Optically powered and controlled non-foster circuit

• US 9,425,769 B1
• Filed: 07/18/2014
• Issued: 08/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HRL Laboratories LLC (The Boeing Co.)
• Original Assignee: HRL Laboratories LLC (The Boeing Co.)
• Inventors: White, Carson R., Schaffner, James H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, Stephen E
• Assistant Examiner(s): OUTTEN, SAMUEL S
• Application Number:
  US14/335,737
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 333/32
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/0066 said selective devices being reconfigurable, tunable or controllable, e.g. using switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/008 said selective devices having Sievenpipers' mushroom elements
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/30 using light, e.g. lasers
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 11/28 Impedance matching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 11/44 Negative impedance converters H03H11/42 takes precedence; used in frequency selective networks H03H11/10

Abstract

This invention is the Optically Powered and Controlled Non-Foster Circuit (OPCNFC) that is electrically floating; i.e., it does not have any metallic electrical/conductive connection to a power supply, ground, or control signal. Rather power and control signals are applied to the OPCNFC using optical energy. The Non-Foster Circuit (NFC) synthesizes negative inductance, negative capacitance, and/or negative resistance between metallic patches disposed in an array of an Artificial Impedance Surface (AIS).

Claims

1. An optically powered and controlled NFC module comprising an NFC, a photovoltaic cell that powers the NFC from electromagnetic waves provided to the NFC module, and a separate means to control the NFC when the NFC is powered on using electromagnetic waves provided to the NFC module.

2. The optically powered and controlled NFC module of claim 1 in combination with at least one waveguide that guides the electromagnetic waves from a light source module to the NFC module.

3. The optically powered and controlled NFC module of claim 2 wherein at least one waveguide comprises a waveguide bus.

4. The optically powered and controlled NFC module of claim 1 wherein a first light source supplies power to the NFC and a second light source provides information to control the NFC.

5. The optically powered and controlled NFC module of claim 4 wherein the second light source comprises a plurality of light sources, one for each possible unique control signal combination and wherein each of the plurality of light sources has an associated separate waveguide.

6. The optically powered and controlled NFC module of claim 1 wherein a single light source supplies power to the NFC and is modulated with information to control the NFC while power is supplied to the NFC to power it.

7. The optically powered and controlled NFC module of claim 1 wherein a first power light source supplies power to the NFC and a plurality of lower power light sources provide information to control the NFCs through an optical waveguide bus.

8. The optically powered and controlled NFC module of claim 1 wherein a light source supplies power to the NFC and a modulated power light source provides information to control the NFCs and where both source EM power and control EM signal are sent through a single optical waveguide.

9. The optically powered and controlled NFC module of claim 1 wherein control signals for multiple parameters may be multiplexed on a data stream, the modulated signal being filtered to supply power to the NFC module and also being sent to a demodulator to generate control signals for the NFC.

10. An optically powered non-Foster Circuit (NFC) module comprising an NFC and a photovoltaic cell that both powers the NFC on and off and also varies parameters of the NFC, when the NFC is powered on, from electromagnetic waves provided to the NFC module.

11. The optically powered NFC module of claim 10 in combination with at least one waveguide that guides the electromagnetic waves from a light source module to the NFC module.

12. The optically powered NFC module of claim 11 wherein the at least one waveguide comprises a waveguide bus.

13. The optically powered NFC module of claim 10 wherein a light source supplies power to the NFC which light source is modulated with information to control the NFC while power is supplied to the NFC to power it.

14. The optically powered NFC module of claim 13 wherein a single light source both supplies power to the NFC and said information to control the NFC while power is supplied to the NFC to power it.

15. The optically powered NFC module of claim 10 wherein the NFC is controlled, while the NFC is powered on, by varying the power of the EM wave.

16. An optically powered Artificial Impedance Surface (AIS) comprising:

a. a substrate with a two dimensional array of electrically conductive patches disposed thereon;

b. a plurality of non-Foster Circuits (NFCs) coupled with neighboring patches in said two dimensional array of patches disposed on said substrate;

c. a plurality of photovoltaic cells coupled to the NFCs, the photovoltaic cells supplying (i) electrical energy to the NFCs and (ii) control signals for controlling said NFCs using modulated electromagnetic energy impinging the AIS or using modulated electromagnetic energy from a light source associated with said optically powered Artificial Impedance Surface (AIS), the electromagnetic energy being modulated with said control signals.

17. The optically powered Artificial Impedance Surface (AIS) of claim 16 wherein electromagnetic energy from said light source is guided from said light source to said plurality of photovoltaic cells via one or more waveguides or optical fibers.

18. The optically powered Artificial Impedance Surface (AIS) of claim 16 wherein said control signals are applied to said plurality of non-Foster Circuits (NFCs) via an optical fiber or waveguide from a control station.

19. The optically powered Artificial Impedance Surface (AIS) of claim 16 wherein control signals for multiple parameters for controlling the NFCs are multiplexed as a modulated data stream, the modulated data stream being filtered to supply power to the NFCs and also being sent to a demodulator to generate control signals for the NFCs.

20. An optically powered and controlled NFC module comprising an NFC, a photovoltaic cell that powers the NFC from electromagnetic waves provided to the NFC module, a separate means to control the NFC using electromagnetic waves provided to the NFC module, wherein a first light source supplies power to the NFC, a second light source provides information to control the NFC and wherein the second light source transmits the control signals over a separate waveguide, and wherein the control signals are then demodulated, demultiplexed, and converted into analog control signals.