# US 10,320,084 B2 · Surface scattering antennas > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,320,084 B2 - Document ID: US10320084B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/596,807 - Filed: 2015-01-14 - Published: 2015-08-13 - Granted: 2019-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2011-10-14 - Assignees: The Invention Science Fund I, LLC - Applicants: Searete LLC - Inventors: Adam Bily; Anna K. Boardman; Russell J. Hannigan; John Desmond Hunt; Nathan Kundtz; David R. Nash; Ryan Allan Stevenson; Philip A. Sullivan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10320084B2 ## CPC - H01Q 15/10: comprising three-dimensional [3D] array of impedance discontinuities, e.g. holes in conductive surfaces or conductive discs forming artificial dielectric - H01Q 3/00: Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system {(means for positioning H01Q1/125)} - H01Q 13/28: comprising elements constituting electric discontinuities and spaced in direction of wave propagation, e.g. dielectric elements or conductive elements forming artificial dielectric - H01Q 15/0006: {Devices acting selectively as reflecting surface, as diffracting or as refracting device, e.g. frequency filtering or angular spatial filtering devices (H01Q15/12, H01Q15/22, H01Q15/24 take precedence)} - H01Q 15/0066: {said selective devices being reconfigurable, tunable or controllable, e.g. using switches} - H01Q 15/0086: {said selective devices having materials with a synthesized negative refractive index, e.g. metamaterials or left-handed materials} - H01Q 15/02: Refracting or diffracting devices, e.g. lens, prism - H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72) ## Abstract Surface scattering antennas provide adjustable radiation fields by adjustably coupling scattering elements along a wave-propagating structure. In some approaches, the scattering elements are complementary metamaterial elements. In some approaches, the scattering elements are made adjustable by disposing an electrically adjustable material, such as a liquid crystal, in proximity to the scattering elements. Methods and systems provide control and adjustment of surface scattering antennas for various applications. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method, comprising: selecting a first antenna radiation pattern; and for an antenna that includes a waveguide supporting a guided wave mode and a plurality of subwavelength scattering elements coupled to the guided wave mode, the scattering elements being adjustable responsive to one or more control inputs, determining first values of the one or more control inputs corresponding to the first selected antenna radiation pattern; wherein the guided wave mode is within the waveguide; wherein the waveguide includes an upper conductor, the scattering elements are arranged along the upper conductor, and the guided wave mode is beneath the upper conductor; wherein the plurality of scattering elements corresponds to a respective plurality of apertures in the upper conductor; and wherein the plurality of scattering elements includes a respective plurality of conducting islands that are electrically disconnected from the upper conductor, and the antenna further includes a plurality of bias voltage lines configured to provide respective bias voltages between the upper conductor and the respective plurality of conducting islands. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the subwavelength scattering elements have respective adjustable physical parameters that are functions of the one or more control inputs. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the determining of the first values of the one or more control inputs includes: determining respective first values of the respective adjustable physical parameters to provide the first selected antenna radiation pattern; and determining the first values of the one or more control inputs corresponding to the determined respective first values of the respective adjustable physical parameters. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the respective adjustable physical parameters are respective adjustable resonance frequencies of the plurality of scattering elements. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the one or more control inputs include a plurality of respective bias voltages for the plurality of scattering elements. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of scattering elements are addressable by row and column, and the one or more control inputs includes a set of row inputs and a set of column inputs. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the waveguide includes a set of feed lines having adjustable gains, and the one or more control inputs include the adjustable gains. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising: providing the first values of the one or more control inputs for the surface scattering antenna. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting of the first antenna radiation pattern includes a selecting of an antenna beam direction. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the antenna beam direction corresponds to a direction of a telecommunications satellite. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the antenna beam direction corresponds to a direction of a telecommunications base station. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the antenna beam direction corresponds to a direction of a telecommunications mobile platform. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting of the first antenna radiation pattern includes a selecting of one or more null directions. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting of the first antenna radiation pattern includes a selecting of an antenna beam width. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting of the first antenna radiation pattern includes a selecting of an arrangement of multiple beams. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting of the first antenna radiation pattern includes a selecting of an overall phase. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting of the first antenna radiation pattern includes a selecting of a polarization state. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the selected polarization state is a circular polarization state. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the selected polarization state is a linear polarization state. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: selecting a second antenna radiation pattern different from the first antenna radiation pattern; and determining second values of the one or more control inputs corresponding to the second selected antenna radiation pattern. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, further comprising: providing the second values of the one or more control inputs for the antenna. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the selecting of the first antenna radiation pattern includes a selecting of a first antenna beam direction, and the selecting of the second antenna radiation pattern includes a selecting of a second antenna beam direction different from the first antenna beam direction. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein the first selected antenna radiation pattern provides a first polarization state corresponding to the first antenna beam direction, the second selected antenna radiation pattern provides a second polarization state corresponding to the second antenna beam direction, and the first polarization state is substantially equal to the second polarization state. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein the first and second polarization states are circular polarization states. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein the first and second polarization states are linear polarization states. ### Claim 26 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein the first and second antenna beam directions correspond to directions of first and second telecommunications satellites. ### Claim 27 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein the first and second antenna beam directions correspond to directions of first and second objects selected from a plurality of objects including telecommunications satellites, telecommunications base stations, or telecommunications mobile platforms. ### Claim 28 A system, comprising: antenna control circuitry configured to provide one or more control inputs to an antenna that includes a waveguide supporting a guided wave mode and a plurality of subwavelength scattering elements coupled to the guided wave mode and adjustable responsive to the one or more control inputs; wherein the guided wave mode is within the waveguide; wherein the waveguide includes an upper conductor, the scattering elements are arranged along the upper conductor, and the guided wave mode is beneath the upper conductor; wherein the plurality of scattering elements corresponds to a respective plurality of apertures in the upper conductor; and wherein the plurality of scattering elements includes a respective plurality of conducting islands that are electrically disconnected from the upper conductor, and the antenna further includes a plurality of bias voltage lines configured to provide respective bias voltages between the upper conductor and the respective plurality of conducting islands. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The system of claim 28, wherein the subwavelength scattering elements have respective adjustable physical parameters that are functions of the one or more control inputs. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The system of claim 29, wherein the one or more control inputs include a plurality of respective bias voltages for the plurality of subwavelength scattering elements. ### Claim 31 (depends on 29) The system of claim 29, wherein the plurality of subwavelength scattering elements are addressable by row and column, and the one or more control inputs includes a set of row inputs and a set of column inputs. ### Claim 32 (depends on 28) The system of claim 28, further comprising: communications circuitry coupled to a feed structure of the antenna. ### Claim 33 (depends on 28) The system of claim 28, wherein the antenna control circuitry includes: a storage medium that includes a lookup table mapping a set of antenna radiation pattern parameters to a corresponding set of values for the one or more control inputs. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The system of claim 33, wherein the set of antenna radiation pattern parameters includes a set of antenna beam directions. ### Claim 35 (depends on 33) The system of claim 33, wherein the set of antenna radiation pattern parameters includes a set of antenna null directions. ### Claim 36 (depends on 33) The system of claim 33, wherein the set of antenna radiation pattern parameters includes a set of antenna beam widths. ### Claim 37 (depends on 33) The system of claim 33, wherein the set of antenna radiation pattern parameters includes a set of polarization states. ### Claim 38 (depends on 28) The system of claim 28, wherein the antenna control circuitry includes: processor circuitry configured to calculate a set of values for the one or more control inputs corresponding to a desired antenna radiation pattern parameter. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The system of claim 38, wherein the processor circuitry is configured to calculate the set of values for the for the one or more control inputs by computing a holographic pattern corresponding to the desired antenna radiation pattern parameter. ### Claim 40 (depends on 28) The system of claim 28, further comprising: a sensor unit configured to detect an environmental condition of the antenna. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) The system of claim 40, wherein the sensor unit includes one or more sensors selected from GPS sensors, thermometers, gyroscopes, accelerometers, and strain gauges. ### Claim 42 (depends on 40) The system of claim 40, wherein the environmental condition includes a position, an orientation, a temperature, or a mechanical deformation of the antenna. ### Claim 43 (depends on 40) The system of claim 40, wherein the sensor unit is configured to provide environmental condition data to the antenna control circuitry, and the antenna control circuitry includes: circuitry configured to adjust the one or more control inputs to compensate for changes in the environmental condition of the antenna. ### Claim 44 (depends on 32) The system of claim 32, wherein the feed structure includes a plurality of feeds having a respective plurality of amplifiers, and the one or more control inputs include adjustable gains of the respective plurality of amplifiers. ### Claim 45 (depends on 28) The system of claim 28, further comprising: the antenna.