Field Programmable Analog Array

Abstract

A method for dynamically generating or interacting with an electromagnetic field includes providing a spatial array of conductive segments, a switching device operable to allow or block transmission of an electrical signal in each of the conductive segments, and a controller operable to the switching device. A sequence of the conductive segments are connected to form a conductive path, each segment intersecting at least two different ones of the conductive segments at a node. The switching device operates to connect a selected first conductive segment from the conductive segments to a selected second conductive segment from the conductive segments to form the sequence according to a logic signal from the controller. Power is supplied to the conductive path to generate an electromagnetic field that depends at least in part on the spatial arrangement of the connected sequence of conductive segments.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for dynamically generating spatially variable conductive pathways.

[0002] This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 978,671, filed February 19, 2020, for a Field Programmable Analog Array, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0003] This application is related to the subject matter of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 978,675, filed February 19, 2020, for a magnetic platform for sample orientation, and a non-provisional patent application claiming priority thereto and filed on even date herewith, the disclosures of both of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0004] This application is related to the subject matter of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 978,680, filed February 19, 2020, for a Field Programmable Fluidic Array, and a non-provisional patent application claiming priority thereto and filed on even date herewith, the disclosures of both of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0005] This application relates to a method and apparatus for singulating particles in a stream, as described in PCT application PCT / CA2017 / 050907, published February 1, 2018 as WO 2018 / 018155, which corresponds to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15 / 662794, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0006] This application relates to High Efficiency Multiplexing as described in PCT Application PCT / CA2018 / 050599, published on November 29, 2018 as WO 2018 / 213923, which corresponds to U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 987279, issued on March 10, 2020 as U.S. Patent No. 10,585,044, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0007] This application relates to a high resolution multiplexing system described in PCT application PCT / CA2019 / 051625, published on May 22, 2020 as International Application No. 2020 / 097732, which corresponds to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16 / 683357, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0008] This application relates to a spatial modulation device described in PCT application PCT / CA2019 / 051626, published on May 22, 2020 as International Publication No. 2020 / 097733, which corresponds to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16 / 683376, filed on November 14, 2019, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0009] This application relates to a method for performing operations on a workpiece using electromagnetic forces as described in PCT application PCT / CA2021 / 050118, which corresponds to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17 / 166,207, filed February 3, 2021, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0010] The present invention relates to a method for dynamically altering the spatial arrangement of conductive pathways to generate or interact with electromagnetic fields.

[0011] The present invention is a platform technology with many different applications, including sending and receiving electromagnetic signals, transporting directed particles for sorting and manufacturing purposes, altering the quantum state of objects, orienting objects, and measuring objects. [Background technology]

[0012] Magnetic arrays consisting of permanent magnets and electromagnets are known in the prior art. The prior art magnets have a fixed structure, and the magnetic field that can be imagined in the active volume is limited to a linear combination of the magnetic fields of each fixed structure magnet. In particular, the axis of the fixed magnet determines the possible magnetic field direction. It is an object of the present invention to provide a device that can generate a magnetic field in any or selected direction.

[0013] Phased array antennas known in the prior art operate to combine the effects of larger directional antennas by coordinating signals for an array of potentially thousands of individual fixed structure antennas. However, the individual antennas are not optimally aligned. Recent prior art describes optical methods for better aligning received electromagnetic radiation and fixed antenna axes, such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 10,211,532 to Foo. An object of the present invention is to better align antennas and measured electromagnetic radiation without external optical devices. A further object of the present invention is to provide passive optical devices that reflect, diffract, or polarize electromagnetic radiation. Summary of the Invention

[0014] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method for dynamically generating a conductive path for generating or interacting with an electromagnetic field, comprising the steps of: providing a spatial array comprising a plurality of conductive segments, a switching device operable in each of the conductive segments to allow or block electrical conduction from the conductive segment to a second conductive segment in the spatial array, and a control device operable to the switching device to select which of the conductive segments to conductively link; and connecting the sequence of conductive segments to form a conductive path.

[0015] In one embodiment, power is applied to the conductive pathway to generate an electromagnetic field, the electromagnetic field depending at least in part on the spatial arrangement of the connected sequence of the conductive segments in the conductive pathway.

[0016] In another embodiment, an electromagnetic field is applied to the conductive pathway to generate an interaction with the conductive pathway, the interaction with the electromagnetic field depending at least in part on the spatial arrangement of the connected sequence of the conductive segments in the conductive pathway.

[0017] The present invention is therefore based on a method for dynamically generating spatially variable conductive paths.

[0018] According to an important feature of the present invention, which may be used individually with any of the features described below, there is provided a spatial array comprising a plurality of conductive segments, a switching device operable to allow or block transmission of an electrical signal in each conductive segment, a plurality of nodes, each conductive segment electrically connected to at least one node, each node having at least three electrically connected conductive segments, and a controller operable for the switching device to select which of the conductive segments transmits the electrical signal. The switching devices may be located anywhere along the conductive segments, including at the termini of the nodes.

[0019] According to an important feature of the present invention, which may be used independently with any of the above or below features, a controller is provided, the controller generating a signal that controls the state of an actuating device integrated with and connected to the spatial array. In some embodiments, the control signal is an electrical signal. In a preferred embodiment, the control signal is transmitted by an optical device. This embodiment has the advantage that the electromagnetic field of the optical signal is at a significantly higher frequency than the electromagnetic field generated by the conductive segment array, thereby preventing interference. The actuating device may be a switch between a first conductive segment and one or more conductive segments, the switch providing electrical conduction between the first conductive segment and zero, one, or more selected conductive segments in response to a logic signal from the controller. The actuating device may be a current source, the controller generating a signal that controls the magnitude of the current transmitted from the current source to the conductive segments of the spatial array. The actuating device may be a voltage source, the controller generating a signal that controls the magnitude of the voltage transmitted to the conductive segments of the spatial array. The actuating device may be an amplifier, the controller generating a signal that controls the magnitude of the amplification of the electrical signal between the first conductive segment and a second conductive segment. The operating device may be a machine readable storage device that stores information about the state of at least one other operating device and generates signals to cause the state(s) to be maintained. The operating device may be a sensor and the controller generates signals to control measurements.

[0020] According to an important optional feature of the invention, which may be used independently with any of the above or below features, the control device further includes a computing device. The computing device includes a machine-readable information storage device and a communication device operable to receive and transmit information from an external computing device. The information may be, for example, parameters for configuring and operating the spatial array. The information may be, for example, data from sensors embedded in the spatial array. The information may be, for example, a data stream received or transmitted by the spatial array. In some embodiments, the computing device is operable to receive as input a desired electromagnetic field within or proximate the spatial array and select a set of the conductive segments within the spatial array from the input and the amount of power transmitted by each selected conductive segment necessary to generate the desired electromagnetic field. The computing device then generates signals to apply the selected power to the selected conductive segments to generate the desired electromagnetic field. In some embodiments, the computing device further receives information about the electromagnetic field from a sensor at a measurement location within or adjacent to the spatial array and, in response to the information, varies the magnitude of power in at least one conductive segment to vary the electromagnetic field at the measurement location. In some embodiments, the electromagnetic field at the measurement location is generated by the spatial array, and the measurement is feedback that causes the computing device to modify the pattern of power in the conductive segments to reduce the difference between the measured electromagnetic field and the desired electromagnetic field. In some embodiments, the electromagnetic field at the measurement location is generated by an external source, and the computing device generates signals that modify the electromagnetic field generated by the external source by electrifying selected segments. For example, the external source may be the magnet of a magnetic resonance machine, and the computing device electrifies selected conductive segments of the spatial array to adjust the gradient and homogeneity of the magnetic field within a sample zone of the magnetic resonance machine.In some magnetic resonance embodiments, the magnetic field generated by the spatial array has a time-varying component that is orthogonal to the magnetic field of the external magnet. Thus, the arrays herein can be used generally in magnetic resonance experiments, which can be performed on small samples, such as individual batteries, allowing the results of the experiments to be used in a classifier.

