Light controlled antennas
First Claim
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1. An antenna, comprisinga dielectric plate including first and second broad sides;
- a first flat conductive region attached to said first broad side;
a second flat conductive region attached to said first broad side, said second flat conductive region being separated from said first flat conductive region by a nonconductive gap;
a further flat conductive surface attached to said second broad side to define a ground plane, said ground plane coacting with said first flat conductive region for, when electrically energized at a first frequency, producing electromagnetic radiation with particular characteristics;
photosensitive means including first and second electrodes, said first electrode being coupled to said first flat conductive region and said second electrode being coupled to said second flat conductive region for, when biased, coupling said first and second flat conductive regions together for producing electromagnetic radiation with particular characteristics when said coupled first and second flat conductive regions are energized at a frequency; and
light control means coupled to said photosensitive means for controllably biasing said photosensitive means for controllably coupling said first and second flat conductive regions together, whereby said antenna is tuned differently than in the absence of bias.
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Abstract
The characteristics of antennas are modified by photosensitive electrical elements connected to the radiating elements. The photosensitive elements are biased by light, by direct electrical bias, or both. The photosensitive element may be a PIN diode. The bias may be applied by general illumination or conducted by a fiber optic cable.
117 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An antenna, comprising
a dielectric plate including first and second broad sides; -
a first flat conductive region attached to said first broad side; a second flat conductive region attached to said first broad side, said second flat conductive region being separated from said first flat conductive region by a nonconductive gap; a further flat conductive surface attached to said second broad side to define a ground plane, said ground plane coacting with said first flat conductive region for, when electrically energized at a first frequency, producing electromagnetic radiation with particular characteristics; photosensitive means including first and second electrodes, said first electrode being coupled to said first flat conductive region and said second electrode being coupled to said second flat conductive region for, when biased, coupling said first and second flat conductive regions together for producing electromagnetic radiation with particular characteristics when said coupled first and second flat conductive regions are energized at a frequency; and light control means coupled to said photosensitive means for controllably biasing said photosensitive means for controllably coupling said first and second flat conductive regions together, whereby said antenna is tuned differently than in the absence of bias. - 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 antenna array, comprising:
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a plurality of conductive electromagnetic radiating elements arranged in an array; a plurality of photosensitive semiconductors, at least one of said plurality of photosensitive semiconductors being coupled with each of said conductive electromagnetic radiating elements for selecting the electrical characteristics of the associated radiating element in response to selection of the characteristics of said semiconductor; electrical signal feed means adapted to be coupled to one of a signal source and signal utilization means and to said plurality of conductive electromagnetic radiating elements for coupling signal between said plurality of conductive electromagnetic radiating elements and said one of a signal source and signal utilization means; and light coupled control means coupled to each of said plurality of photosensitive semiconductors for selective illumination thereof with light for control of the electrical characteristics of said electromagnetic radiating elements. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. An antenna, comprising:
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a first conductor; a second conductor; a third conductor arranged in conjunction with said first conductor for electromagnetic radiation when energized at a feed point by an alternating current, thereby defining an antenna; feed means coupled to said feed point of said first and third conductors and adapted to be coupled to one of a source of alternating current and a signal receiving means; photosensitive means including first and second electrodes, said first electrode being coupled to said first conductor and said second electrode being coupled to said second conductor for controllably coupling said first and second conductors together for at least alternating current in response to bias, whereby at least a characteristic of said antenna is affected when said second conductor is coupled to said first conductor; and light control means coupled to said photosensitive means for controllably biasing said photosensitive means with light, whereby selective application of bias light to said photosensitive means affects said at least one characteristic of said antenna.
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Specification
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Current AssigneeDrexel University, Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
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Original AssigneeRCA Corporation
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InventorsRosen, Arye, Herczfeld, Peter R., Daryoush, Afshin S.
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Primary Examiner(s)Sikes, William L.
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Assistant Examiner(s)Wise, Robert E.
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Application NumberUS06/858,771Time in Patent Office774 DaysField of Search343/700 MSUS Class Current343/700.0MSCPC Class CodesH01Q 1/247 with frequency mixer, e.g. ...H01Q 3/2676 Optically controlled phased...H01Q 9/0442 with particular tuning meansH01Q 9/145 by varying the electrical l...
