Abstract: Antennas with increased bandwidth are provided. The bandwidth of an antenna can be increased by feeding it at a single point through N sides with a 1:N power divider, where N is an integer greater than 1. This bandwidth enhancement approach can be applied to different types of antennas, and with this design approach the bandwidth of an antenna can be increased without increasing its footprint.

Abstract: Antenna arrays with three-dimensional (3D) conformal radiating elements are provided, as well as methods of manufacturing and methods of using the same. An array can include a ground plane and a plurality of unit cells disposed thereon. Each unit cell can include a 3D conformal radiating element. The 3D conformal radiating elements can be, for example, patches (e.g., circular 3D patches), dipoles, or loops, and each radiating element is conformal on a hemispherical shape.

Abstract: Antenna arrays with three-dimensional (3D) radiating elements are provided, as well as methods of manufacturing and methods of using the same. An array can include a ground plane and a plurality of radiating elements disposed thereon, and at least a portion of the radiating elements of the plurality of radiating elements can be 3D radiating elements. The array can optionally include a substrate disposed on the ground plane and having holes for the radiating elements. The 3D radiating elements can include, for example, conical elements such as a hollow conical element, a full conical element, a hollow and discretized conical element, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: Antenna devices are provided, including tightly coupled arrays, transmitarrays, and reflectarrays. An antenna device can include a plurality of substrates each having an antenna element. The substrates can be provided in connected series or in an array. The substrates can be part of an origami array such that the entire array is foldable. The substrates can optionally be attached to a framework that can actuate the substrates to different configurations. By bending, folding, or otherwise repositioning the substrates/array, the electromagnetic characteristics of the antenna device can be easily reconfigured for the desired task.

Abstract: A wireless power and data transfer system including a transmitter and a receiver is provided for wirelessly transmitting power from a transmitter to a receiver and wirelessly transmitting data from the receiver to the transmitter. The transmitter comprises a transmitter substrate, a source element forming an inner loop on the transmitter substrate, a plurality of transmitter resonator elements each forming an outer loop on the transmitter substrate; and a plurality of transmitter capacitors connected to the plurality of transmitter resonator elements, respectively. The receiver comprises a receiver substrate, a load element forming an inner loop on the receiver substrate, a plurality of receiver resonator elements each forming an outer loop on the receiver substrate; and a plurality of receiver capacitors connected to the plurality of receiver resonator elements, respectively.

Abstract: Antenna devices are provided, including tightly coupled arrays, transmitarrays, and reflectarrays. An antenna device can include a plurality of substrates each having an antenna element. The substrates can be provided in connected series or in an array. The substrates can be part of an origami array such that the entire array is foldable. The substrates can optionally be attached to a framework that can actuate the substrates to different configurations. By bending, folding, or otherwise repositioning the substrates/array, the electromagnetic characteristics of the antenna device can be easily reconfigured for the desired task.

Abstract: Antenna devices are provided, including tightly coupled arrays, transmitarrays, and reflectarrays. An antenna device can include a plurality of substrates each having an antenna element. The substrates can be provided in connected series or in an array. The substrates can be part of an origami array such that the entire array is foldable. The substrates can optionally be attached to a framework that can actuate the substrates to different configurations. By bending, folding, or otherwise repositioning the substrates/array, the electromagnetic characteristics of the antenna device can be easily reconfigured for the desired task.

Abstract: Antenna devices are provided, including tightly coupled arrays, transmitarrays, and reflectarrays. An antenna device can include a plurality of substrates each having an antenna element. The substrates can be provided in connected series or in an array. The substrates can be part of an origami array such that the entire array is foldable. The substrates can optionally be attached to a framework that can actuate the substrates to different configurations. By bending, folding, or otherwise repositioning the substrates/array, the electromagnetic characteristics of the antenna device can be easily reconfigured for the desired task.

Abstract: A wireless power and data transfer system including a transmitter and a receiver is provided for wirelessly transmitting power from a transmitter to a receiver and wirelessly transmitting data from the receiver to the transmitter. The transmitter comprises a transmitter substrate, a source element forming an inner loop on the transmitter substrate, a plurality of transmitter resonator elements each forming an outer loop on the transmitter substrate; and a plurality of transmitter capacitors connected to the plurality of transmitter resonator elements, respectively. The receiver comprises a receiver substrate, a load element forming an inner loop on the receiver substrate, a plurality of receiver resonator elements each forming an outer loop on the receiver substrate; and a plurality of receiver capacitors connected to the plurality of receiver resonator elements, respectively.

Abstract: Foldable antenna devices formed on rigid substrates are provided. The substrate can be planar in an unfolded state, and a metal layer can be formed on the rigid substrate to act as an antenna element. The rigid substrate(s) can include mountain folds and valley folds, or hinges, such that the antenna device is foldable from an unfolded state to a fully folded state.

