Reflective dynamic plasma steering apparatus for radiant electromagnetic energy

• US 7,566,889 B1
• Filed: 09/11/2006
• Issued: 07/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Air Force
• Original Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Air Force
• Inventors: Klein, Timothy R., Rogers, Stanley
• Primary Examiner(s): Berman; Jack I
• Assistant Examiner(s): MASKELL, MICHAEL P
• Application Number:
  US11/518,749
• Time in Patent Office: 1,051 Days
• Field of Search: 250/503.1, 250/504.R, 313/231.31, 313/231.61, 313/582, 313/583, 343/701, 343/912, 343/832, 343/700.MS, 333/99.PL
• US Class Current: 250/503.1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0087 Phased arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/0018 Space- fed arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/46 Active lenses or reflecting arrays

Abstract

A combination of radio frequency energy responsive and infrared energy responsive reflection based plasma radiant energy steering apparatus usable in directing radiant energy originating in for example an antenna array or an infrared source in order to direct the energy to a point of use under conditions of low inertia electrical directing control. Plasma gas films of electrode element determined properties achieve reflection control of the radiant energy both with and without use of a discrete reflector element. Theoretical support and identification of prior art supporting documents are included in the disclosure.

Claims

1. Plasma based dynamic radiant electromagnetic energy steering reflective plasma controller apparatus comprising the combination of:

an array of discrete plasma clusters disposed over a surface of said plasma controller apparatus;

an array of plasma controller apparatus electrode pairs, each pair located in said plasma controller apparatus in registration with a differing cluster in said array of discrete plasma clusters;

a plurality of electrical signal generating circuits each connected with one plasma controller electrode pair of said array of discrete plasma clusters;

each said electrical signal generating circuit controlling plasma density related radiant electromagnetic energy reflective steering properties in a registered, connected, plasma cluster;

electromagnetic energy dispensing apparatus located proximate said plasma controller apparatus and issuing radiant electromagnetic energy thereto;

electromagnetic energy refracting additional plasma cluster apparatus disposed intermediate said electromagnetic energy dispensing apparatus and said array of plasma clusters in refracting plasma clusters steering supplement to said plasma density related radiant electromagnetic energy reflective steering properties; and

electromagnetic energy collecting apparatus located proximate said plasma controller apparatus in reflected opposition to said electromagnetic energy dispensing apparatus and receiving reflectively and refractively steered radiant electromagnetic energy from said plasma controller apparatus.

2. The plasma based dynamic radiant electromagnetic energy steering reflective plasma controller apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said plasma clusters include one of:

a gas filled enclosed pixel element of radio frequency wavelength dimensions; and

a gas immersed trench-like groove of infrared wavelength dimensions.

3. The plasma based dynamic radiant electromagnetic energy steering reflective plasma controller apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus includes one of:

a discrete reflector element located adjacent said array of discrete plasma clusters; and

an electromagnetic energy dispensing apparatus of characteristic frequency less than a characteristic frequency of said plasma of said discrete plasma clusters;

whereby said radiant electromagnetic energy steering includes one of two possible reflective energy steering mechanisms.

4. The plasma based dynamic radiant electromagnetic energy steering reflective plasma controller apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plasma controller apparatus electrode pairs comprise one of:

a coplanar pair of radiant electromagnetic energy transparent electrical conductors located at an energy output surface of each said plasma cluster; and

a pair of radiant electromagnetic energy transparent electrical conductors located one at a radiant electromagnetic energy input surface and one at a radiant electromagnetic energy output surface on opposing sides of each said plasma cluster; and

a pair of trench-like groove segregated electrical conductors separated by a plasma forming gas mixture atmosphere.

5. The plasma based dynamic radiant electromagnetic energy steering reflective plasma controller apparatus of claim 1 wherein said electromagnetic energy dispensing apparatus and said electromagnetic energy collecting apparatus each communicate one of radio frequency wavelength energy and infrared wavelength energy.

6. The plasma based dynamic radiant electromagnetic energy steering reflective plasma controller apparatus of claim 1 wherein said refracting plasma clusters steering supplement to said plasma density related radiant electromagnetic energy reflective steering properties includes bidirectional supplemental refractive steering during electromagnetic energy input and exit from said reflective steering.

