US6426722B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Polarization converting radio frequency reflecting surface
Assignee: HRL Laboratories LLC
•
Filing: 2000-03-08
•
Granted: 2002-07-30
•
Expires: 2020-03-08
Abstract
Abstract A polarization converting surface for reflecting impinging radio frequency waves. The surface includes a ground plane and a plurality of elements disposed in an array a distance from the ground plane. Each element is preferably connected to the ground plane by a conductor, the array of elements having two major axes associated therewith. The elements have a first bandwidth corresponding to a first range of frequencies were a first reflection phase falls between −π/2 and +π/2 in a first one of said two major axes and a second bandwidth corresponding to a second range of frequencies were a second reflection phase falls between −π/2 and +π/2 in a second one of said two major axes. The first and second bandwidths partially overlap and preferably an upper half of one of the bandwidths overlies a lower half of the other one of the bandwidths.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel Sievenpiper
- 👤 Hui-pin Hsu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 07:58
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01Q; H01Q15/00; H01Q15/24; H01Q15/242; H01Q15/02; H01Q15/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 57
Claim 1
Independent Claim
84 words
A surface for reflecting and changing polarization of a radio frequency beam, the surface comprising: (a) a ground plane; (b) a plurality of conductive elements disposed in at least one array and spaced from the ground plane, the at least one array being spaced a distance which is less than a wavelength of the radio frequency beam, the at least one array having two major axes associated therewith; and (c) the conductive elements being arranged with different sheet capacitances in said two major axes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
84 words
A surface for reflecting and changing polarization of a radio frequency beam, the surface comprising: (a) a ground plane; (b) a plurality of conductive elements disposed in at least one array and spaced from the ground plane, the at least one array being spaced a distance which is less than a wavelength of the radio frequency beam, the at least one array having two major axes associated therewith; and (c) the conductive elements being arranged with different sheet capacitances in said two major axes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The surface of claim 1 further including an substrate having first and second major surfaces, said substrate supporting at least selected ones of said plurality of conductive elements on said first major surface thereof and supporting said ground plane on the second major surface thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The surface of claim 2 wherein at least selected ones of said plurality of conductive elements are connected to said ground plane by conductors routed through said substrate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The surface of claim 3 wherein the plurality of conductive elements each have an outside dimension which is less than the wavelength of the radio frequency beam.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The surface of claim 2 wherein the substrate has a thickness t which is less than {fraction (1/10)}th of the wavelength of the radio frequency beam.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
103 words
The surface of claim 5 wherein the surface is a polarization converting reflecting surface for changing the polarization of the radio frequency beam from circular to linear and/or from linear to circular, wherein the plurality of conductive elements have a first bandwidth corresponding to a range of frequencies were the reflection phase falls between −π/2 and +π/2 in a first one of said two major axes and a second bandwidth corresponding to a range of frequencies were the reflection phase falls between −π/2 and +π/2 in a second one of said two major axes and wherein the first and second bandwidths partially overlap.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The surface of claim 6 wherein one of said first and second bandwidths includes higher frequencies than does the other one of said first and second bandwidths and wherein a lower half of said one bandwidth coincides with an upper half of said other bandwidth.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The surface of claim 7 wherein the substrate is a printed circuit board.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
The surface of claim 2 further including a second substrate, the first-mentioned substrate supporting a first array of said conductive elements and the second substrate supporting a second array of said conductive elements, the conductive elements of the first and second arrays at least partially overlying each other.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
101 words
The surface of claim 9 wherein the surface is a polarization converting reflecting surface for changing the polarization of the radio frequency beam from circular to linear and/or from linear to circular, wherein the top plates have a first bandwidth corresponding to a range of frequencies were the reflection phase falls between −π/2 and +π/2 in a first one of said two major axes and a second bandwidth corresponding to a range of frequencies were the reflection phase falls between −π/2 and +π/2 in a second one of said two major axes and wherein the first and second bandwidths partially overlap.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
131 words
A polarization converting surface for reflecting radio frequency waves, the surface comprising: (a) a ground plane; (b) a plurality of conductive elements disposed in at least one array spaced from the ground plane, the at least one array of conductive elements having at least two major axes associated therewith, the conductive elements, in combination with the ground plane, having a first bandwidth corresponding to a first range of frequencies where a first reflection phase falls between −π/2 and +π/2 in a first one of said at least two major axes and a second bandwidth corresponding to a second range of frequencies where a second reflection phase falls between −π/2 and +π/2 in a second one of said at least two major axes and wherein the first and second bandwidths partially overlap.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
131 words
A polarization converting surface for reflecting radio frequency waves, the surface comprising: (a) a ground plane; (b) a plurality of conductive elements disposed in at least one array spaced from the ground plane, the at least one array of conductive elements having at least two major axes associated therewith, the conductive elements, in combination with the ground plane, having a first bandwidth corresponding to a first range of frequencies where a first reflection phase falls between −π/2 and +π/2 in a first one of said at least two major axes and a second bandwidth corresponding to a second range of frequencies where a second reflection phase falls between −π/2 and +π/2 in a second one of said at least two major axes and wherein the first and second bandwidths partially overlap.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
The polarization converting surface of claim 11 wherein one of said first and second bandwidths includes higher frequencies than does the other of said first and second bandwidths and wherein the lower side band of said one bandwidth overlaps an upper side band of said other bandwidth.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
The polarization converting surface of claim 11 further including a substrate for supporting said ground plane on one major surface thereof and for supporting at least selected ones of said plurality of conductive elements on another major surface thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The polarization converting surface of claim 13 wherein said at least selected ones of said plurality of conductive elements are connected to said ground plane by conductors routed through said substrate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The polarization converting surface of claim 14 wherein a majority of said plurality of elements are connected to said ground plane by conductors in said substrate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
The polarization converting surface of claim 13 wherein the plurality of conductive elements each have an outside dimension which is less than a wavelength of the radio frequency waves.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The polarization converting surface of claim 13 wherein the substrate has a thickness t which is less than {fraction (1/10)}th of a wavelength of the radio frequency waves.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The polarization converting surface of claim 13 wherein the plurality of conductive elements are arranged in a planar array.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
145 words
A method of tuning a high impedance surface for a radio frequency signal comprising: arranging a plurality of generally spaced-apart conductive elements in at least one array disposed essentially parallel to and spaced from a conductive back plane, the size of each conductive element along a major axis thereof being less than a wavelength of the radio frequency signal and the spacing of each conductive surface from the back plane being less than a wavelength of the radio frequency signal, the array having at least two major axes; and varying the capacitance between adjacent conductive surfaces in the array in the two major axes thereof to thereby tune the impedance of said high impedance surface to have different resonant frequencies in said two major axes and to have different pass bands in the two major axes, the two different pass bands partially overlapping each other.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
145 words
A method of tuning a high impedance surface for a radio frequency signal comprising: arranging a plurality of generally spaced-apart conductive elements in at least one array disposed essentially parallel to and spaced from a conductive back plane, the size of each conductive element along a major axis thereof being less than a wavelength of the radio frequency signal and the spacing of each conductive surface from the back plane being less than a wavelength of the radio frequency signal, the array having at least two major axes; and varying the capacitance between adjacent conductive surfaces in the array in the two major axes thereof to thereby tune the impedance of said high impedance surface to have different resonant frequencies in said two major axes and to have different pass bands in the two major axes, the two different pass bands partially overlapping each other.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 19 wherein said plurality of generally spaced-apart conductive elements are arranged on a substrate.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 20 wherein said substrate is a planar substrate.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 20 wherein said plurality of generally spaced-apart conductive elements are arranged on a plurality of substrates, each substrate of said plurality of substrates bearing a different array of said conductive elements.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 22 wherein said plurality of substrates is a plurality of planar substrates.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