Abstract: Arrays that are deployable and can change their electromagnetic behavior by changing their shape are provided. The arrays can steer the beam using folding techniques and/or can achieve multiple operation states by folding the structure. An array can include a foldable substrate with antenna elements disposed thereon. In a folded state, a first plurality of unit cells is visible from above the array and can be configured to steer in a particular first direction and/or operate at a particular first frequency. In the unfolded state a second plurality of unit cells, and also possibly the first plurality of unit cells, are visible from above the array and can be configured to steer in a particular second direction and/or operate at a particular second frequency.

Abstract: Passive radio frequency identification (RFID) real-time temperature sensors based on programmable liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are provided. The sensors can be used for monitoring the temperature for various items, including perishable goods, foods, and medicines in the cold supply chain. The sensors can convey changes in temperature through a controlled shift of the operating frequency in the RFID ultra high frequency (UHF) band.

Abstract: A rotatable reflectarray antenna system and methods for reconfiguring electromagnetic (EM) characteristics of the reflectarray antenna are provided. The rotatable reflectarray antenna includes a plurality of rotatable reflecting units coupled with each other; and an actuator system coupled with the plurality of rotatable reflecting units and configured to rotate the reflecting units with respect to axes of the reflecting units. Each rotatable reflecting unit includes a substrate and a plurality of reflectarray patterns disposed on surfaces of the substrate and each reflectarray pattern includes a plurality of reflectarray elements. The actuator system is configured to rotate the plurality of reflecting units to different operational positions such that when layout of the plurality of reflectarray patterns on the plurality of reflecting unit is changed, at least one EM characteristic of the reflectarray antenna is reconfigured.

Abstract: Multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) antenna devices and methods of using and fabricating the same are provided. A MIMO antenna device can include a plurality of substrates each having an antenna element. The substrates can be provided in connected series and can be attached to a framework. The substrates can have alternating style antenna elements, such that a first substrate can have a straight-fed patch and a second substrate adjacent to the first substrate can have a bent-fed patch and a third substrate adjacent to the second substrate, and on an opposite side of the second substrate than the first substrate is, can have a straight-fed patch and so on.

Abstract: Foldable antenna devices formed on rigid substrates are provided. The substrate can be planar in an unfolded state, and a metal layer can be formed on the rigid substrate to act as an antenna element. The rigid substrate(s) can include mountain folds and valley folds, or hinges, such that the antenna device is foldable from an unfolded state to a fully folded state.

Abstract: Passive radio frequency identification (RFID) real-time temperature sensors based on programmable liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are provided. The sensors can be used for monitoring the temperature for various items, including perishable goods, foods, and medicines in the cold supply chain. The sensors can convey changes in temperature through a controlled shift of the operating frequency in the RFID ultra high frequency (UHF) band.

Abstract: Arrays that are deployable and can change their electromagnetic behavior by changing their shape are provided. An array can include a central panel and at least one foldable panel attached thereto. The central panel can include radiating elements on its upper surface while each foldable panel can have radiating elements on its bottom surface. The array is reconfigurable by each foldable panel being foldable onto the central panel such that its bottom surface then faces upward and covers part or all of the upper surface of the central panel.

Abstract: A scrollable reflectarray antenna system and methods for reconfiguring electromagnetic (EM) characteristics of the reflectarray antenna are provided. The reconfigurable reflectarray antenna includes a flexible substrate; a plurality of reflectarray patterns disposed on a surface of the flexible substrate, each reflectarray pattern comprising a plurality of reflectarray elements; and an actuator system coupled with the flexible substrate. The actuator system is configured to scroll the flexible substrate to different operational positions such that when layout of the plurality of reflectarray patterns is changed, at least one EM characteristic of the reflectarray antenna is reconfigured. In a predetermined operational position, an aperture of the reflectarray is formed by two reflectarray patterns that are optimized to direct an illuminating beam in a new direction.

Abstract: Passive antenna arrays and methods of using and fabricating the same are provided. A passive antenna array can include a substrate that is capable of being folded and a plurality of antenna elements disposed on the substrate. The substrate can have predefined folding lines such that the substrate can be folded into different positions. The antenna elements can be separated from each other by the folding lines in the substrate. The passive antenna array can exhibit dual band operation and can change its frequency by changing its shape.

Abstract: Multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) antenna devices and methods of using and fabricating the same are provided. A MIMO antenna device can include a plurality of substrates each having an antenna element. The substrates can be provided in connected series and can be attached to a framework. The substrates can have alternating style antenna elements, such that a first substrate can have a straight-fed dipole and a second substrate adjacent to the first substrate can have a bent-fed dipole and a third substrate adjacent to the second substrate, and on an opposite side of the second substrate than the first substrate is, can have a straight-fed dipole and so on.