Methods of fabricating electromagnetic meta-materials

• US 6,938,325 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2003
• Issued: 09/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Tanielian, Minas H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tugbang, A. Dexter
• Application Number:
  US10/356,934
• Publication Number:
  US 20040151876A1
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 296/021, 294/12, 294/17, 298/46, 296/09, 298/31, 427/128, 427/131, 427/209, 336/184, 336/200, 336/205, 336/221, 336/232
• US Class Current: 29/602.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/44 varying the electric or magnetic characteristics of reflecting, refracting, or diffracting devices associated with the radiating element
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1075 of plural laminae from single stock and assembling to each other or to additional lamina
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4902 Electromagnet, transformer or inductor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49155 Manufacturing circuit on or in base
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49798 Dividing sequentially from leading end, e.g., by cutting or breaking
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24322 Composite web or sheet

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method for fabricating electromagnetic meta-materials includes applying first and second array of electromagnetically reactive patterns to first and second non-conducting surfaces, wherein the first array includes at least one of a split ring resonator pattern, a square split ring resonator pattern, and a swiss roll pattern, and the second array includes a thin parallel wire pattern. The first and second non-conducting surfaces are joined together such that the first and second non-conducting surfaces bearing the first and second arrays of electromagnetically reactive patterns are commonly oriented. Alternately, a method may further include slicing between elements of the first and second arrays of electromagnetically reactive patterns in a plane perpendicular to the first and second surfaces to form a plurality of slices, rotating at least one of the slices, and applying a third array of electromagnetically reactive patterns to a third non-conducting surface.

Claims

1. A method for producing meta-materials, the method comprising:

applying a first array of electromagnetically reactive patterns of conductive material to a first non-conducting surface, wherein the first array of electromagnetically reactive patterns includes at least one of a split ring resonator pattern, a square split ring resonator pattern, and a swiss roll pattern;

applying a second array of electromagnetically reactive patterns of conductive material to a second non-conducting surface, wherein the second array of electromagnetically reactive patterns includes a thin parallel wire pattern;

joining each of the first and second surfaces together such that the first and second arrays of electromagnetically reactive patterns are commonly oriented to form a block;

dividing the block between elements of the first and second arrays of electromagnetically reactive patterns along a plane approximately perpendicular to the first and second surfaces to form a plurality of slices;

rotating at least one of the slices to present a third surface; and

applying a third array of electromagnetically reactive patterns of conductive material to the third surface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first non-conducting surface is on a first non-conducting substrate and the second non-conducting surface is on a second non-conducting substrate.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first non-conducting surface is on a first side of a non-conducting substrate and the second non-conducting surface is on a second opposing side of the non-conducting substrate.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first non-conducting surface is on a first non-conducting substrate and the second non-conducting surface is on a second non-conducting substrate, the method further comprising forming at least one spacer layer disposed between the first and second non-conducting surfaces.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising varying effective properties of the first and second arrays of electromagnetically reactive patterns by changing widths of conductive areas of the electromagnetically reactive patterns.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising varying effective properties of the first and second arrays of electromagnetically reactive patterns by changing a distance between conductive areas of the electromagnetically reactive patterns.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising varying effective properties of the first and second arrays of electromagnetically reactive patterns by applying ferromagnetic material to the electromagnetically reactive patterns.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising changing effective properties of the electromagnetically reactive patterns by applying a magnetic field to an area containing the electromagnetically reactive patterns.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first non-conducting surface is on a first non-conducting substrate and the second non-conducting surface is on a second non-conducting substrate, the method further comprising forming at least one spacer layer disposed between the first and second non-conducting surfaces, and varying effective properties of the first and second arrays of electromagnetically reactive patterns by changing a thickness of at least one of the first non-conducting substrate material, the first non-conducting substrate material, and the spacer layer.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first non-conducting surface is on a first non-conducting substrate and the second non-conducting surface is on a second non-conducting substrate, the method further comprising forming at least one spacer layer disposed between the first and second non-conducting surfaces, and varying effective properties of the first and second arrays of electromagnetically reactive patterns by changing a dielectric property of at least one of the first non-conducting substrate material, the first non-conducting substrate material, and the spacer layer.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying a first layer of a binding material to the first non-conducting surface, and applying the first array of the electromagnetically reactive patterns over the first layer of binding material.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising forming a plurality of holes in the first layer of the binding material such that a solution can pass through the first layer of the binding material to the first non-conducting surface.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising applying a substrate-dissolving solution such that the first and second non-conducting layers are dissolved.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising applying a second layer of binding material over the second array.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the first non-conducting surface is on a first non-conducting substrate and the second non-conducting surface is on a second non-conducting substrate, the method further comprising:

forming at least one spacer layer disposed between the first and second non-conducting surfaces; and

varying effective properties of the first and second arrays of electromagnetically reactive patterns, including at least one of;

changing a thickness of at least one of the first non-conducting substrate material, the first non-conducting substrate material, and the spacer layer; and

changing a dielectric property of at least one of the first non-conducting substrate material, the first non-conducting substrate material, and the spacer layer.

15. A method for producing meta-materials, the method comprising:

applying a first array of electromagnetically reactive patterns of conductive material to a first non-conducting surface, wherein the first array of electromagnetically reactive patterns includes at least one of a split ring resonator pattern, a square split ring resonator pattern, and a swiss roll pattern;

applying a second array of electromagnetically reactive patterns of conductive material to a second non-conducting surface, wherein the second array of electromagnetically reactive patterns includes a thin parallel wire pattern; and

joining the first and second non-conducting surfaces together such that the first and second non-conducting surfaces bearing the first and second arrays of electromagnetically reactive patterns are commonly oriented.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the joining of the first and second non-conducting surfaces includes joining the first and second non-conducting surfaces to form a block, the method further comprising:

slicing the block between elements of the first and second arrays of electromagnetically reactive patterns in a plane perpendicular to the first and second surfaces to form a plurality of slices;

rotating at least one of the slices; and

applying a third array of electromagnetically reactive patterns of conductive material to a third non-conducting surface of the at least one of the slices.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the joining of the first and second non-conducting surfaces includes joining the first and second non-conducting surfaces to form a block, the method further comprising slicing the block between elements of the first and second arrays of electromagnetically reactive patterns in a plane perpendicular to the first and second surfaces to form a plurality of slices.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising applying a third array of electromagnetically reactive patterns of conductive material to a third non-conducting surface of at least one of the slices.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the first non-conducting surface is on a first non-conducting substrate and the second non-conducting surface is on a second non-conducting substrate.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the first non-conducting surface is on a first side of a non-conducting substrate and the second non-conducting surface is on a second opposing side of the non-conducting substrate.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the first non-conducting surface is on a first non-conducting substrate and the second non-conducting surface is on a second non-conducting substrate, the method further comprising forming at least one spacer layer disposed between the first and second non-conducting surfaces.

22. The method of claim 15, further comprising varying effective properties of the first and second arrays of electromagnetically reactive patterns, including at least one of:

changing a width of a conductive area of at least one of the electromagnetically reactive patterns;

changing a distance between conductive areas of at least one of the electromagnetically reactive patterns;

applying a ferromagnetic material to at least one of the electromagnetically reactive patterns; and

applying a magnetic field to an area containing at least one of the electromagnetically reactive patterns.

24. The method of claim 15, further comprising applying a layer of a binding material to at least one the first and second non-conducting surfaces, and applying at least one of the first and second arrays of the electromagnetically reactive patterns over the layer of binding material.

25. The method of claim 15, further comprising forming a plurality of holes in the at least one layer of binding material such that a solution can pass through the at least one layer of binding material.