Threshold sensitive low visibility reflecting surface

• US 5,245,352 A
• Filed: 09/30/1982
• Issued: 09/14/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1982
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Axtell, James C., Nalos, Ervin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Blum, Theodore M.
• Application Number:
  US06/430,486
• Time in Patent Office: 4,002 Days
• Field of Search: 343/768, 343/909, 343/754, 343/755, 343/756, 343/18 B, 343/18 D, 343/352, 343/353, 343/775, 343/768, 343/777, 343/756, 343/909, 343/18 R, 343/18 C
• US Class Current: 343/768
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/103 with variable reactance for tuning the antenna tuning resonant circuits H03J
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/148 with means for varying the reflecting properties H01Q15/147 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/44 varying the electric or magnetic characteristics of reflecting, refracting, or diffracting devices associated with the radiating element

Abstract

A non-linear solid state conductor placed across a resonant aperture formed in a surface reflective of electromagnetic energy becomes conductive under the influence of a microwave field above a threshhold energy level of intensity to render the resonant aperture fully reflecting for the bandwidth of frequencies associated with the geometry of the resonant aperture.

Claims

1. A threshold energy, microwave switchable, electromagnetic energy reflecting surface comprising:

a surface member having first surface portions reflective of electromagnetic energy and

second surface portions including a sufficient number of polarization insensitive elements to render said surface member invisible for at least one predetermined frequency band of incident electromagnetic energy; and

threshold radiation sensitive means having a predetermined threshold intensity level and connected to each said element and rendering said element electrically conducting only when microwave radiation of at least said predetermined threshold intensity level is incident upon said threshold radiation sensitive means.

2. A threshold energy, microwave switchable, electromagnetic energy reflecting surface, comprising:

a surface member having a first surface portion reflective of electromagnetic energy;

a plurality of polarization insensitive elements forming an array of second surface portions on said surface member for rendering said surface member invisible for at least one predetermined frequency band of incident electromagnetic energy; and

threshold radiation sensitive means connected to said elements for rendering said elements electrically conducting only when microwave radiation at or above the threshold intensity level of said means is incident upon said means whereby said surface member is rendered reflective of incident electromagnetic energy at said predetermined frequency band.

3. An energy reflecting surface as recited in claim 2, wherein said polarization insensitive elements are formed by a set of apertures in said surface member.

4. An energy reflecting surface as recited in claim 3, wherein each said aperture is formed by three elongated openings emanating from a common point.

5. An energy reflecting surface as recited in claim 3, wherein each said aperture is formed by two intersecting elongated openings.

6. An energy reflecting surface as recited in claim 2, wherein said threshold radiation sensitive means comprises at least one non-linear solid state semiconductor.

7. An energy reflecting surface as recited in claim 2, wherein said threshold radiation sensitive means comprises at least one diode.

8. An energy reflecting surface as recited in claim 2, wherein each said threshold radiation sensitive means comprises at least one PIN diode.

9. An energy reflecting surface as recited in claim 2, wherein said surface member comprises a first outside layer reflective of electromagnetic energy and receiving said polarization insensitive elements, a second outside layer reflective of electromagnetic energy;

and an intermediate layer of a lossy dielectric positioned intermediate said first outside layer and said second outside layer.

10. An energy reflecting surface as recited in claim 2, wherein said surface member is planar in shape.

11. An energy reflecting surface as recited in claim 2, wherein said surface member is curved in shape.

12. An energy reflecting surface as recited in claim 2, wherein said surface member is parabolic in shape.

13. An energy reflecting surface as recited in claim 11 or 12, also including means for focusing incident electromagnetic energy upon predetermined portions of said surface.

14. A remotely switchable, electromagnetic energy, reflector, comprising:

a surface reflective of electromagnetic energy;

an array of radiating elements provided in said surface with selective transmission and reflection properties; and

means for electrically decoupling said array of radiating elements from said surface for making said surface entirely reflecting, wherein said decoupling means is operative only at or above a preselected threshold level of electromagnetic energy incident upon said surface.