Patent attributes
An electromagnetic wave manipulation apparatus may include a substrate integrated with a liquid crystal. For example, the substrate may include one or more cavities filled with the liquid crystal. Alternatively and/or additionally, the substrate may include one or more layers of material interposed with the liquid crystal. The liquid crystal may be subjected to a voltage bias that alters the dielectric constant of the liquid crystal. Doing so may introduce a corresponding field offset between the input signal and the output signal of the apparatus. Subjecting the liquid crystal to different voltage biases may give rise to a spatial phase gradient that enables the apparatus to perform a variety of electromagnetic wave transformations such as reflection, refraction, retro-reflection, amplification, and cancellation. By performing such transformations, the apparatus may change the radiation pattern of its output signal, thus steering its output signal towards or away from a receiver.
