1. A method of feeding an antenna comprising:
propagating a signal in one or more waveguides, the signal propagating in multiple modes;
coupling the one or more waveguides to the antenna; and
controlling a propagation characteristic of the respective modes, relative to each other, to steer an electromagnetic beam of the antenna.
2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the signal is propagating in multiple modes in a common waveguide.
3. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:
generating the signal at a transmitter;
splitting the signal to enable propagation of the signal along two or more paths in respective modes;
controlling the propagation characteristic in at least one of the paths; and
coupling the two or more paths to the one or more waveguides.
4. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:
coupling two or more paths to the one or more waveguides, the two or more paths each enabling the propagation of one or more modes;
controlling the propagation characteristic in at least one of the paths;
combining the two or more paths into a receive signal; and
receiving the receive signal at a receiver.
5. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the propagation characteristic controlled is phase.
6. The method as recited in claim 5 wherein a further propagation characteristic controlled is amplitude.
7. The method as recited in claim 6 wherein a yet further propagation characteristic controlled is polarization.
8. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the propagation characteristic controlled is amplitude.
9. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the propagation characteristic controlled is polarization.
10. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the propagation characteristic controlled is frequency.
11. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the propagation characteristic controlled is physical orientation.
12. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the one or more waveguides is comprised of a circular waveguide.
13. The method as recited in claim 12 wherein the one or more waveguides are further comprised of a circular corrugated waveguide.
14. The method as recited in claim 13 wherein a first mode is transverse electric 01 (TE01) mode, and a second mode is hybrid electric 11 (HE11) mode.
15. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the one or more waveguides is a rectangular waveguide.
16. A method of steering an electromagnetic beam comprising:
propagating a first radio frequency (RF) signal in a first waveguide having a first mode;
propagating a second RF signal in a second waveguide having a second mode; and
controlling a propagation parameter of at least one of the signals to steer the electromagnetic beam.
17. The method as recited in claim 16 further comprising propagating the first and second RF signals together in a common waveguide.
18. The method as recited in claim 16 further comprising:
generating a transmit signal at a transmitter;
splitting the transmit signal into the first and second RF signals;
propagating the first and second RF signals along respective first and second paths and controlling the propagation parameters of at least one of the paths; and
coupling the respective first and second paths to the first and second waveguides.
19. The method as recited in claim 16 further comprising:
coupling the first and second waveguides to respective first and second paths and controlling the propagation parameters of at least one of the paths;
combining the first and second paths into a receive signal; and
receiving the receive signal at a receiver.
20. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein the propagation parameter controlled is phase.
21. The method as recited in claim 20 wherein a further propagation parameter controlled is amplitude.
22. The method as recited in claim 21 wherein a yet further propagation parameter controlled is polarization.
23. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein the propagation parameter controlled is amplitude.
24. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein the propagation parameter controlled is polarization.
25. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein the propagation parameter controlled is frequency.
26. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein the propagation parameter controlled is physical orientation.
27. The method as recited in claim 17 wherein the common waveguide is circular waveguide.
28. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein the first waveguide is circular waveguide and the second waveguide is circular corrugated waveguide.
29. The method as recited in claim 28 wherein the first mode is transverse electric 01 (TE01) mode, and the second mode is hybrid electric 11 (HE11) mode.
30. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein the first and second waveguides are rectangular waveguides.
31. An antenna feed comprising:
one or more waveguides, for propagating a signal in multiple modes, coupled to an antenna; and
a controller, for controlling a propagation characteristic of the respective modes, relative to each other, to steer an electromagnetic beam of the antenna.
32. The antenna feed as recited in claim 31 wherein a common waveguide propagates the signal in multiple modes.
33. The antenna feed as recited in claim 31 further comprising:
a transmitter for generating a transmit signal;
a splittercombiner for splitting the transmit signal along a first and second path, the first and second paths respectively coupled to the one or more waveguides, and the controller controlling the propagation characteristic in at least one of the paths.
34. The antenna feed as recited in claim 31 further comprising:
a first and second path, respectively coupled to the one or more waveguides, and the controller controlling the propagation characteristic in at least one of the paths;
a splittercombiner for combining the first and second paths into a receive signal; and
a receiver for receiving the receive signal.
35. The antenna feed as recited in claim 31 wherein the propagation characteristic controlled is phase.
36. The antenna feed as recited in claim 35 wherein a further propagation characteristic controlled is amplitude.
37. The antenna feed as recited in claim 36 wherein a yet further propagation characteristic controlled is polarization.
38. The antenna feed as recited in claim 31 wherein the propagation characteristic controlled is amplitude.
39. The antenna feed as recited in claim 31 wherein the propagation characteristic controlled is polarization.
40. The antenna feed as recited in claim 31 wherein the propagation characteristic controlled is frequency.
41. The antenna feed as recited in claim 31 wherein the propagation characteristic controlled is physical orientation.
42. The antenna feed as recited in claim 31 wherein the one or more waveguides is a circular waveguide.
43. The antenna feed as recited in claim 42 wherein the one or more waveguides are further comprised of a circular corrugated waveguide.
