Frequency selective metamaterial for protective enclosures
The present disclosure provides a protective enclosure for electronic systems. The enclosure comprises a polymer-containing matrix and a metamaterial incorporated into the matrix. The metamaterial is tuned to a specific permittivity or permeability to absorb or reflect a particular frequency. The protective enclosure may be used to create a safe inner environment for electronic components while facilitating uninterrupted wireless communications to/from the outer environment. Additionally, the protective enclosure may be used to protect against electromagnetic interference. In particular, shielding metamaterials are configured individually or in combination to specifically shield (via reflection, absorption, etc.) against relatively wide bands of electromagnetic frequencies, while transparent metamaterials are configured specifically to pass electromagnetic signals within narrow bands of frequencies. This new approach resolves and vastly improves current shield solutions, such as Faraday cages. For example, tuned metamaterials may be configured across a variety of preconfigured frequencies, and can be constructed of lightweight materials.
1. A protective enclosure for electronic systems, comprising:
a polymer-containing matrix; and
a metamaterial incorporated into or embedded within the polymer-containing matrix, the metamaterial having a particular specific permittivity or permeability to absorb or reflect a particular frequency of electromagnetic energy;
wherein the metamaterial is configured to protect against electromagnetic disturbances, wherein the electromagnetic disturbances includes at least one selected from the group of electromagnetic radiation, electromagnetic energy, electromagnetic wave energy, electromagnetic interference, radio frequency interference, electromagnetic pulse, data interception, static electricity, and preconfigured electromagnetic frequencies.
2. The protective enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the metamaterial comprises carbon nanoparticles and aggregates.
3. The protective enclosure of claim 2 , wherein the carbon nanoparticles are tuned to absorb a specific frequency of electromagnetic energy.
4. The protective enclosure of claim 2 , wherein the carbon nanoparticles are tuned to reflect a specific frequency of electromagnetic energy.
5. The protective enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the polymer-containing matrix comprises a thermoplastic material.
6. The protective enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the metamaterial is embedded within the polymer-containing matrix in at least one selected from the group of a uniform distribution, a layered structure, a grid-like structure, and a random structure.
7. The protective enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the metamaterial is tuned to allow wireless communication signals in a frequency band associated with Wi-Fi or cellular communication.
8. The protective enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the metamaterial is tuned to absorb electromagnetic energy in a specific frequency band while allowing wireless communication signals in a different frequency band to pass through.
9. The protective enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the metamaterial is tuned to absorb electromagnetic energy in a frequency band associated with radio frequency interference.
10. The protective enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the metamaterial is embedded within the polymer-containing matrix in a manner that allows for application of an external stimulus to the metamaterial after formation of the protective enclosure.
11. The protective enclosure of claim 10 , wherein the external stimulus comprises at least one selected from the group of heat, light, and an electric field.
12. The protective enclosure of claim 10 , wherein the external stimulus is configured to cause a change in the metamaterial to absorb or reflect a different particular frequency.
13. The protective enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the polymer-containing matrix is a coated surface layer of the protective enclosure.
14. The protective enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the polymer-containing matrix is embedded into a structure of the protective enclosure.
15. The protective enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the metamaterial is configured to enhance a performance of at least one selected from the group of:
an antenna housed within the protective enclosure,
a telemetry module housed within the protective enclosure,
a communication device housed within the protective enclosure,
a computing device housed within the protective enclosure,
a sensing equipment housed within the protective enclosure,
a battery pack that includes telemetry devices for sending alert signals to safety systems housed within the protective enclosure, and
a device that requires uninterrupted wireless telemetry housed within the protective enclosure.
16. The protective enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the metamaterial is configured with a non-metallic material.
17. The protective enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the metamaterial is configured to repeal, at a first level of the metamaterial, a preconfigured electromagnetic first frequency or a first set of frequencies, and to absorb, at a second level of the metamaterial, a preconfigured electromagnetic second frequency or a second set of frequencies.
18. The protective enclosure of claim 1 , further comprising an impedance sheet, located on a first side of the metamaterial, and a conducting backplane, located on a second side of the metamaterial, wherein the impedance sheet is configured to reflect or shield a first set of preconfigured frequencies, the metamaterial is configured to absorb a second set of preconfigured frequencies, and the conducting backplane is configured to reflect a third set of preconfigured frequencies.
19. The protective enclosure of claim 18 , wherein the impedance sheet is configured such that only a fraction of incoming electromagnetic waves pass through the impedance sheet and reach the metamaterial.
20. A protective enclosure for electronic systems, comprising:
a polymer-containing matrix; and
a metamaterial incorporated into or embedded within the polymer-containing matrix, the metamaterial having a particular specific permittivity or permeability to absorb or reflect a particular frequency of electromagnetic energy;
wherein the metamaterial is configured to repeal, at a first level of the metamaterial, a preconfigured electromagnetic first frequency or a first set of frequencies, and to absorb, at a second level of the metamaterial, a preconfigured electromagnetic second frequency or a second set of frequencies.
