Configurable arrays for steerable antennas and wireless network incorporating the steerable antennas
First Claim
1. A configurable array for modifying an incident electromagnetic wireless signal having a frequency between 1 kHz and 1000 THz, the array comprising at least a pair of switchable, powered, variable conductive elements selected from the group consisting of plasma-containing elements, semiconductor elements and photonic bandgap crystals, the array being configurable to at least one of filter, polarize, deflect at non-backscattering angles, and phase shift the incident electromagnetic wireless signal.
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Abstract
An reconfigurable array of variable conductive elements is provided for reflecting, filtering and steering electromagnetic radiation across a wide range of frequencies. The reconfigurable array is combined with a transmitting antenna to make a steerable antenna. The reconfigurable array surrounds the transmitting antenna and reflects all transmissions except on selected radials where apertures in the reconfigurable array are formed for permitting transmission lobes. The reconfigurable arrays can be arranged in stacked layers to make transceiving multiband antennas. Communications networks using the steerable antennas nas and arrays are also disclosed.
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Citations
16 Claims
- 1. A configurable array for modifying an incident electromagnetic wireless signal having a frequency between 1 kHz and 1000 THz, the array comprising at least a pair of switchable, powered, variable conductive elements selected from the group consisting of plasma-containing elements, semiconductor elements and photonic bandgap crystals, the array being configurable to at least one of filter, polarize, deflect at non-backscattering angles, and phase shift the incident electromagnetic wireless signal.
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8. A steerable antenna comprising:
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an antenna for transmitting or receiving an electromagnetic signal within a frequency range from 1 kHz to 1000 THz, the electromagnetic signal being generated or received by the antenna within radiation lobes of the antenna;
an electrically configurable shield at least partly surrounding the antenna to intersect the radiation lobes and located within an electromagnetically effective distance of the antenna, the shield being selectively configured to at least one of filter, polarize, propagate, steer, deflect at non-backscattering angles, and phase shift the electromagnetic signal in the frequency range along selected radials, the shield comprising at least two switchable, powered, variable conductive elements selected from the group consisting of plasma-containing elements, semiconductor elements and photonic bandgap crystals. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A wireless communications system having at least one station with a steerable antenna configured to transmit or receive an electromagnetic wireless signal along selected radials, at least one remote station configured to receive transmissions from the steerable antenna positioned along one of the selected radials, the steerable antenna comprising:
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an antenna for transmitting or receiving an electromagnetic wireless signal within a frequency range from 1 kHz to 1000 THz, the electromagnetic signal being generated or received by the antenna within radiation lobes of the antenna; and
an electrically configurable shield at least partly surrounding the transmitting antenna to intersect the radiation lobes, and located within an electromagnetically effective distance of the antenna, the shield configurable to one of filter, polarize, propagate, steer, deflect at non-backscattering angles, and phase shift the electromagnetic wireless signal in the frequency range, the shield comprising at least a pair of switchable, powered, variable conductive elements selected from the group consisting of plasma-containing elements, semiconductor elements and photonic bandgap crystals oriented in an array. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification