Optically reconfigurable RF fabric
AssigneeRaytheon Company
InventorsMichael H. Robson, Michael T. Pace
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system to configure a planar microwave circuit, a method of forming a configurable planar microwave circuit, and a microwave circuit are described. The system includes a ground plane and a substrate disposed on the ground plane. The system also includes a photosensitive layer disposed on the substrate. A light source controllably changes a pattern of illumination on the photosensitive layer to controllably configure a transmission line in the photosensitive layer.
Claims20
A system to configure a planar microwave circuit, comprising:
- a ground plane;
- a substrate disposed on the ground plane;
- a photosensitive layer disposed on the substrate;
- and
- a light source configured to controllably illuminate a selected portion of the photosensitive layer according to a pattern to controllably configure a transmission line only in the selected portion of the photosensitive layer corresponding with the pattern.
A method of forming a configurable planar microwave circuit, the method comprising:
- disposing a substrate on a ground plane;
- disposing a photosensitive layer on the substrate;
- and
- configuring a light source above the photosensitive layer, the light source operable to illuminate a selected portion of the photosensitive layer according to a pattern to controllably configure a transmission line only in the selected portion of the photosensitive layer corresponding with the pattern.
A microwave circuit, comprising:
- a ground plane;
- a substrate disposed on the ground plane;
- a photosensitive layer disposed on the substrate;
- and
- a transmission line formed in an illuminated portion of the photosensitive layer corresponding with a pattern, the transmission line being configured to channel radio frequency energy and the transmission line being reconfigured based on illumination of a different portion of the photosensitive layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.