Abstract: A thin, flexible antenna that has particular application to be mounted to a dielectric structure on a vehicle, such as vehicle glass, where the antenna has a wideband antenna geometry for various communications applications, and where the conductive portion of the antenna can employ transparent conductors.

Abstract: An electromagnetic coupler that couples antenna signals for a wideband antenna positioned between glass layers of an automotive windshield. The coupler includes a first co-planar waveguide (CPW) formed on one side of a glass layer and a second CPW formed on the other side of the glass layer, where the first and second CPWs are a mirror, or near-mirror, and 180° rotated images of each other. Both the first and second CPWs include a conductive plane where removed portions of the plane define a wide CPW section and a narrow CPW section that are electrically coupled to each other, and where the remaining portions of the conductive plane are ground planes, and where the electromagnetic signals are coupled through the glass layer between the wide CPW sections.

Abstract: An antenna assembly including a planar antenna formed on a dielectric substrate and a frequency selective impedance surface formed on the substrate and at least partially surrounding the antenna. The frequency selective impedance surface receives surface waves propagating along the dielectric substrate generated by the antenna, where the impedance surface mitigates negative effects of the surface waves by converting the surface wave energy into leaky-wave radiation, and also possibly providing some control of the radiation gain pattern of the antenna. In one embodiment, the dielectric substrate is vehicle glass, such as a vehicle windshield.

Abstract: A tunable metamaterial has a two dimensional array of resonant annular ring elements; and a plurality of voltage controllable electrical tuning elements disposed in or adjacent openings in each of said ring elements, each of said voltage controllable electrical tuning element ohmically contacting portions of only one of said ring elements. The voltage controllable electrical tuning elements may comprise highly doped semiconductor tunnel diodes, or the charge accumulation layer at the semiconductor/insulator interface of a metal-insulator-semiconductor structure, or nanoelectromechanical (NEMs) capacitors. The tunable metamaterial may be used, for example, in an optical beam steering device using the aforementioned tunable optical metamaterial in which a free-space optical beam is coupled into a receiving portion of a plane of the optical metamaterial and is steered out of a transmitter portion of the plane of the optical metamaterial in controllable azimuthal and elevational directions.

Abstract: A coherent frequency modulated receiver for receiving and detecting arriving optical signals which comprises an electrically controllable optical beam scanner receiving optical input beams arriving at different angles in a field of view of the electrically controllable optical beam scanner, the electrically controllable optical beam scanner conveying a scanned optical input beam as its output optical beam; a grating coupler responsive to the output or reflected optical beam of the electrically controllable optical beams scanner, the grating coupler having a waveguided output; an optical local oscillator laser having a waveguided output; an FMCW signal generator; an optical modulator responsive to the optical waveguided outputs of the optical local oscillator laser and also to an electrical FMCW signal from the FMCW signal generator; a pair of second order non-linear optical elements for frequency upconverting respective outputs of the optical modulator and the grating coupler; and at least one photodiode opti

Abstract: A system and a method of coupling radiating elements to a structure are described. The system includes a structure including a fascia, an antenna applique to be disposed conformally behind the fascia, and an adhesion layer between the antenna applique and the fascia.

Abstract: An arrangement of MIMO antennas in a vehicle, such as an automobile, where at least one of the MIMO antennas is placed inside the vehicle in the richer multipath signal propagation environment. The MIMO antennas will include a primary MIMO antenna that may also be used for non-4G cellular services and one or more secondary MIMO antennas that are used only for 4G cellular services. In one embodiment, the primary MIMO antenna is mounted to a roof of the vehicle in a module including other antennas and the one or more secondary antennas are positioned at desired locations within the vehicle. In another embodiment, the primary MIMO antenna and the one or more secondary MIMO antennas are all positioned within the vehicle.

Abstract: The disclosed antenna structures and electronic microsystems are capable of physically disappearing in a controlled, triggerable manner. Some variations provide an on-chip transient antenna comprising a semiconductor substrate containing ion-implanted hydrogen atoms and a conductor network comprising metals bridged by low-melting-temperature metals. Some variations provide an off-chip transient antenna comprising a flexible substrate containing a polymer, nanoporous silicon particles, and an oxidant for silicon, and a conductor network comprising metals bridged by low-melting-temperature metals. Other variations provide a method of introducing physical transience to a semiconductor integrated circuit, comprising thinning a substrate from the back side, implanting hydrogen ions into the thinned substrate to introduce latent structural flaws, depositing a semiconductor integrated circuit or sensor chip, and providing a controllable heating source capable of activating the latent structural flaws.

Abstract: This invention is the Optically Powered and Controlled Non-Foster Circuit (OPCNFC) that is electrically floating; i.e., it does not have any metallic electrical/conductive connection to a power supply, ground, or control signal. Rather power and control signals are applied to the OPCNFC using optical energy. The Non-Foster Circuit (NFC) synthesizes negative inductance, negative capacitance, and/or negative resistance between metallic patches disposed in an array of an Artificial Impedance Surface (AIS).

