Hrl Laboratories, LLC

Greg Tangonan

Robert Y Loo

Daniel Frederic Sievenpiper

Tsung-Yuan Hsu

Juan F Lam

James H Schaffner

Robin J Harvey

Hui-Pin Hsu

An optically controlled micro-electromechanical (MEM) switch is described which desirably utilizes photoconductive properties of a semiconductive substrate upon which MEM switches are fabricated. In one embodiment the bias voltage provided for actuation of the switch is altered by illuminating an optoelectric portion of the switch to deactivate the switch. In an alternative embodiment, a photovoltaic device provides voltage to actuate the switch without any bias lines at all. Due to the hysteresis of the electromechanical switching as a function of applied voltage, only modest variation of voltage applied to the switch is necessary to cause the switch to open or close sharply under optical control.

Optically controlled MEM switches

A tuneable impedance surface for steering and/or focusing a radio frequency beam. The tunable surface comprises a ground plane; a plurality of elements disposed a distance from the ground plane, the distance being less than a wavelength of the radio frequency beam; and a capacitor arrangement for controllably varying the capacitance of at least selected ones of adjacent elements. A method of tuning the high impedance surface allows the surface to mimic, for example, a parabolic reflector or a diffraction grating.

Tunable impedance surface

A tuneable impedance surface for steering and/or focusing a radio frequency beam. The tunable surface comprises a ground plane; a first plurality of elements disposed in an array a first distance from the ground plane, the distance being less than a wavelength of the radio frequency beam; and a second plurality of elements disposed in an array a second distance from the ground plane, the second plurality of elements be moveable relative to the first plurality of elements.

A directive antenna and method of directing a radio frequency wave received by and/or transmitted from the antenna. The antenna preferably includes a high impedance surface with a plurality of antenna elements disposed on said surface, a plurality of associated demodulators and power sensors and a switch. A Vivaldi Cloverleaf antenna is disclosed.

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Oxnard, CA, United States of America

Greg Tangonan