Abstract: A metamaterial comprises a support medium, such as a planar dielectric substrate and a plurality of resonant circuits supported thereby. At least one resonant circuit is a tunable resonant circuit including a conducting pattern and a tunable material, so that an electromagnetic parameter (such as resonance frequency) may be adjusted using an electrical control signal applied to the tunable material.

Abstract: An active safety system for a machine and a process for operating the active safety system are disclosed. The active safety system an active ultrasonic array having a plurality of ultrasonic transducers. The plurality of ultrasonic transducers can propagate a plurality of sound waves, receive a plurality of echo waves and transform the plurality of echo waves into a plurality of electrical pulses. The plurality of electrical pulses can be transmitted to and received by a three-dimensional imaging circuit. The three-dimensional imaging circuit can generate a 3D image from the plurality of electrical pulses and an electrical control unit can determine a location, size and geometric orientation of the 3D image.

Abstract: A gradient index lens for microwave radiation. The lens includes a plurality of electric field coupled resonators wherein each resonator has a resonant frequency. The resonators are arranged in a planar array having spaced apart side edges and spaced apart top and bottom edges. The resonant frequency of the resonators varies between at least two of the spaced edges of the array in accordance with the desired properties of the lens.

Abstract: A microwave component having an elongated flexible sheet made of a liquid crystal polymer. A first microwave pattern is printed on one side of the sheet while a second microwave pattern is printed on the other side of the sheet. The first and second patterns are mirror images of each other so that, with the first and second portions of the sheet folded over so that the first portion overlies the second portion, the patterns are aligned with each other and bond together. A margin area of the sheet in between the first and second patterns is then removed to form the microwave component.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for assisting collision avoidance between a vehicle and an object include receiving an acoustic signal from the object using microphones supported by the vehicle, and determining a location of the object using the acoustic signal and an acoustic model of the environment, the environment including a structure that blocks a direct view of the object from the vehicle.

Abstract: A metamaterial microwave lens having an array of electronic inductive capacitive cells in which each cell has an electrically conductive pattern which corresponds to incident electromagnetic radiation as a resonator. At least one cell has a first and second electrical sections insulated from each other and each which section has at least two legs. A static capacitor is electrically connected between one leg of the first section of the cell and one leg of the second section of the cell. A MEMS device is electrically disposed between the other legs of the first and second sections of the cell. The MEMS device is movable between at least two positions in response to an electrical bias between the first and second sections of the cell to vary the index of refraction and resonant frequency of The cell.

Abstract: A metamaterial comprises a substrate and a plurality of resonators supported by the substrate, each resonator including a first conducting segment and a second conducting segment, there being at least one adjustable capacitor and at least one bias capacitor located between the first and second conducting segments. In some examples, the first conducting segment, second conducting segment, bias capacitor, and adjustable capacitor are substantially coplanar and may be formed by patterning a metal film supported by the substrate. Bias lines may be configured so as to allow a bias potential to be applied between the first and second conducting segments so as to vary the capacitance of the adjustable capacitor.

Abstract: An example radar system for a vehicle comprises a radar antenna, operable to produce a radar beam, and a lens assembly including at least one active lens, the radar beam passing through the lens assembly. The radar beam has a field of view that is adjustable using the active lens. In some examples, the active lens comprises a metamaterial, the metamaterial having an adjustable property such as an adjustable negative index, the field of view being adjustable using the adjustable property of the metamaterial.

Abstract: A microwave lens having an array of electronic inductive capacitive cells wherein each cell includes an electrically conductive pattern which responds to incident microwave electromagnetic energy as an LC resonator. At least one of the cells includes at least one MEMS device which is movable in response to an electrical bias to thereby vary the resonant frequency of that cell. In order to bias the MEMS device, an electrical insulating layer extends along a portion of the pattern of the cell and to both sides of the MEMS device. An electrically conductive strip then extends over the insulating layer so that the conductive strip is electrically insulated from the pattern while electrically connected to the MEMS device.

Abstract: A gradient index lens for electromagnetic radiation includes a dielectric substrate, a plurality of conducting patches supported by the dielectric substrate, the conducting patches preferably being generally square shaped and having an edge length, the edge length of the conducting patches varying with position on the dielectric substrate so as to provide a gradient index for the electromagnetic radiation. Examples include gradient index lenses for millimeter wave radiation, and use with antenna systems.

Abstract: A microwave component having an elongated flexible sheet made of a liquid crystal polymer. A first microwave pattern is printed on one side of the sheet while a second microwave pattern is printed on the other side of the sheet. The first and second patterns are mirror images of each other so that with the first and second portions of the sheet folded over so that the first portion overlies the second portion, the patterns are aligned with each other and bond together. A margin area of the sheet in between the first and second patterns is then removed to form the microwave component.

Abstract: An example apparatus comprises an electromagnetic source, such as an antenna, a metamaterial lens, and a reflector. The antenna is located proximate the metamaterial lens, for example supported by the metamaterial lens, and the antenna is operable to generate radiation when the antenna is energized. The reflector is positioned so as to reflect the radiation through the metamaterial lens. The reflector may have a generally concave reflective surface, for example having a parabolic or spherical cross-section. The metamaterial lens may have an area similar to that of the aperture of the reflector. In some examples, the antenna is located proximate a focal point of the reflector, so that a generally parallel beam is obtained after reflection from the reflector.

Abstract: A metamaterial comprises a support medium, such as a planar dielectric substrate and a plurality of resonant circuits supported thereby. At least one resonant circuit is a tunable resonant circuit including a conducting pattern and a voltage-tunable capacitor, so that an electromagnetic parameter (such as resonance frequency) may be adjusted using an electrical control signal. In some examples of the present invention, the voltage-tunable capacitor includes a MEMS structure.

Abstract: Examples of the present invention include a gradient index element formed from a material such as a metamaterial, the material having an index profile and an index gradient profile, where the index profile includes at least one discontinuity and the index gradient profile is substantially continuous.

Abstract: Examples of the present invention include a gradient index element formed from a material such as a metamaterial, the material having an index profile and an index gradient profile, where the index profile includes at least one discontinuity and the index gradient profile is substantially continuous.

Abstract: An automotive radar system having a high frequency radio transmitter which generates a radar signal in a known direction. A high frequency radio receiver receives echoes from the radar signal in which each echo represents a reflection of the radar signal from an object. A processor then identifies animate objects, if any, from the received echoes within a range of interest and generates an alert signal for each such identified animate object.

Abstract: An automotive radar system having a high frequency radio transmitter which generates a radar signal in a known direction. A high frequency radio receiver receives echoes from the radar signal in which each echo represents a reflection of the radar signal from an object. A processor then identifies animate objects, if any, from the received echoes within a range of interest and generates an alert signal for each such identified animate object.

Abstract: A gradient index lens for microwave radiation. The lens includes a plurality of electric field coupled resonators wherein each resonator has a resonant frequency. The resonators are arranged in a planar array having spaced apart side edges and spaced apart top and bottom edges. The resonant frequency of the resonators varies between at least two of the spaced edges of the array in accordance with the desired properties of the lens.

Abstract: An example radar system for a vehicle comprises a radar antenna, operable to produce a radar beam, and a lens assembly including at least one active lens, the radar beam passing through the lens assembly. The radar beam has a field of view that is adjustable using the active lens. In some examples, the active lens comprises a metamaterial, the metamaterial having an adjustable property such as an adjustable negative index, the field of view being adjustable using the adjustable property of the metamaterial.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle, such as an HEV, having an internal combustion engine and an electrical system. A thermoelectric device overlies the internal combustion engine and converts heat from the engine into electricity. The thermoelectric device is electrically coupled to the electrical system of the vehicle.