44. The antenna feed as recited in claim 43 wherein the first mode is transverse electric 01 (TE01) mode, and the second mode is hybrid electric 11 (HE11) mode.
45. The antenna feed as recited in claim 31 wherein the one or more waveguides is a rectangular waveguide.
46. An apparatus for steering an electromagnetic beam comprising:
a first waveguide for propagating a first radio frequency (RF) signal having a first mode;
a second waveguide for propagating a second RF signal having a second mode; and
a controller for controlling a propagation parameter of at least one of the signals to steer the electromagnetic beam.
47. The apparatus as recited in claim 46 further comprising a common waveguide for propagating the first and second RF signals together.
48. The apparatus as recited in claim 46 further comprising:
a transmitter for generating a transmit signal;
a splittercombiner for splitting the transmit signal into the first and second RF signals; and
a first and second path, respectively coupled to the first and second waveguides, the controller controlling the propagation parameter of at least one of the paths.
49. The apparatus as recited in claim 46 further comprising:
a first and second path, respectively coupled to the first and second waveguides, the controller controlling the propagation parameter of at least one of the paths;
a splittercombiner for combining the first and second signals into a receive signal; and
a receiver to receive the receive signal.
50. The apparatus as recited in claim 46 wherein the propagation parameter controlled is phase.
51. The apparatus as recited in claim 50 wherein the propagation parameter controlled is amplitude.
52. The apparatus as recited in claim 51 wherein the propagation parameter controlled is polarization.
53. The apparatus as recited in claim 46 wherein the propagation parameter controlled is amplitude.
54. The apparatus as recited in claim 46 wherein the propagation parameter controlled is polarization.
55. The apparatus as recited in claim 46 wherein the propagation parameter controlled is frequency.
56. The apparatus as recited in claim 46 wherein the propagation parameter controlled is physical orientation.
57. The apparatus as recited in claim 47 wherein the common waveguide is a circular waveguide.
58. The apparatus as recited in claim 46 wherein the first waveguide is a circular waveguide and the second waveguide is a circular corrugated waveguide.
59. The apparatus as recited in claim 58 wherein the first mode is transverse electric 01 (TE01) mode, and the second mode is hybrid electric (HE11) mode.
60. The apparatus as recited in claim 45 wherein the first and second waveguides are rectangular waveguides.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed is:
1. A method of removing growth from an electrode during an electrowinning process, comprising the steps of:
placing a scraper between a first electrode and a second electrode of opposing polarity; and
moving the scraper a minimal distance relative to the electrodes.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the scraper has a surface area larger than a surface area of the electrode.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of moving the scraper a minimal distance relative to the electrodes comprises moving the scraper less than one inch relative to the electrode.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of moving the scraper comprises the step of moving the scraper by vibration.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of moving the scraper comprises the step of oscillating the scraper relative to the electrode.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of moving the scraper comprises the step of moving the scraper to remove dendrite growth from the first electrode acting as a cathode.
7. An electrolytic cell, comprising:
a plurality of electrodes of opposing polarity; and
a scraper placed between each of the plurality of electrodes of opposing polarity, wherein the scraper moves a minimal distance relative to the plurality of electrodes.
8. The electrolytic cell of claim 7, wherein the electrolytic cell further comprises a motor for periodically moving the scraper.
9. The electrolytic cell of claim 7, wherein the scraper has a larger surface area than the surface area of one of the plurality of electrodes.
10. The electrolytic cell of claim 7, wherein the scraper has a plurality of holes to allow for flow of electrolyte within the electrolytic cell.
11. The electrolytic cell of claim 7, wherein the scraper is made from a non-conductive material.
12. An electrolytic cell, comprising
a plurality of cathodes interspersed among a plurality of anodes, wherein the plurality of cathodes and plurality of anodes form a plurality of electrodes spaced and suspended in parallel fashion in an electrolyte solution;
a plurality of scrapers, wherein each scraper of the plurality of scrapers is placed between each of the plurality of electrodes in parallel fashion and wherein the scraper moves a minimal distance relative to the plurality of electrodes.
13. The electrolytic cell of claim 12, wherein the plurality of scrapers is coupled together to move in parallel as a group.
14. The electrolytic cell of claim 12, wherein the electrolytic cell further comprises a motor for periodically moving the scraper.
15. The electrolytic cell of claim 12, wherein each scraper has a larger surface area than the surface area of one of the plurality of electrodes so that the scraper extends beyond the edges of one of the plurality of electrodes.
16. The electrolytic cell of claim 12, wherein each scraper has a plurality of holes to allow for flow of electrolyte within the electrolytic cell.
17. The electrolytic cell of claim 12, wherein the scraper is made from perforated polypropylene.
18. The electrolytic cell of claim 12, wherein the scraper rubs directly against dendrite growth to remove the dendrite growth from the plurality of cathodes.