture antenna is a horn antenna.

63. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the electromagnetic cloaking structure includes a metamaterial.

64. A method, comprising:

steering an electromagnetic transducer, whereby an obstruction at least partially enters a field of view of the electromagnetic transducer; and

operating the electromagnetic transducer while removing electromagnetic effects of the obstruction by diverting electromagnetic radiation around the obstruction with an electromagnetic cloaking structure.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein the steering is mechanically steering.

66. The method of claim 64, wherein the steering is electrically steering.

67. A method, comprising:

identifying an obstruction positioned at least partially inside a field of regard of a first electromagnetic transducer;

operating the first electromagnetic transducer at a first frequency, while removing electromagnetic effects of the obstruction at the first frequency by diverting electromagnetic energy around the obstruction with an electromagnetic cloaking structure; and

adjusting the electromagnetic cloaking structure to be operable at a second frequency different than the first frequency.

68. The method of claim 67, further comprising:

operating the first electromagnetic transducer at the second frequency, while removing electromagnetic effects of the obstruction at the second frequency by diverting electromagnetic energy around the obstruction with the electromagnetic cloaking structure.

69. The method of claim 67, wherein the obstruction is also positioned at least partially inside a field of regard of a second electromagnetic transducer, and the method further comprises:

operating the second electromagnetic transducer at the second frequency, while removing electromagnetic effects of the obstruction at the second frequency by diverting electromagnetic energy around the obstruction with the electromagnetic cloaking structure.

70. The method of claim 69, further comprising:

steering the first electromagnetic transducer whereby the obstruction at least partially enters a field of view of the first electromagnetic transducer.

71. The method of claim 70, further comprising:

steering the first electromagnetic transducer whereby the obstruction at least partially exits the field of view of the first electromagnetic transducer.

72. The method of claim 71, wherein the adjusting of the electromagnetic cloaking structure substantially coincides with the steering of the first electromagnetic transducer whereby the obstruction at least partially exits the field of view of the first electromagnetic transducer.

73. The method of claim 70, further comprising:

steering the second electromagnetic transducer whereby the obstruction at least partially enters a field of view of the second electromagnetic transducer.

74. The method of claim 73, wherein the adjusting of the electromagnetic cloaking structure substantially coincides with the steering of the second electromagnetic transducer whereby the obstruction at least partially enters the field of view of the second electromagnetic transducer.