Abstract: Method for fabricating a textured dielectric substrate (400) for an RF circuit. The method can include the step (104) of selecting a plurality of dielectric substrate materials, each having a distinct combination or set of electrical properties that is different from the combination of electrical properties of every other one of dielectric substrate materials. Selecting a textured substrate patter (106) which is comprised of at least two types of distinct areas respectively having the distinct sets of electrical properties, with each distinct area dimensioned much smaller than a wavelength at a frequency of interest. Cutting the dielectric substrate materials (202, 204) into a size and shape consistent with the distinct areas of the selected pattern so as to form a plurality of dielectric pieces (206, 208). Arranging the dielectric pieces on a base plate (302) in accordance with the selected pattern to form the textured dielectric substrate.

Abstract: Method for fabricating a textured dielectric substrate (400) for an RF circuit. The method can include the step (104) of selecting a plurality of dielectric substrate materials, each having a distinct combination or set of electrical properties that is different from the combination of electrical properties of every other one of dielectric substrate materials. Selecting a textured substrate patter (106) which is comprised of at least two types of distinct areas respectively having the distinct sets of electrical properties, with each distinct area dimensioned much smaller than a wavelength at a frequency of interest. Cutting the dielectric substrate materials (202, 204) into a size and shape consistent with the distinct areas of the selected pattern so as to form a plurality of dielectric pieces (206, 208). Arranging the dielectric pieces on a base plate (302) in accordance with the selected pattern to form the textured dielectric substrate.

Abstract: Method for fabricating a textured dielectric substrate (400) for an RF circuit. The method can include the step (104) of selecting a plurality of dielectric substrate materials, each having a distinct combination or set of electrical properties that is different from the combination of electrical properties of every other one of dielectric substrate materials. Selecting a textured substrate pattern (106) which is comprised of at least two types of distinct areas respectively having the distinct sets of electrical properties, with each distinct area dimensioned much smaller than a wavelength at a frequency of interest. Cutting the dielectric substrate materials (202, 204) into a size and shape consistent with the distinct areas of the selected pattern so as to form a plurality of dielectric pieces (206, 208). Arranging the dielectric pieces on a base plate (302) in accordance with the selected pattern to form the textured dielectric substrate.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a housing having a plurality of panels connected together to define a closed geometric shape having one or more corners. An electrically conductive layer is carried by the housing to define a first dipole element, and a second dipole element is carried by housing adjacent one corner thereof. Circuitry comprising at least one active electronic component, such as sensor and/or a battery, is mounted within the housing, and an antenna feed is connected between the circuitry and the first and second dipole elements.

Abstract: An optically active composition (100) for optical applications has been identified. The optically active composition (100) can include at least one cyclic molecule having a nanocore (112) disposed within the cyclic molecule to form a filled ring (108). The composition (100) is optically transmissive for at least one photonic wavelength that would not otherwise be transmitted by the composition (100) if the nanocore were absent from the cyclic molecule. The cyclic molecule can be a carbon ring, an aromatic ring, or a heterocyclic ring. The filled ring (108) can be attached to a chiral molecule which is a repeat unit (102) in a polymeric backbone. A second filled ring (110) which causes the composition to be optically transmissive at a second wavelength also can be attached to the chiral molecule (102) as well. An electric field can be applied to the filled ring (108) to adjust the wavelength at which filled ring (108) is transmissive.

Abstract: A substrate (300) for an RF device includes a plurality of layers (102) of dielectric material cofired in a stack. The plurality of layers (102) is formed from a material having a permittivity. Selected ones of the layers (102) have a pattern of perforations (106) formed in at least one perforated area (104). The perforated areas (104) are generally aligned with one another in the stack to lower one or more of an effective value of a permittivity and a loss tangent in a least one spatially defined region (504) of the substrate (300).

Abstract: A substrate (300) for an RF device includes a plurality of layers (102) of dielectric material cofired in a stack. The plurality of layers (102) is formed from a material having a permittivity. Selected ones of the layers (102) have a pattern of perforations (106) formed in at least one perforated area (104). The perforated areas (104) are generally aligned with one another in the stack to lower one or more of an effective value of a permittivity and a loss tangent in a least one spatially defined region (504) of the substrate (300).

Abstract: An optically active composition (100) for optical applications has been identified. The optically active composition (100) can include at least one cyclic molecule having a nanocore (112) disposed within the cyclic molecule to form a filled ring (108). The composition (100) is optically transmissive for at least one photonic wavelength that would not otherwise be transmitted by the composition (100) if the nanocore were absent from the cyclic molecule. The cyclic molecule can be a carbon ring, an aromatic ring, or a heterocyclic ring. The filled ring (108) can be attached to a chiral molecule which is a repeat unit (102) in a polymeric backbone. A second filled ring (110) which causes the composition to be optically transmissive at a second wavelength also can be attached to the chiral molecule (102) as well. An electric field can be applied to the filled ring (108) to adjust the wavelength at which filled ring (108) is transmissive.

Abstract: A substrate (300) for an RF device includes a plurality of layers (102) of dielectric material cofired in a stack. The plurality of layers (102) is formed from a material having a permittivity. Selected ones of the layers (102) have a pattern of perforations (106) formed in at least one perforated area (104). The perforated areas (104) are generally aligned with one another in the stack to lower one or more of an effective value of a permittivity and a loss tangent in a least one spatially defined region (504) of the substrate (300).

Abstract: Method for fabricating a textured dielectric substrate (400) for an RF circuit. The method can include the step (104) of selecting a plurality of dielectric substrate materials, each having a distinct combination or set of electrical properties that is different from the combination of electrical properties of every other one of dielectric substrate materials. Selecting a textured substrate pattern (106) which is comprised of at least two types of distinct areas respectively having the distinct sets of electrical properties, with each distinct area dimensioned much smaller than a wavelength at a frequency of interest. Cutting the dielectric substrate materials (202, 204) into a size and shape consistent with the distinct areas of the selected pattern so as to form a plurality of dielectric pieces (206, 208). Arranging the dielectric pieces on a base plate (302) in accordance with the selected pattern to form the textured dielectric substrate.

Abstract: A substrate (300) for an RF device includes a plurality of layers (102) of dielectric material cofired in a stack. The plurality of layers (102) is formed from a material having a permittivity. Selected ones of the layers (102) have a pattern of perforations (106) formed in at least one perforated area (104). The perforated areas (104) are generally aligned with one another in the stack to lower one or more of an effective value of a permittivity and a loss tangent in a least one spatially defined region (504) of the substrate (300).

Abstract: The method includes selecting two or more types of ceramic materials (202, 204), each having a distinct set of electrical properties different from the other of the types of ceramic materials. A substrate pattern can also be selected. The substrate pattern can comprise at least two types of distinct substrate areas having the distinct sets of electrical properties of the ceramic materials. Each distinct area can be selected so as to have dimensions much smaller than a wavelength at a frequency of interest. The ceramic materials (202, 204) can thereafter be fired and then cut into a size and shape consistent with the distinct areas to form dielectric pieces (206, 208). The process continues by selectively arranging the dielectric pieces on a base plate (302) in accordance with the pattern to form the textured ceramic dielectric substrate.