68 words
A surface for reflecting a radio frequency beam, the surface comprising: (a) a ground plane; (b) a plurality of conductive elements disposed in an array spaced from the ground plane, the at least one array having two major axes associated therewith; and (c) the conductive elements, in combination with the ground plane, having different frequencies associated with a reflection phase of zero phase in said two major axes.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
68 words
A surface for reflecting a radio frequency beam, the surface comprising: (a) a ground plane; (b) a plurality of conductive elements disposed in an array spaced from the ground plane, the at least one array having two major axes associated therewith; and (c) the conductive elements, in combination with the ground plane, having different frequencies associated with a reflection phase of zero phase in said two major axes.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
45 words
The surface of claim 24 further including an substrate having first and second major surfaces, said substrate supporting at least selected ones of said plurality of conductive elements on said first major surface thereof and supporting said ground plane on the second major surface thereof.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
28 words
The surface of claim 25 wherein at least selected ones of said plurality of conductive elements are connected to said ground plane by conductors routed through said substrate.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
14 words
The surface of claim 25 wherein the substrate is a printed circuit board insulator.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
27 words
The surface of claim 25 wherein the plurality of conductive elements each have an outside dimension which is less than the wavelength of the radio frequency beam.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
26 words
The surface of claim 28 wherein the substrate has a thickness t which is less than {fraction (1/10)}th of the wavelength of the radio frequency beam.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
103 words
The surface of claim 24 wherein the surface is a polarization converting reflecting surface for changing the polarization of the radio frequency beam from circular to linear and/or from linear to circular, wherein the plurality of conductive elements have a first bandwidth corresponding to a range of frequencies were the reflection phase falls between −π/2 and +π/2 in a first one of said two major axes and a second bandwidth corresponding to a range of frequencies were the reflection phase falls between −π/2 and +π/2 in a second one of said two major axes and wherein the first and second bandwidths partially overlap.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
44 words
The surface of claim 30 wherein one of said first and second bandwidths includes higher frequencies than does the other of said first and second bandwidths and wherein a lower half of said one bandwidth coincides with an upper half of said other bandwidth.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of changing polarization of a radio frequency beam comprising: providing a surface comprising: (a) a ground plane; (b) a plurality of conductive elements disposed in at least one array parallel to said ground plane and spaced from the ground plane, the at least one array being spaced a distance from the ground plane which is less than a wavelength of the radio frequency beam, the at least one array having two major axes associated therewith; and (c) the conductive elements being arranged with different sheet capacitances in said two major axes; and reflecting the radio frequency beam from said surface.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of changing polarization of a radio frequency beam comprising: providing a surface comprising: (a) a ground plane; (b) a plurality of conductive elements disposed in at least one array parallel to said ground plane and spaced from the ground plane, the at least one array being spaced a distance from the ground plane which is less than a wavelength of the radio frequency beam, the at least one array having two major axes associated therewith; and (c) the conductive elements being arranged with different sheet capacitances in said two major axes; and reflecting the radio frequency beam from said surface.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 32 wherein the surface further includes an substrate having first and second major surfaces, said substrate supporting said at least one array on said first major surface thereof and supporting said ground plane on the second major surface thereof.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 33 wherein at least selected ones of said plurality of conductive elements are connected to said ground plane by conductors routed through said substrate.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 34 wherein the plurality of conductive elements each have an outside dimension which is less than the wavelength of the radio frequency beam.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 33 wherein the substrate has a thickness t which is less than {fraction (1/10)}th of the wavelength of the radio frequency beam.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
101 words
