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Satellite and Reflector Plasma Antennas

Antenna Systems 2014


Dr. Ted Anderson, CEO
www.ionizedgasantennas.com
518-409-1010
tedanderson@haleakala-research.com
Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

Haleakala R&D, Inc News


Scientific American February 2008 issue on our plasma
antenna technology. Page 22.
Popular Mechanics article in July 2010 by David Hambling.
Page 18.
http://www.aps.org/meetings/unit/dpp/vpr2007/upload/anderson
.pdf
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22113395/from/ET/
http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2007/1114/1

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

Plasma Antenna book by Dr. Ted Anderson


http://www.artechhouse.com/PlasmaAntennas/b/2130.aspx
http://www.amazon.com/Plasma-AntennasTheodoreAnderson/dp/160807143X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books
&ie=UTF8&qid=1313592208&sr=1-1
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/plasmaantennas-theodoreanderson/1100484810?ean=9781608071432&it
m=2&usri=plasma%2bantennas#CustomerRevi
ews
Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

Plasma Antenna book by Dr. Ted Anderson


Plasma Antennas
Theodore Anderson, Haleakala Research and Development, Inc.
ISBN 978-1-60807-143-2Copyright 2011

ISBN 978-1-60807-143-2
Copyright 2011

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

Haleakala R&D, Inc. Peer Reviewed


Journal Articles Published
Alexeff, I , Anderson, T., Experimental and
Theoretical Results with Plasma Antennas, IEEE
Transactions on Plasma Science, Vol. 34, No.2, April
2006 and Anderson, T., Alexeff, I.,
Anderson, T., Alexeff, I , Plasma Frequency Selective
Surfaces, IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, Vol.
35, no. 2, p. 407, April 2007
Alexeff, I , Anderson, T., Recent Results of Plasma
Antennas, Physics of Plasmas, 15, 057104(2008)
We have two more journal articles being processed
for publication on our smart plasma antenna
windowing and another on the lower thermal noise in
plasma antennas
Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

Summary of Key Points


Core technical competencies & expertise of
Haleakala R&D, Inc.
Applications for military and civilian antennas.
Reconfigurable plasma antennas
Reconfigurable plasma frequency selective surfaces
Reconfigurable waveguides.

Manufacturing & facility capabilities


Facilities to build plasma antenna, plasma FSS, and
plasma waveguides.
Facilities to perform supporting experiments and
computer modeling.
Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

Physics of Reflection and Transmission


of Electromagnetic Waves through
Plasma

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

Transmission and Reflection Properties


The Concept of Cut-off and Filtering using Plasma Antennas

The plasma frequency is proportional to the density of unbound electrons in


the plasma or the amount of ionization in the plasma. The plasma frequency
sometimes referred to a cutoff frequency is defined as:

p
where

ne

4ne e 2
me

is the density of unbound electrons, e is the charge on the

electron, and me is the mass of an electron


If the incident EM frequency on the plasma is greater than the plasma
frequency
p
the EM radiation passes through the plasma and the plasma is transparent.

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

Transmission and Reflection Properties


The Concept of Cut-off and Filtering using Plasma Antennas

When

the plasma acts as a metal, and transmits and receives


microwave radiation.

Note, the incident frequency in the next slide is given as:

2
Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

Transmission and Reflection Properties


We can surround our plasma antenna by a ring of
plasma tubes that act as a reflector.
If the plasma frequency in this ring is lower than that of the
received signal, the signal passes on to the plasma antenna.
However, only those frequencies that are lower than the plasma
frequency in the plasma antenna will be received.
All higher frequencies pass through both the ring of plasma tubes
and the plasma antenna without interacting.
Mathematically, we can state that

ring signal antenna


p

where the received signal is between the plasma frequency of the


ring and the plasma frequency of the enclosed antenna.
Since both the plasma frequency of the ring and the plasma
frequency of the antenna can be reconfigured in milliseconds, the
receiving notch can be moved about as desired

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

10

Satellite Plasma Antennas

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

11

Plasma Antenna Advantages over Metal


Antennas as Satellite Antennas
Plasma antennas have much less thermal noise than
metal antennas at satellite frequencies.
Plasma antennas have higher data rates than corresponding
metal antennas at satellite frequencies

Plasma antennas are reconfigurable and metal antennas


are not.
An arrangement of plasma antennas can be flat and
effectively parabolic.
Better for antenna aesthetics.

