Antenna and method for utilization thereof
US5886670A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 16, 1996 |
| Grant date | Mar 23, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 16, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01Q3/2676
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Systems and methods for guided wave antennas are described. Apparatus is disclosed comprising: a dielectric nonphotoconductive waveguide defining a principle axis; a grating carrier connected to the dielectric nonphotoconductive waveguide, the grating carrier i) including a photoconductive material and ii) defining a photoconductive axis that is substantially parallel to the principle axis; a spatial light modulator optically connected to the layer of photoconductive material; and a source of illumination optically connected to the spatial light modulator and the layer of photoconductive material. Light from the source of illumination passes through the spatial light modulator and induces a plasma grating in the grating carrier substantially along a direction defined by the photoconductive axis so as to evanescently couple and direct electromagnetic signals traveling in the dielectric nonphotoconductive waveguide, the electromagnetic signals traveling along a direction substantially parallel to the principle axis. The systems and methods provide advantages in that high performance is achieved with a compact package.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.