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.