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US4948922A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Electromagnetic shielding and absorptive materials

Assignee: Laird Technologies Inc
•
Filing: 1988-09-30
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Granted: 1990-08-14
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Expires: 2008-09-30
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Abstract

Abstract A material having a matrix and a plurality of inclusions which are chiral is effective as a coating to reduce incident reflections and absorptions of microwave frequency electromagnetic energy. The matrix can use an electrically conductive polymeric material as the base as well as any other low loss dielectric material. Chiral inclusions may be in the form of helices or any other small object displaying handedness. Moreover, it is possible to use electrically conductive polymeric materials by themselves as absorbers of electromagnetic energy. There are a variety of uses for these materials and the unique properties including gaskets for controlling the emission of microwave energy from electronic enclosures.

Inventors

  • 👤 Vijay K. Varadan
  • 👤 Vasundara V. Varadan

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 01:33
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K9/00; H05K9/0073; H05K9/0081; H05K9/009; H05K9/0007; H05K9/0015

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim 71 words
A composite material comprising: a base material having a first dielectric constant which is complex in the frequency range of 150 megahertz to 100 gigahertz, and being at least partially opaque to electromagnetic energy with frequencies in the range of 150 megahertz to 100 gigahertz; and a chiral material having handedness, having a second dielectric constant which is different from the first dielectric constant, and being dispersed throughout the base material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 71 words
A composite material comprising: a base material having a first dielectric constant which is complex in the frequency range of 150 megahertz to 100 gigahertz, and being at least partially opaque to electromagnetic energy with frequencies in the range of 150 megahertz to 100 gigahertz; and a chiral material having handedness, having a second dielectric constant which is different from the first dielectric constant, and being dispersed throughout the base material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 17 words
The composite material of claim 1 wherein substantially all of the chiral microgeometries have the same handedness.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 23 words
The composite material of claim 1 wherein: the chiral material is in the form of microgeometries which are surrounded by the base material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 23 words
The composite material of claim 3 wherein: the microgeometries have a length and a width, the length being greater than the width thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 21 words
The composite material of claim 4 wherein: the length of the microgeometries lies in the range of 0.01 to 5 millimeters.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 11 words
The composite material of claim 3 wherein: the microgeometries are metallic.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 22 words
The composite material of claim 6 wherein the chiral material is no greater than about 3% by volume of the composite material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 15 words
The composite material of claim 6 wherein the microgeometries are in the form of helices.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 11 words
The composite material of claim 3 wherein the microgeometries are nonmetallic.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 12 words
The composite material of claim 9 wherein the microgeometries are ceramic springs.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 20 words
The composite material of claim 9 wherein the microgeometries are no more than 20% by volume of the composite material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 56 words
The composite material of claim 1 wherein: the chiral material is in the form of microgeometries having a characteristic dimension, the microgeometries being surrounded by the base material; and the base material has a thickness which exceeds the characteristic dimension of the microgeometries and has a lateral dimension which is substantially larger than the characteristic dimension.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 30 words
The composite material of claim 1 wherein: ##EQU5## where ε" is the imaginary part of the complex dielectric constant, and ε' is the real part of the complex dielectric constant.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 21 words
The composite material of claim 1 wherein the first material is an electrically conductive polymeric material having microwave energy absorption characteristics.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 118 words
A composite material which is intrinsically anisotropic and structurally chiral comprising: a first layer of anisotropic material having an axis of anisotropy lying in the layer; a second layer of anisotropic material having an axis of anisotropy lying in the second layer, the axis of anisotropy for the second layer being positioned at a first predetermined angle from the axis of anisotropy for the first layer; and a third layer of anisotropic material having an axis of anisotropy lying in the third layer, the axis of anisotropy for the third layer being positioned at a second predetermined angle from the axis of anisotropy for the first layer, the second predetermined angle being larger than the first predetermined angle.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 118 words
A composite material which is intrinsically anisotropic and structurally chiral comprising: a first layer of anisotropic material having an axis of anisotropy lying in the layer; a second layer of anisotropic material having an axis of anisotropy lying in the second layer, the axis of anisotropy for the second layer being positioned at a first predetermined angle from the axis of anisotropy for the first layer; and a third layer of anisotropic material having an axis of anisotropy lying in the third layer, the axis of anisotropy for the third layer being positioned at a second predetermined angle from the axis of anisotropy for the first layer, the second predetermined angle being larger than the first predetermined angle.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 16 words
The composite material of claim 15 wherein: each layer is fashioned from a naturally anisotropic material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 12 words
The composite material of claim 16 wherein the anisotropic material is mica.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 41 words
The composite material of claim 15 wherein the anisotropic material is a filament reinforced material in which the filaments of the material are substantially parallel and in which the filaments of the material define the axis of anisotropy for the material.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 63 words
The composite material of claim 15 further including additional layers of anisotropic material, each successive layer having an axis of anisotropy, and the axis of anisotropy of each successive layer being disposed at a progressively greater angle relative to the angle of anisotropy of first layer than is the angle for the next adjacent layer counting in the direction of the first layer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 71 words
A gasket operable to shield electromagnetic wave propagation through a space defined between two surfaces, comprising an elongated resilient member having a characteristic transverse dimension, a length which substantially exceeds the characteristic transverse dimension, exhibiting transverse compressibility, and fashioned from a composite material including a substantially continuous phase having a plurality of chiral inclusions therein, each chiral inclusion having a characteristic size which is substantially smaller than the characteristic transverse dimension.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 71 words
A gasket operable to shield electromagnetic wave propagation through a space defined between two surfaces, comprising an elongated resilient member having a characteristic transverse dimension, a length which substantially exceeds the characteristic transverse dimension, exhibiting transverse compressibility, and fashioned from a composite material including a substantially continuous phase having a plurality of chiral inclusions therein, each chiral inclusion having a characteristic size which is substantially smaller than the characteristic transverse dimension.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 80 words
A gasket operable to shield electromagnetic wave propagation through a space defined between two surfaces, comprising an elongated resilient member having a characteristic transverse dimension, a length which substantially exceeds the characteristic transverse dimension, exhibiting transverse compressibility, and fashioned from a composite material including a substantially continuous phase of an electrically conductive polymeric material, the continuous phase having a plurality of chiral inclusions therein, each chiral inclusion having a characteristic size which is substantially smaller than the characteristic transverse dimension.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 80 words
A gasket operable to shield electromagnetic wave propagation through a space defined between two surfaces, comprising an elongated resilient member having a characteristic transverse dimension, a length which substantially exceeds the characteristic transverse dimension, exhibiting transverse compressibility, and fashioned from a composite material including a substantially continuous phase of an electrically conductive polymeric material, the continuous phase having a plurality of chiral inclusions therein, each chiral inclusion having a characteristic size which is substantially smaller than the characteristic transverse dimension.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3951904A Cited
US4456548A Cited
US4452727A Cited
US4616067A Cited
US4678716A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1993-08-13 1994-02-12 1994-08-14 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1997-08-13 1998-02-12 1998-08-14 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2001-08-13 2002-02-12 2002-08-14 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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