[0021] In accordance with an important feature of the present invention, there is a high resistance barrier to the transmission of current between each pair of conductive paths except at the node. Within the node, current may travel from a first conductive segment to a second conductive segment either unconditionally via a permanent link or conditionally via a switching device in response to a logic signal. By way of non-limiting example, the switching device may be a solid-state relay, a reed switch, or a transistor responsive to an electrical signal from the control device. For example, the switching device may be a photoconductive device responsive to an optical signal from the control device.

[0022] In accordance with an important feature of the present invention, the spatial array of conductive segments and nodes may be 2D or 3D.

[0023] According to an important optional feature of the present invention, which may be used individually in conjunction with any of the above or below features, there is provided at least one node comprising an amplifier device operative to increase the electrical signal transmitted from a first conductive segment to a second selected conductive segment. This feature may be used, for example, to compensate for voltage drops across semiconductor switches.

[0024] According to an important optional feature of the present invention, which may be used individually in conjunction with any of the above or below features, there is provided at least one sensor element operable to measure an electric field in proximity to the conductive segment. For example, a suitable MEMS sensor is described in Vittorio Ferrari, "Distortion-free probes of electric field," Nature Electronics 1, 10-11 (2018). Other electric field sensors may also be used.

[0025] According to an important optional feature of the present invention, which may be used individually in conjunction with any of the above or below features, at least one sensor element is provided that is operable to measure a magnetic field in proximity to the conductive segment. For example, a Hall Effect sensor may be used. Other magnetic field sensors may also be used.

[0026] According to an important optional feature of the present invention, which may be used individually in conjunction with any of the above or below features, there is provided at least one node having at least one conductive path connected to a conductive object, said conductive object being designed and shaped to modify said electric or magnetic field in the vicinity of said conductive object, non-limiting examples of which are spikes that concentrate said electromagnetic field near their tips and plates that homogenize said electromagnetic field near their surfaces.

[0027] According to an important optional feature of the invention, which may be used independently with any of the above or below features, at least a portion of the space in the spatial array not occupied by nodes or conductive segments is filled with a material having a dielectric constant greater than 1. The material may, for example, be a ferromagnetic material that functions to increase the magnetic field strength in proximity to the material. The material may, for example, function as a magneto-optical device that changes the path of light in response to changes in the magnetic field generated by the spatial array. The material may, for example, be magnetized by a field generated by a conductive segment, and may generate a magnetic field that persists even when no current flows through the conductive segment. The magnetization may subsequently be canceled or changed by applying a second magnetic field generated by a current flowing through the conductive segment of the spatial array.

[0028] According to an important optional feature of the invention, which may be used individually in conjunction with any of the above or below features, at least some of the space in the spatial array not occupied by nodes or conductive segments is filled with a dielectric material that is capable of modifying the optical path traversing the spatial array, for example by changing its refractive index in response to an electric field generated by the spatial array.

[0029] In accordance with an important optional feature of the present invention, which may be used individually in conjunction with any of the above or below mentioned features, at least some of the spaces in said spatial array not occupied by nodes or conductive segments are filled with a thermally conductive material.

[0030] In accordance with an important optional feature of the invention, which may be used individually in conjunction with any of the above or below mentioned features, at least a portion of said spatial array of conductive segments and nodes is operatively connected to at least one thermal modulation device, said thermal modulation device operable to raise or lower the temperature of said portion of said spatial array.

[0031] In accordance with an important optional feature of the invention, which may be used individually in conjunction with any of the above or below mentioned features, at least a portion of the space within said spatial array not occupied by nodes or conductive segments is occupied by at least one channel containing a test material.

[0032] According to an important optional feature of the invention, which may be used individually in conjunction with any of the above or below mentioned features, said spatial array comprises or is adjacent to a channel containing a conductive fluid.

[0033] According to an important optional feature of the invention, which may be used individually in conjunction with any of the above or below mentioned features, said spatial array comprises at least one cathode onto which material is deposited by an electrochemical process.

[0034] According to an important optional feature of the invention, which may be used individually in conjunction with any of the above or below mentioned features, said spatial array comprises at least one anode from which material is removed by an electrochemical process.

[0035] In accordance with an important optional feature of the present invention, which may be used individually in conjunction with any of the above or below mentioned features, at least a portion of the space within said spatial array not occupied by nodes or conductive segments is occupied by at least one optical transmission path.

[0036] According to an important optional feature of the invention, which may be used individually in conjunction with any of the above or below features, at least a portion of the space in the spatial array not occupied by nodes or conductive segments is occupied by at least one radiation-generating device, which may be, for example, a laser or LED associated with an optical transmission path.

[0037] According to an important optional feature of the invention, which may be used individually with any of the above or below features, at least a portion of the space in the spatial array not occupied by nodes or conductive segments is occupied by at least one sensor device. The sensor device may be, for example, a radiation detection device such as a photodiode of a photomultiplier tube associated with an optical transmission path. The sensor device may be, for example, a temperature measurement device such as a thermocouple. The sensor device may be, for example, an electromagnetic field sensor. The sensor device may be, for example, an ionic strength sensor that measures the density of charged particles in a spatial region in the spatial array not occupied by nodes or conductive segments. The sensor device may be, for example, a chemical sensor that measures the concentration of a chemical species in a spatial region in the spatial array not occupied by nodes or conductive segments.

[0038] According to an important optional feature of the invention, which may be used individually with any of the above or below features, the node may include a device for amplifying power from a first connected conductive segment and transmitting the amplified power to a second conductive segment. This feature is useful for compensating for cumulative power losses as an electrical signal is transmitted along a sequence of conductive nodes.

[0039] According to an important optional feature of the invention, which may be used individually with any of the above or below features, the node may include a power source. For example, the node may include a device for generating a current and providing the current to the connected conductive segments. For example, the node may include a device for generating a voltage and providing the voltage to the connected conductive segments.

[0040] According to an important optional feature of the invention, which may be used individually with any of the above or below features, the spatial array includes at least one embedded magnet, which may be a fixed permanent magnet, a fixed electromagnet, or a combination of a fixed permanent magnet and an electromagnet. The fixed magnet may provide a constant magnetic field, for example, regulated by a magnetic field generated by a current flowing through the spatial array. The combination of the magnetic field generated by the embedded magnet and the magnetic field generated by a current flowing through selected conductive segments in the spatial array may be integral to, for example, a magnetic resonance imaging system.

[0041] In accordance with an important optional feature of the present invention, which may be used individually in conjunction with any of the above or below features, there is provided at least one node comprising an amplifier device operative to increase an electrical signal transmitted from a first conductive segment to a second selected conductive segment. This feature may be used, for example, to compensate for voltage drops across semiconductor switches.

[0042] In an important embodiment that can be used in combination with any of the above or below embodiments, at least one conductive path between nodes is a straight line between the nodes, and the switching devices for that conductive path are arranged along the conductive path. This arrangement minimizes the length and resistance of the conductive path, but is limited by the requirement that the conductive path and the switching devices have similar dimensions. The switching devices may be, for example, transistors that can be manufactured to the 5 nm scale with current technology (Samsung). Larger sizes that allow for larger currents may also be used.

[0043] In important embodiments that can be used in combination with any of the above or below embodiments, the path of at least one conductive segment is not the shortest path between endpoints of the conductive segment, for example, the conductive segment may be an arc.

