US 2026/0019952 A1 · POWER-DEPENDENT METASURFACE FOR SHIELDING IN-BAND HIGH-POWER ELECTROMAGNETIC SIGNALS

Abstract

The technology described herein is directed towards a metasurface for protection against high power electromagnetic (EM)/radio frequency signals, including at high frequencies. The metasurface unit cell design is based on using metal-insulator transition material (e.g., VO2) patch elements, which can be monolithically integrated during fabrication. At lower power levels, the VO2 patch elements are in a high resistance state, allowing inner and outer metal portions of a unit cell to resonate at a desired incoming frequency, thereby passing the signals through the metasurface. At a high power threshold level, determined by dimensions of the VO2 patch elements, the VO2 patch elements are in a low resistance state that couples the inner and outer metal portions into a single low resistance conductive surface that shields the signals from passing through the metasurface. The metal-insulator transition material metasurface operates passively, and provides rapid-response shielding against sudden high-power EM exposure.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A device, comprising:

a metasurface positioned between a source of incoming radio frequency signals and a radio frequency-sensitive device, the metasurface configured to protect the radio frequency-sensitive device, the metasurface comprising:
a metal-insulator transition material that:
self-actuates in response to an input power of incoming radio frequency signals satisfying a defined threshold radio frequency high power level, resulting in redirecting the incoming radio frequency signals and foregoing coupling of the incoming radio frequency signals to the radio frequency-sensitive device, and
self-de-actuates in response to the input power of the incoming radio frequency signals not satisfying the defined threshold radio frequency high power level, resulting in the coupling of the incoming radio frequency signals to the radio frequency-sensitive device.

1 more element

A metasurface, comprising:

a metallic ring resonator section comprising a metallic inner portion and a metallic outer portion;
and
a metal-insulator transition material between the metallic inner portion and the metallic outer portion, wherein the metal-insulator transition material:
transitions to a low resistance state in response to an incoming radio frequency signal satisfying a defined threshold radio frequency high power level, to electrically couple the metallic inner portion to the metallic outer portion, wherein, in the low resistance state, the metallic ring resonator section shields radio frequency sensitive circuitry from the incoming radio frequency signal;
and
transitions to a high resistance state in response to the incoming radio frequency signal not satisfying a defined threshold radio frequency high power level, to electrically decouple the metallic inner portion from the metallic outer portion, wherein, in the high resistance state, the metallic ring resonator section passes the incoming radio frequency signal to the radio frequency sensitive circuitry.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Power-dependent metasurface for shielding in-band high-power electromagnetic signals

Life of this patent

Power-dependent metasurface for shielding in-band high-power electromagnetic signals

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20