Miniature antenna and electromagnetic field sensing apparatus

• US 7,088,879 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2003
• Issued: 08/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Inventors: Huang, Mao-Sheng, Ferng, Jen-Ming, Liang, Wen-Lie, Shay, Wen-Tron, Tseng, Wen-Jen
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Ellen E.
• Application Number:
  US10/739,728
• Publication Number:
  US 20040131301A1
• Time in Patent Office: 965 Days
• Field of Search: 385/12, 343/748
• US Class Current: 385/12
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 29/0885 using optical probes, e.g. electro-optical, luminescent, glow discharge, or optical interferometers
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/12142 Modulator
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/225 in an optical waveguide structure
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/2676 Optically controlled phased array
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop

Abstract

An electromagnetic field sensing apparatus includes an optical modulator, a miniature antenna for sensing the electromagnetic field, a light source, a first optical fiber, an optical detector and a second fiber. The optical modulator can vary the amplitude of a light beam propagating therethrough in response to an electric field intensity. The miniature antenna for sensing the electromagnetic field can sense both the electric field intensity and the magnetic field intensity of an electromagnetic field and apply an electric voltage to the optical modulator in response to the sensed electromagnetic field intensity. The light source is used to generate a light beam, the first optical fiber is used for transmitting the light beam to the modulator, and the second fiber is used for transmitting the light beam from the modulator to the optical detector.

Claims

1. A miniature antenna, comprising:

a first line;

a first optical switch positioned at one end of the first line;

a second optical switch positioned at the other end of the first line;

a second line connected to the first optical switch; and

a third line connected to the second optical switch;

wherein the first optical switch and the second optical switch are turned on for sensing a magnetic field and turned off for sensing an electric field.

2. The miniature antenna of claim 1, being formed on a mica substrate.

3. The miniature antenna of claim 1, wherein switching signals are transmitted between the first optical switch and the second optical switch by an optical fiber.

4. The miniature antenna of claim 1, wherein the second line and the third line are formed substantially in straight.

5. The miniature antenna of claim 1, wherein the first line, the second line and the third line are formed substantially as a loop.

6. The miniature antenna of claim 5, wherein the loop is rectangular or circular.