Environmentally sensitive reconfigurable antenna

• US 7,570,169 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2006
• Issued: 08/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Original Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Bachman, Mark, Li, Guann-Pyng
• Primary Examiner(s): CHEN, SHIH CHAO
• Application Number:
  US11/377,907
• Publication Number:
  US 20060244606A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,238 Days
• Field of Search: 343/700.MS, 343/745, 343/746, 343/749, 343/876, 343/906, 340/572.3
• US Class Current: 340/572.7
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/065 Microstrip dipole antennas patch antenna H01Q9/0407
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/16 with feed intermediate between the extremities of the antenna, e.g. centre-fed dipole H01Q9/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/28 Conical, cylindrical, cage, strip, gauze, or like elements having an extended radiating surface; Elements comprising two conical surfaces having collinear axes and adjacent apices and fed by two-conductor transmission lines waveguide horns or mouths H01Q13/00; slot antennas H01Q13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/285 Planar dipole H01Q9/065 takes precedence; patch antenna H01Q9/0407

Abstract

An antenna whose resonance and electromagnetic radiation properties can be modified by environmental conditions, acoustic conditions, and the like. The reconfiguring antenna acts to facilitate wireless transmission of information about the local environment without the need for local power.

Claims

1. An environmentally sensitive reconfigurable antenna comprising

first and second conductive elements, and

a connector coupling the first conductive element to the second conductive element, the connector have an electric property alterable in response to a change in environmental conditions, wherein the environmental conditions include the presence of a biological agent, a chemical agent, a nuclear radiation, and/or acoustic energy, wherein the connector is a capacitive connector, wherein the capacitive connector includes movable acoustically sensitive capacitive elements.

2. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the capacitive connector further includes a mechanical resonator.

3. An environmentally sensitive reconfigurable antenna comprising

first and second conductive elements, and

a connector coupling the first conductive element to the second conductive element, the connector have an electric property alterable in response to a change in environmental conditions, wherein the connector is a capacitive connector, wherein the capacitive connector includes a dielectric material placed between two conductive elements to form a capacitor, wherein the dielectric constant of the dielectric material changes upon absorption of a predetermined chemical species changing capacitance of the capacitor.

4. The antenna of claim 3 wherein the predetermined chembical species is a predetermined biological and the dielectric constant of the dielectric material changes upon absorption of the predetermined biological species changing capacitance of the capacitor.

5. An environmentally sensitive reconfigurable antenna comprising

first and second conductive elements, and

a connector coupling the first conductive element to the second conductive element, the connector have an electric property alterable in response to a change in environmental conditions, wherein the connector is a capacitive connector, wherein the capacitive connector includes a first conductive material and a second conductive material forming a capacitor, the first conductive material being coated with a chemically reactive material adapted to absorb a predetermined chemical species, wherein the first conductive material experiences stress upon absorption of the predetermined chemical species by the reactive material changing the position of the first conductive material relative to the second conductive material changing the capacitance of the capacitor.

6. The antenna of claim 5 wherein the chemically reactive material is a biologically reactive material adapted to absorb a predetermined biological species, wherein the first conductive material experiences stress upon absorption of the predetermined biological species by the reactive material changing the position of the first conductive material relative to the second conductive material changing the capacitance of the capacitor.

7. An environmentally sensitive reconfigurable antenna comprising

first and second conductive elements, and

a connector coupling the first conductive element to the second conductive element, the connector have an electric property alterable in response to a change in environmental conditions, wherein the connector is a resistive connector wherein the connector includes a material that is corrodable in the presence of a predetermined chemical species changing resistance of the connector.

8. The antenna of claim 7 wherein the predetermined chemical species is a predetermined biological species.

9. An environmentally sensitive reconfigurable antenna comprising

first and second conductive elements, and

a connector coupling the first conductive element to the second conductive element, the connector have an electric property alterable in response to a change in environmental conditions, wherein the connector is a capacitive connector, wherein the connector includes a material that is corrodable in the presence of a predetermined chemical species changing capacitance of the connector.

10. The antenna of claim 9 wherein the predetermined chemical species is a predetermined biological species.

11. An environmentally sensitive reconfigurable antenna comprising

first and second conductive elements, and

a connector coupling the first conductive element to the second conductive element, the connector have an electric property alterable in response to a change in environmental conditions, wherein the connector is a resistive connector, wherein the connector includes a material whose electrical performance changes after exposure to nuclear radiation.

12. An environmentally sensitive reconfigurable antenna comprising

first and second conductive elements, and

a connector coupling the first conductive element to the second conductive element, the connector have an electric property alterable in response to a change in environmental conditions, wherein the connector is a capacitive connector, wherein the connector includes a material whose electrical performance changes after exposure to nuclear radiation.