Abstract: An optical-waveguide grating modulator is compatible with high-frequency electrical modulation signals of limited bandwidth. The modulator comprises an optical grating formed in an optical waveguide constructed from electro-optic (EO) material and an electrode that is an RF waveguide or RF transmission line that conducts a traveling-wave electromagnetic (EM) field and that contains a portion of the optical-grating waveguide with a continuous grating. The RF input modulation signal is coupled into an RF EM field that propagates through the RF waveguide or transmission line in a direction that is parallel to the direction the light propagates in the optical-grating waveguide and that EM field overlaps the optical-grating waveguide. The light travels along the optical-grating waveguide preferably at the same velocity as the RF EM field travels along the RF waveguide or transmission line.

Abstract: An photonic RF circulator is described that provides greater than 40 db of isolation between a Received RF signal and a Transmitted RF signal in a simultaneous transmit and receive device. The photonic RF circulator uses light modulated in an optical waveguide grating where the Received RF signal co-propagates with the light and the Transmitted RF signal counter-propagates with the light. Variations described within provide for broadening the bandwidth of the T/R isolation and rejection of various noise sources.

Abstract: An arrangement of MIMO antennas in a vehicle, such as an automobile, where at least one of the MIMO antennas is placed inside the vehicle in the richer multipath signal propagation environment. The MIMO antennas will include a primary MIMO antenna that may also be used for non-4G cellular services and one or more secondary MIMO antennas that are used only for 4G cellular services. In one embodiment, the primary MIMO antenna is mounted to a roof of the vehicle in a module including other antennas and the one or more secondary antennas are positioned at desired locations within the vehicle. In another embodiment, the primary MIMO antenna and the one or more secondary MIMO antennas are all positioned within the vehicle.

Abstract: A reconfigurable electro-magnetic tile includes a laser layer including a plurality of lasers, and a pixelated surface comprising a plurality of metal patches and a plurality of switches, wherein each respective switch of the plurality of switches is in a gap between a first respective metal patch and a second respective metal patch, wherein each respective switch is optically coupled to at least one respective laser of the plurality of lasers, and wherein each switch of the plurality of switches comprises a phase change material.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and/or method are described to enable optically transparent reconfigurable integrated electrical components, such as antennas and RF circuits to be integrated into an optically transparent host platform, such as glass. In one embodiment, an Ag NW film may be configured as a transparent conductor for antennas and/or as interconnects for passive circuit components, such as capacitors or resistors. Ag NW may also be used as transmission lines and/or interconnect overlays for devices. A graphene film may also be configured as active channel material for making active RF devices, such as amplifiers and switches.

Abstract: A reconfigurable radio frequency aperture including a substrate, a plurality of reconfigurable patches on the substrate, and a plurality of reconfigurable coupling elements on the substrate, wherein at least one reconfigurable coupling element is coupled between a reconfigurable patch and another reconfigurable patch, and wherein the reconfigurable coupling elements affect the mutual coupling between reconfigurable patches.

Abstract: An electromagnetically operational micro-truss structure and methods are disclosed. A micro-truss structure comprises a grid of interlocking elements, and a metallic coating selectively coats the grid. The metallic coating is configured to resonate an electromagnetic energy.

Abstract: A waveguide assembly for a use with, for example, a microwave receiver. The waveguide assembly includes: a waveguide; a tapered structure disposed within the waveguide, the tapered structure tapering in thickness from a first end with a zero height to a second end where the tapered structure has a height which nearly fills, but does not completely fill, the waveguide, to thereby define a modulator receiving space between the tapered structure and an adjacent wall of said waveguide. The second end of the tapered structure is preferably disposed adjacent an open circuited end of the waveguide. An electro-optic modulator is disposed on a dielectric substrate, the dielectric substrate being disposed at least partially within the modulator receiving space and the electro-optic modulator being disposed so that it is located, in use, at an antinode of a standing wave of the waveguide assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and/or method are described to enable optically transparent reconfigurable integrated electrical components, such as antennas and RF circuits to be integrated into an optically transparent host platform, such as glass. In one embodiment, an Ag NW film may be configured as a transparent conductor for antennas and/or as interconnects for passive circuit components, such as capacitors or resistors. Ag NW may also be used as transmission lines and/or interconnect overlays for devices. A graphene film may also be configured as active channel material for making active RF devices, such as amplifiers and switches.

Abstract: A tunable metamaterial has a two dimensional array of resonant annular ring elements; and a plurality of voltage controllable electrical tuning elements disposed in or adjacent openings in each of said ring elements, each of said voltage controllable electrical tuning element ohmically contacting portions of only one of said ring elements. The voltage controllable electrical tuning elements may comprise highly doped semiconductor tunnel diodes, or the charge accumulation layer at the semiconductor/insulator interface of a metal-insulator-semiconductor structure, or nanoelectromechanical (NEMs) capacitors. The tunable metamaterial may be used, for example, in an optical beam steering device using the aforementioned tunable optical metamaterial in which a free-space optical beam is coupled into a receiving portion of a plane of the optical metamaterial and is steered out of a transmitter portion of the plane of the optical metamaterial in controllable azimuthal and elevational directions.

Abstract: An absorber is disclosed. The disclosed absorber contains a base layer, and a plurality of pillars disposed above the base layer and composed of material configured to absorb an incident light and generate minority electrical carriers and majority electrical carrier, wherein the height of the pillars is predetermined to provide a common pyramidal outline shared by the pillars in the plurality of pillars.