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US 10,312,597 B2Granted
Ferrite-enhanced metamaterials
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsLarry Leon Savage, John Dalton Williams, Corey McKinney Thacker, Jarrod Douglas Fortinberry, Preston Tyler Bushey
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for tuning a metamaterial cell. A set of electromagnetic properties of a tunable element associated with the metamaterial cell may be tuned. A resonance of the metamaterial cell may be adjusted in response to the set of electromagnetic properties being tuned. A range of frequencies over which the metamaterial cell provides a negative index of refraction may be changed in response to the resonance of the metamaterial cell changing.
Claims24
An apparatus comprising:
- a metamaterial cell that has a negative index of refraction;
- and
- a tunable element disposed on one side of the metamaterial cell, wherein tuning a set of electromagnetic properties of the tunable element adjusts a resonance of the metamaterial cell,
- wherein the metamaterial cell comprises:
- a magnetic resonator and a conductive structure positioned relative to the magnetic resonator;
- and
- wherein the magnetic resonator is a dual split ring resonator;
- wherein the tunable element comprises a ferromagnetic material.
5 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a metamaterial cell that has a negative index of refraction;
- and
- a tunable element disposed on one side of the metamaterial cell, wherein tuning a set of electromagnetic properties of the tunable element adjusts a resonance of the metamaterial cell;
- wherein the metamaterial cell comprises:
- a magnetic resonator and a conductive structure positioned relative to the magnetic resonator;
- wherein the conductive structure comprises:
- a first conductor and a second conductor;
- wherein the tunable element comprises:
- a plurality of liquid crystals located within a reservoir between the first conductor and the second conductor.
6 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a metamaterial cell that has a negative index of refraction;
- a tunable element disposed on one side of the metamaterial cell, wherein tuning a set of electromagnetic properties of the tunable element adjusts a resonance of the metamaterial cell;
- and
- a tuning device that tunes the set of electromagnetic properties of the tunable element to adjust the resonance of the metamaterial cell;
- wherein the tuning device comprises:
- a magnetic device that externally applies a magnetic field to the metamaterial cell to tune a magnetic permeability of the tunable element, thereby adjusting the resonance of the metamaterial cell.
3 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a metamaterial cell that has a negative index of refraction;
- and
- a tunable element disposed on one side of the metamaterial cell, wherein tuning a set of electromagnetic properties of the tunable element adjusts a resonance of the metamaterial cell;
- wherein the tunable element comprises:
- a fluid mixture comprising a plurality of liquid crystals and a plurality of magnetic nanoparticles, wherein tuning at least one of an electric permittivity of the plurality of liquid crystals or a magnetic permeability of the plurality of magnetic nanoparticles adjusts the resonance of the metamaterial cell.
2 more elements
A metamaterial structure comprising:
- a plurality of meta-units, wherein a meta-unit in the plurality of meta-units comprises:
- a metamaterial cell;
- and
- a tunable element disposed on one side of the metamaterial cell;
- wherein tuning at least one of an electric permittivity or a magnetic permeability of the tunable element adjusts a resonance of the metamaterial cell;
- and
- wherein adjusting the resonance for at least a portion of the plurality of meta-units adjusts a frequency range over which the metamaterial structure provides a negative index of refraction for focusing electromagnetic energy;
- wherein the metamaterial cell comprises:
- a magnetic resonator and a conductive structure positioned relative to the magnetic resonator;
- wherein the magnetic resonator is a dual split ring resonator;
- and
- wherein the tunable element comprises a ferromagnetic material.
9 more elements
A method for tuning a metamaterial cell, the method comprising:
- tuning a set of electromagnetic properties of a tunable element disposed on one side of the metamaterial cell;
- adjusting a resonance of the metamaterial cell in response to the set of electromagnetic properties being tuned;
- and
- changing a range of frequencies over which the metamaterial cell provides a negative index of refraction in response to the resonance of the metamaterial cell changing;
- wherein tuning the set of electromagnetic properties comprises:
- tuning an electric permittivity of a plurality of liquid crystals located within a reservoir disposed on the one side of the metamaterial cell to adjust the resonance of the metamaterial cell.
3 more elements
A method for tuning a metamaterial cell, the method comprising:
- tuning a set of electromagnetic properties of a tunable element disposed on one side of the metamaterial cell;
- adjusting a resonance of the metamaterial cell in response to the set of electromagnetic properties being tuned;
- and
- changing a range of frequencies over which the metamaterial cell provides a negative index of refraction in response to the resonance of the metamaterial cell changing;
- wherein tuning the set of electromagnetic properties comprises:
- tuning a magnetic permeability of a plurality of magnetic nanoparticles located within a reservoir disposed on the one side of the metamaterial cell to adjust the resonance of the metamaterial cell.
3 more elements
A method for tuning a metamaterial cell, the method comprising:
- tuning a set of electromagnetic properties of a tunable element disposed on one side of the metamaterial cell;
- adjusting a resonance of the metamaterial cell in response to the set of electromagnetic properties being tuned;
- and
- changing a range of frequencies over which the metamaterial cell provides a negative index of refraction in response to the resonance of the metamaterial cell changing;
- wherein tuning the set of electromagnetic properties comprises:
- applying an electric field to a fluid mixture located in a reservoir disposed on the one side of the metamaterial cell, wherein the fluid mixture comprises a plurality of liquid crystals and a plurality of magnetic nanoparticles;
- changing an alignment of the plurality of liquid crystals in response to the electric field being applied to the fluid mixture;
- changing an alignment of the plurality of magnetic nanoparticles in response to the alignment of the plurality of liquid crystals changing;
- and changing a magnetic permeability of the plurality of magnetic nanoparticles in response to the alignment of the plurality of magnetic nanoparticles changing.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.