Programmable antenna having metal inclusions and bidirectional coupling circuits
First Claim
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1. A programmable antenna comprises:
- a substrate including at least one semi-conductor region;
a plurality of metallic inclusions interspersed within the at least one semi-conductor region, wherein the plurality of metallic inclusions are, in a non-conductive state, not electrically coupled within the at least one semi-conductor region;
a plurality of bidirectional coupling circuits supported by the substrate, wherein the plurality of bidirectional coupling circuits is physically distributed within the at least one semi-conductor region and is physically proximal to the plurality of metallic inclusions; and
a control module operable to activate a set of bidirectional coupling circuits of the plurality of bidirectional coupling circuits, wherein, when the set of bidirectional coupling circuits is active, the set of bidirectional coupling circuits provides a conductive state where an electric field electrically couples a set of metallic inclusions of the plurality of metallic inclusions within the at least one semi-conductor region to collectively provide a conductive area within the region, wherein the conductive area provides an antenna.
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Abstract
A programmable antenna includes a substrate, metallic inclusions, bidirectional coupling circuits, and a control module. The metallic inclusions are embedded within a region of the substrate. The bidirectional coupling circuits are physically distributed within the region and are physically proximal to the metallic inclusions. The control module activates a set of bidirectional coupling circuits, which, when active, the set of interconnects a set of metallic inclusions to provide a conductive area within the region. The conductive area functions an antenna.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A programmable antenna comprises:
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a substrate including at least one semi-conductor region; a plurality of metallic inclusions interspersed within the at least one semi-conductor region, wherein the plurality of metallic inclusions are, in a non-conductive state, not electrically coupled within the at least one semi-conductor region; a plurality of bidirectional coupling circuits supported by the substrate, wherein the plurality of bidirectional coupling circuits is physically distributed within the at least one semi-conductor region and is physically proximal to the plurality of metallic inclusions; and a control module operable to activate a set of bidirectional coupling circuits of the plurality of bidirectional coupling circuits, wherein, when the set of bidirectional coupling circuits is active, the set of bidirectional coupling circuits provides a conductive state where an electric field electrically couples a set of metallic inclusions of the plurality of metallic inclusions within the at least one semi-conductor region to collectively provide a conductive area within the region, wherein the conductive area provides an antenna. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A radio front-end comprises:
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a low noise amplifier; a power amplifier; a programmable antenna; and an antenna interface operable to couple the programmable antenna to at least one of the low noise amplifier and the power amplifier, wherein the programmable antenna includes; a substrate including at least one semi-conductor region; a plurality of metallic inclusions interspersed within the at least one semi-conductor region of the substrate, wherein the plurality of metallic inclusions, in a non-conductive state, are not electrically coupled within the at least one semi-conductor region; a plurality of bidirectional coupling circuits supported by the substrate, wherein the plurality of bidirectional coupling circuits is physically distributed within the at least one semi-conductor region and is physically proximal to the plurality of metallic inclusions; and a control module operable to activate a set of bidirectional coupling circuits of the plurality of bidirectional coupling circuits, wherein, when the set of bidirectional coupling circuits is active, the set of bidirectional coupling circuits provides a conductive state where an electric field electrically couples a set of metallic inclusions of the plurality of metallic inclusions within the at least one semi-conductor region to collectively provide a conductive area within the region, wherein the conductive area provides an antenna. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A programmable antenna comprises:
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a substrate including at least one semi-conductor region; a plurality of metallic inclusions interspersed within the at least one semi-conductor region of the substrate, wherein the plurality of metallic inclusions, in a non-conductive state, are not electrically coupled within the at least one semi-conductor region; and a plurality of bidirectional amplifiers supported by the substrate, wherein the plurality of bidirectional amplifiers is physically distributed within the at least one semi-conductor region and is physically proximal to the plurality of metallic inclusions, wherein, when a set of bidirectional amplifiers is active, the set of bidirectional amplifiers provides a conductive state where an electric field electrically couples a set of metallic inclusions of the plurality of metallic inclusions to collectively provide an antenna. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification