A method for constructing a multifunctional antenna structure configured to generate a plurality of radiation patterns includes determining a desired source field associated with the plurality of radiation patterns, and receiving feed locations for a waveguide to an antenna aperture surface. The method may further include placing a metasurface resonator at a first resonator location that exhibits a minimum error relative to the desired source field and satisfies a maximum error threshold relative to the desired source field. The metasurface resonator may be determined based on the feed locations and a plurality of degrees of freedom for the first resonator location. The method may also include discarding a second resonator location in response to determining that no metasurface resonator at the second resonator location satisfies the maximum error threshold. The plurality of degrees of freedom may include metasurface resonator geometries that exhibit different polarizabilities defined in a candidate library.

The disclosed structures and methods are directed to antenna systems configured to transmit and receive a wireless signal in and from different directions. A switchable lens antenna has excitation ports radiating radio-frequency (RF) wave into a parallel-plate waveguide structure, and a frequency selective structure (FSS). The antenna presented herein is configured to operate in two modes depending on an initial steering angle of the RF wave propagating in the parallel-plate waveguide structure. When the initial steering angle is about or less than a threshold steering angle, FSS is OFF due to its stubs being electrically disconnected from the parallel-plate waveguide structure. When the initial steering angle is higher than the threshold, FSS is ON with stubs being electrically connected to the parallel-plate waveguide structure. When ON, FSS provides phase variance to the RF wave propagating in the parallel-plate waveguide structure and increases steering angle of the RF wave.

A liquid crystal device includes a first substrate (TFT substrate) including a first dielectric substrate, a second substrate (slot substrate) including a second dielectric substrate, a liquid crystal layer provided between the first substrate and the second substrate and in all of an effective region and a portion of a non-effective region, a sealing seal portion configured to define the maximum value of the area of the liquid crystal layer when viewed from a normal direction of the first or second dielectric substrate, a cell gap control seal portion configured to define the minimum value of the thickness of the liquid crystal layer in the effective region, and a buffer portion provided in contact with the liquid crystal layer in the non-effective region and that deforms more easily due to external force than the first and second dielectric substrates in the effective region. The buffer portion includes a sheet and a joining section that joins the sheet and the first or second dielectric substrate. The sheet deforms more easily due to external force than the first and second dielectric substrates in the effective region, and/or at least a portion of the joining section deforms more easily due to external force than the cell gap control seal portion.

A scanning antenna includes a transmission and/or reception region including a plurality of antenna units and a non-transmission and/or reception region other than the transmission and/or reception region. The scanning antenna includes a TFT substrate, a slot substrate, a liquid crystal layer, a seal portion surrounding the liquid crystal layer, a wall structure (additional seal portion) disposed in a region surrounded by the seal portion in the non-transmission and/or reception region, a reflective conductive plate, a first spacer structure defining a first gap between a first dielectric substrate and a second dielectric substrate in the transmission and/or reception region, and a second spacer structure disposed in the wall structure and defining a second gap wider than the first gap. The wall structure includes a first main side face and a second main side face that intersect a surface of the first dielectric substrate, and at least one of the first main side face and the second main side face includes a plurality of recessed portions and/or a plurality of protruding portions when viewed from a normal direction of the first dielectric substrate.

A unit cell can be used for a metasurface, metamaterial, or beamforming antenna. The unit cell includes a metal layer attached to a substrate. The metal layer defines an iris opening for the unit cell. One or more tunable capacitance devices are positioned within or across the iris opening. Each tunable capacitance device is to tune resonance frequency of the unit cell. Mass transfer technologies or self-assembly processes may be used to position the tunable capacitance devices.

A unit cell can be used for a metasurface, metamaterial, or beamforming antenna. The unit cell includes a metal layer attached to a substrate. The metal layer defines an iris opening for the unit cell. One or more tunable capacitance devices are positioned within or across the iris opening. Each tunable capacitance device is to tune resonance frequency of the unit cell. Mass transfer technologies or self-assembly processes may be used to position the tunable capacitance devices.

A scanning antenna includes a transmission and/or reception region including a plurality of antenna units and a non-transmission and/or reception region other than the transmission and/or reception region. The scanning antenna includes a TFT substrate, a slot substrate, a liquid crystal layer provided between the TFT substrate and the slot substrate, a seal portion provided in the non-transmission and/or reception region and surrounding the liquid crystal layer, and a reflective conductive plate disposed opposing a second main surface of a second dielectric substrate with a dielectric layer interposed between the reflective conductive plate and the second main surface. The slot electrode includes an opening or a recessed portion formed in the non-transmission and/or reception region and in the region surrounded by the seal portion.

A multibeam antenna and method of using the same are described. In one embodiment, the antenna comprises an aperture having a plurality of radio-frequency (RF) radiating antenna elements. The RF radiating antenna elements generate a plurality of beams simultaneously in different directions in response to a first modulation pattern for holographic beamforming applied to the plurality of RF radiating antenna elements to establish all beams of the plurality of beams such that antenna elements of the plurality of RF radiating antenna elements contribute to all beams in the plurality of beams concurrently. The antenna also includes a controller coupled to the aperture to generate the first modulation pattern.

A method and apparatus for using Euclidean modulation in an antenna are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for controlling an antenna comprises mapping a desired modulation to achievable modulation states, mapping modulation values associated with the achievable modulation states to one or more control parameters, and controlling radio frequency (RF) radiating antenna elements using the one or more control parameters to perform beam forming.

An antenna and method for using the same having a hybrid feed approach. In some embodiments, the metasurface antenna with dual beam capabilities is feed with feed waves from a center-fed waveguide structure and an edge-fed waveguide structure. In some embodiments, the antenna comprises an array of radio-frequency (RF) radiating antenna elements and operable to generate two beams simultaneously in response to interacting with two propagating waves at a same time; and a feed structure coupled to feed the two waves to the array of RF radiating antenna elements, the feed structure having a first waveguide beneath the RF radiating antenna elements in which the two waves propagate in opposite directions.