An arrangement of plasma antennas can electronically


focus and steer RF signals without phased arrays.
Applications for both static (e.g. Direct TV) and dish antennas
attached to vehicles, ships, or aircraft.
Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

12

Non-Steerable but Reconfigurable


Plasma Reflector Antenna

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

13

Plasma Reflector Antenna:


Right plasma reflector antenna installed in an electrical anechoic chamber
Left - metal reflector antenna designed to be an identical twin to the plasma antenna
The microwaves are generated by a line antenna, focused in one dimension
by the metal pillbox, and focused in the second dimension by either the plasma antenna or a metal twin

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

14

Metal Reflector Antenna

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

15

Corresponding Plasma
Reflector Antenna

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

16

Comparison of Plasma and Metal Reflector Antennas


With this apparatus, stealth, reconfigurability, and protection from
electronic warfare is demonstrated.
Reflected patterns were measured for conventional reflector
antenna and a plasma tube reflector for performance comparison.
In these experiments, the antenna configurations were designed as
an offset fed, cylindrical parabolic reflector.
The plate spacing of the feed parallel plates was chosen to allow the
resulting horizontal polarization (i.e. the electric field is parallel to the
long dimension of the reflector).
The frequency of operation for the test was selected to be 3.0 GHz,
which is well within the bandwidth of the WR-284 waveguide being
used in the design.

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

17

Comparison of Plasma and Metal Reflector Antennas

The plasma configuration consisted of simply replacing


the solid reflector surface with a plasma tube
configuration having the same nominal shape and
dimensions.
The plasma reflector is comprised of 17 fluorescent light
tubes. The tube spacing was chosen to provide efficient
operation at 3.0 GHz.
The tubes were arranged to conform to the same
cylindrical parabolic shape as the baseline solid reflector.
The tubes were supported by two vertically shaped
Plexiglass supports that were drilled with holes to slide
the tubes through.
Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

18

Comparison of Plasma and Metal Reflector Antennas


The plasma tubes were fired in a pulse mode.
Antenna patterns were measured at 3.0 GHz.
Sample antenna patterns for the reference solid reflector and for the
Proof-of-Principle plasma reflector are plotted together.
As seen in the figure, the patterns are a very good match between
the Proof-of-Principle plasma antenna and those of the reference
solid conventional antenna.
The plots also show the received signal from the plasma antenna
when the tubes are not energized.
It is seen that received signal has dropped by approximately 20 dB
in milliseconds. This signal level is primarily due to reflections from
the plasma containers and the electrodes. This level could easily be
reduced to below the 30 dB level with proper design attention.
Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

19

Non-Steerable but Reconfigurable Plasma Reflector Antenna


Radiation Pattern Previous Slide

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

20

Non-Steerable but Reconfigurable Plasma Reflector Antenna.


Reduced sidelobes
Azimuthal Radiation Pattern

Relative Power
(dB)

Reduced sidelobe levels for


plasma antenna

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

21

Conclusions on Non-Steerable but


Reconfigurable Plasma Reflector Antenna
The main lobe plasma reflector antenna is identical to the main lobe of
the corresponding metal reflector antenna.
When the plasma antenna is turned off it is invisible to all RF
frequencies.
The plasma reflector antenna can operate at lower frequencies and be
stealth at high frequencies.
higher frequency RF waves will pass through a lower density plasma.

