# US 10,483,649 B2 · Methods and apparatus for enhanced radiation characteristics from antennas and related components > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,483,649 B2 - Document ID: US10483649B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/405,340 - Filed: 2019-05-07 - Published: 2019-08-22 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2009-04-15 - Assignees: Fractal Antenna Systems, Inc. - Applicants: Fractal Antenna Systems, Inc. - Inventors: Nathan Cohen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10483649B2 ## CPC - H01Q 15/0093: {having a fractal shape} - H01Q 1/288: {Satellite antennas} - H01Q 1/36: Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; {Particular materials used therewith}(H01Q1/08, H01Q1/14 take precedence) - H01Q 1/44: using equipment having another main function to serve additionally as an antenna {, e.g. means for giving an antenna an aesthetic aspect}(H01Q1/27 - H01Q1/34 take precedence) - H01Q 3/446: {the radiating element being at the centre of one or more rings of auxiliary elements} - H01Q 15/0013: {said selective devices working as frequency-selective reflecting surfaces, e.g. FSS, dichroic plates, surfaces being partly transmissive and reflective} - H01Q 15/0026: {said selective devices having a stacked geometry or having multiple layers} - H01Q 19/00: Combinations of primary active antenna elements and units with secondary devices, e.g. with quasi-optical devices, for giving the antenna a desired directional characteristic {(combination of horns with slotted waveguide array H01Q13/0233)} - H01Q 19/08: for modifying the radiation pattern of a radiating horn in which it is located {(corrugated horns H01Q13/0208; producing a circular polarisation H01Q13/0241)} - H02S 99/00: Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass - H10F 19/00: Integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, comprising at least one photovoltaic cell covered by group H10F10/00, e.g. photovoltaic modules - Y02E 10/50: Photovoltaic [PV] energy - H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72) - H02S: GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES (obtaining electrical energy from radioactive sources G21H1/12; light sensitive inorganic semiconductor devices H10F; light sensitive organic semiconductor devices H10K30/00; thermoelectric devices H10N10/00; pyroelectric devices H10N15/00) - H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract Aspect of the present disclosure are directed to methods and apparatus producing enhanced radiation characteristics, e.g., wideband behavior, in or for antennas and related components by providing concentric sleeves, with air or dielectric material as a spacer, where the sleeves include one or more conductive layers, at least a portion of which includes fractal resonators closely spaced, in terms of wavelength. A further aspect of the present disclosure is directed to surfaces that include dual-use or multiple-use apertures. Such aperture engine surfaces can include a first layer of antenna arrays, a second layer including a metal-fractal backplane player, and a third layer including solar cells for solar cell or solar oriented power collection. Fractal metamaterial ribbons with multiple closely-packed fractal resonators are also disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An aperture engine array comprising: one or more aperture engine panels, wherein each aperture engine panel includes an antenna layer configured to receive and/or transmit radiofrequency energy (RF) over a range of frequencies, wherein the antenna layer is substantially lacunar so as to allow incident radiation to pass through to an adjacent layer; a solar cell layer including a panel of solar cells configured to absorb incident radiation and provide power, wherein the solar cell layer is operative as a power source for the transmission and/or reception of RF energy; and a backplane layer, at least a portion of which contains a surface reflective to RF energy. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The aperture engine array of claim 1, wherein the array is configured for radio astronomy. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The aperture engine array according of claim 2, wherein the array is configured as a very-long-baseline interferometry (VBLI) array, a SETI array, or a ULW array. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The aperture engine array according of claim 1, wherein the array is implemented on a vehicle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The aperture engine array according of claim 1, wherein the array is implemented on a satellite. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The aperture engine array according of claim 1, wherein the array is implemented on a vessel. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The aperture engine array of claim 1, wherein the array is ground-based. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The aperture engine array of claim 1, wherein the antenna layer includes transparent elements. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The aperture engine array of claim 1, where the one or more aperture engine panels comprises a single aperture engine panel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The aperture engine array of claim 1, further comprising a transceiver configured to receive power from the solar cell layer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The aperture engine array of claim 10, where the multiple layers are configured to provide power storage for power produced by the solar cell layer. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The aperture engine array of claim 10, further comprising a data acquisition and processing unit configured to receive power from the solar cell layer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The aperture engine of claim 1, wherein the antenna layer comprises an array of antennas disposed on a dielectric substrate. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The aperture engine array of claim 13, wherein the antenna layer has a degree of lacunarity of about 30%. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The aperture engine array of claim 13, wherein the antenna layer has a degree of lacunarity of about 40%. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The aperture engine array of claim 13, wherein the antenna layer has a degree of lacunarity of about 50%. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The aperture engine array of claim 13, wherein the antenna layer has a degree of lacunarity of about 60%. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The aperture engine array of claim 13, wherein the antenna layer has a degree of lacunarity of about 70%. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The aperture engine array of claim 13, wherein the array of antenna elements is lacunar, wherein the dielectric substrate is not lacunar. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The aperture engine array of claim 13, wherein the dielectric substrate is lacunar. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The aperture engine of claim 17, wherein the antennas include fractal resonators.