Lc reservoir
AssigneeKymeta Corporation
InventorsSteven Howard LINN, Cagdas VAREL, Felix CHEN
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for exchanging liquid crystal (LC) between two areas of an antenna array and method for using the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, the antenna comprises an antenna element array having a plurality of radiating radio-frequency (RF) antenna elements formed using portions of first and second substrates with a liquid crystal (LC) therebetween, and a structure between the first and second substrates and outside the area of the RF antenna elements to collect LC from an area between the first and second substrates forming the RF antenna elements due to LC expansion.
Claims21
1-20. (canceled)
An antenna comprising:
- an antenna element array having a plurality of radiating radio-frequency (RF) antenna elements formed using portions of first and second substrates with liquid crystal (LC) therebetween, and
- a structure between the first and second substrates and outside the area of the RF antenna elements to collect LC from an area between the first and second substrates forming the RF antenna elements or provide LC to the area between the first and second substrates forming the RF antenna elements, wherein the structure between the substrates expands and contracts to cause the LC to exit and enter the area, respectively.
A method for use by an antenna element array having a plurality of radiating radio-frequency (RF) antenna elements formed using portions of first and second substrates with liquid crystal (LC) therebetween, the method comprising:
- collecting LC into a structure between the first and second substrates and outside the area of the RF antenna elements, from an area between the first and second substrates forming the RF antenna elements due to expansion of the structure that causes the LC to exit the area;
- and
- providing LC from the structure to the area between the first and second substrates forming the RF antenna elements due to contraction of the structure that causes the LC to enter the area.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.