The side lobes of the plasma reflector antenna are less than the side
lobes of the corresponding metal reflector antenna.
Soft surface effects of plasma

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

22

An Electronically Steerable
and Focusing Plasma Reflector
Antenna
New Work on Plasma Reflector
Antennas

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


.
www.ionizedgasantennas.com

23

Some Physics of Plasma


Transparency and Reflection

The plasma frequency is proportional to the density of unbound electrons in the


plasma or the amount of ionization in the plasma. The plasma frequency sometimes
referred to a cutoff frequency is defined as:

p
where

ne

4ne e 2
me

is the density of unbound electrons, e is the charge on the

electron, and me is the mass of an electron


If the incident RF frequency on the plasma is greater than the plasma frequency
the EM radiation passes through the plasma and the plasma is transparent.

When the opposite is true, plasma acts as a metal, and transmits and receives
microwave radiation.

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

24

An Electronically Steerable and


Focusing Plasma Reflector Antenna
A plasma layer can reflect microwaves.
A plane surface of plasma can steer and focus a
microwave beam on a time scale of milliseconds.
Definition of cutoff: the displacement current and the
electron current cancel when electromagnetic waves
impinge on a plasma surface. The electromagnetic
waves are cutoff from penetrating the plasma
The basic observation is that a layer of plasma beyond
microwave cutoff reflects:
microwaves with a phase shift that depends on plasma density.

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

25

An Electronically Steerable and


Focusing Plasma Reflector Antenna

Exactly at cutoff, the displacement current and the electron current cancel
Therefore there is a antinode at the plasma surface, and the electric field
reflects in phase.
As the plasma density increases from cutoff the reflected field increasingly
reflects out of phase.
Hence the reflected electromagnetic wave is phase shifted depending on
the plasma density.
This is similar to the effects of phased array antennas with electronic
steering except that the phase shifting and hence steering and focusing
comes from varying the density of the plasma from one tube to the next
and phase shifters used in phased array technology is not involved.

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

26

An Electronically Steerable and


Focusing Plasma Reflector Antenna
This allows us to use a layer of plasma tubes to reflect
microwaves.
By varying the plasma density in each tube, the phase of
the reflected signal from each tube can be altered.
so the reflected signal can be steered and focused in
analogy to what occurs in a phased array antenna.
The steering and focusing of the mirror can occur on a
time scale of milliseconds.

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

27

Schematic for an Electronically Steerable and Focusing


Plasma Reflector Antenna
Input Microwaves

Plasma Tubes

Reflected and Focused Microwaves

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

28

Banks of tubes containing


plasma
displaced and perpendicular to
each other
Plasma satellite
(other
frequencies
apply) antenna
can be flush
with a wall,
roof, or any
static or
moving surface
which can be
flat or curved.

On the left a band of tubes


containing plasma reflects EM
waves and steers and focuses the
beam in one direction. On the right
a perpendicular bank of tubes
containing plasma reflects and
steers and focuses the EM waves in
the perpendicular direction. A horn
antenna in the lower right transmits
or receives the EM waves. The
banks of tubes containing plasma
can be flush with a surface or
supported in other ways

They can also


be mounted in
other ways
Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

29

Steering and Focusing when the


Plasma Density is Below Cutoff.
Steering and focusing can also be
achieved when the Plasma Density is
below cutoff.
An effective Snells Law causes refraction
of electromagnetic waves passing through
a plasma of variable density ( plasma
density varying from container to container
containing plasma )
The speed of electromagnetic waves in a
plasma is a function of plasma density.
Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

30

Steering and Focusing when the


Plasma Density is Below Cutoff.
Incident RF waves on the left impinge on plasma tubes with different densities
but with the plasma densities below cutoff. Focusing or steering can be achieved
depending on how the plasma densities are varied from tube to tube.

Focused and/or steered Microwaves

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

31

Basic Plasma Satellite (works at other frequencies) Antenna


Design with Two Banks of Perpendicular Plasma Tubes for
Steering and/or focusing in Two Dimensions.
This system can apply to both a moving or static surface and steer and/or
focus satellite signals by varying the plasma density among the plasma tubes
with computer control in space and/or time.

