Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus, comprising an RF matching network connected to at least one RF input port and at least one RF output port and including one or more voltage or current controlled variable reactive elements; a voltage detector connected to the at least one RF output port via a variable voltage divider to determine the voltage at the at least one RF output port and provide voltage information to a controller that controls a bias driving circuit which provides voltage or current bias to the RF matching network; a variable voltage divider connected to the voltage detector and implemented using a multi-pole RF switch to select one of a plurality of different resistance ratios to improve the dynamic range of the apparatus; and wherein the RF matching network is adapted to maximize RF power transferred from the at least one RF input port to the at least one RF output port by varying the voltage or current to the voltage or current controlled variable reactive elements to

Abstract: A hybrid electromagnetic bandgap (EBG) structure for broadband suppression of noise on printed wiring boards includes an array of coplanar patches interconnected into a grid by series inductances, and a corresponding array of shunt LC networks connecting the coplanar patches to a second conductive plane. This combination of series inductances and shunt resonant vias lowers the cutoff frequency for the fundamental stopband. The series inductances and shunt capacitances may be implemented using surface mount component technology, or printed traces. Patches may also be interconnected by coplanar coupled transmission lines. The even and odd mode impedances of the coupled lines may be increased by forming slots in the second conductive plane disposed opposite to the transmission line, lowering the cutoff frequency and increasing the bandwidth of the fundamental stopband.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an apparatus having an RF matching network including one or more variable reactive elements, where the RF matching network has a first port coupled to a transceiver and second port coupled to an antenna. The RF matching network can modify signal power transferred between the first port and the second port according to one or more bias signals applied to the one or more variable reactive elements to vary a variable impedance of the RF matching network. The one or more variable reactive elements are coupled to a circuit that maps one or more control signals to the one or more bias signals, and wherein the one or more control signals are generated by a controller according to a mode of operation of a communication device. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure can include, for example, an apparatus having a matching network adapted to reduce a magnitude of a signal reflection at a port of the matching network. The matching network can have one or more controllable variable reactive elements. A controller can be adapted to determine reflection coefficient information from incident and reflected waves sampled at the port of the matching network, and follow at least one cycle of a coarse tune process for generating one or more control signals to tune one or more reactances of the one or more controllable variable reactive elements. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A parallel plate waveguide structure configured to suppress parallel-plate waveguide modes is described. The electromagnetic material properties of individual layers disposed between the conductive plates of waveguide may be selected to allow an apparent stopband to form. Several physical examples of electromagnetic bandgap (EBG) structures are presented that are analyzed by full wave simulations and transverse resonance models.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure can include, for example, an apparatus having a matching network adapted to reduce a magnitude of a signal reflection at a port of the matching network. The matching network can have one or more controllable variable reactive elements. A controller can be adapted to determine reflection coefficient information from incident and reflected waves sampled at the port of the matching network, and follow at least one cycle of a coarse tune process for generating one or more control signals to tune one or more reactances of the one or more controllable variable reactive elements. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus, comprising a tunable antenna including a variable reactance network connected to the antenna a closed loop control system adapted to sense the RF voltage across the variable reactance network and adjust the reactance of the network to maximize the RF voltage. The variable reactance network may comprise a parallel capacitance or a series capacitance. Further, the variable reactance networks may be connected to the antenna, which may be a patch antenna, a monopole antenna, or a slot antenna.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus, comprising an RF input port, an RF output port connected to the RF input port via a multichip adaptive impedance matching module (AIMM), and the multichip AIMM comprising one or more voltage or current controlled variable reactive elements, wherein the multichip AIMM is adapted to maximize RF power transferred from the at least one RF input port to the at least one RF output port by varying the bias voltage or bias current to the voltage or current controlled variable reactive elements to maximize the RF voltage at the at least one RF output port.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an apparatus having an RF matching network including one or more variable reactive elements, where the RF matching network has a first port coupled to a transceiver and second port coupled to an antenna. The RF matching network can modify signal power transferred between the first port and the second port according to one or more bias signals applied to the one or more variable reactive elements to vary a variable impedance of the RF matching network. The one or more variable reactive elements are coupled to a circuit that maps one or more control signals to the one or more bias signals, and wherein the one or more control signals are generated by a controller according to a mode of operation of a communication device. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a matching network having one or more controllable variable reactive elements coupled to at least one input port and at least one output port. The one or more controllable variable reactive elements can be adapted to increase power transferred from the at least one input port to the at least one output port responsive to signals generated by a controller adapted to adjust one or more reactances within the matching network according to a mode of operation of a device detected by the controller. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an apparatus having one or more controllable variable reactive elements coupled to at least one input port and at least one output port, and a voltage detector coupled to the at least one output port to provide voltage information to a controller. The controller can be adapted to generate one or more control signals responsive to the voltage information provided by the voltage detector. The one or more controllable variable reactive elements can be coupled to a circuit adapted to map the one or more control signals that are output from the controller to a signal range that is compatible with said one or more controllable variable reactive elements. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Electromagnetic slow wave structures (SWS) comprised of arrays of conductive obstacles are formed inside conductive parallel-plate waveguides These SWS may be formed using, for example, MEMS manufacturing processes at the wafer level on substrates including ceramic and silicon. An effective relative permittivity in the range of 15 to 40 may be obtained at millimeterwave frequencies. The SWS can be made absorptive by incorporating resistive losses in a plate of the PPW. Applications of these slow wave structures include delay lines and bootlace lens beamformers for microwave and millimeterwave antenna systems.

