Optically defined antenna
US9966647B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 20, 2016 |
| Grant date | May 8, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 1, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01Q15/148
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A software defined antenna can include a light source and a photoconductive surface. The photoconductive surface can be two-dimensional or three-dimensional. A plurality of electrically isolated pixels can be embedded in the photoconductive surface. The antenna can further include a processor with computer software incorporated to manipulate the light source to selectively illuminate the surface matrix in a predetermined pattern. As the surface matrix becomes illuminated, the illuminated portion of the matrix surface electrically connects the pixels, resulting in the desired radiation pattern. The software can be manipulated to further manipulate the light source to change antenna frequency, gain and bandwidth parameters, as desired by the user. Similarly, the pixels can be selectively illuminated to cause a desired radiation pattern, such as circular, sector scan or raster patterns.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.