Plasma satellite
( works at other
frequencies)
antenna is
mounted between
the received or
transmitted
antenna signals in
which the two
banks of tubes
with plasma with
variable density
from one tube to
the next to steer
and focus the
antenna beam.

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Receiving or Transmitting Plasma


or Metal Horn Antenna Carrying
Signal to TV, etc.
This system eliminates the parabolic dish.
Tubes can be within a wavelength apart. Such
a wavelength corresponds to the transmitted
or received frequency.
This system can be completely encapsulated
in Synfoam of an aesthetical shape.
Plasma in tubes into the page steer
and/or focus satellite signals in the
z direction. Plasma in tubes parallel to the
page steer and/or focus satellite signals
azimuthally.
One dimensional ( with one bank of tubes)
steering and/or focusing may be enough for
the static satellite plasma antenna.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

32

Conclusions
An electronically steerable and focusing plasma reflector antenna
can be made by having plasma densities in the tubes above cutoff
but with the plasma densities varying from tube to tube.
An electronically steerable and focusing bank of plasma tubes can
be made by having plasma densities in the tubes below cutoff but
with the plasma densities varying from tube to tube.
Electronic steering and focusing in either of the above cases can be
made in two dimensions by having two perpendicular banks of
tubes.
This can also steer and focus horizontal, vertical, circular, and
elliptically polarized signals.

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

33

Conclusions (continued)
With plasma electronic steering and focusing:
parabolic reflector antennas are not needed.
is in many ways a superior alternative to electronic
steering with phased arrays.

At satellite frequencies the plasma antenna has


much less thermal noise than metal antennas
The plasma antenna can provide better
performance satellite communications antennas
than metal antennas.
Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

34

Conclusions (continued)

Satellite plasma antennas benefit from the lower thermal noise at the frequencies
they operate.

Ground based satellite antennas point at space where the thermal noise is about 5
degrees K. A low thermal noise, high data rate satellite plasma antenna system is
possible with low noise plasma feeds and a low noise receiver.

Satellite plasma antennas can operate in the reflective or refractive mode.

Satellite plasma antennas need not be parabolic but can be flat or conformal and
effectively parabolic.

Electromagnetic waves reflecting off of a bank of plasma tubes get phase shifted as
a function of the plasma density in the tube. This becomes an effective phase array
except that the phase shifts are determined by the plasma density.

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

35

Conclusions (continued)
If the plasma density in the tubes is computer controlled, the
reflected beam can be steered or focused even when the bank of
tubes is flat or conformal.

In the refractive mode, the refraction of electromagnetic waves


depends upon the density of the plasma.

In the refractive mode, steering and focusing can be computer


controlled even when the bank of tubes is flat.

For two dimensional steering and/or focusing, two banks of plasma


tubes are needed.

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

36

Conclusions (continued)
Feed horns and receivers can be put behind satellite plasma antennas
operating in the refractive mode.
This eliminates the problem of the blind spot and feed losses caused
by the feed horn and receiver in front of a metal satellite antenna.
The above phenomena of using a bank of plasma tubes to focus
electromagnetic waves is also known as a convergent plasma lens.
A convergent plasma lens can focus electromagnetic waves to
decrease beamwidths, increase directivity, and increase antenna
range.

A divergent plasma lens can also be created. Both convergent and


divergent plasma lenses lead to reconfigurable beamwidths.

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

37

Conclusions (continued)
Plasma waveguides and co-axial cables can be feeds for plasma
antennas.

Plasma feeds as well as the plasma antennas have reconfigurable


impedances.

If the impedance of the plasma antenna is changed, the impedance of the


plasma feeds can be changed to maintain impedance matching.

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

38

Conclusions (continued)
Plasma antennas have been housed in a synthetic foam called Synfoam.
When this synthetic foam hardens it makes very strong and lightweight
tubes that can be used as plasma tubes to make plasma antennas.

These rugged tubes can be readily manufactured. Synfoam has been


tested to have an index of refraction close to one and hence very
transparent to electromagnetic waves. Synfoam is very heat resistant.

