Metamaterial Electromagnetic Shielding for Leakage Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional electromagnetic shielding methods, such as Faraday cage shielding, are ineffective due to discontinuities like doors and windows, leading to leakage of electromagnetic waves, and surface waves can re-radiate energy, posing challenges in creating fully shielded environments.

Innovation Solution

The development of engineered metamaterials, including surface wave attenuating metamaterials with via springs and free-space absorber metamaterials, which use air as a dielectric and a conductive backplane to attenuate and absorb electromagnetic waves, reducing weight and size while improving shielding effectiveness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional Faraday cage shielding is used, then electromagnetic wave blocking is achieved, but discontinuities like doors and windows cause leakage and reduce shielding effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshielding effectivenessVSAvoidaccessibility through doors and windows

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs flexible metamaterial coatings and thin film structures that can be applied to surfaces including around doors and windows. These flexible structures maintain shielding effectiveness while accommodating the discontinuities inherent in buildings with access points, eliminating the need for rigid continuous enclosures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes metamaterials with tunable electromagnetic parameters that can be optimized for different frequencies and applications. By changing the structural parameters of the metamaterial units, the shielding effectiveness can be enhanced while maintaining compatibility with building features like doors and windows.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional shielding materials are used, then electromagnetic interference is reduced, but weight and size increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectromagnetic interferenceVSAvoidshielding material weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs composite metamaterial structures combining conductive elements with dielectric or magnetic materials. These composite structures achieve superior shielding effectiveness per unit weight compared to conventional solid metal shields, reducing the overall weight while maintaining or enhancing EMI protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes thin film metamaterial coatings that provide effective shielding with minimal thickness and weight. These thin film structures replace bulky conventional shielding materials while maintaining electromagnetic interference reduction capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Reliability

If conventional shielding structures are used, then electromagnetic wave blocking is achieved, but surface waves can re-radiate energy and leakage occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewave blocking capabilityVSAvoidsurface wave re-radiation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs metamaterial structures that convert incident electromagnetic energy into other forms or redirect it in controlled ways. The metamaterial units are designed to absorb or dissipate surface wave energy rather than allowing re-radiation, turning the potential harmful re-radiation effect into a beneficial energy dissipation mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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

These metamaterials effectively inhibit the propagation of electromagnetic waves, reducing re-radiation and leakage, and enhance shielding performance by attenuating surface waves and absorbing free-space energy, thereby creating a more reliable shielded environment with improved frequency bandwidth and reduced weight.

Implementation Method 1

a first bandwidth of absorption for the free-space absorber metamaterial may be based on the first patch area, the first electrical resistance, and the first gap distance

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

each patch in the first array of patches is formed to have a first electrical resistance

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectResistive heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 3

a first dielectric spacer disposed between the first array of patches and the conductive backplane. In this regard, the first dielectric spacer may have a first width that defines a first gap distance

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDielectric insulation: Dielectric

Data Source

PatentUS10439292B2Electromagnetic energy shielding systems, apparatuses, and methods

Publication Date: 2019.10.08 JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY

AI summary

Electromagnetic shielding systems, apparatuses, and method are provided. One apparatus is an example free-space absorber metamaterial that includes a first array of patches disposed at a first plane, a conductive backplane disposed at a structural surface plane, and a first dielectric spacer disposed between the first array of patches and the conductive backplane. A first bandwidth of absorption for the free-space absorber metamaterial may be based on the area of a patch in the first array of patches, the first electrical resistance of a patch in the first array of patches, and the first gap distance taken between the first array of patches and the conductive backplane.