Abstract: A parallel plate waveguide structure may be configured to suppress spurious propagating modes by including a lossy frequency selective surface (FSS) formed from a resistive film. The electromagnetic material properties of individual layers disposed between the conductive plates of the waveguide may be engineered to extend the suppression band of the fundamental TE mode up to the cutoff frequency of the second TE mode, and to simultaneously create a multi-octave TM mode suppression band. Applications include, for example, cavity mode suppression in microwave and millimeterwave assemblies at the board, package, and chip level.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure can include, for example, determining from nodal voltages sampled at an input port of a matching network an impedance of a variable load coupled to an output port of the matching network, generating at least one control signal according to the nodal voltage, and tuning the matching network with the at least one control signal. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure can include, for example, determining at a port of a matching network reflection information from a signal sampled across at least one predetermined fixed-value reactance component, generating at least one control signal according to the reflection information, and tuning the matching network with the at least one control signal, where the matching network comprises one or more controllable variable reactive elements each with an independent control voltage. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an adaptive impedance matching network having an RF matching network coupled to at least one RF input port and at least one RF output port and comprising one or more controllable variable reactive elements. The RF matching network can be adapted to reduce a level of reflected power transferred from said at least one input port by varying signals applied to said controllable variable reactive elements. The one or more controllable variable reactive elements can be coupled to a circuit adapted to map one or more control signals that are output from a controller to a signal range that is compatible with said one or more controllable variable reactive elements. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: An electromagnetic reactive edge treatment including an array of capacitively-loaded loops is disposed at or near an edge of a conductive wedge. The axes of the loops are oriented parallel to the edge of the wedge. This edge treatment may enhance or suppress the hard diffraction coefficient, depending on the resonant frequency fo of the array of loaded loops. Diffraction of incident waves that are lower (higher) in frequency than fo may be enhanced (suppressed) due to the increase (decrease) in effective permeability of the volume occupied by the array of loops. Applications include controlling antenna patterns, side lobe levels, and backlobe levels for antennas mounted on conductive surfaces near edges or corners.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an adaptive impedance matching network having an RF matching network coupled to at least one RF input port and at least one RF output port and comprising one or more controllable variable reactive elements. The RF matching network can be adapted to reduce a level of reflected power transferred from said at least one input port by varying signals applied to said controllable variable reactive elements. The one or more controllable variable reactive elements can be coupled to a circuit adapted to map one or more control signals that are output from a controller to a signal range that is compatible with said one or more controllable variable reactive elements. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus, comprising an RF matching network connected to at least one RF input port and at least one RF output port and including one or more voltage or current controlled variable reactive elements; a voltage detector connected to the at least one RF output port via a variable voltage divider to determine the voltage at the at least one RF output port and provide voltage information to a controller that controls a bias driving circuit which provides voltage or current bias to the RF matching network; a variable voltage divider connected to the voltage detector and implemented using a multi-pole RF switch to select one of a plurality of different resistance ratios to improve the dynamic range of the apparatus; and wherein the RF matching network is adapted to maximize RF power transferred from the at least one RF input port to the at least one RF output port by varying the voltage or current to the voltage or current controlled variable reactive elements to

Abstract: Apparatus for suppressing noise and electromagnetic coupling in the printed circuit board of an electronic device includes an upper conductive plate and an array of conductive coplanar patches positioned a distance t2 from the upper conductive plate. The distance t2 is chosen to optimize capacitance between the conductive coplanar patches and the upper conductive plate for suppression of noise or electromagnetic coupling. The apparatus further includes a lower conductive plate a distance t1 from the array of conductive coplanar patches and conductive rods extending from respective patches to the lower conductive plate.