The ruggedized smart plasma antenna uses Synfoam to house the


plasma and florescent tubes are not used.
Gorilla Glass by Corning and Lexan Glass tubes are also options for
housing plasmas.
Plasma antennas can also be miniaturized and contained in commercially
available cold cathode tubes used for liquid crystal displays.
Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

39

The Smart Plasma Antenna uses Plasma


Reflector Antennas called Plasma Windows.
When the plasma window is on, and when the
plasma frequency exceeds the antenna
operating frequency the plasma window is a
plasma reflector antenna to the antenna RF
signals.
When the plasma window is off or when the
plasma frequency is less than the antenna
operating frequency, the plasma window is
transparent to the antenna RF. signals.
Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

40

The Haleakala R&D, Inc.


Commercial Smart Plasma
Antenna Prototype.
See the smart plasma antenna on
YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
Hu97bwm-OGU
Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

41

Tactical Capabilities Plasma Windowing


Concept
External Plasma Blanket

HF band
for
example

Internal Omnidirectional metal or


Plasma Antenna

A wideband internal antenna


and multiple windows tuned to
different frequencies would
produce a multi-beam, multifreq device

UHF band for example

Low Density Plasma Windows Opened for Transmit or Receive


Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

42

Our Commercial Prototype with Our


Prototype Engineer Jeff Peck

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

43

Features of our Commercial Prototype


It currently weights about 10 pounds.
Some weight (but not much) will be added when we make
the base rugged and surround the tubes with SynFoam to
protect the tubes.
Future iterations of the prototype can be made smaller.
But nevertheless it is much smaller and lighter than large
phased array antennas, and the performance is in many
ways better.
Even in the prototype stage, our prototype is relatively
inexpensive for a steerable smart antenna. Manufacturing
would significantly reduce the price.

It can steer the antenna beam 360 degrees in


milliseconds.
Our future prototypes will steer in microseconds using
Fabry-Perot-Etalon Effects.
Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

44

Features of our Commercial Prototype


It is intelligent and smart.
It can find and lock on to a transmitter.
In addition, one plasma window can lock on to a transmitter
and a second plasma window can find a second transmitter.
It can reconfigure from single lobe, to multilobe, to no lobe
configurations.
It can run on a 12 volt car battery.
It can be mounted on a tank, a humvee, a surface ship, a sub,
etc. conveniently.
Other applications: last mile, Wi-Fi, base stations, etc.

This commercial prototype will be packaged and made rugged


by encasing it in SynFoam .
SynFoam is a lightweight, heat resistant, and very strong material.
SynFoam has an index of refraction of nearly one, making it
invisible to RF waves.
Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

45

Our Commercial Prototype

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

46

Our Commercial Prototype

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

47

Our Commercial Prototype


Open plasma window indicator. Orange color represents
magnitude of power transmitted or received through an open
plasma window.

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

48

Our Commercial Prototype


Open plasma window indicator. Orange color represents
magnitude of power transmitted or received through an open
plasma window.

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

49

Ruggedized Smart Plasma


Antenna

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

50

A Meshed High-Speed
Wireless Distribution Network
Using our Smart Plasma Antennas

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

51

Multi-hop meshed wireless distribution


network architecture. Refer to slide 17.

Smart antennas typically use a multi-element-array antenna, and place


the intelligent processing (smarts) in the signal processing aspects.
The antenna hardware itself is a fairly simple structure consisting of
omni-directional or directional elements arranged in a particular
geometrical configuration.
Smart plasma antennas may increase the degrees of freedom offered
by the antenna hardware itself, so that the signal processing software
can leverage it to achieve even more sophisticated capabilities
(rejection or leverage of multi-path effects) while lowering overall
system cost.
In particular, consider the multi-hop meshed wireless distribution
network architecture in the figure on the previous slide that connects
a final-hop smart antenna to a base-station.
For simplicity a fixed wireless network is depicted in the figure.
Lampposts (or equivalent structures) could host a last-hop smart
plasma antenna and also participate in a relaying function. The
mobile or home user would reach the base-station after traversing
several hops in this network.