[0044] In an important embodiment usable in combination with any of the above or below embodiments, a conductive segment may be comprised of multiple portions, where a first portion type has a direction vector that is generally parallel to a vector between a point on the first portion and an electromagnetic field point, and a second portion type of conductive segment has a direction vector that is generally perpendicular to a vector between the electromagnetic field point and a point on the second portion of the conductive segment. For convenience, the first portion type is referred to as a transmitter portion, and the second portion type is referred to as an active portion. The transmitter portion type provides very little magnetic flux to the field point, while the active portion type provides magnetic flux to the field point. For example, a conductive segment may be U-shaped, with the middle portion being an active portion and the ends being transmitter portions. This embodiment can be used to maximize the density of active portions near a field point by moving the nodal point and associated circuitry away from the field point. For example, the magnitude of the magnetic field generated near a field point is greater when the volume near the field point contains conductive segments rather than nodal switching elements. This approach has the additional advantage of reducing the effect of electromagnetic fields generated by logic signals and switching / amplifying circuits at the connected nodes.

[0045] In an important embodiment, which can be used in combination with any of the above or below embodiments, electricity flows through a sequence of conductive segments in series.

[0046] In an important embodiment, which can be used in combination with any of the above or below embodiments, electricity flows through a sequence of parallel conductive segments.

[0047] In an important embodiment, which can be used in combination with any of the above or below embodiments, the switching device of a plurality of conductive segments joined at a node is located at the node.

[0048] In an important embodiment usable in combination with any of the above or below embodiments, the switching device at a node comprises a logic input port, an analog input port having at least one conductive input path, and an analog output port having a plurality of conductive output paths, the switching device receiving a logic signal at the logic port and selecting zero, one, or more conductive paths at the output port based on the logic signal to connect with each selected conductive path at the input port. In a non-limiting example, the input and output ports may be fabricated with analog multiplexers and analog demultiplexers.

[0049] In important embodiments that may be used in combination with any of the above or below embodiments, at least one node includes a memory device operative to maintain the logic state of the mode according to the last logic state transmitted to the node by the computing device.

[0050] In an important embodiment that can be used in combination with any of the above or below embodiments, at least one switching device includes a memory device containing a unique address of the switching device, the unique address is compared with an address received from the control device, and if the addresses match, the switching device changes to a state specified by the control device.

[0051] In an important embodiment, which can be used in combination with any of the above or below embodiments, the spatial array of nodes forms a periodic lattice, with a conductive path between each node and its nearest neighbor in each orthogonal direction.

[0052] In important embodiments that can be used in combination with any of the above or below embodiments, there is at least one conductive path between two different nodes that are not nearest neighbors. In a non-limiting example, the conductive path may have a star topology.

[0053] In an important embodiment that can be used in combination with any of the above or below embodiments, a sequence of conductive segments in the spatial array are connected to generate a conductive path, and a current flows through the path to generate a magnetic field, at least a portion of which is outside the spatial array or passes through a channel within the spatial array.

[0054] In an important embodiment that can be used in combination with any of the above or below embodiments, the magnetic field generated within the spatial array of the present invention is used to change the position or orientation of magnetic objects in channels adjacent to or within the spatial array.

[0055] In an important embodiment, which can be used in combination with any of the above or below embodiments, the magnetic field generated within the spatial array of the present invention is used to change the quantum state of atoms or molecules (Zeeman effect) in channels adjacent to or within the spatial array.

[0056] In an important embodiment that can be used in combination with any of the above or below embodiments, a sequence of conductive segments in the spatial array are connected to generate a conductive path, a voltage different from a voltage of a reference surface is applied to the conductive path, and an electric field is generated between at least a portion of the conductive path and the reference surface, at least a portion of the electric field being outside the spatial array of nodes or passing through a channel within the spatial array.

[0057] In an important embodiment, which can be used in combination with any of the above or below embodiments, the electric field generated by the spatial array of the present invention is used to change the position or orientation of charged particles in channels adjacent to or within the spatial array.

[0058] In an important embodiment, which can be used in combination with any of the above or below embodiments, the electric field generated by the spatial array of the present invention is used to change the quantum state of atoms or molecules (Stark effect) in channels adjacent to or within the spatial array.

[0059] In an important embodiment, which can be used in combination with any of the above or below embodiments, a sequence of conductive segments in the spatial array are connected and power is applied to the sequence to generate an electromagnetic field, which changes at least one optical property of an optical material, and which change in the optical material changes the optical path.

[0060] In an important embodiment, which can be used in combination with any of the above or below embodiments, a sequence of conductive segments in the spatial array are connected to create a conductive path, and a time-varying power is applied to the conductive path, which transmits electromagnetic radiation in a spatial pattern that depends at least in part on the spatial arrangement of nodes in the conductive path. In a non-limiting example, the spatial array of conductive paths is dynamically configurable to form an antenna optimally tuned to transmit in a user-specified direction and at a user-specified frequency. This example is functionally equivalent to physically rotating a fixed antenna to a particular orientation.

[0061] In an important embodiment that can be used in combination with any of the above or below embodiments, multiple time-varying powers with different phases are applied to multiple conductive paths, each consisting of a different sequence of nodes, to generate electromagnetic radiation, the spatial pattern of the electromagnetic radiation depending at least in part on the spatial arrangement of nodes in each conductive path. In a non-limiting example, the spatial array of conductive paths can be configured as an array of directional antennas tuned to function as a phased array radio transmitter optimally configurable to transmit in different directions and at different frequencies.

[0062] In an important embodiment, which may be used in combination with any of the above or below embodiments, a sequence of conductive segments in the spatial array are connected to generate a conductive path, and a spatially and temporally varying electromagnetic field incident on the conductive path and the power generated in the conductive path by the electromagnetic field depend at least in part on the spatial arrangement of nodes in the conductive path. In a non-limiting example, the nodes of the spatial array can function as a radio receiver that is reconfigurable to receive in different directions and at different frequencies.

[0063] In an important embodiment that can be used in combination with any of the above or below embodiments, a plurality of conductive paths are formed in the spatial array, each conductive path consisting of a sequence of conductive segments, a power signal generated in each conductive path by incident electromagnetic radiation depends at least in part on the spatial arrangement of the conductive segments of the conductive path, and the power signals from the conductive paths are analyzed to obtain information about the incident electromagnetic radiation. In a non-limiting example, the spatial array of nodes can function as a directional phased array radio receiver that is reconfigurable to optimally receive signals in different directions and at different frequencies.

[0064] In an important embodiment, which may be used in combination with any of the above or below embodiments, multiple time-varying powers with different phases are applied to multiple conductive paths, each consisting of a different sequence of conductive segments, to generate electromagnetic radiation, the spatial pattern of the electromagnetic radiation depending at least in part on the spatial arrangement of the conductive segments in each conductive path. In a non-limiting example, the spatial array of conductive paths can function as a phased array radio transmitter that is reconfigurable to transmit in different directions and at different frequencies.

[0065] In an important embodiment, which can be used in combination with any of the above or below embodiments, a plurality of conductive segments are connected to form a conductive path, the presence of which alters the electromagnetic field at least once at a field point outside the conductive path. For example, a plurality of conductive segments may be connected in a mesh to form a reflective element. The reflective element may be, for example, a parabolic mirror that focuses electromagnetic radiation. In this example, the focal length and optical axis of the parabolic mirror may be dynamically changed by changing the assembly of connected conductive segments.

[0066] In some embodiments, a plurality of conductive paths are formed, and the spatial arrangement of the plurality of conductive paths functions to change the polarization of electromagnetic radiation incident on the plurality of conductive paths. The plurality of conductive paths may be arranged, for example, as a wire grid polarizer that transmits electromagnetic radiation of a first polarity and reflects electromagnetic radiation of a second polarity. In this embodiment, the optical axis and polarization direction of the wire polarizer may be dynamically changed by changing the connected conductive segments of the set.

[0067] In some embodiments, a plurality of conductive paths are formed, and the spatial arrangement of the plurality of conductive paths functions to diffract electromagnetic radiation. In this embodiment, diffraction gratings of different periods and optical axes can be dynamically generated by connecting different sets of conductive segments. In this embodiment, the distance between the conductive paths corresponds to the wavelength of the radiation being diffracted. This feature can be used, for example, to direct microwave radiation in different directions by changing the period and orientation of the diffracting paths. This feature can be used, for example, to dynamically generate holograms.

[0068] In some embodiments, a plurality of conductive pathways are formed, and the spatial arrangement of the plurality of conductive pathways functions to scatter electromagnetic radiation. In this embodiment, the conductive pathways are on a scale corresponding to the wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation being scattered. For example, a 100 micron conductive segment is much smaller than 1 mm of electromagnetic radiation and will not strongly scatter it, whereas 5-10 such connected conductive segments will strongly scatter 1 mm of radiation. In this example, the connected segments form an edge filter. In another example, two or more sets of conductive segments of different scales may be connected to form a bandpass filter. The connected segments of the sets may be dynamically altered, thereby tunable. Dielectric material may be included in the conductive segments of the array to change the Mie scattering characteristics of the array. This feature may be used to dynamically alter the radar cross section of a panel containing the spatial array of the present invention.

[0069] In an important embodiment that can be used in combination with any of the above or below embodiments, the electromagnetic field generated by at least one conductive segment of the spatial array interacts with a conductive fluid, resulting in magnetohydrodynamic movement of the fluid. The conductive fluid may be, for example, blood, and the conductive segments are activated in a sequence that moves the blood cells to a location based on measured characteristics of the blood cells. The conductive fluid may contain, for example, metal ions for an electrochemical deposition process. That is, an ion stream may be directed to a specific location for deposition by magnetohydrodynamic forces. In some embodiments, there are multiple conductive fluid streams that can be varied spatially and temporally by energizing different combinations of conductive segments.

[0070] In an important embodiment that can be used in combination with any of the above or below embodiments, material is electrochemically added to a location on a substrate proximate the spatial array, and the amount of material added depends at least in part on an electromagnetic field generated by at least one conductive segment of the spatial array, which can control the number of ions electrochemically deposited at the location, e.g., by spatially modulating the concentration of metal ions proximate the location on the surface of the substrate.

[0071] In an important embodiment that can be used in combination with any of the above or below embodiments, material is electrochemically removed from a location on a substrate proximate the spatial array, and the amount of material removed depends at least in part on an electromagnetic field generated by at least one conductive segment of the spatial array, e.g., the electromagnetic field generated by a conductive segment can change the concentration of an etching agent at the location.

[0072] In an important embodiment that can be used in combination with any of the above or below embodiments, a measurement device measures a parameter of material deposited or removed at a location, and the electromagnetic field at the location is altered based at least in part on the measured parameter. For example, the thickness of material deposited at a location may be measured by an interferometer, and the deposition or removal process is stopped when a desired thickness is reached. For example, the crystalline morphology of crystals grown by an electrochemical process may be measured by X-ray diffraction, and the electromagnetic field is adjusted to promote single crystal growth.

[0073] In important embodiments that can be used in combination with any of the above or below embodiments, multiple cathodes are included in the spatial array, and material is electrochemically deposited at each cathode. In some embodiments, each of the multiple cathodes is associated with a different substrate, and multiple portions are electrochemically formed in parallel. In some embodiments, each of the multiple cathodes is associated with a different location of a portion, and material is added to each location, and the locations are then joined together. In some embodiments, a different material is added to each cathode location. For example, the present invention may be used as an electrochemical printhead that electrochemically deposits different amounts and types of material at different locations on a substrate.

[0074] In an important embodiment, which can be used in combination with any of the above or below embodiments, the cathode is a mandrel of a pre-formed pattern that is to be reproduced.

[0075] In an important embodiment, which can be used in combination with any of the above or below embodiments, the template of the electrochemically formed object is the temporal and spatial electromagnetic field created by the spatial array. Electroformed objects of arbitrary shape may be produced by the present invention without the preliminary step of creating a physical mandrel. Instead, the electromagnetic field created by the spatial array provides the template.

[0076] In an important embodiment, which can be used in combination with any of the above or below embodiments, there are multiple anodes from which material is removed.

[0077] In some embodiments, the material is deposited at a location determined at least in part by the spatial arrangement of anodes and cathodes, the spatial arrangement of anodes and cathodes being determined by the connection between at least two conductive segments of the spatial array. The material may be a metal, such as Cu, Ni, Ag, or Au. The channel may contain, for example, a mandrel, a portion of which is electroformed. Alternatively, the electromagnetic field generated by the spatial array may generate an electroformed portion, for example, in place of the mandrel. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0078] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a diagram of an arrangement according to the present invention, showing an array of conductive segments connected at nodes. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram of the arrangement of FIG. 1, showing an expanded view of the array of conductive segments connected at nodes. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram of the arrangement of FIG. 1, showing the sequence of conductive segments connected at nodes. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram of the array of FIG. 1, showing the functions within the nodes. [Figure 5] 2 illustrates the logical control of the node switches of the array of FIG. 1; [Figure 6] 1 illustrates a sequence of conductive segments connected to form a directional antenna of a first embodiment. [Figure 7] 10 illustrates a sequence of conductive segments connected to form a directional antenna of a second embodiment. [Figure 8] 10 illustrates a further embodiment in which the arrangement of FIG. 1 is adapted for electroplating and electroforming. [Figure 9] 10 illustrates a further embodiment in which the array of FIG. 1 is adapted to function as a 3D printer. [Figure 10] 1 illustrates a further embodiment in which the array of FIG. 1 is adapted to electroform multiple portions in parallel. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0079] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of the present invention 100, including a spatial array of conductive segments 101 and 102 and a control device 10. The spatial array may include regions with different types of ordering, ranging from regular to random. By way of example, 101 shows a region with orthogonal ordering, and 102 shows a region with cylindrical ordering. As shown by way of example, the cylindrical region consists of three layers in the radial direction, and the orthogonal region consists of four layers in the vertical direction. A practical device of the present invention may have only one layer or more than one million layers in a given direction. Other types of ordering, such as space groups, Penrose patterns, fractal geometries, and random walks, are also possible. It is generally convenient to use a spatial array that has the same symmetry characteristics as the electromagnetic field one wishes to generate or interact with.

[0080] The control device 10 includes a computing device 14 in communication with an analog output port 11, a logic output port 12, an input port 13, a machine-readable storage device 15, and a communication device 16. The computing device 14 may be, for example, a digital processing unit such as a CPU or FPGA. The computing device 14 may also include an analog processing unit. The analog output port 11 functions to distribute power to the devices in the spatial array. As shown in FIG. 1, the analog output port provides power to a fixed electromagnet coil 31 via cable 31A. As shown, fixed magnets 31, 32, and 33 are equally spaced about a portion of the spatial array and may be electromagnets, as shown connected to a power source at 31A, permanent magnets, or a combination of permanent and electromagnets. In operation, the fixed magnets function to provide a strong magnetic field, and the surrounding spatial array of conductive segments functions to generate a magnetic field that modifies or adjusts the magnetic field generated by the fixed magnets. The analog output 11 is connected to a thermal regulator, indicated at 34, integral with the spatial array via cable 34A. The thermal regulator in this example may be a thermoelectric (Peltier) cooler or a resistive heater. The spatial array may contain multiple thermal regulators that function to maintain different regions of the spatial array at different temperatures. A radiation source, designated 35, integral with the spatial array is connected to analog output 11 by cable 35A. The radiation source may be, for example, a laser, an LED, a thermal black body infrared source, a gas discharge tube, an X-ray generator, an ion gun, or a microwave generator.

[0081] A node designated 36 may receive analog power from analog output 11 via cable 36B. Fixed analog output port 11 may include voltage / current conditioning circuitry, digital-to-analog converters, amplifiers, filters, etc. for each output channel. Analog output port 11 may distribute constant power to a first connected device and a time-varying waveform to a second connected device. Logic output port 12 functions to transmit logic signals to devices in the spatial array, such as nodes and sensors. A node designated 36 may receive logic signals from logic output 12 via cable 36A. Input port 13 receives digital and analog signals from sensor devices integrated with or proximate to the spatial array. For example, radiation sensor 21 may include an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and transmit a digital signal to input port 13 via cable 21A, or the radiation sensor may transmit an analog signal to input port 13, which may be converted to digital form by an ADC integrated with the input port. Alternatively, ultra-high speed data analysis of analog waveforms from radiation detector 21 may be performed by analog circuitry, as discussed in the above-cited PCT application PCT / CA2019 / 051625. Controller 10 may send and receive information to external device 17 via communication device 16. External device 17 is an interface between a user and the array of the present invention. External device 17 may include a computing device, a display device, an input device, a data storage device, a network connection, or a combination thereof.

[0082] The computing device 14 takes as input a desired electromagnetic field in a set of regions within or adjacent to the spatial array and outputs a set of selected conductive segments and a power value (which may be zero) associated with each selected conductive segment that best approximates the set of desired electromagnetic fields. The desired electromagnetic fields may be actively generated by the spatial array by applying power to at least one conductive segment and / or passively generated by forming a conductive path between at least two conductive segments that interacts with an externally applied electromagnetic field. The computing device models the electromagnetic fields generated by the spatial array based on the geometry and electrical properties of the materials comprising the spatial array, including the nodes, conductive segments, logic signal lines, surrounding material, and gaps. It should be noted that the model explicitly includes the characteristics of the electronic components at the nodes, along with the electromagnetic fields generated by logic signals to the nodes.

[0083] That is, the computing device calculates the electromagnetic field generated by logic signals supplied to the nodes in the spatial array and adjusts the power supplied to the conductive segments to compensate for this effect. Once the geometry and material properties are specified, the electromagnetic field can be calculated by solving Maxwell's equations. For example, Maxwell's equations can be approximated as a system of linear equations applied to a sufficiently small volume element, which can be solved using standard matrix algebra. In another example, Maxwell's equations can be solved iteratively on a lattice. In another example, Maxwell's equations can be solved with a neural network. Any method for solving Maxwell's equations can be used. The method used to solve Maxwell's equations is not part of this invention.

[0084] Optionally, the spatial array includes an electric field sensor 22 in communication with the controller 10 via cable 22A. Optionally, the spatial array includes a magnetic field sensor 23 in communication with the controller 10 via cable 23A. The computing device may use information from the electric field and magnetic field sensors embedded within or proximate to the spatial array to refine a model of the electromagnetic field generated for a given set of conductive segment connections and power levels. For example, the dimensions of a fabricated spatial array may differ from ideal specifications, resulting in calculated electromagnetic fields that differ from measured electromagnetic fields. Optionally, the spatial array includes a temperature sensor 24 in communication with the controller 10 via cable 24A. For example, material properties may change with environmental factors such as temperature and humidity. For example, material properties may change over time due to atomic diffusion or chemical reactions such as oxidation. The computing device 14 may use the sensor measurements to refine its model, thereby reducing the difference between the desired and measured electromagnetic fields at each instant.

[0085] The spatial array may include a ferromagnetic material, indicated at 41, occupying a portion of the volume between the conductive segments of the spatial array. The ferromagnetic material functions to modify a magnetic field proximate the ferromagnetic material. The spatial array may include a dielectric material, indicated at 42, occupying a portion of the volume between the conductive segments of the spatial array. The dielectric material functions to modify an electric field proximate the dielectric material. The spatial array may include an optical path, indicated at 43, occupying a portion of the volume between the conductive segments of the spatial array. The optical path may be, for example, a gas-filled gap or an optical fiber. The spatial array may include a channel, indicated at 44, occupying a portion of the volume between the conductive segments of the spatial array. The channel 44 may contain a test material 50 that is subjected to the electromagnetic field generated or modified by the spatial array. One or more of the multiple channels 44 may have a ferromagnetic or dielectric liquid that is injected or removed at different times to modify the electromagnetic field proximate the channel.

[0086] The spatial array may include multiple channels 44. The multiple channels 44 may form a similar channel array for processing sample objects, such as parallel batteries. The multiple channels 44 may form, for example, a network in which the path taken by a test object is regulated by an electromagnetic field generated by the spatial array. The channel network may include, for example, gates that regulate gas or liquid flow within the channels in response to changes in the electromagnetic field generated at the gate location by the spatial array. The gate object may be moved from a first position to a second position by, for example, an electromagnetic force generated by the spatial array.

[0087] In application, the desired electromagnetic fields at a set of locations may be specified directly by a user, or the set of desired electromagnetic fields may be generated by a separate process as needed to have a desired effect on materials in or adjacent to the spatial array. For example, as discussed by the inventors in the above-cited PCT application PCT / CA2021 / 050118, the forces needed on a magnetic object are determined in a dynamic calculation, and the required electromagnetic fields are calculated from the required forces and properties of the magnetic object.

[0088] FIG. 2 shows an expanded view of the spatial array of FIG. 1. A general node point 36 may receive logic signals from logic port 12 of controller 10 via cable 36A and, depending on the logic signal, may or may not form electrical connections between conductive segments connected to node 36. General node 36 may optionally store state information, include sources and sinks, as well as devices for maintaining state and amplifying power. In another embodiment, general node 38 receives logic signals from logic port 12 of controller 10 via optical fiber 38F. General node 38 also receives power from analog output port 11 of controller 10 via cable 38B. Note that exemplary cable 38B may include multiple wires, some of which may provide constant power and some of which may provide time-varying power. The constant power wire may, for example, provide power to a transistor gate of node 38, which passes time-varying power from cable 38B along the conductive segment in response to a logic signal from optical fiber 38F. A constant power wire may, for example, provide power to a photoconductive gate at node 38, which passes time-varying power from cable 38B along a conductive segment in response to an analog signal from optical fiber 38F. Optical fiber may typically be used to reduce the effect of electromagnetic fields generated by logic signals on the desired electromagnetic fields generated by the spatial array.

[0089] Some conductive paths may be generally U-shaped, with active regions, designated 37A, and transport regions, designated 37B, connecting to nodes 37 on the periphery of the spatial array. Active regions 37A generate the magnetic field used within the spatial array when current flows through them. Transport regions 37B are perpendicular to the plane of the nodes in the spatial array and therefore do not generate a magnetic field component into the array. This arrangement places the switching components at the periphery of the spatial array, bringing the higher density of current flowing through the conductive segments (and the magnetic fields they generate) into the core region of the spatial array.

[0090] The spatial array 100 may include light-transmitting channels referred to as "light pipes," designated 44 and 46. The light pipes may be, for example, regions in the spatial array filled with air. The light pipes may include, for example, a reflective material on a portion of the periphery of the light pipe. The light pipes may be, for example, optical fibers. The spatial array may further include a channel designated 45 containing a gas- or liquid-borne object and the gas or liquid. The channel 45 may be, for example, a microfluidic channel containing a biological fluid, such as blood-borne objects, such as red blood cells, designated 50. In this example, a radiation source designated 35 is connected to the analog output port 11 of the controller 10 via a cable designated 35A. The radiation source 35 may be, for example, a laser emitting monochromatic light into the light pipe 46. The light pipe 46 transmits the monochromatic light into the microfluidic channel 45, where it is Raman scattered by the red blood cells 50. The Raman scattered radiation is received by light pipe 44 and transmitted via cable 21A to detector 21, which communicates with input port 13 of the controller. Detector 21 measures the Raman intensity at multiple wavelengths, and this intensity pattern is analyzed by computing device 14 to provide information about red blood cell 50. Optionally, an electric field may be generated in the region of red blood cell 50 by applying a voltage between conductive plates, indicated at 61 and 62. This electric field may be modified by the presence of a dielectric material, indicated at 42, and the modified electric field is measured by electric field sensor 22, which communicates with input port 13 of controller 10 via cable 22A. The electric field alters the measured Raman spectrum by lifting the degeneracy of the quantum states. Optionally, a magnetic field may be generated by a current flowing along one or more conductive segments of the spatial array, such as conductive segment 63. The magnetic field generated by the current in the conductive segments may be modified by the presence of ferromagnetic material in a spatial array, as shown by material block 41, and the modified magnetic field is measured by a Hall sensor 23 in communication with input port 13 of controller 10 via cable 23A. The magnetic field alters the measured Raman spectrum by lifting the degeneracy of the quantum states.In some embodiments, a series of electromagnetic fields are generated by a spatial array within a portion of the light pipe that creates a series of different refractive indices. This feature may be used to vary the refraction of each wavelength of radiation passing through the light pipe. That is, the spatial array may act as a spectral analyzer. In another embodiment (not shown), the radiation source may be radioactive, requiring no power supply. The radiation source may simply illuminate the object under observation, or the radiation source may function to create a net charge on a portion of the object 50.

[0091] The spatial array 100 may include one or more thermal modulators, indicated at 34, linked to the controller 10 by wires 34A. The thermal modulators are operable to raise or lower the temperature of different regions of the spatial array. The thermal modulators may be, for example, Peltier elements that lower the temperature of the sample material in the sample channel 45. The thermal modulators may also be heat pipes that transfer heat generated by current flowing through conductive segments of the spatial array to an external heat sink. The thermal modulators may also be resistors that generate heat when current flows through them, which changes the electrical or optical properties of materials in the spatial array 100.

[0092] The spatial array 100 may include one or more fixed magnets, designated 31, in communication with the controller 10 via cable 31A. The fixed magnets may be permanent magnets, electromagnets, or a combination thereof. For example, during operation, the fixed magnets 31 may provide a static magnetic field, and the conductive segments of the spatial array may be powered or unpowered to modify the spatial distribution of the static magnetic field at a location and provide magnetic field components in directions not provided by the static magnetic field. The coupled magnetic field may be used, for example, for magnetic resonance measurements. It should be noted that the conductive segments of the spatial array generally have significantly lower inductance than the fixed magnets, resulting in faster switching of the magnetic fields generated by the conductive segments.

[0093] The spatial array of conductive segments may be arranged in a periodic lattice, with nodal points 39 connected by conductive segments aligned with the lattice vector. As depicted for illustrative purposes, the lattice is a square lattice with lattice vectors a and b along conductive segments 71 and 72 and axis c along conductive segment 73. The only constraint on the arrangement of the conductive segments is that for each conductive segment entering a node, there are at least two conductive paths exiting the node. Spatial arrays based on crystallographic space groups, or portions thereof, provide embodiments that maximize the density of nodes and, therefore, the spatial resolution of the generated electromagnetic field. Other spatial arrangements are possible; for example, the nodes may have a hub-and-spoke topology, as shown by general node 70 linked with conductive segments 74, 75, 76, and 77. Conductive segment 74 has a curved path that directly connects with nodes 38 at four lattice distances. Including conductive segments along direct paths between widely spaced nodes minimizes power loss. Nodes 38 then connect with their nearest neighbors to provide localized distribution of power from distant nodes 70. Conductive segment 75 connects two grid nodes at a fixed distance, illustrating the spatial array region with holes. Conductive segment 76 illustrates a spatial arrangement useful for generating an axial electromagnetic field. As shown, conductive segment 76 is a 90 degree arc between nodes at a fixed radius from light pipe 46, thus useful for generating an axial electromagnetic field at light pipe 46. Hub node 70 within the spatial array may be connected to an external connection, indicated at 77, to the spatial array.

[0094] The current through each nodal point 36 is logically controlled by controller 10 via a cable designated 36A. Controller 10 passes current through loops of different sets of wire segments designated 71, 81, 82, and 83 to generate magnetic fields superimposed on the magnetic field generated by stationary coil 31. The current provided by analog output 11 is operable, in response to instructions from computing device 14, to vary the magnitude and direction of the current provided to each conductive segment, thereby varying the magnitude and direction of the magnetic field generated by each conductive segment. The regions between wire segments 71, 81, 82, and 83 or within coil 31 may contain a material of high magnetic permeability, such as iron, to increase the magnetic flux density designated 41.

[0095] FIG. 3 shows a region of the spatial array, designated 103, configured to generate a magnetic field. Each node, designated 104, is connected to a logic output 12 of the control device 10 (not shown). The control device 10 receives desired magnetic field specifications at multiple locations from an external device 17 via a communication port 16, and the computing device 14 generates multiple models comprising current levels of conductive segments proximate to the locations where the specified magnetic fields are to be generated. The computing device may, for example, calculate the magnetic field generated by each conductive segment at the multiple locations using the Biot-Savart law and sum the magnetic fields of all conductive segments. The current in some conductive segments may be zero. The computing device 14 selects the model that best meets a selection criterion. The selection criterion may, for example, be selecting a model that minimizes power consumption, which is affected by deviations between the specified magnetic field and the calculated magnetic field below a threshold. The selection criterion may, for example, be selecting a model that minimizes the difference between the specified magnetic field strength at multiple locations and the calculated magnetic field strength. The computing device 14 causes logic port 12 to output logic signals to nodes connected to the sequence of conductive segments specified by the selected model. The computing device 14 causes analog output port 11 to provide calculated power levels to nodes specified by the selected model. The computing device may receive feedback information via input port 13 from magnetic field sensors in a spatial array proximate a particular location and may adjust model parameters based on the feedback information to better meet the selected criteria.

[0096] Node 110 is connected to analog output port 11 and logic output port 12 of controller 10 by cables (not shown). Node 110 includes switches that optionally connect node 110 to nodes 104, 105, 112, and 118 via conductive segments 108, 107, 111, and 109, respectively. Node 110 receives a logic signal from logic output 12 to set an internal switch to electrically connect and form a conductive path between analog output 11 and power from node 112 via conductive segment 111. Node 110 includes logic storage that stores the logic state "connect to node 112" and maintains this state until a different logic signal is received from controller 10. In this logic state, the internal switch of node 110 connecting node 110 to node 112 via conductive segment 111 is closed. In this logic state, the internal switch of node 110 connecting node 110 to node 112 via conductive segment 108 is open. In this logic state, the internal switch of node 110 connecting node 110 to node 105 via conductive segment 107 is open. In this logic state, the internal switch of node 110 connecting node 110 to node 118 via conductive segment 109 is open. In this state, power flows along conductive segment 111 to node 112 in the direction of the bold arrow indicating the direction of power flow. Power does not flow along conductive segments 107, 108, or 109, as shown by dashed lines. The current associated with power flow along conductive segment 111 is in the Y-axis direction and generates a magnetic field with components in the Z and X directions. Node 112 receives a logic signal specifying that power from node 110 is directed to node 113, causing node 112 to close the internal switches of the conductive segments to nodes 110 and 113 and open the switches of all other conductive segments connected to node 112. The current flowing from node 112 to node 113 flows in the X-axis direction and generates a magnetic field with components in the Y and Z directions. Similarly, current flows from node 113 to nodes 114, 115, 116, 117, and 118 in the first XY plane.The shape of the connected conductive segments in the first plane is a loop having a length of two segments in each direction.

