Surface scattering reflector antenna

• US 9,935,375 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2013
• Issued: 04/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Bowers, Jeffrey A., Brady, David Jones, Driscoll, Tom, Hunt, John Desmond, Hyde, Roderick A., Landy, Nathan Ingle, Lipworth, Guy Shlomo, Mrozack, Alexander, Smith, David R., Tegreene, Clarence T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Dao L
• Application Number:
  US14/102,253
• Publication Number:
  US 20150162658A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,575 Days
• Field of Search: 342 81, 342385, 342360, 342416, 343837, 343913, 343915
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/006 Selective devices having photonic band gap materials or materials of which the material properties are frequency dependent, e.g. perforated substrates, high-impedance surfaces
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/46 Active lenses or reflecting arrays

Abstract

A surface scattering reflector antenna includes a plurality of adjustable scattering elements and is configured to produce a reflected beam pattern according to the configuration of the adjustable scattering elements.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a substrate; and

a plurality of scattering elements each having an adjustable individual electromagnetic response to an incident electromagnetic wave in an operating frequency range, the plurality of scattering elements being arranged in a pattern on the substrate, the pattern having an inter-element spacing selected according to the operating frequency range;

wherein the substrate and the plurality of scattering elements form a reflective structure that is responsive to reflect a portion of the incident electromagnetic wave to produce an adjustable radiation field responsive to the adjustable individual electromagnetic responses; and

wherein the operating frequency range has a center frequency and a free-space wavelength corresponding to the center frequency, and wherein the inter-element spacing is less than one-third of the free space wavelength.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of scattering elements is a plurality of substantially identical scattering elements.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the inter-element spacing is less than one-fourth of the free space wavelength.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the substrate has a first reflectivity in the operating frequency range and the plurality of scattering elements have a second reflectivity in the operating frequency range, and wherein the first reflectivity is different from the second reflectivity.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the scattering elements form a one-dimensional array on the substrate structure.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a source configured to provide the incident electromagnetic wave.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

control circuitry coupled to the plurality of scattering elements and configured to provide a set of adjustments of the adjustable individual electromagnetic responses.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the scattering elements includes an electrically adjustable material configured to provide the adjustable individual electromagnetic responses.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the adjustable individual electromagnetic response of the plurality of scattering elements is configured to be discretely adjustable.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the adjustable individual electromagnetic response of the plurality of scattering elements is configured to be continuously adjustable.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one scattering element in the plurality of scattering elements includes a metamaterial element.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one scattering element in the plurality of scattering elements includes a complementary metamaterial element.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the reflective structure is substantially planar.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the reflective structure is substantially parabolic.

15. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the source includes a horn antenna.

16. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the source is configured to produce a substantially planar wave.

17. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the source includes a Schwartzchild configuration.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the incident electromagnetic wave is an incident free-space electromagnetic wave.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the substrate includes a metallic layer in contact with a non-metallic layer, and wherein the plurality of scattering elements corresponds to a plurality of apertures in the metallic layer.

20. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the electrically adjustable material includes liquid crystal.

50. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the scattering elements form a two-dimensional array on the substrate.

21. An apparatus comprising:

a substrate; and

a plurality of scattering elements each having an adjustable individual electromagnetic response to an incident electromagnetic wave in an operating frequency range, the plurality of scattering elements being arranged in a pattern on the substrate, the pattern having an inter-element spacing selected according to the operating frequency range;

wherein the substrate and the plurality of scattering elements form a reflective structure that is responsive to reflect a portion of the incident electromagnetic wave to produce an adjustable radiation field responsive to the adjustable individual electromagnetic responses; and

wherein the substrate includes a metallic layer in contact with a non-metallic layer, and wherein the plurality of scattering elements corresponds to a plurality of apertures in the metallic layer.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the plurality of scattering elements is a plurality of substantially identical scattering elements.

23. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the operating frequency range has a center frequency and a free-space wavelength corresponding to the center frequency, and wherein the inter-element spacing is less than one-third of the free space wavelength.

24. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the substrate has a first reflectivity in the operating frequency range and the plurality of scattering elements have a second reflectivity in the operating frequency range, and wherein the first reflectivity is different from the second reflectivity.

25. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the scattering elements form a one-dimensional array on the substrate structure.

26. The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising a source configured to provide the incident electromagnetic wave.

27. The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising:

control circuitry coupled to the plurality of scattering elements and configured to provide a set of adjustments of the adjustable individual electromagnetic responses.

28. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein each of the scattering elements includes an electrically adjustable material configured to provide the adjustable individual electromagnetic responses.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the electrically adjustable material includes liquid crystal.

30. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the adjustable individual electromagnetic response of the plurality of scattering elements is configured to be discretely adjustable.

31. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the adjustable individual electromagnetic response of the plurality of scattering elements is configured to be continuously adjustable.

32. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein at least one scattering element in the plurality of scattering elements includes a metamaterial element.

33. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein at least one scattering element in the plurality of scattering elements includes a complementary metamaterial element.

34. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the incident electromagnetic wave is an incident free-space electromagnetic wave.

35. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the scattering elements form a two-dimensional array on the substrate.

36. An apparatus comprising:

a substrate; and

a plurality of scattering elements each having an adjustable individual electromagnetic response to an incident electromagnetic wave in an operating frequency range, the plurality of scattering elements being arranged in a pattern on the substrate, the pattern having an inter-element spacing selected according to the operating frequency range;

wherein the substrate and the plurality of scattering elements form a reflective structure that is responsive to reflect a portion of the incident electromagnetic wave to produce an adjustable radiation field responsive to the adjustable individual electromagnetic responses;

wherein each of the scattering elements includes an electrically adjustable material configured to provide the adjustable individual electromagnetic responses; and

wherein the electrically adjustable material includes liquid crystal.

37. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the plurality of scattering elements is a plurality of substantially identical scattering elements.

38. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the operating frequency range has a center frequency and a free-space wavelength corresponding to the center frequency, and wherein the inter-element spacing is less than one-third of the free space wavelength.

39. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the substrate has a first reflectivity in the operating frequency range and the plurality of scattering elements have a second reflectivity in the operating frequency range, and wherein the first reflectivity is different from the second reflectivity.

40. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the substrate includes a metallic layer in contact with a non-metallic layer, and wherein the plurality of scattering elements corresponds to a plurality of apertures in the metallic layer.

41. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the scattering elements form a one-dimensional array on the substrate structure.

42. The apparatus of claim 36 further comprising a source configured to provide the incident electromagnetic wave.

43. The apparatus of claim 36 further comprising:

control circuitry coupled to the plurality of scattering elements and configured to provide a set of adjustments of the adjustable individual electromagnetic responses.

44. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the adjustable individual electromagnetic response of the plurality of scattering elements is configured to be discretely adjustable.

45. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the adjustable individual electromagnetic response of the plurality of scattering elements is configured to be continuously adjustable.

46. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein at least one scattering element in the plurality of scattering elements includes a metamaterial element.

47. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein at least one scattering element in the plurality of scattering elements includes a complementary metamaterial element.

48. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the incident electromagnetic wave is an incident free-space electromagnetic wave.

49. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the scattering elements form a two-dimensional array on the substrate.