Patent ID: 6417807
Filing Date: 2002-07-09
Classification: H01H,H01Q

Abstract:
A method for optically controlling an electromagnetic configuration of an antenna array element comprising the steps of:providing a plurality of electrically-actuated mechanical switches for connecting sub-elements of the antenna array; providing at least one optically sensitive electric control element to control actuation of at least one corresponding switch of the plurality of mechanical switches; providing an optical transmission structure having regions which are optically transmissive from a first side of the optical transmission structure to a second side of the optical transmission structure; disposing the antenna array element in a predetermined position on the first side of the optical transmission structure; disposing a source of selectably controllable optical energy on the second side of the optical transmission structure; selectively controlling the optical energy to illuminate a particular optically sensitive control element through a transmissive region of the optical transmission structure, thereby changing a position of a corresponding switch to change the configuration of the antenna array element.