[0097] In some embodiments, the switches are reed switches with minimal switch voltage drops. In some embodiments, the switches are photoconductive. In other embodiments, the switches are transistors with a small, cumulative voltage drop across each switch. In this case, some of the nodes along the path of the connected conductive segments may contain amplifiers that function to boost the voltage enough to offset the power drop of preceding or succeeding switches. The amplification factor of each node may be determined by a logic signal from the controller 10 and retained at the node until a different amplification value is received. Nodes containing amplifiers must also contain a device that receives power. The device that receives power may be a direct connection to the analog output port 11. The device that receives power may be a photodiode associated with an optical channel. This option minimizes perturbations of the electromagnetic field due to power flowing through the wire. In some embodiments requiring a slowly changing magnetic field, power may be transmitted to the node by a rapidly changing magnetic field.

[0098] Power from node 118 flows in the negative Z direction to node 119 and then sequentially through nodes 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, and 133 in a second XY plane. The shape of the conductive path is generally a two-layer spiral, similar to a winding of a wire with multiple layers. The center of the spiral in the second layer is different from the center of the loop in the first layer, illustrating an important feature of the present invention. Specifically, the axis of the magnetic field generated by the loops in successive layers can be electronically changed by changing the sequence of connected conductive segments. In contrast, fixed coils of the prior art require mechanical reorientation of the coil axis to achieve the same effect.

[0099] Power from node 133 flows in the negative Z direction to node 134 and then sequentially through nodes 135, 136, and 137 in the third XY plane. Node 137 may be electrically connected to a ground plane within the spatial array or to the ground plane of controller 10 via a cable from analog output 11 to node 137. The loop formed by the sequence of connected conductive segments in the third XY plane has a center that is different from the centers of the first and second XY planes. Another important feature illustrated by the offset center is that the center of the magnetic field can be moved in either direction orthogonal to the fixed orientation by changing the sequence of connected conductive segments. That is, the center of the magnetic field can be moved in increments smaller than the spacing between nodes. In prior art fixed coils, this same feature requires mechanical movement of the fixed coil.

[0100] FIG. 4 schematically illustrates node 150 in the spatial array. Node 150 is connected to power supply 151 and ground plane 152. Node 150 is connected to controller 10 by either logic cable 153 or optical fiber 154. Node 150 may store logic states received from controller 10 in memory device 155, which also functions to maintain the states of switch array 156 and amplifier 157 according to the stored logic states. Node 150 is connected to conductive segments 161, 162, 163, and 164. In a first logic state, switch array 156 connects conductive segment 161 to conductive segment 162. In a second logic state, switch array 156 connects conductive segment 161 to amplifier 157, amplifying the power from conductive segment 161 by a coefficient specified by logic input 153 or 154 and stored in memory 155, and connecting the amplified power to conductive segment 162. In a third logic state, switch array 156 connects conductive segment 161 to power input 151. In a fourth logic state, switch array 156 connects conductive segment 161 to ground 152. Node 150 may have logic states corresponding to each permutation of connections between conductive segments, between conductive segments and power input 151, between conductive segments and ground 152, and between pairs of conductive segments and amplifier 157. It should be noted that the amplifier may operate in either direction, for example, to amplify power from conductive segment 163 to 164 or to amplify power from conductive segment 164 to 163.

[0101] FIG. 5 shows current and logic flow within a block of six nodes, designated 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, and 176. Shift registers 177 at the nodes are connected in loops from 171 to 172, 172 to 173, 173 to 174, 174 to 175, 175 to 176, and 176 to 171, in communication with logic output 12 of controller 10. Current 170 flows from analog output 11 of controller 10 to node 171, which contains switch 178 and shift register 177. At each node, shift register 177 is logically connected to switch 178 to determine the state of the binary switch. Each node has one current input and two current outputs, which may be two other nodes, one node and terminal node 179, or two terminal nodes.

[0102] FIG. 6 shows a region of spatial array 100 configured as a horn antenna. In transmit mode, a time-varying electrical signal is fed by analog output 11 of controller 10 to node 201, which propagates along conductive segments 207 and 208 to nodes 202 and 203. Conductive segments 207 and 208 form portions of the antenna. In receive mode, a time-varying incident electromagnetic waveform is incident on conductive segments 207 and 208, inducing time-varying power in conductive segments 207 and 208 that is relayed by node 201 to input 13 of controller 10. A 2×2 ring of conductive segments, designated 204, is connected in the plane of node 201. Similarly, a 4×4 ring of conductive segments, designated 205, is connected in the plane of node 202. Similarly, a 6×6 ring of conductive segments, designated 206, is connected in the plane of node 203. Conductive rings 204, 205, and 206 may be connected by conductive segments between the nodes of each ring (not shown) to form a horn-shaped 3D conductive mesh. The conductive mesh horns act as mirrors to focus electromagnetic waves from or onto active antenna portions 207 and 208. The optical axis and focal length of the mesh horn can be dynamically changed by varying the sequence of connected nodes. These features may be used, for example, to electronically point the antenna at a target location using a single signal. In contrast, phased array antennas require multiple signals for multiple antennas. The dynamic antenna-forming features of the present invention may be used in combination with phased array antennas to further enhance performance.

[0103] In Figure 7, the spatial array of Figure 6 is configured to form a different antenna arrangement. In the arrangement of Figure 6, a transmitted signal is relayed to node 211, which is joined to node 212 by conductive segment 214. Node 211 is surrounded by a conductive ring, designated segment 221, in a first plane. At node 212, conductive path 214 branches into two branches, designated 216 and 217. Conductive path 217 further branches into conductive paths 218 and 219. Node 212 is surrounded by a conductive ring, designated segment 222, in a second plane. Conductive segment 216 connects to node 213. At node 213, the conductive path branches into two branches, designated 224 and 225. Node 213 is surrounded by a conductive ring, designated segment 223, in a third plane. Conductive rings 221, 222, and 223 may be joined by conductive segments between the nodes of each ring to form a generally rectangular tube-shaped reflective mesh. The rectangular tube is angled relative to the axis of the spatial array due to the offset between conductive rings 222, 223, and 224. The orientation of the reflective tube may be electronically changed by varying the sequence of connected conductive segments. The frequency response of the active antenna may be electronically changed by varying the sequence of connected conductive segments. Preferably, the length of an individual conductive segment is less than the wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation being transmitted or received, and the length of the conductive path formed by connecting multiple conductive segments is similar to the wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation being transmitted or received.