21. A protective enclosure for electronic systems, comprising:
a polymer-containing matrix; and
a metamaterial incorporated into or embedded within the polymer-containing matrix, the metamaterial having a particular specific permittivity or permeability to absorb or reflect a particular frequency of electromagnetic energy;
wherein the metamaterial is configured with a non-metallic material;
wherein the non-metallic material includes a carbon-containing material that is functionalized to selectively absorb specific frequencies of electromagnetic radiation.
22. The protective enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the metamaterial comprises a graphene, and wherein the polymer-containing matrix includes a phase-change material that alters its electromagnetic properties in response to temperature changes.
23. The protective enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the metamaterial is arranged in a fractal pattern within the polymer-containing matrix, and wherein the protective enclosure further comprises a layer of electromagnetic absorbing foam adjacent to the polymer-containing matrix.
24. The protective enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the metamaterial includes ferroelectric nanoparticles that can be electrically tuned to adjust the frequency range of electromagnetic absorption, and wherein the protective enclosure includes embedded sensors to detect and measure incident electromagnetic radiation.
25. The protective enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the polymer-containing matrix comprises a multi-layered structure with alternating layers of different metamaterials, each layer tuned to absorb or reflect a specific frequency range, and wherein the protective enclosure includes a self-diagnostic system to monitor its shielding effectiveness over time.
26. The protective enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the metamaterial includes shape-memory alloy particles that change their electromagnetic properties in response to mechanical stress, and wherein the protective enclosure incorporates a passive cooling system to dissipate heat generated by absorbed electromagnetic energy.
27. The protective enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the metamaterial is characterized using a measurement platform configured to obtain direct measurements of electrical properties including local variations of permittivity (E) and conductivity (o) with a lateral resolution of less than 100 nm.
28. The protective enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the metamaterial comprises a combination of dielectric, insulating, semiconducting, and metallic materials, and wherein the electrical properties of the metamaterial are measured using a platform compatible with all of these material types.
29. The protective enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the metamaterial is incorporated into the polymer-containing matrix in a layered structure, and wherein the electrical properties of the metamaterial are characterized using a measurement platform with sub-surface sensitivity capable of imaging through overlayers of approximately 100 nm thickness.
30. The protective enclosure of claim 20 , wherein the first level of the metamaterial comprises a frequency selective surface with a periodic pattern of conductive elements, and wherein the second level of the metamaterial comprises carbon-based particles aligned perpendicular to the first level.
31. The protective enclosure of claim 20 , wherein the first set of frequencies includes frequencies in the range of 1-5 GHZ, and the second set of frequencies includes frequencies in the range of 10-30 GHZ, and wherein the protective enclosure further comprises a third level of metamaterial configured to absorb frequencies in the range of 30-300 GHz.
32. The protective enclosure of claim 20 , wherein the polymer-containing matrix includes a gradient of metamaterial concentration that increases from the outer surface to the inner surface of the protective enclosure, and wherein the protective enclosure includes a layer of electromagnetic interference (EMI) gasket material at its edges.
33. The protective enclosure of claim 20 , wherein the metamaterial includes magnetically alignable particles that can be oriented post-manufacturing to optimize shielding performance.
34. The protective enclosure of claim 20 , wherein the first level and second level of the metamaterial are separated by a layer of piezoelectric material that converts absorbed electromagnetic energy into electrical energy.
35. The protective enclosure of claim 20 , wherein the protective enclosure incorporates a removable and replaceable outer layer containing the first level of metamaterial.
36. The protective enclosure of claim 20 , wherein the metamaterial includes plasmonic nanostructures that enhance electromagnetic absorption at specific frequencies.
37. The protective enclosure of claim 21 , wherein the non-metallic material comprises a composite of carbon-based particles and ceramic particles, and wherein the protective enclosure includes a layer of electromagnetic absorbing paint on its outer surface.
38. The protective enclosure of claim 21 , wherein the non-metallic material includes doped semiconductor nanoparticles that provide tunable electromagnetic absorption.
39. The protective enclosure of claim 21 , wherein the non-metallic material comprises a network of conductive polymers interspersed with ferrite particles, and wherein the protective enclosure includes a layer of radar-absorbing material on its outer surface.
40. The protective enclosure of claim 21 , wherein carbon-containing material includes graphene oxide sheets.
41. The protective enclosure of claim 21 , wherein the non-metallic material comprises a metamaterial with a negative refractive index in a predefined frequency range, and wherein the protective enclosure includes active electronic components that generate cancelling electromagnetic fields.
42. The protective enclosure of claim 21 , wherein the protective enclosure incorporates a layer of electromagnetic bandgap (EBG) structures.
43. The protective enclosure of claim 21 , wherein the non-metallic material comprises a composite of carbon-based particles and boron nitride nanotubes providing broadband electromagnetic absorption, and wherein the protective enclosure includes a layer of magnetically permeable material to redirect electromagnetic fields.