Electronically tunable microwave reflector
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An electronically tunable microwave reflector, comprising:
- a ground plane surface;
an array of generally flat, metal electrodes arranged in a two-dimensional lattice spaced from the ground plane surface by a distance less than a wavelength of microwave energy to be reflected by the reflector, the electrodes having a circular disk configuration, and a diameter less than said wavelength;
a plurality of variable capacitance structures arranged for controllably varying a capacitance between at least adjacent ones of said plurality of electrodes;
a first array of conductors connecting a first set of the metal electrodes to the ground plane surface; and
a second array of conductors connecting a second set of the metal electrodes to respective bias voltage sources.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Exemplary embodiments of a structured surface are described which can efficiently reflect, steer or focus incident electromagnetic radiation. The surface impedance may be adjustable and can impart a phase shift to the incident wave using tunable electrical components of the surface. An array of electrodes interconnected by variable capacitors may be used for beam steering and phase modulation. In an exemplary embodiment, the electrodes have a circular configuration.
47 Citations
15 Claims
-
1. An electronically tunable microwave reflector, comprising:
-
a ground plane surface; an array of generally flat, metal electrodes arranged in a two-dimensional lattice spaced from the ground plane surface by a distance less than a wavelength of microwave energy to be reflected by the reflector, the electrodes having a circular disk configuration, and a diameter less than said wavelength; a plurality of variable capacitance structures arranged for controllably varying a capacitance between at least adjacent ones of said plurality of electrodes; a first array of conductors connecting a first set of the metal electrodes to the ground plane surface; and a second array of conductors connecting a second set of the metal electrodes to respective bias voltage sources. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A tunable impedance surface structure for reflecting RF energy, comprising:
-
a dielectric substrate; a ground plane arranged at a lower surface of the substrate; a plurality of conductive electrodes arranged on an upper surface of the substrate and spaced from said ground plane by a distance less than a wavelength at an operating RF frequency; a plurality of variable capacitance structures electrically connected between adjacent ones of the plurality of electrodes, said variable capacitance structures respectively arranged for controllably varying the capacitance between said adjacent electrodes; a first array of conductors connecting a first set of the electrodes to the ground plane surface; a second array of conductors connecting a second set of the electrodes to respective bias voltage sources; and wherein the plurality of conductive electrodes have a flat circular disk configuration to provide low edge parasitic capacitance between adjacent electrodes and capacitance tuning over a frequency range of operation. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A tunable impedance surface structure for reflecting, steering or focusing electromagnetic energy, comprising:
-
an electrically conductive ground plane; a plurality of electrically conductive electrodes arranged in a two-dimensional lattice structure spaced from said ground plane by a distance less than a wavelength at an operating frequency of the electromagnetic energy; a plurality of variable capacitance structures electrically connected between adjacent ones of the plurality of electrodes, said variable capacitance structures respectively arranged for controllably varying the capacitance between said adjacent electrodes; and wherein the plurality of conductive electrodes have a flat circular disk configuration to provide low edge parasitic capacitance between adjacent electrodes and capacitance tuning over a frequency range of operation, the electrodes have a diameter which is a fraction of said wavelength, and are spaced from adjacent electrodes by a spacing distance which is less than said wavelength. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
-
Specification