Multilayer metamaterial isolator

• US 20100079217A1
• Filed: 09/30/2008
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Morton, Matthew A., Buell, Kevin, Imholt, Jiyun C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,773,033 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 333/24.200
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/2005 Electromagnetic photonic bandgaps [EPB], or photonic bandgaps [PBG]
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/365 Resonance absorption isolators
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/523 between antennas of an array
• 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: Y10T 29/49016 Antenna or wave energy "plumbing" making

Abstract

A multilayer metamaterial isolator and method of fabricating the same. A first layer or surface of a multilayer dielectric substrate includes a first leg of a first resonator loop. A second layer or surface of the multilayer dielectric substrate includes a second leg of the first resonator loop. A third leg of the first resonator loop extends through the multilayer dielectric substrate interconnecting the first and second legs of the first resonator loop.

Claims

1. A multilayer metamaterial isolator comprising:

a multilayer dielectric substrate;

a first layer or surface of the multilayer dielectric substrate including a first leg of a first resonator loop;

a second layer or surface of the multilayer dielectric substrate including a second leg of the first resonator loop; and

a third leg of the first resonator loop extending through the multilayer dielectric substrate interconnecting the first and second legs of the first resonator loop.

2. The isolator of claim 1 further including a second resonator loop having:

a first leg on the one layer or surface of the multilayer dielectric substrate adjacent the first leg of the first resonator loop,

a second leg on a different layer or surface of the multilayer dielectric substrate adjacent the second leg of the first resonator loop, and

a third leg extending through the multilayer dielectric substrate interconnecting the first and second legs of the second resonator loop.

3. The isolator of claim 2 in which the second legs of the first and second resonator loops include interdigitated spaced fingers.

4. The isolator of claim 1 in which the first and second layers of the multilayer dielectric substrate are separated by intermediate layers of the multilayer dielectric substrate.

5. The isolator of claim 1 in which the first leg and the second leg of the first resonator loop are offset.

6. The isolator of claim 1 in which the first resonator loop constitutes a unit cell, the isolator further including a strip of adjacent unit cells.

7. The isolator of claim 6 in which the multilayer dielectric substrate further includes adjacent patch radiators separated by said strip.

8. The isolator of claim 6 in which the multilayer dielectric substrate includes an array of radiators surrounded at least in part by said strip.

9. The isolator of claim 6 further including a first subsystem separated from a second subsystem by said strip.

10. The isolator of claim 9 in which the first subsystem includes a radar transmission subsystem and the second subsystem includes a radar receiving subsystem.

11. The isolator of claim 6 in which the multilayer substrate includes integrated circuitry and said strip is disposed between selected integrated circuit elements.

12. The isolator of claim 6 further including multiple strips of adjacent unit cells.

13. A metamaterial isolator comprising:

a dielectric substrate;

one region of the dielectric substrate including a first leg of a resonator loop;

a second region of the dielectric substrate including a second leg of the resonator loop; and

a third leg of the resonator loop extending through the dielectric substrate interconnecting the first and second legs of the resonator loop.

14. A metamaterial isolator comprising:

a substrate defined by first and second spaced planes and a third transverse plane; and

a resonator loop including one leg on the first plane of the substrate, a leg on the second plane, and a leg on the third plane interconnecting the first and second legs.

15. An isolator comprising:

a first resonator loop including;

a first leg extending in one direction,

a second leg spaced from the first leg and extending in the same direction, and

a third leg extending in a different direction interconnecting the first and second legs; and

a second resonator loop including;

a first leg adjacent the first leg of the first resonator loop,

a second leg adjacent the second leg of the first resonator loop, and

a third leg interconnecting the first and second legs of the second resonator loop.

16. The isolator of claim 15 in which the second legs of the first and second resonator loops include interdigitated spaced fingers.

17. The isolator loop of claim 15 in which the first and second resonator loops constitute a unit cell, the isolator further including a strip of adjacent cells.

18. The isolator of claim 17 in which the strip is located between adjacent patch radiators.

19. The isolator of claim 17 in the strip surrounds an array of radiators.

20. The isolator of claim 17 in which a first subsystem is separated from a second subsystem by said strip.

21. The isolator of claim 20 in which the first subsystem includes a radar transmission subsystem and the second subsystem includes a radar receiving subsystem.

22. The isolator of claim 17 in which a strip is disposed between selected integrated circuit components.

23. The isolator of claim 17 including multiple strips of adjacent unit cells.

24. The isolator of claim 15 further including a dielectric substrate, the first legs of the first and second resonator loops are on a first layer or surface of the dielectric substrate, the second legs of the first and second resonator loops are on a second layer or surface of the dielectric substrate, and the third legs of the first and second resonator loops extend through the dielectric substrate.

25. A method of fabricating an array of radiating elements, the method comprising:

on one layer or surface of a dielectric substrate, forming a first leg of a first resonator loop;

on another layer or surface of the dielectric substrate forming a second leg of the first resonator loop between adjacent radiating elements;

forming a via through the dielectric substrate; and

metallizing the via forming a third leg of the first resonator loop interconnecting the first and second legs.

26. The method of claim 25 in which the adjacent radiating elements are formed on the same layer as the second leg.

27. The method of claim 25 further including fabricating a second resonator loop by:

forming a first leg adjacent the first leg of the first resonator loop,

forming a second leg adjacent the second leg of the first resonator loop, and

forming a third leg extending through the dielectric substrate interconnecting the first and second legs of the second resonator loop.

28. The method of claim 27 further including forming interdigitated spaced fingers of the first and second resonator loops.

29. The method of claim 25 in which the first resonator loop constitutes a unit cell, the method further including forming a strip of adjacent unit cells.