Nanostructured tunable antennas for communication devices
An apparatus ( 10, 30, 40, 50 ) is provided that relates to nanotubes as radiation elements for antennas and phased arrays, and more particularly to a macro-sized RF antenna for mobile devices. The antenna comprises a plurality of nanostructures ( 16 ), e.g., carbon nanotubes, forming an antenna structure on a substrate ( 12 ), and a radio frequency signal apparatus formed within the substrate ( 12 ) and coupled to the plurality of nanostructures ( 16 ). The radiation element length of a nested multiwall nanotube ( 161 ) of an exemplary embodiment may be tuned to a desirable frequency by an electromagnetic force ( 163 ).
1. An antenna comprising:
a substrate comprising a material;
a plurality of nanostructures forming an antenna structure on the substrate, the nanostructures selected from one of the group consisting of nanotubes, nanowires, nanorods, and nanobelts; and
a radio frequency signal apparatus comprising a dielectric waveguide formed within the substrate, a coupling between the radio frequency signal apparatus and the plurality of nanostructures consisting of electromagnetic waves-through the material of the substrate.
2. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the nanostructures are randomly positioned on the substrate.
3. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the nanostructures are uniformly positioned on the substrate.
4. The portable communication device of claim 1 wherein the antenna structure comprises a length capable of receiving a waveform having a wavelength of between 0.5 centimeter to 2.0 centimeters.
5. The portable communication device of claim 1 wherein the antenna structure comprises a length capable of receiving a waveform having a wavelength of between 0.5 millimeter to 0.5 centimeter.
6. The portable communication device of claim 1 wherein the antenna structure comprises a length capable of receiving a waveform having a wavelength of between 1.0 nanometer to 0.5 millimeters.
7. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the plurality of nanostructures comprise a phased array.
8. A portable communication device comprising:
a user interface;
receiver circuitry;
a controller coupled between the user interface and the receiver circuitry; and
an antenna coupled to the receiver circuitry, the antenna comprising:
a substrate;
a plurality of nanostructures formed as an antenna structure on the substrate, the nanostructures selected from one of the group consisting of nanotubes, nanowires, nanorods, and nanobelts; and
electronic apparatus comprising a dielectric waveguide formed within the substrate and coupled to the plurality of nanostructures consisting of electromagnetic waves through the material of the substrate.
9. The antenna of claim 8 wherein the nanostructures are randomly positioned on the substrate.
10. The antenna of claim 8 wherein the nanostructures are uniformly positioned on the substrate.
11. The portable communication device of claim 8 wherein the antenna structure comprises a length capable of receiving a waveform having a wavelength of between 0.5 centimeter to 2.0 centimeters.
12. The portable communication device of claim 8 wherein the antenna structure comprises a length capable of receiving a waveform having a wavelength of between 0.5 millimeter to 0.5 centimeter.
13. The portable communication device of claim 8 wherein the antenna structure comprises a length capable of receiving a waveform having a wavelength of between 1.0 nanometer to 0.5 millimeter.
14. A method of tuning an antenna having a substrate, a plurality of nested multiwall nanotubes forming an antenna structure on the substrate and having at least one inner wall, and a radio frequency signal apparatus formed within the substrate, a coupling between the radio frequency signal apparatus and the plurality of nested multiwall nanostructures consisting of electromagnetic waves through the substrate, the method comprising:
applying an electromagnetic force to the nested multiwall nanostructures; and
displacing the at least one inner wall.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein the radio frequency signal apparatus comprises one of a ground plane, a transmission line, one or more MEMS-tuned electromagnetic bandgap structures, a dielectric waveguide.