7. Plasma based radiant electromagnetic energy beam reflective steering apparatus comprising the combination of:

a planar disposed array of pixel sized electrode pairs of infrared wavelength size and separation distance located on a substrate member;

a plurality of electrical potential generating sources each connecting with an electrode pair in said array of electrode pairs;

a substrate supported planar disposed film of individual pixel sized plasma gas concentrations of infrared wavelength size and separation distance dispersed adjacent and in registration with said planar array of electrode pairs, said plasma gas in each of said concentrations including an ionization response characteristic to electrical potential difference across an adjacent of said electrode pairs;

an input radiant energy source directing electromagnetic energy toward said planar disposed film of plasma gas concentrations from an adjacent first selected location; and

radiant electromagnetic energy output receiving apparatus disposed in a beam steering apparatus-adjacent second selected location, on a first selected location side of said planar disposed film and said planar disposed array, for collecting reflection directionally altered portions of said input radiant energy source electromagnetic energy.

8. Plasma based radiant electromagnetic energy beam reflective steering apparatus comprising the combination of:

a planar disposed array of pixel sized electrode pairs located on a bendable flexure substrate member;

a plurality of electrical potential generating sources each connecting with an electrode pair in said array of electrode pairs;

a bendable flexure substrate supported planar disposed film of individual pixel sized plasma gas concentrations dispersed adjacent and in registration with said planar array of electrode pairs, said plasma gas in each of said concentrations including an ionization response characteristic to electrical potential difference across an adjacent of said electrode pairs;

an input radiant energy source directing electromagnetic energy toward said planar disposed film of plasma gas concentrations from an adjacent first selected location; and

radiant electromagnetic energy output receiving apparatus disposed in a beam steering apparatus-adjacent second selected location, on a first selected location side of said planar disposed film and said planar disposed array, for collecting reflection directionally altered portions of said input radiant energy source electromagnetic energy.

9. Plasma based radiant electromagnetic energy beam reflective steering apparatus comprising the combination of:

a planar disposed array of pixel sized electrode pairs located on a substrate member;

a plurality of electrical potential generating sources each connecting with an electrode pair in said array of electrode pairs;

a substrate supported planar disposed film of individual pixel sized plasma gas concentrations dispersed adjacent and in registration with said planar array of electrode pairs, said plasma gas in each of said concentrations including an ionization response characteristic to electrical potential difference across an adjacent of said electrode pairs and a varying electron density profile in at least one physical dimension of said planar arrays;

an input radiant energy source directing electromagnetic energy toward said planar disposed film of plasma gas concentrations from an adjacent first selected location; and

an electromagnetic energy refracting additional plasma gas concentrations array disposed intermediate said input radiant energy source and said planar disposed film of individual pixel sized plasma gas concentrations in refracting plasma gas concentrations steering supplement to said planar disposed film of individual pixel sized plasma gas concentrations; and

radiant electromagnetic energy output receiving apparatus disposed in a beam steering apparatus-adjacent second selected location, on a first selected location side of said planar disposed film and said planar disposed array, for collecting combined refraction and reflection directionally altered portions of said input radiant energy source electromagnetic energy.

10. Plasma based radiant electromagnetic energy beam reflective steering apparatus comprising the combination of:

a planar disposed array of pixel sized electrode pairs located on a substrate member;

a plurality of electrical potential generating sources each connecting with an electrode pair in said array of electrode pairs;

a substrate supported planar disposed film of individual pixel sized plasma gas concentrations dispersed adjacent and in registration with said planar array of electrode pairs, said plasma gas in each of said concentrations including an ionization response characteristic to electrical potential difference across an adjacent of said electrode pairs;

an input radiant energy source directing optical wavelength electromagnetic energy toward said planar disposed film of plasma gas concentrations from an adjacent first selected location on a first selected location side of said planar disposed film; and

radiant electromagnetic energy output receiving apparatus disposed in a beam steering apparatus-adjacent second selected location, on said first selected location side of said planar disposed film and said planar disposed array, for collecting reflection directionally altered portions of said input optical wavelength radiant energy source electromagnetic energy.

