The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 11, 1994
Filed:
Aug. 07, 1992
Michael T Martin, Lakeside, CA (US);
Michael L Duhl, San Diego, CA (US);
Hughes Missile Systems Company, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for providing a switchable electromagnetic interference (EMI) barrier. The method protects an object against electromagnetic radiation, through the steps of: providing an object to be protected from electromagnetic radiation; placing a barrier sheet adjacent to the object, the sheet being opaque to radiation when exposed to light; directing the light against the sheet when a barrier to the radiation is desired; and extinguishing the light when passage of the radiation through the sheet is desired. One embodiment is a switchable electromagnetic radiation barrier system that includes a photoresistive sheet interposed between a source of electromagnetic radiation and an object to be protected from the radiation. This sheet is opaque to the radiation when exposed to light of a selected visible intensity range. A light source adjacent to this sheet directs the light against the sheet. A second embodiment is an apparatus for protecting an EMI-sensitive device in an air vehicle from external electromagnetic radiation (EMR). The apparatus includes: a cavity in an air vehicle; an EMI-sensitive device in the cavity; and a barrier window covering the cavity. The window includes a support sheet having a layer of photoresistive material. This material transmits EMR when exposed to light and does not transmit EMR when unlighted. A light source is provided to selectively illuminate the layer. Another embodiment is an antenna element of layered sandwich construction, including a polyimide film layer. Switchable means are used in the embodiments to turn the light source off and on.