Abstract: A unit cell can be used for a metasurface, metamaterial, or beamforming antenna. The unit cell includes a metal layer attached to a substrate. The metal layer defines an iris opening for the unit cell. One or more tunable capacitance devices are positioned within or across the iris opening. Each tunable capacitance device is to tune resonance frequency of the unit cell. Mass transfer technologies or self-assembly processes may be used to position the tunable capacitance devices.

Abstract: Antennas having iris and/or cell rotation and/or with frequency compensation in solid state device (e.g., diode) designs and methods of using the same are described. In some embodiments, the antenna comprises: an antenna aperture having a plurality of RF radiating antenna elements that each include an iris and a solid state device coupled across the iris, wherein the plurality of antenna elements are located in rings with orientation of each of the irises of the antenna elements in at least a portion of each ring rotated with respect to adjacent irises in the portion of each ring while orientation of corresponding solid state devices is uniform; and a controller coupled to control the array of RF radiating antenna elements to tune RF radiating antenna elements to generate one or more beams using the plurality of RF radiating antenna elements.

Abstract: Antennas with integrated varactor circuits are described. The antenna may comprise metasurface antennas. In some embodiments, an antenna comprises an array of antenna elements, wherein each antenna element comprises a iris and a varactor diode integrated on an integrated circuit (IC) chip coupled across a portion of the iris. The antenna can also comprise a plurality of transistors, each transistor coupled to a distinct one of the varactor diodes in the array of antenna elements to provide a tuning voltage to the one varactor diode.

Abstract: An apparatus for exchanging liquid crystal (LC) between two areas of an antenna array and method for using the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, the antenna comprises an antenna element array having a plurality of radiating radio-frequency (RF) antenna elements formed using portions of first and second substrates with a liquid crystal (LC) therebetween, and a structure between the first and second substrates and outside the area of the RF antenna elements to collect LC from an area between the first and second substrates forming the RF antenna elements due to LC expansion.

Abstract: An antenna with a heater and method for using the same are disclosed. The antenna may comprise: an antenna aperture having a plurality of radio-frequency radiating antenna elements, the antenna aperture having a ground plane and a material for tuning permittivity or capacitance; and a heater structure in thermal contact with the material.

Abstract: A scanning antenna includes a transmission and/or reception region including a plurality of antenna units and a non-transmission and/or reception region other than the transmission and/or reception region.

Abstract: A scanning antenna includes a transmission and/or reception region including a plurality of antenna units and a non-transmission and/or reception region other than the transmission and/or reception region. The scanning antenna includes a TFT substrate, a slot substrate, a liquid crystal layer, a seal portion surrounding the liquid crystal layer, a wall structure (additional seal portion) disposed in a region surrounded by the seal portion in the non-transmission and/or reception region, a reflective conductive plate, a first spacer structure defining a first gap between a first dielectric substrate and a second dielectric substrate in the transmission and/or reception region, and a second spacer structure disposed in the wall structure and defining a second gap wider than the first gap.

Abstract: A scanning antenna includes a transmission and/or reception region including a plurality of antenna units and a non-transmission and/or reception region other than the transmission and/or reception region. The scanning antenna includes a TFT substrate, a slot substrate, a liquid crystal layer provided between the TFT substrate and the slot substrate, a seal portion provided in the non-transmission and/or reception region and surrounding the liquid crystal layer, and a reflective conductive plate disposed opposing a second main surface of a second dielectric substrate with a dielectric layer interposed between the reflective conductive plate and the second main surface. The slot electrode includes an opening or a recessed portion formed in the non-transmission and/or reception region and in the region surrounded by the seal portion.

Abstract: An apparatus for exchanging liquid crystal (LC) between two areas of an antenna array and method for using the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, the antenna comprises an antenna element array having a plurality of radiating radio-frequency (RF) antenna elements formed using portions of first and second substrates with a liquid crystal (LC) therebetween, and a structure between the first and second substrates and outside the area of the RF antenna elements to collect LC from an area between the first and second substrates forming the RF antenna elements due to LC expansion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for DC offset correction in an antenna aperture are described. In one embodiment, the antenna comprises: an array of antenna elements having liquid crystal (LC); drive circuitry coupled to the array and having a plurality of drivers, each driver of the plurality of drivers coupled to an antenna element of the array and operable to apply a drive voltage to the antenna element; and voltage correction logic coupled to the drive circuitry adjust drive voltages to compensate for an offset between a first magnitude of a first voltage applied to the LC of each antenna element during a first interval of drive polarity and a second magnitude of a second voltage applied to the LC of said each antenna element during a second interval of drive polarity opposite the drive polarity of the first interval.

Abstract: Routing and layout for an antenna are described. In one embodiment, the antenna comprises an aperture having a plurality of radio-frequency (RF) radiating antenna elements, wherein each antenna element of the plurality of RF radiating antenna elements comprises an iris slot opening and an electrode over the iris slot opening; a plurality of drive transistors coupled to the plurality of antenna elements; and a plurality of storage capacitors, each storage capacitor coupled to the electrode of one antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements. The aperture also comprises at least one of: the drive transistor for the one antenna element is located under the electrode of the antenna element, the storage capacitor for the one antenna element is located under the electrode of the antenna element, and the metal routing to the one antenna element for a first voltage overlaps, in an overlap region, a common voltage routing that routes the common voltage to the one antenna element to form a storage capacitance.

Abstract: An antenna and method of using the same are described. In one embodiment, the antenna comprise an array of radio-frequency (RF) radiating antenna elements, wherein each RF radiating antenna element comprises a first conductor stack containing one or more metal layers and having a first set of one or more conductive layers covering a first side of the first conductive stack; a second conductor stack, separated from the first conductor stack, containing one or more conductive layers and having a second set of one or more conductive layers covering a second side of the second conductive stack; and liquid crystal (LC) between the first and second sides of the first and second conductor stacks, respectively.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for electrical addressing for an antenna (e.g., a metamaterial radio-frequency (RF) antenna are described. In one embodiment antenna comprising: a plurality of radio-frequency (RF) radiating antenna elements located in a plurality of rings; and matrix drive circuitry coupled to the plurality of RF radiating antenna elements to drive the antenna elements, wherein the matrix drive circuitry to uniquely address each of the antenna elements using a matrix of a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns with a non-grid-based addressing structure.

Abstract: A storage capacitor and method for using the same in an antenna aperture are described. In one embodiment, an antenna comprises a physical antenna aperture having first and second substrates forming an array of radio-frequency (RF) radiating antenna elements that are controlled and operable together to form a beam for the frequency band for use in holographic beam steering, wherein each of the antenna elements is coupled to a circuit to supply a voltage to the said each antenna element and a storage capacitor formed with a plurality of conductive layers (e.g., metal layers) on a first substrate, wherein top and bottom conductive layers of the plurality of conductive layers are at a first voltage that is equal to a second voltage on a conductive layer (e.g., a metal layer) of the second substrate to reduce parasitic capacitance produced between the storage capacitor and the conductive layer on the second substrate.

Abstract: An antenna has radio-frequency (RF) antenna elements and two substrates. A heater structure is connected to at least one of the two substrates, for heating the RF antenna elements. In one embodiment, the antenna comprises: a physical antenna aperture having an array of radio frequency (RF) antenna elements formed with patch and iris substrates, the iris substrate having a plurality of layers including an iris metal layer; and a heater structure coupled to one or more of the plurality of layers of the iris substrate for heating the RF antenna elements.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for RF ripple correction in an antenna aperture are described. In one embodiment, the antenna comprises: an array of antenna elements having liquid crystal (LC); drive circuitry coupled to the array and having a plurality of drivers, each driver of the plurality of drivers coupled to an antenna element of the array and operable to apply a drive voltage to the antenna element; and radio-frequency (RF) ripple correction logic coupled to the drive circuitry to adjust drive voltages to compensate for ripple.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing radio-frequency antenna elements are disclosed.

Abstract: A unit cell can be used for a metasurface, metamaterial, or beamforming antenna. The unit cell includes a metal layer attached to a substrate. The metal layer defines an iris opening for the unit cell. One or more tunable capacitance devices are positioned within or across the iris opening. Each tunable capacitance device is to tune resonance frequency of the unit cell. Mass transfer technologies or self-assembly processes may be used to position the tunable capacitance devices.

Abstract: An antenna with a heater and method for using the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, the antenna comprises: an antenna aperture having a plurality of radio-frequency radiating antenna elements, the antenna aperture having a ground plane and a material for tuning permittivity or capacitance; and a heater structure in thermal contact with the material.

Abstract: An antenna apparatus and method for using the same are disclosed.