11. Plasma based radiant electromagnetic energy beam reflective steering apparatus comprising the combination of:

a planar disposed array of pixel sized electrode pairs located on a substrate member;

a plurality of electrical potential generating sources each connecting with an electrode pair in said array of electrode pairs;

a substrate supported planar disposed film of individual pixel sized plasma gas concentrations dispersed adjacent and in registration with said planar array of electrode pairs, said plasma gas in each of said concentrations including an ionization response characteristic to electrical potential difference across an adjacent of said electrode pairs;

said pixel sized plasma gas concentrations comprising a plurality of trench-shaped perturbations into said substrate and said trench-shaped perturbations include infrared wavelength dimensions and separation distances;

an input infrared radiant energy source directing electromagnetic energy toward said planar disposed film of plasma gas concentrations perturbations from an adjacent first selected location; and

radiant electromagnetic energy output receiving apparatus disposed in a beam steering apparatus-adjacent second selected location, on a first selected location side of said planar disposed film and said planar disposed array, for collecting reflection directionally altered portions of said input infrared radiant energy source electromagnetic energy.

12. Plasma based radiant electromagnetic energy beam reflective steering apparatus comprising the combination of:

a planar disposed array of pixel sized electrode pairs located on an electromagnetic energy-transparent substrate member;

a plurality of electrical potential generating sources each connecting with an electrode pair in said array of electrode pairs;

a substrate supported planar disposed film of individual pixel sized plasma electromagnetic energy refractive gas concentrations dispersed adjacent and in registration with said planar array of electrode pairs, said plasma gas in each of said concentrations including an ionization response characteristic to electrical potential difference across an adjacent of said electrode pairs;

an input radiant energy source directing electromagnetic energy toward said planar disposed film of plasma gas concentrations from an adjacent first selected location;

a reflector element reflecting said input radiant electromagnetic energy subsequent to a first film of plasma gas concentrations refraction thereof and prior to a second film of plasma gas concentrations refraction thereof; and

radiant electromagnetic energy output receiving apparatus disposed in a beam steering apparatus-adjacent second selected location, on a first selected location side of said planar disposed film and said planar disposed array, for collecting reflection directionally altered portions of said input radiant energy source electromagnetic energy.

13. Plasma based radiant electromagnetic energy beam reflective steering apparatus comprising the combination of:

a planar disposed array of pixel sized electrode pairs located on an electromagnetic energy-transparent substrate member;

a plurality of electrical potential generating sources each connecting with an electrode pair in said array of electrode pairs;

a substrate supported planar disposed film of individual pixel sized plasma electromagnetic energy refractive gas concentrations dispersed adjacent and in registration with said planar array of electrode pairs, said plasma gas in each of said concentrations including an ionization response characteristic to electrical potential difference across an adjacent of said electrode pairs;

an input radiant energy source directing electromagnetic energy toward said planar disposed film of plasma gas concentrations from an adjacent first selected location;

a reflector element reflecting said input radiant electromagnetic energy subsequent to a first film of plasma gas concentrations refraction thereof and prior to a second film of plasma gas concentrations refraction thereof; and

radiant electromagnetic energy output receiving apparatus disposed in a beam steering apparatus-adjacent second selected location, on a first selected location side of said planar disposed film and said planar disposed array, for collecting reflection directionally altered portions of said input radiant energy source electromagnetic energy.

14. The plasma based radiant electromagnetic energy beam steering apparatus of claim 13 wherein:

said input radiant energy source has an energy beam reflective characteristic frequency greater than a characteristic frequency of said ionized plasma;

said plasma based radiant electromagnetic energy beam steering apparatus includes a physical electromagnetic energy reflector element disposed adjacent an-output surface of said planar disposed film of individual pixel sized plasma gas concentrations;

said input radiant energy is first refracted during a first passage through said planar disposed film of individual pixel sized plasma gas concentrations;

said input radiant energy is reflected back to said planar disposed film of individual pixel sized plasma gas concentrations during encounter with said physical electromagnetic energy reflector element; and

said input radiant energy is additionally refracted during a second passage through said planar disposed film of individual pixel sized plasma gas concentrations.