[0104] FIG. 8 illustrates an electroforming operation using the spatial array device of FIG. 1, shown at 700, with a channel 44 containing a conductive liquid 707. The channel 44 is surrounded by a spatial array of conductive segments, shown at 101A and 101B, which generate a magnetic field 702 and an electric field 703 in each volume element 701 of the conductive liquid 707. The electromagnetic fields are varied in time and space by the control device 10 to generate magnetohydrodynamic forces in each volume element, causing the volume elements 701 to follow paths shown at 706 that transport charged material between substrates 704 and 705. A cathode is shown at 705 and an anode at 704. Material is applied to the layered substrate 705 (electroplating) to form a shape 708 via the time-varying path 706. Alternatively, material is applied at 711 to a mandrel 710 (electroforming) connected to the spatial array of conductive segments 101B. The ion concentration of the volume element proximate to the mandrel 710 is adjusted by the electromagnetic fields generated by the spatial arrays 101A and 101B under the control of the controller 10. The controller 10 receives information about the spatial distribution of the added material from the optical sensor 25, compares the actual spatial distribution of the material with the desired spatial distribution, and modifies the electric and magnetic fields to reduce the difference between the actual and desired spatial distributions of the added material. The addition of material at 708 or 710 changes the electromagnetic field at the volume element 701. The magnetic field is monitored by sensor 23, and the electric field is monitored by sensor 22, both of which are in communication with the controller 10. The controller 10 uses information from sensors 22 and 23 to configure the desired electromagnetic field at the volume element 701. The polarity of 704 and 705 may be reversed, in which case material is removed from the feature 708 (electroetching). The polarity of 704 and 711 may be reversed, in which case material is removed from material previously added to the mandrel. Material may be added and removed interactively with monitoring by optical sensor 25 until the desired final shape is produced.

[0105] 9 shows a 3D printing apparatus 800 based on a spatial array of conductive segments. A reservoir 801 of conductive liquid 707 has a cathode substrate base 705 and a spatial array of conductive segments 101 suspended proximate to the substrate 705. A controller 10 spatially and temporally modulates an electromagnetic field proximate to the substrate 705 to add (or remove) material from features 708. A photodetector 25 monitors the features 708 and provides feedback to the controller 10. As shown at 802, the conductive segments 101 may be moved to maintain a suitable operating distance between the conductive segments 101 and the formed features 708.

[0106] FIG. 10 illustrates an arrangement, designated 810, for electroforming multiple sections in parallel. By electroforming each section in parallel, the cost per section can be reduced. Multiple mandrels 710A, 710B, 710C, 710D, and 710N are stacked alternately with multiple spatial arrays 101A, 101B, 101C, 101D, 101N, and 101N+1 in a vessel 801. As shown, the mandrels are arranged in a linear array; however, in general, the mandrels may be arranged in a 2D or 3D array. The vessel 801 holds a volume of conductive fluid 707 that immerses the multiple mandrels and the multiple spatial arrays. Each spatial array may include all of the features shown in FIG. 1, including a controller 10 linked to a detector 25. The detector 25 is operable to measure the spatial distribution of material added to (or removed from) the mandrels. The controller 10 generates logic signals to each spatial array 101A-101N+1 that identify the electromagnetic field generated by the spatial array proximate the adjacent mandrel surface. The electromagnetic field controls the rate of electrochemical addition (or removal) to that mandrel surface element by controlling the flux and concentration of ions in each volume element of the conductive fluid and the electromagnetic potential at and proximate to the corresponding area element of the adjacent mandrel surface. The ions may be metal ions, such as Al, Cu, Cr, Ag, Cu, or Au. The electrochemical process at the mandrel surface may be spatially tuned on a scale corresponding to the inter-node distance of the spatial array. The inter-node distance may be, for example, 10 microns or 1 micron.

[0107] The fine spatial resolution enabled by this alignment method allows materials of different thicknesses to be added (or removed) from spatially adjacent locations on the mandrel, enabling engraving of 3D features, which may be optical elements integral with the closed loop of a spatial modulator, for example, as described by the inventors in the above-cited PCT Application PCT / CA2018 / 050599 and PCT Application PCT / CA2019 / 051626.

Claims

1. 1. A method for dynamically generating a conductive path for generating or interacting with an electromagnetic field, comprising: providing a spatial array having a plurality of conductive segments and a plurality of nodes; at least some of the conductive segments intersect at least two different ones of the conductive segments at each of the plurality of nodes; at least some of the nodes include a switching device that operates according to a logic signal from a controller to conductively connect a selected first of the conductive segments to a selected one of the two different second conductive segments to form a sequence; providing a spatial array, the switching device being operable with respect to each of the selected first conductive segments and configured to allow or block electrical conduction from the selected first conductive segment to the selected one of the two different second conductive segments in the spatial array; the control device operating on the switching device to select which of the conductive segments are conductively linked, thereby connecting a sequence of the conductive segments to form a conductive path; The method, wherein at least some of the nodes include an amplifier operable to increase power in the selected one of the two different second conductive segments.

2. 1. A method for dynamically generating a conductive path for generating or interacting with an electromagnetic field, comprising: providing a spatial array comprising a plurality of conductive segments, a switching device operable in each of the conductive segments to allow or block electrical conduction from the conductive segment to a second conductive segment in the spatial array, and a control device operable to the switching device to select which of the conductive segments to conductively link; connecting the sequence of conductive segments to form a conductive path; The method, wherein the spatial array further comprises at least one sensor operable to measure light amplitude, magnetic field amplitude, electric field amplitude, or temperature.

3. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein power is applied to the conductive pathway to generate an electromagnetic field, the electromagnetic field depending at least in part on the spatial arrangement of the connected sequence of the conductive segments in the conductive pathway.

4. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one sequence of conductive segments in the spatial array are connected to generate at least one conductive pathway, and wherein time-varying power is applied to the conductive pathway, and the conductive pathway transmits electromagnetic radiation in a spatial pattern that depends at least in part on the spatial arrangement of the conductive segments in the conductive pathway, or whereby a received spatially and temporally varying electromagnetic field incident on the conductive pathway and power generated in the conductive pathway by the electromagnetic field depend at least in part on the spatial arrangement of the conductive segments in the conductive pathway.

5. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein there are a plurality of conductive paths and a plurality of time-varying powers with different phases are applied to the plurality of conductive paths, each consisting of a different sequence of conductive segments, to generate electromagnetic radiation whereby a spatial pattern of transmitted electromagnetic radiation depends at least in part on the spatial arrangement of conductive segments in each conductive path; or wherein a power signal generated in each conductive path by incident electromagnetic radiation depends at least in part on the spatial arrangement of conductive segments in the conductive path, and the power signal from the conductive path is analyzed to obtain information about the incident electromagnetic radiation.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the control device operates on at least one of the switching devices in response to an optical signal.

7. 7. A method according to claim 1, wherein at least one switching device comprises a memory device operative to maintain the logic state of said switching device according to the last logic state transmitted by said control device, and wherein at least one switching device comprises a unique address of said switching device, said unique address being compared with an address received from said control device, and if said addresses match, said switching device changes to the state specified by said control device.

8. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein at least some of the space in the spatial array not occupied by the conductive segments is filled with a material selected from the list of electrical insulators, materials with a dielectric constant higher than 1, dielectric materials, thermally conductive materials, or materials that function as magneto-optical devices that change the path of light in response to changes in the magnetic field generated by the spatial array.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the electromagnetic field generated by the spatial array acts on an optical material to change the path of a light ray.

10. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one channel containing a test material passes through at least a portion of the spatial array, at least a portion of an electromagnetic field generated by the spatial array interacts with the test material in the channel, and there is at least one path transmitting photons between the test material in the channel and a location outside the spatial array, and the location outside the spatial array includes a photon source or a photon detection device.

11. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the electromagnetic field generated by the spatial array exerts a Lorentz force on objects in the vicinity of the spatial array.

12. 12. The method of any of claims 1 to 11, wherein the generated electromagnetic field is modified in space and time to form an object by an electrochemical process, the electrochemical process being selected from the set of an electroplating process, an electroforming process, an electroetching process, and a 3D printing process.

13. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said connected sequence of conductive segments is used to dynamically modify an incident electromagnetic field by reflection, diffraction or scattering.

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