Abstract: A method of conforming a periodic array to a surface is provided. The method comprises calculating, with a spatially-variant lattice algorithm, a pair of planar gratings across the surface, wherein the planar gratings are generated via reciprocal lattice vectors and summing the pair of planar gratings. Intersections produced by summing the gratings are scanned for maxima on the surface, and a periodic array of elements is located at the maxima on the surface. A normal vector is calculated at each maximum on the surface, and each element is rotated to match the direction of the respective normal vector at each maximum on the surface. The elements are then conformed to the surface via a shrink-wrap modifier operation.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for fabricating a three-dimensional circuit is provided. In an embodiment, a method for fabricating a three-dimensional circuit by an additive manufacturing process includes determining a shape, location, and spatial orientation of a number of components, a number of dielectrics, and a number of metal interconnects for the three dimensional circuit. The method also includes obtaining fused filament fabrication (FFF) specific actions for a number of dielectric materials and the metal interconnects. The method also includes separating tool paths of the dielectric material and the metal interconnects into individual tool paths for each of the dielectric materials and the metal interconnects. The method also includes removing specific actions for one of the individual toolpaths from an FFF specific action. The method also includes rewriting the one of the individual toolpaths into micro-dispensing actions to control a tool for micro-dispensing ink.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed compositions and devices that include a spatially-variant lattice (SVL), such as spatially variant photonic crystals (SVPC), as well as methods for making and using the same. In particular, the compositions and devices include SVPCs that are configured for manipulating the path and/or properties of electromagnetic radiation flowing through the SVPC in a variety of ways.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for fabricating a three-dimensional circuit is provided. In an embodiment, a method for fabricating a three-dimensional circuit by an additive manufacturing process includes determining a shape, location, and spatial orientation of a number of components, a number of dielectrics, and a number of metal interconnects for the three dimensional circuit. The method also includes obtaining fused filament fabrication (FFF) specific actions for a number of dielectric materials and the metal interconnects. The method also includes separating tool paths of the dielectric material and the metal interconnects into individual tool paths for each of the dielectric materials and the metal interconnects. The method also includes removing specific actions for one of the individual toolpaths from an FFF specific action. The method also includes rewriting the one of the individual toolpaths into micro-dispensing actions to control a tool for micro-dispensing ink.

Abstract: Coupling can be reduced between electromagnetic components in system where negative uniaxial metamaterial (MUM) can be utilized between the components and can be configured to reduce coupling. The HUM can be configured in a shape selected according to an electromagnetic field causing the coupling or by calculating a fictitious electrostatic field. An array of electromagnetic components can be decoupled using an array of spatially-variant anisotropic metamaterial. A method for decoupling electromagnetic components can include steps of determining a fictitious electrostatic field surrounding the components disposed in an environment, mathematically transforming the electromagnetic fields into a grating vector function, forming at least one spatially-variant anisotropic metamaterial according to the grating vectors, and inserting the spatially-variant anisotropic metamaterial in the environment in order to decouple the electromagnetic components.

Abstract: An electromagnetic device includes: a first medium having a first material having a first dielectric constant, the first medium having a plurality of spaces filled with a second material having a second dielectric constant that is different from the first dielectric constant; and a plurality of antennas disposed proximate the first medium; wherein adjacent ones of the plurality of spaces of the first medium have an average spacing therebetween of less than one quarter of an operating wavelength of at least one of the plurality of antennas.

Abstract: Coupling can be reduced between electromagnetic components in system where negative uniaxial metamaterial (MUM) can be utilized between the components and can be configured to reduce coupling. The HUM can be configured in a shape selected according to an electromagnetic field causing the coupling or by calculating a fictitious electrostatic field. An array of electromagnetic components can be decoupled using an array of spatially-variant anisotropic metamaterial. A method for decoupling electromagnetic components can include steps of determining a fictitious electrostatic field surrounding the components disposed in an environment, mathematically transforming the electromagnetic fields into a grating vector function, forming at least one spatially-variant anisotropic metamaterial according to the grating vectors, and inserting the spatially-variant anisotropic metamaterial in the environment in order to decouple the electromagnetic components.

Abstract: An electromagnetic device includes: a first medium having a first material having a first dielectric constant, the first medium having a plurality of spaces filled with a second material having a second dielectric constant that is different from the first dielectric constant; and a plurality of antennas disposed proximate the first medium; wherein adjacent ones of the plurality of spaces of the first medium have an average spacing therebetween of less than one quarter of an operating wavelength of at least one of the plurality of antennas.

Abstract: An electromagnetic device includes: a first layer having a first material with a first dielectric constant, the first layer having a plurality of channels or holes filled with a second material with a second dielectric constant that is different from the first dielectric constant; and, a second layer having a plurality of antennas disposed on the first layer. Adjacent ones of the plurality of channels of the first layer have an average spacing therebetween of less than one quarter of an operating wavelength of at least one of the plurality of antennas.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed compositions and devices that include a spatially-variant lattice (SVL), such as spatially variant photonic crystals (SVPC), as well as methods for making and using the same. In particular, the compositions and devices include SVPCs that are configured for manipulating the path and/or properties of electromagnetic radiation flowing through the SVPC in a variety of ways.

