Compound Unit Cells for Extraordinary Electromagnetic Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing antenna and frequency selective surface (FSS) elements are inefficiently driven by excitation frequencies due to their physical size and material makeup, limiting their operational bandwidth and ability to operate at longer wavelengths, especially when designed for short wave transmission.
Innovation Solution
The use of compound unit cells with apertures of different diameters and 2D configurations, along with dielectric cover layers, enables extraordinary electromagnetic transmission (EEMT) by shifting cutoff frequencies and allowing mutual coupling between dissimilar antenna elements, enabling simultaneous operation with a common excitation frequency lower than individual resonant frequencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If antenna or FSS elements are designed with specific dimensions and material makeup for efficient transmission of short wavelength signals, then transmission efficiency at short wavelengths is improved, but the ability to operate at longer wavelengths is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple antenna or FSS elements with different dimensions and material makeups into a single array structure. This merging allows the array to be efficiently driven by a common excitation frequency while maintaining the individual characteristics of each element, thereby achieving both high transmission efficiency and broad operational bandwidth including longer wavelengths
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna array is designed to perform multiple functions: it can efficiently transmit both short and long wavelengths, and can be driven by a single excitation frequency source. This multi-functionality is achieved by incorporating elements with varying dimensions and materials that collectively support a wide frequency range
2Productivity
If a first antenna or FSS element is driven by a first set of excitation frequencies, then efficient transmission is achieved at those frequencies, but it is not efficient for the first set of frequencies to drive a second antenna or FSS element with different dimensions and material makeup
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple antenna elements with different resonant frequency characteristics are merged into a single array that can be efficiently excited by a common frequency set. The combination creates a system where the collective response of all elements achieves efficient transmission across a broad frequency range, including frequencies that would be inefficient for any single element type
3Adaptability or versatility
If antenna or FSS elements are made larger to enable efficient excitation for long wave transmission, then long wavelength operation is improved, but the footprint or size of the antenna array increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple smaller antenna elements with different dimensions into an array configuration. This combination allows the system to achieve long wavelength transmission capability without requiring any single element to be very large, thereby maintaining a compact overall footprint while enabling efficient long-wave propagation through the collective interaction of elements
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances long-wave propagation and allows antenna arrays to operate efficiently at longer wavelengths with a smaller footprint, overcoming the limitations of traditional designs by achieving EEMT and broadening the operational frequency range.
Implementation Method 1
EEMT for this configuration occurs at wavelengths larger than a fundamental period that would be achieved where the first aperture and the second aperture had the same diameter d
Implementation Method 2
This is possible owing to mutual coupling between the apertures acting external to the aperture openings
Implementation Method 3
the EEMT frequency can be shifted by adding a cover layer (e.g., a dielectric) on one or both sides of the plate comprising the respective apertures
Implementation Method 4
In a configuration where cylindrical apertures in a periodic array are evanescent or cutoff, greater than unity air-to-aperture interface transmission resonance can be responsible for EEMT
Implementation Method 5
greater than unity air-to-aperture interface transmission resonance can be responsible for EEMT
Data Source
AI summary
The various embodiments presented herein relate to extraordinary electromagnetic transmission (EEMT) to enable multiple inefficient (un-matched) but coupled radiators and/or apertures to radiate and/or pass electromagnetic waves efficiently. EEMT can be utilized such that signal transmission from a plurality of antennas and/or apertures occurs at a transmission frequency different to transmission frequencies of the individual antennas and/or aperture elements. The plurality of antennas/apertures can comprise first antenna/aperture having a first radiating area and material(s) and second antenna/aperture having a second radiating area and material(s), whereby the first radiating/aperture area and second radiating/aperture area can be co-located in a periodic compound unit cell. Owing to mutual coupling between the respective antennas/apertures in their arrayed configuration, the transmission frequency of the array can be shifted from the transmission frequencies of the individual elements. EEMT can be utilized for an array of evanescent of inefficient radiators connected to a transmission line(s).