The method of claim 36 wherein the surface is a polarization converting reflecting surface for changing the polarization of the radio frequency beam from circular to linear and/or from linear to circular, wherein the top plates have a first bandwidth corresponding to a range of frequencies were the reflection phase falls between −π/2 and +π/2 in a first one of said two major axes and a second bandwidth corresponding to a range of frequencies were the reflection phase falls between −π/2 and +π/2 in a second one of said two major axes and wherein the first and second bandwidths partially overlap.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 37 wherein one of said first and second bandwidths includes higher frequencies than does the other of said first and second bandwidths and wherein the lower half of said one bandwidth coincides with an upper half of said other bandwidth.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 38 wherein the insulator is a printed circuit board insulator.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 33 further including a second substrate, the first-mentioned substrate supporting a first array of said conductive elements and the second substrate supporting a second array of said conductive elements, the conductive elements of the first and second arrays at least partially overlying each other.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
101 words
The method of claim 40 wherein the surface is a polarization converting reflecting surface for changing the polarization of the radio frequency beam from circular to linear and/or from linear to circular, wherein the top plates have a first bandwidth corresponding to a range of frequencies were the reflection phase falls between −π/2 and +π/2 in a first one of said two major axes and a second bandwidth corresponding to a range of frequencies were the reflection phase falls between −π/2 and +π/2 in a second one of said two major axes and wherein the first and second bandwidths partially overlap.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
82 words
A surface for reflecting a radio frequency beam and for changing the polarization of the reflected radio frequency beam, the surface comprising: (a) a ground plane; (b) a plurality of conductive elements disposed in an array spaced from and parallel to the ground plane, the at least one array having two major axes associated therewith; and (c) the conductive elements, in combination with the ground plane, having different frequencies associated with a reflection phase of zero phase in said two major axes.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
82 words
A surface for reflecting a radio frequency beam and for changing the polarization of the reflected radio frequency beam, the surface comprising: (a) a ground plane; (b) a plurality of conductive elements disposed in an array spaced from and parallel to the ground plane, the at least one array having two major axes associated therewith; and (c) the conductive elements, in combination with the ground plane, having different frequencies associated with a reflection phase of zero phase in said two major axes.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
37 words
The surface of claim 42 further including an substrate having first and second major surfaces, said substrate supporting said array on said first major surface thereof and supporting said ground plane on the second major surface thereof.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
31 words
The surface of claim 43 wherein at least selected ones of said plurality of conductive elements in said array are connected to said ground plane by conductors routed through said substrate.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
13 words
The surface of claim 43 wherein the substrate comprises a printed circuit board.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
27 words
The surface of claim 43 wherein the plurality of conductive elements each have an outside dimension which is less than the wavelength of the radio frequency beam.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
26 words
The surface of claim 46 wherein the substrate has a thickness t which is less than {fraction (1/10)}th of the wavelength of the radio frequency beam.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
101 words
The surface of claim 42 wherein the surface is a polarization converting reflecting surface for changing the polarization of the radio frequency beam from circular to linear and/or from linear to circular, wherein the top plates have a first bandwidth corresponding to a range of frequencies were the reflection phase falls between −π/2 and +π/2 in a first one of said two major axes and a second bandwidth corresponding to a range of frequencies were the reflection phase falls between −π/2 and +π/2 in a second one of said two major axes and wherein the first and second bandwidths partially overlap.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
44 words
The surface of claim 48 wherein one of said first and second bandwidths includes higher frequencies than does the other of said first and second bandwidths and wherein the lower half of said one bandwidth coincides with an upper half of said other bandwidth.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
40 words
The surface of claim 1 further including an substrate having first and second major surfaces, said substrate supporting said array of conductive elements on said first major surface thereof and supporting said ground plane on the second major surface thereof.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
31 words
The surface of claim 50 wherein at least selected ones of said plurality of conductive elements in said array are connected to said ground plane by conductors disposed through said substrate.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-07-29 | 2006-01-28 | 2006-07-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-07-29 | 2010-01-28 | 2010-07-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-07-29 | 2014-01-28 | 2014-07-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |