IP Library Granted Patent US 12671177
Granted Patent B2
US 12671177 · App. 18/034,412 · Granted Jun 30, 2026

Variable reflect array, and method for designing variable reflector array

Inventors: Takayoshi Sasaki (Tokyo, JP); Tanan Hongnara (Tokyo, JP); Yoshiki Shirasawa (Tokyo, JP); Katsumori Sasaki (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: Denki Kogyo Company, Limited
H01Q3/46H01Q15/148H01Q15/167H01Q15/248
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12671177
App. No.
18/034,412
Granted
Jun 30, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An object of the present invention is to make it possible to flexibly adjust the incidence wave directivity in a vertical plane or a horizontal plane by making the incident directivity reconfigurable. Provided is a variable reflect array, having a variable mechanism unit configured to change interval between the plurality of supercells, and, the variable mechanism unit is configured to change one of an incidence angle and a reflection angle with respect to the electromagnetic wave of the predetermined wavelength, and, keep the other of the incidence angle and the reflection angle constant with respect to the electromagnetic wave of the predetermined wavelength, by changing the interval between the plurality of supercells.

Claims (40)

1 . A variable reflect array comprising:

a substrate unit having a supercell side; and

a plurality of supercells disposed on the supercell side of the substrate unit with an interval between adjacent supercells of the plurality of supercells, each of the plurality of supercells having an incidence angle and a reflection angle with respect to an electromagnetic wave of a predetermined wavelength,

wherein the interval between the plurality of supercells is changeable, and the interval is selected from two or more intervals,

wherein each of the plurality of supercells includes a dielectric substrate and a plurality of unit cells disposed on a surface of the dielectric substrate, each unit cell has an antenna, and,

wherein the interval between the plurality of supercells is changed to change one of the incidence angle and the reflection angle with respect to the electromagnetic wave of the predetermined wavelength and keep the other of the incidence angle and the reflection angle constant with respect to the electromagnetic wave of the predetermined wavelength.

2 . The variable reflect array according to claim 1 , wherein the incidence angle or the reflection angle is changed by 10 degrees or more by changing the spacing of the plurality of supercells.

3 . The variable reflect array according to claim 1 , wherein

the incidence angle or the reflection angle decreases when the interval of the plurality of supercells increases from a predetermined interval, and,

the incidence angle or the reflection angle increases when the interval of the plurality of supercells decreases from the predetermined interval.

4 . The variable reflect array according to claim 1 , wherein

the electromagnetic wave with the predetermined wavelength has a polarization inclined by a predetermined angle from a horizontal direction, and,

the unit cells are arranged in a direction inclined by a predetermined angle from the horizontal direction to the same direction as the polarized wave, with respect to the predetermined electromagnetic wave.

5 . The variable reflect array according to claim 4 , wherein

the electromagnetic wave with the predetermined wavelength is a 45 degree polarized wave, and,

the unit cells are arranged with an inclination of 45 degrees from the horizontal direction.

6 . The variable reflect array according to claim 1 , wherein

the plurality of supercells are arranged in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction thereof, and,

the plurality of supercells are shifted by a predetermined amount in the longitudinal direction thereof.

7 . The variable reflect array according to claim 1 , wherein

the plurality of supercells comprises a first plurality of supercells and a second plurality of supercells, and,

the first plurality of supercells are arranged in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction thereof and shifted by a predetermined amount in a first direction, which is one of the longitudinal directions of the plurality of supercells, and

the second plurality of supercells are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction thereof and shifted by a predetermined amount in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

8 . The variable reflect array according to claim 1 , wherein

the unit cell comprises substantially linear metal plates radially extending from the center of the unit cell.

9 . The variable reflect array according to claim 1 , wherein

the unit cell is a cross dipole comprising a substantially cross-shaped metal plate.

10 . The variable reflect array according to claim 1 , wherein

both the incidence angle and the reflection angle are configured to be changed by changing of the spacing of the supercells.

11 . A method for designing a variable reflect array according to claim 1 , comprising:

a step of changing one of the incidence angle and the reflection angle while keeping the other of the incidence angle and the reflection angle constant, with respect to the electromagnetic wave of the predetermined wavelength, by changing the interval of the plurality of supercells.

12 . A method for designing a variable reflect array wherein

the reflect array comprises;

a substrate unit having a supercell side; and

a plurality of supercells disposed on the supercell side of the substrate unit with an interval between adjacent supercells of the plurality of supercells, each of the plurality of supercells having an incidence angle and a reflection angle with respect to electromagnetic waves of a predetermined wavelength,

wherein each of the plurality of supercells includes a dielectric substrate and a plurality of unit cells disposed on a surface of the dielectric substrate, and,

the plurality of unit cells comprise an antenna,

the method for designing a variable reflect array comprises:

a step of designing the plurality of supercells comprising the plurality of unit cells, and,

a step of changing one of the incidence angle and the reflection angle while keeping the other of the incidence angle and the reflection angle, by changing the interval between the plurality of supercells, being configured to be executed after the step of designing the supercells.