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:
May. 15, 2018
Filed:
Jul. 14, 2014
Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Bernard D. Casse, Saratoga, CA (US);
Armin R. Volkel, Mountain View, CA (US);
Victor Liu, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Alexander S. Tuganov, Redwood City, CA (US);
Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
A metamaterial-based phase shifting element utilizes a variable capacitor (varicap) to control the effective capacitance of a metamaterial structure in order to control the phase of a radio frequency output signal generated by the metamaterial structure. The metamaterial structure is configured to resonate at the same radio wave frequency as an incident input signal (radiation), whereby the metamaterial structure emits the output signal by way of controlled scattering the input signal. A variable capacitance applied on metamaterial structure by the varicap is adjustable by way of a control voltage, whereby the output phase is adjusted by way of adjusting the control voltage. The metamaterial structure is constructed using inexpensive metal film or PCB fabrication technology including an upper metal 'island' structure, a lower metal backplane layer, and a dielectric layer sandwiched therebetween. The varicap is connected between the island structure and a base metal structure that surrounds the island structure.