Apparatus and method for electromagnetic wave structure modulation

• US 9,097,789 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2013
• Issued: 08/04/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Duke Loi
• Original Assignee: Duke Loi
• Inventors: Loi, Duke
• Primary Examiner(s): Bythrow, Peter
• Application Number:
  US13/750,035
• Publication Number:
  US 20130241767A1
• Time in Patent Office: 921 Days
• Field of Search: 342/27, 342/28, 342 42- 51, 342/175, 342/5, 342/6
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/74 Systems using reradiation of radio waves, e.g. secondary radar systems; Analogous systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/75 using transponders powered from received waves, e.g. using passive transponders , or using passive reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/751 wherein the responder or reflector radiates a coded signal
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/28 Details of pulse systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0672 with resonating marks
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 11/001 Manufacturing waveguides or transmission lines of the waveguide type
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/14 Reflecting surfaces; Equivalent structures electromagnetic shields H01Q1/526
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49018 with other electrical component

Abstract

Electromagnetic wave structure modulation apparatus comprises an encoded device that has an electromagnetic wave-transparent material having a three-dimensional volume and electromagnetic wave-opaque walls, and a plurality of electromagnetic wave-opaque projections projecting into the electromagnetic wave-transparent material. The apparatus further comprises an interrogating device that has a transceiver operable to transmit an electromagnetic wave into the electromagnetic wave-transparent material, the electromagnetic wave being modulated and reflected by the electromagnetic wave-opaque walls and projections, an antenna operable to receive the reflected electromagnetic waves, and a decoder operable to decode the received reflected electromagnetic waves.

Claims

1. Electromagnetic wave structure modulation apparatus, comprising:

an interrogating device comprising;

a transceiver operable to transmit a control electromagnetic wave having a certain frequency into an encoded device, the control electromagnetic wave being modulated and reflected by the encoded device;

an antenna operable to receive the reflected and modulated electromagnetic wave; and

a decoder coupled to the antenna and configured to decode the received reflected and modulated electromagnetic wave into decoded data; and

the encoded device tuned to the control electromagnetic wave transmitted by the transceiver comprising;

a three-dimensional volume formed of a material that is transparent to the control electromagnetic wave transmitted by the transceiver;

a wall surrounding the three-dimensional volume formed of a material that is opaque to the control electromagnetic wave transmitted by the transceiver; and

a plurality of three-dimensional structures formed of a material that is opaque to the control electromagnetic wave disposed within the three-dimensional volume, each structure having specific shape, size, and position configured to modulate and reflect the control electromagnetic wave.

2. Electromagnetic wave structure modulation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the encoded device further comprises a final reflector formed of a material that is opaque to the control electromagnetic wave configured to reflect the modulated and reflected electromagnetic wave toward the interrogating device.

3. Electromagnetic wave structure modulation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional structures are configured to alter at least one of time and phase domains of the control electromagnetic wave.

4. Electromagnetic wave structure modulation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional structures comprise a plurality of three-dimensional projections projecting from the wall into the three-dimensional volume of the encoded device.

5. Electromagnetic wave structure modulation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional structures comprise a plurality of projections projecting from the wall into the three-dimensional volume of the encoded device, the shape and size of the projections, and the angular and linear positions of the projections in the three-dimensional volume of the encoded device being configurable to tune the encoded device.

6. An electromagnetic wave structure modulation method, comprising:

generating and directing a control electromagnetic wave of a certain frequency toward an encoded device, the encoded device comprising;

a three-dimensional volume formed of a material that is transparent to the control electromagnetic wave;

a wall surrounding the three-dimensional volume formed of a material that is opaque to the control electromagnetic wave; and

a plurality of structures formed of a material that is opaque to the control electromagnetic wave disposed within the three-dimensional volume, each structure having specific shape, size, and position within the three-dimensional volume configured to modulate and reflect the control electromagnetic wave; and

a final reflector structure formed within the three-dimensional volume of the encoded device configured to reflect the modulated and reflected electromagnetic wave;

receiving the reflected and modulated electromagnetic wave from the encoded device;

converting the received electromagnetic wave to an electrical signal; and

decoding the electrical signal.

7. A method of forming an electromagnetic wave structure modulation apparatus, comprising:

forming a three-dimensional volume of a material that is transparent to a control electromagnetic wave with a certain frequency, the three-dimensional volume having a first end and a second end;

forming a wall surrounding the three-dimensional volume of a material that is opaque to the control electromagnetic wave; and

forming a plurality of structures of a material that is opaque to the control electromagnetic wave within the three-dimensional volume, each structure having specific shape, size, and position within the three-dimensional volume configured to modulate and reflect the electromagnetic wave in a predetermined way.

8. The method of forming an electromagnetic wave structure of claim 7 further comprising forming a final reflector wall of a material that is opaque to the control electromagnetic wave disposed at the second end of the three-dimensional volume and configured to reflect the electromagnetic wave modulated and reflected by the plurality of structures toward the first end of the three-dimensional volume.