Method and apparatus for dynamically processing an electromagnetic beam

• US 9,246,218 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2014
• Issued: 01/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Britz, David Michael, Miller, Robert Raymond II
• Primary Examiner(s): Safaipour, Bobbak
• Assistant Examiner(s): SANDIFORD, DEVAN A
• Application Number:
  US14/461,867
• Publication Number:
  US 20140354479A1
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• Field of Search: 455/63.4
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/002 said selective devices being reconfigurable or tunable, e.g. using switches or diodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/0026 said selective devices having a stacked geometry or having multiple layers
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/0086 said selective devices having materials with a synthesized negative refractive index, e.g. metamaterials or left-handed materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/44 varying the electric or magnetic characteristics of reflecting, refracting, or diffracting devices associated with the radiating element

Abstract

A method and apparatus for processing a terahertz frequency electromagnetic beam are disclosed. For example, the method receives the terahertz frequency electromagnetic beam via a metamaterial having a plurality of addressable magnetic elements, where a resonant frequency of each of the plurality of addressable magnetic elements is capable of being programmably changed via an adjustment, and activates selectively a subset of the plurality of addressable magnetic elements to manipulate the terahertz frequency electromagnetic beam.

Claims

1. A method for processing a terahertz frequency electromagnetic beam, the method comprising:

receiving, by a processor of a mobile endpoint device, the terahertz frequency electromagnetic beam via a metamaterial having a plurality of addressable magnetic elements, where a resonant frequency of each of the plurality of addressable magnetic elements is capable of being programmably changed via an adjustment;

detecting, by the processor, a phase condition of the terahertz frequency electromagnetic beam via a plurality of additional magnetic elements of the metamaterial; and

activating, by the processor, a subset of the plurality of addressable magnetic elements to manipulate the terahertz frequency electromagnetic beam based upon the phase condition that is detected.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjustment causes a change in a path of the terahertz frequency electromagnetic beam.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjustment causes a change in a shape of the terahertz frequency electromagnetic beam.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjustment causes a change in a focus of the terahertz frequency electromagnetic beam.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjustment causes a change in a timing of the terahertz frequency electromagnetic beam.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjustment causes a change in a phase of the terahertz frequency electromagnetic beam.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjustment causes a change in a frequency of the terahertz frequency electromagnetic beam.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of addressable magnetic elements is configured in a three-dimensional matrix.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the three-dimensional matrix comprises a stack of programmable two-dimensional metamaterial layers of the plurality of addressable magnetic elements.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of addressable magnetic elements comprises a plurality of addressable split-ring resonators.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of addressable split-ring resonators is independently addressable.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein each addressable split-ring resonator comprises a varactor device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the varactor device of each of the plurality of addressable split-ring resonators exhibits a capacitance proportional to a programmably-applied voltage.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the programmably-applied voltage of the varactor device of each of the plurality of addressable split-ring resonators is stored by a capacitor connected to a field effect transistor or a bipolar switch.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein a bias of the varactor device of each of the plurality of addressable split-ring resonators is applied through two resistors connected to the capacitor for isolating a direct current bias.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile endpoint device comprises a mobile phone.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a communication link using the terahertz frequency electromagnetic beam.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjustment is based on a signal strength of the terahertz frequency electromagnetic beam.

19. A mobile endpoint device for manipulating a terahertz frequency electromagnetic beam, the mobile endpoint device comprising:

a three-dimensional matrix comprising a stack of programmable two-dimensional metamaterial layers comprising;

a plurality of addressable magnetic elements, where a resonant frequency of each of the plurality of addressable magnetic elements is capable of being programmably changed via an adjustment; and

a plurality of additional magnetic elements to detect a phase condition of the terahertz frequency electromagnetic beam; and

a controller coupled to the three-dimensional matrix for activating a subset of the plurality of addressable magnetic elements to manipulate the terahertz frequency electromagnetic beam based upon the phase condition that is detected.