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US 10,371,936 B2Granted
Wide angle, broad-band, polarization independent beam steering and concentration of wave energy utilizing electronically controlled soft matter
OwnerLeo D. DiDomenicoinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A general method is provided for electronically reconfiguring the internal structure of a solid to allow precision control of the propagation of wave energy. The method allows digital or analog control of wave energy, such as but not limited to visible light, while maintaining low losses, a multi-octave bandwidth, polarization independence, large area and a large dynamic range in power handling. Embodiments of the technique are provided for large-angle beam steering, lenses and other devices to control wave energy.
Claims34
A method for controlling wave energy, comprising:
- (a) providing at least one rigid material;
- (b) providing at least one rigid control channel formed internal to said rigid material;
- (c) providing at least one soft matter material;
- wherein said one or more rigid control channels within said rigid material are arranged to receive and release said at least one soft matter material progressively in response to one or more time varying stimuli, thereby progressively changing the reflection and transmission properties along said one or more rigid control channels, to induce an angular change in the propagation direction of said wave energy;
- and
- (d) providing at least one reservoir for said soft matter;
- wherein said one or more rigid control channels within said rigid material are arranged to receive and release said at least one soft matter material from said at least one reservoir thereby progressively changing the extent of said at least one soft matter in said at least one control channel to continuously change the reflection and transmission properties along the boundary formed on the surfaces of said at least one control channel that is formed by said rigid material and said soft matter to allow a change in the reflection properties of said at least one control channel to angularly redirect said wave energy as it propagates through said at least one rigid material.
4 more elements
A system for controlling wave energy, comprising:
- (a) at least one rigid material;
- (b) at least one rigid control channel formed internal to said rigid material;
- and
- (c) at least one soft matter material;
- wherein said one or more rigid control channels within said rigid material are arranged to receive and release said at least one soft matter material progressively in response to one or more time varying stimuli, thereby progressively changing the reflection and transmission properties along said one or more rigid control channels, to induce an angular change in the propagation direction of said wave energy;
- and
- (d) at least one reservoir for said soft matter;
- wherein said one or more rigid control channels within said rigid material are arranged to receive and release said at least one soft matter material from said at least one reservoir thereby progressively changing the extent of said at least one soft matter in said at least one control channel to continuously change the reflection and transmission properties along the boundary formed on the surfaces of said at least one control channel that is formed by said rigid material and said soft matter to allow a change in the reflection properties of said at least one control channel to angularly redirect said wave energy as it propagates through said at least one rigid material.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.