What is claimed is:
1. A reconfigurable, steerable reflective array, comprising:
a) a planar dielectric substrate having a front surface, a rear surface, a predetermined thickness and a predetermined dielectric constant;
b) a metallized layer disposed upon said rear surface of said dielectric substrate;
c) reflective elements disposed on said front surface of said dielectric substrate, at least one of said reflective elements comprising at least two reflective sub-elements selectively electrically interconnectable to one another; and
d) an RF signal source for providing and applying an RF signal having a predetermined range of frequencies to said reflective elements;
whereby at least some of said reflective elements re-radiate said applied RF signal in a predetermined direction and with a predetermined phase shift relative to said applied RF signal, thereby establishing an electromagnetic radiation pattern approximating a radiation pattern from a geometrically non-planar reflector.
2. The reconfigurable, steerable reflective array as recited in claim 1, wherein said geometrically non-planar reflector comprises a reflector having a substantially parabolic shape.
3. The reconfigurable, steerable reflective array as recited in claim 1, wherein said dielectric substrate has an opening therein to allow passage of said RF signal therethrough and wherein said RF signal source comprises a sub-reflector in front of said front surface of said dielectric substrate adapted to receive said applied RF signal and reflect it onto said reflective elements.
4. The reconfigurable, steerable reflective array as recited in claim 1, wherein said reflective elements comprise at least one from the group of dipoles, crossed dipoles and other reflective elements.
5. The reconfigurable, steerable reflective array as recited in claim 1, wherein said reflective sub-elements are selectively electrically connected to one another by electrically conductive switches.
6. The reconfigurable, steerable reflective array as recited in claim 5, wherein said electrically conductive switches comprise MEMS switches.
7. The reconfigurable, steerable reflective array as recited in claim 6, wherein said MEMS switches are activated by radiant energy.
8. The reconfigurable, steerable reflective array as recited in claim 7, wherein said radiant energy comprises light from at lease one device from the group: light-emitting diode (LED) and laser.
9. The reconfigurable, steerable reflective array as recited in claim 6, wherein said MEMS switches are activated by one of the group of energy sources: radio frequency energy and direct electrical connection.
10. The reconfigurable, steerable reflective array as recited in claim 6, wherein said radiant energy is conducted from said at least one device to said MEMS by an optical fiber.
11. The reconfigurable, steerable reflective array as recited in claim 6, wherein said MEMS switches comprise bistable MEMS switches.
12. The reconfigurable, steerable reflective array as recited in claim 5, wherein said reflective sub-elements are selectively electrically connected to one another, one of multiple, predetermined frequency bands of operation is selected.
13. The reconfigurable, steerable reflective array as recited in claim 5, wherein said reflective sub-elements are selectively electrically connected to one another, said steerable reflective array is steered in a predetermined direction.
14. A reconfigurable, steerable reflective array comprising a planar dielectric substrate having a metallized film disposed on a rear surface thereof and a plurality of reflective sub-elements disposed in a predetermined pattern on a front surface thereof, said reflective sub-elements being selectively electrically connectable one to another by MEMS switches disposed therebetween, said reflector array being adapted to receive a radio frequency (RF) signal in a predetermined frequency band from an RF signal source disposed proximate said reflective array, whereby said reflective array re-radiates at least a portion of said RF signal in a direction controlled by a selective activation of said MEMS switches in a radiation pattern substantially equal to a radiation pattern from a geometrically non-planar reflector.
15. The reconfigurable, steerable reflective array as recited in claim 14, wherein said geometric non-planar reflector is a focusing reflector such as a parabolic reflector.
16. The reconfigurable, steerable reflective array as recited in claim 14, wherein said MEMS switches are selectively actuated by radiant energy supplied thereto via an optical fiber.
17. The reconfigurable, steerable reflective array as recited in claim 14, wherein said reflector array is steered by selectively actuating said MEMS switches.
18. The reconfigurable, steerable reflective array as recited in claim 14 adapted for operation in at least two predetermined frequency bands, said reflector array being configured for operation in a selected one of said at least predetermined frequency bands by selective activation of said MEMS switches.
19. A reconfigurable, steerable reflective array, comprising:
a) a planar dielectric substrate having a front surface, a rear surface;
b) a metallized layer disposed upon said rear surface of said dielectric substrate;
c) a multiplicity of reflective elements disposed in an array on said front surface of said dielectric substrate, said reflective elements each including at least two reflective sub-elements selectively electrically interconnectable to one another; and
wherein said reflective elements are adapted to re-radiate RF energy reflected by the metalized layer at a predetermined wavelength with a predetermined phase shift in response to selective electrical interconnection of the sub-elements, thereby establishing a controllable electromagnetic radiation pattern from the array.
20. The reconfigurable, steerable reflective array as recited in claim 19, wherein said reflective sub-elements are selectively electrically connected to one another by either light-activated semiconductor switches or MEMS.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A bidirectional side-slit duckbill valve apparatus, comprising:
V-shaped upper section comprising a first side section having a first end and a second end and a second side section having a first end and a second end, wherein the first side section is connected to a first shoulder at its first end and a trough at its second end and the second side section is connected to a second shoulder at its first end and the trough at its second end;
the trough comprises a duckbill valve opening; and
the first shoulder comprises a first side-slit valve and the second shoulder comprises a second side-slit valve.
2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein a first direction is from an area between the side sections through the duckbill valve opening, and a second direction is a direction opposite the first direction;
wherein the duckbill valve opening is configured to allow fluid pressurized in the first direction to flow through it and prevent fluid pressurized in the second direction to flow through it;
wherein the first side-slit valve and the second side-slit valve are both configured to allow fluid pressurized in the second direction to flow through them and prevent fluid pressurized in the first direction to flow through them; and
wherein the duckbill valve opening, the first side-slit valve and the second side-slit valve are all configured to not allow fluid that is not pressurized to flow through them in either the first direction or the second direction.
3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a flat washer section connected to both the first shoulder and the second shoulder.
4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising an inverted V-shaped lower section connected to the trough.
5. The apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein the inverted V-shaped lower section comprises a funnel configured to direct a guidewire through the duckbill valve opening.
6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the bidirectional side-slit duckbill valve apparatus is comprised of silicone.
7. The apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein a first direction is from an area between the side sections through the duckbill valve opening, and a second direction is a direction opposite the first direction;
wherein the duckbill valve opening is configured to allow fluid pressurized in the first direction to flow through it and prevent fluid pressurized in the second direction to flow through it;
wherein the first side-slit valve and the second side-slit valve are both configured to allow fluid pressurized in the second direction to flow through them and prevent fluid pressurized in the first direction to flow through them; and
wherein the duckbill valve opening, the first side-slit valve and the second side-slit valve are all configured to not allow fluid that is not pressurized to flow through them in either the first direction or the second direction.
8. The apparatus as recited in claim 4, further comprising a flat washer section connected to both the first shoulder and the second shoulder.
9. The apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein the bidirectional side-slit duckbill valve apparatus is comprised of silicone.
10. A bidirectional side-slit duckbill valve and hubcap apparatus, comprising:
a V-shaped upper section, comprising a first side section having a first end and a second end and a second side section having a first end and a second end, wherein the first side section is connected to a first shoulder at its first end and a trough at its second end and the second side section is connected to a second shoulder at its first end and a trough at its second end;
the trough comprises a duckbill valve opening;
the first shoulder comprises a first side-slit valve and the second shoulder comprises a second side-slit valve;
a flat washer section connected to both the first shoulder and the second shoulder;
an inverted V-shaped lower section, comprising a funnel configured to direct a guidewire through the duckbill valve opening; and
a hubcap configured to securely hold the flat washer section placed within a flat washer section groove, the hubcap having a top opening and a bottom opening.
11. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein the hubcap comprises one or more channels near the bottom opening.
12. A bidirectional side-slit duckbill valve and hubcap apparatus, comprising:
a V-shaped upper section, comprising a first side section having a first end and a second end and a second side section having a first end and a second end, wherein the first side section is connected to a first shoulder at its first end and a trough at its second end and the second side section is connected to a second shoulder at its first end and a trough at its second end;
the trough comprises a duckbill valve opening;
the first shoulder comprises a first side-slit valve and the second shoulder comprises a second side-slit valve;
a flat washer section connected to both the first shoulder and the second shoulder; and
a hubcap configured to securely hold the flat washer section placed within a flat washer section groove, the hubcap having a top opening and a bottom opening.
13. The apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein the hubcap is comprised of plastic.
14. A method for using a bidirectional side-slit duckbill valve apparatus; the method comprising:
providing a V-shaped upper section, comprising a first side section having a first end and a second end and a second side section having a first end and a second end, wherein the first side section is connected to a first shoulder at its first end and a trough at its second end and the second side section is connected to a second shoulder at its first end and a trough at its second end;
the trough comprises a duckbill valve opening; and
the first shoulder comprises a first side-slit valve and the second shoulder comprises a second side-slit valve; and
an inverted V-shaped lower section, comprising a funnel configured to direct a guidewire through the duckbill valve opening;
wherein a first direction is from an area between the side sections through the duckbill valve opening, and a second direction is a direction opposite the first direction;
wherein the duckbill valve opening is configured to allow fluid pressurized in the first direction to flow through it and prevent fluid pressurized in the second direction to flow through it;
wherein the first side-slit valve and the second side-slit valve are both configured to allow fluid pressurized in the second direction to flow through them and prevent fluid pressurized in the first direction to flow through them; and
wherein the duckbill valve opening, the first side-slit valve and the second side-slit valve are all configured to not allow fluid that is not pressurized to flow through them in either the first direction or the second direction;
providing a fluid pressurized in the first direction; and
providing a fluid pressurized in the second direction;
injecting the fluid pressurized in the first direction through the duckbill valve opening; and
aspirating the fluid pressurized in the second direction through at least one side-slit valve.
15. A method for using a bidirectional side-slit duckbill valve and hubcap apparatus; the method comprising:
providing a V-shaped upper section, comprising a first side section having a first end and a second end and a second side section having a first end and a second end, wherein the first side section is connected to a first shoulder at its first end and a trough at its second end and the second side section is connected to a second shoulder at its first end and a trough at its second end;
the trough comprises a duckbill valve opening; and
the first shoulder comprises a first side-slit valve and the second shoulder comprises a second side-slit valve; and
an inverted V-shaped lower section, comprising a funnel configured to direct a guidewire through the duckbill valve opening;
a hubcap configured to securely hold the flat washer section placed within a flat washer section groove, the hubcap having a top opening and a bottom opening;
wherein a first direction is from an area between the side sections through the duckbill valve opening, and a second direction is a direction opposite the first direction;
wherein the duckbill valve opening is configured to allow fluid pressurized in the first direction to flow through it and prevent fluid pressurized in the second direction to flow through it;
wherein the first side-slit valve and the second side-slit valve are both configured to allow fluid pressurized in the second direction to flow through them and prevent fluid pressurized in the first direction to flow through them; and
wherein the duckbill valve opening, the first side-slit valve and the second side-slit valve are all configured to not allow fluid that is not pressurized to flow through them in either the first direction or the second direction;
providing a fluid pressurized in the first direction; and
providing a fluid pressurized in the second direction;
injecting the fluid pressurized in the first direction through the first opening of the hubcap and through the duckbill valve opening; and
aspirating the fluid pressurized in the second direction through the second opening of the hubcap and through at least one side-slit valve.