Abstract: Substrate arrangements useful for high-performance radio-frequency planar circuits and antennas eliminate excitation of parallel-plate or surface-wave radiations. By eliminating such radiation which escapes sideways through the substrates, the loss of valuable power carried away by these radiations can be avoided, and/or complications resulting from these radiations (e.g., in the form or electromagnetic interference, cross-talk between circuit components or poor signal integrity) can be avoided. A new type of substrate layer is embedded with thin conducting wires that are closely packed and oriented normal to the substrate layering. These conducting wires change the substrate behavior in a unique way. Such new substrate layers may be used in slotline/coplanar waveguide circuits and microstrip antennas to achieve high-performance radio-frequency operations.

Abstract: A large periodic array of ideally isotropic antenna elements permits electronic beam scanning and has a performance of power coupling from signal sources at the antenna inputs which is independent of the azimuth (?) scanning direction, dependent only on one spatial variable (elevation angle, ?) of scanning Such performance from an antenna array normally can not be achieved using conventional designs. Such an antenna array may be used in communications and radars.

Abstract: A new antenna includes a rectangular slot element provided on a conducting plate and covered by a special substrate portion. The substrate portion includes stacked layers of capacitively-loaded conducting ring elements, arranged in the form of an (e.g., periodic) array in each layer. The slot antenna element is excited by a parallel-plate waveguide, which is fabricated below the conducting plate on which the slot antenna is made. The antenna design, when used in the form of a single antenna element, would produce ideally uniform power radiation over all directions in the upper hemi-spherical space. A large periodic array of such ideally isotropic antenna elements permits electronic beam scanning and has a performance of power coupling from signal sources at the antenna inputs which is independent of the azimuth (?) scanning direction, dependent only on one spatial variable (elevation angle, ?) of scanning. Such performance from an antenna array normally can not be achieved using conventional designs.

Abstract: A “wireless cable” (also referred to as a “free-space waveguide”), which does not require a continuous body of conducting wire, is provided. Rather, a series of conducting rings, each loaded with a suitable capacitance element, is properly arranged in an empty medium. The distance between the conducting ring elements is of the order of half the wavelength of the signal to be carried, or less. Normally, the series of ring elements would operate as an antenna array, radiating the signal power away from the structure. However, under suitable design conditions, ideally all the signal power can be directed along an axis of the series of conducting ring elements. A signal source can be connected to the ring element at one end of the series, and a suitable electrical load be connected to the element at the opposite end to collect the guided signal power. Additional matching circuits may be provided to properly couple the source and load to the wireless cable.

Abstract: A large periodic array of ideally isotropic antenna elements permits electronic beam scanning and has a performance of power coupling from signal sources at the antenna inputs which is independent of the azimuth (?) scanning direction, dependent only on one spatial variable (elevation angle, ?) of scanning Such performance from an antenna array normally can not be achieved using conventional designs. Such an antenna array may be used in communications and radars.

Abstract: A “wireless cable” (also referred to as a “free-space waveguide”), which does not require a continuous body of conducting wire, is provided. Rather, a series of conducting rings, each loaded with a suitable capacitance element, is properly arranged in an empty medium. The distance between the conducting ring elements is of the order of half the wavelength of the signal to be carried, or less. Normally, the series of ring elements would operate as an antenna array, radiating the signal power away from the structure. However, under suitable design conditions, ideally all the signal power can be directed along an axis of the series of conducting ring elements. A signal source can be connected to the ring element at one end of the series, and a suitable electrical load be connected to the element at the opposite end to collect the guided signal power. Additional matching circuits may be provided to properly couple the source and load to the wireless cable.

Abstract: A new antenna includes a rectangular slot element provided on a conducting plate and covered by a special substrate portion. The substrate portion includes stacked layers of capacitively-loaded conducting ring elements, arranged in the form of an (e.g., periodic) array in each layer. The slot antenna element is excited by a parallel-plate waveguide, which is fabricated below the conducting plate on which the slot antenna is made. The antenna design, when used in the form of a single antenna element, would produce ideally uniform power radiation over all directions in the upper hemi-spherical space. A large periodic array of such ideally isotropic antenna elements permits electronic beam scanning and has a performance of power coupling from signal sources at the antenna inputs which is independent of the azimuth (?) scanning direction, dependent only on one spatial variable (elevation angle, ?) of scanning. Such performance from an antenna array normally can not be achieved using conventional designs.

Abstract: Substrate arrangements useful for high-performance radio-frequency planar circuits and antennas eliminate excitation of parallel-plate or surface-wave radiations. By eliminating such radiation which escapes sideways through the substrates, the loss of valuable power carried away by these radiations can be avoided, and/or complications resulting from these radiations (e.g., in the form or electromagnetic interference, cross-talk between circuit components or poor signal integrity) can be avoided. A new type of substrate layer is embedded with thin conducting wires that are closely packed and oriented normal to the substrate layering. These conducting wires change the substrate behavior in a unique way. Such new substrate layers may be used in slotline/coplanar waveguide circuits and microstrip antennas to achieve high-performance radio-frequency operations.

Abstract: A system utilizing a number of micro-strip antenna apparatus embedded in or mounted on the surface of a structure for enabling wireless communication of sensed and actuation signals. The micro-strip antenna apparatus may include smart materials or other substrates. If only a sensed operation is desired, the micro-strip antenna apparatus may be fabricated from only passive elements or materials. Furthermore, a micro-strip antenna apparatus is provided which enables simultaneous transmission/reception of sensing and actuation signals.

Abstract: A system utilizing a number of micro-strip antenna apparatus embedded in or mounted on the surface of a structure for enabling wireless communication of sensed and actuation signals. The micro-strip antenna apparatus may include smart materials or other substrates. If only a sensed operation is desired, the micro-strip antenna apparatus may be fabricated from only passive elements or materials. Furthermore, a micro-strip antenna apparatus is provided which enables simultaneous transmission/reception of sensing and actuation signals.