Multiferroic antenna and transmitter

A multiferroic antenna, comprising:

• an electrically conductive ground plane;
• a plurality of multiferroic elements formed on the electrically conductive ground plane, the plurality of multiferroic elements being configured in an array to form the multiferroic antenna, each of the multiferroic elements comprising:
• a substrate formed on the ground plane;
• a layer of piezoelectric material formed on the substrate;
• and
• a layer of magnetostrictive material bonded to the layer of piezoelectric material, wherein a mechanical strain is created in the layer of piezoelectric material in response to a voltage signal being connected across the ground plane and the layer of magnetostrictive material, the mechanical strain in the layer of piezoelectric material causing a mechanical strain in the layer of magnetostrictive material to produce a radio frequency magnetic field that is proportional to the voltage signal for generating a radio frequency electromagnetic wave, wherein the substrate comprises a material having a predetermined elastic modulus substantially lower than an elastic modulus of the layer of piezoelectric material and the layer of magnetostrictive material that substantially prevents distortion of the multiferroic element and loss of antenna power when the voltage signal is connected.

A vehicle, comprising:

• a skin;
• a transmitter mounted in the vehicle for communications;
• a transmit multiferroic antenna connected to the transmitter and mounted on the skin, wherein the transmit multiferroic antenna comprises:
• an electrically conductive ground plane;
• a plurality of multiferroic elements formed on the electrically conductive ground plane and configured in an array to form the multiferroic antenna, each of the multiferroic elements comprising:
• a substrate formed on the ground plane;
• a layer of piezoelectric material formed on the substrate;
• and
• a layer of magnetostrictive material bonded to the layer of piezoelectric material, wherein a mechanical strain is created in the layer of piezoelectric material in response to a voltage signal being connected across the ground plane and the layer of magnetostrictive material, the mechanical strain in the layer of piezoelectric material causing a mechanical strain in the layer of magnetostrictive material to produce a radio frequency magnetic field that is proportional to the voltage signal for generating a radio frequency electromagnetic wave, wherein the substrate comprises a material having a predetermined elastic modulus substantially lower than an elastic modulus of the layer of piezoelectric material and the layer of magnetostrictive material that substantially prevents distortion of the multiferroic element and loss of antenna power when the voltage signal is connected.