Abstract: An electromagnetic device includes: a first layer having a first material with a first dielectric constant, the first layer having a plurality of channels or holes filled with a second material with a second dielectric constant that is different from the first dielectric constant; and, a second layer having a plurality of antennas disposed on the first layer. Adjacent ones of the plurality of channels of the first layer have an average spacing therebetween of less than one quarter of an operating wavelength of at least one of the plurality of antennas.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a device having one or more electromagnetic components embedded in an anisotropic metamaterial (AM) comprising an array of asymmetric unit cells comprising a substrate forming a plurality of channels or spaces having at least one material with different electromagnetic properties included in the channels or spaces in the first material forming an anisotropic metamaterial.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a device having one or more electromagnetic components embedded in an anisotropic metamaterial (AM) comprising an array of asymmetric unit cells comprising a substrate forming a plurality of channels or spaces having at least one material with different electromagnetic properties included in the channels or spaces in the first material forming an anisotropic metamaterial.

Abstract: A microelectromechanical structure and method is disclosed. A ceramic substrate preferably is formed from low temperature co-fired ceramic sheets. A low loss photodefinable dielectric planarizing layer is formed over one surface of the ceramic substrate. This layer can e a sacrificial layer or a subsequent sacrificial layer added. A photodefined conductor is printed over the low loss dielectric planarizing layer and formed with the sacrificial layer into a structural circuit component. In one aspect of the invention, a switch is formed with a biasing actuator and deflectable member formed over the biasing actuator and moveable into open and closed circuit positions.

Abstract: A method for making an electronic device includes positioning first and second members so that opposing surfaces thereof are in contact with one another, the first member comprising silicon and the second member comprising a low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) material. The method further includes anodically bonding together the opposing surfaces of the first and second members to form a hermetic seal therebetween. The anodic bonding provides a secure and strong bond between the members without using adhesive. The method may further include forming at least one cooling structure in at least one of the first and second members. The least one cooling structure may comprise at least one first micro-fluidic cooling structure in the first member, and at least one second micro-fluidic cooling structure in the second member aligned with the at least one first micro-fluidic cooling structure.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for producing a variable delay for an RF signal. The method can include the step of propagating the RF signal along an RF transmission line, coupling a fluidic dielectric to the RF transmission line, and dynamically changing a composition of the fluidic dielectric to selectively vary its permittivity in response to a time delay control signal. The method can also include the step of dynamically changing a composition of the fluidic dielectric to vary its permeability. The permittivity and the permeability can be varied concurrently in response to the time delay control signal. In a preferred embodiment the method can include selectively varying the permeability concurrently with the permittivity to maintain a characteristic impedance of the transmission line approximately constant.

Abstract: The method for making the fiber optic Fabry-Perot sensor includes securing an optical fiber to a substrate, and forming at least one gap in the optical fiber after the optical fiber is secured to the substrate to define at least one pair of self-aligned opposing spaced apart optical fiber end faces for the Fabry-Perot sensor. Preferably, an adhesive directly secures the at least one pair of optical fiber portions to the substrate. The opposing spaced apart optical fiber end faces are self-aligned because the pair of optical fiber end portions are formed from a single fiber which has been directly secured to the substrate. Also, each of the self-aligned spaced apart optical fiber end faces may be substantially rounded due to an electrical discharge used to form the gap. This results in integral lenses being formed as the end faces of the fiber portions.

Abstract: A method for making an electronic device includes positioning first and second members so that opposing surfaces thereof are in contact with one another, the first member comprising silicon and the second member comprising a low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) material. The method further includes anodically bonding together the opposing surfaces of the first and second members to form a hermetic seal therebetween. The anodic bonding provides a secure and strong bond between the members without using adhesive. The method may further include forming at least one cooling structure in at least one of the first and second members. The least one cooling structure may comprise at least one first micro-fluidic cooling structure in the first member, and at least one second micro-fluidic cooling structure in the second member aligned with the at least one first micro-fluidic cooling structure.

Abstract: A microelectromechanical structure and method is disclosed. A ceramic substrate preferably is formed from low temperature co-fired ceramic sheets. A low loss photodefinable dielectric planarizing layer is formed over one surface of the ceramic substrate. This layer can e a sacrificial layer or a subsequent sacrificial layer added. A photodefined conductor is printed over the low loss dielectric planarizing layer and formed with the sacrificial layer into a structural circuit component. In one aspect of the invention, a switch is formed with a biasing actuator and deflectable member formed over the biasing actuator and moveable into open and closed circuit positions.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for producing a variable delay for an RF signal. The method can include the step of propagating the RF signal along an RF transmission line, coupling a fluidic dielectric to the RF transmission line, and dynamically changing a composition of the fluidic dielectric to selectively vary its permittivity in response to a time delay control signal. The method can also include the step of dynamically changing a composition of the fluidic dielectric to vary its permeability. The permittivity and the permeability can be varied concurrently in response to the time delay control signal. In a preferred embodiment the method can include selectively varying the permeability concurrently with the permittivity to maintain a characteristic impedance of the transmission line approximately constant.