University of California

Hrl Laboratories, LLC

Anthony Lai

Joseph S Colburn

Tatsuo Itoh

Kevin M K H Leong

A method of delaying the onset of a backward wave mode in a frequency selective surface having a two dimensional array of conductive patches or elements and an RF ground plane, the two dimensional array of patches or elements being interconnected by variable capacitors, the method comprising separating grounds associated with the variable capacitors from the RF ground plane and providing a separate conductive mesh structure or arrangement as a bias voltage ground for the variable capacitors. A tunable impedance surface comprises a RF ground plane; a plurality of patches or elements disposed in an array a distance from the ground plane; a capacitor arrangement for controllably varying capacitance between at least selected ones of adjacent patches or elements in the array; and a grounding mesh associated with the capacitor arrangement for providing a control voltage ground to capacitors in the capacitor arrangement, the grounding mesh being spaced from the RF ground plane by dielectric material.

Electrically tunable surface impedance structure with suppressed backward wave

Dual-band and multi-band radiating elements are described based on composite right/left-handed (CRLH) meta-material transmission line (TL). These elements can operate as resonators and/or antennas depending on feed-line configuration. The radiating elements are based on the fundamental backward wave supported by a composite right/left-handed (CRLH) meta-material transmission line (TL). Unit-cells of the transmission line comprise conductive patches coupled through vias to a ground plane. The physical size and operational frequencies of the radiating element is determined by the unit cell of the CRLH meta-material. This radiating element is configured for monopolar radiation at a first resonant frequency and patch-like radiation at a second resonant frequency. The first and second resonant frequencies are not constrained to a harmonic relationship.

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Los Angeles, CA, United States of America

Anthony Lai