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

52

Multi-hop meshed wireless distribution


network architecture. Refer to slide 17.
High-speed communication in this model becomes feasible when
the home or mobile has a directional antenna and the last-hop has
smart antennas with the associated signal processing capabilities.
This is because of the spectrum reuse, focusing of energy, and
multi-path fading rejection that leads to dramatically higher signal-tonoise ratios.
The additional key is to design such smart antennas at low cost and
small form factors.
Moreover, if the front-end antenna hardware also allows
sophisticated and tunable beam-forming capabilities, then it
provides new degrees of freedom that can be leveraged by signalprocessing systems which control and interface to it.
In fact, even with current simple multi-element-array antennas at
both ends, the Lucent BLAST (Bell Labs Layered Space-Time)
system has demonstrated tremendous spectral efficiency of 20
bits/Hz!
Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

53

Multi-hop meshed wireless distribution


network architecture. Refer to slide 17.

In wireless communications which employ smart antennas, the bases use


signal processing techniques to virtually direct the antenna array gain lobes
towards the direction of the desired signals, as well as directing the gain nulls
towards the direction of interfering signals.
Since wireless signals experience multipath scattering, the most prominent
multipath signals can be used by a RAKE receiver to enhance the signal to
interference and noise ratio (SINR) and thus improve the quality of the link.
In such a setting, the base would use a training sequence to determine the
direction of the desired multipath signals and direct the lobes of the antenna
array towards them.
The number of lobes which can be directed and the number of nulls depends
on the number of antenna elements in the array.
The beamwidth of each lobe depends on the distance between the elements. A
higher number of antenna elements provide a higher number of lobes to
capture several multipath, and thus improve the SINR (signal to interference
and noise ratio).
However, the increase in antenna elements also implies a higher computational
cost, since the dimension of the problem increases with the number of
antennas.

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

54

Figure on left: Smart Plasma Antenna lobes for peak hour service with
many interfering signals or many reflecting surfaces.
Figure on right: Smart Plasma Antenna lobes for low demand period or
few reflecting surfaces.

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

55

Reconfigurable Beamwidth and Lobe Number.


Refer to slide 21.
The beamwidth of the antenna array lobes is chosen so
as to minimize the gain towards interfering signals.
The narrower the beamwidth, the more isolation is
provided for the desired signal.
However, we have another trade-off, since a narrow
beamwidth requires longer training signals to secure the
direction of the desired signal.
An unreliable estimate of the desired signal direction with
a narrow beam may result in severe attenuation of the
desired signal, which defeats the purpose of the antenna
array.

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

56

Reconfigurable Beamwidth and Lobe Number.

Refer to slide 21
A smart plasma antenna can be developed
that allows new degrees of freedom, and
simulate the gains (distance, bandwidth,
efficiency etc) achievable using outdoor fading
and propagation models and advanced signal
processing capabilities (e.g.: MIMO processing
(Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output)).
The challenge is to choose an array
configuration, which provides adequate SINR,
levels, while requiring a low computational cost.
The utility of this arrangement can be seen in
the on slide 21.
Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

57

Smart Plasma Antenna as a Base


Station Antenna

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

58

Adaptive Directionality of Smart Plasma Antennas.


Refer to slide 24
The adaptive directionality of the smart plasma antennas
provides a plethora of advantages.
The directivity of each smart plasma antenna beam
minimizes the power levels broadcast which might
interfere with adjacent users. In this sense, it provides a
form of SDMA.
The directivity of the smart plasma antenna also
reduces the power levels that could be detected by
unfriendly agents.
The adaptive nature of the smart plasma antenna allows
the beam to follow the user with a minimum of
computation required, as well as to alter the beamwidth
depending if the user is in an area of high user density or
requiring greater stealth, where the beam can be made
very narrow, or if the user is relatively isolated moving at
Haleakala
R&D, Inc.
Dr. Ted the
Anderson;
518-409-1010;
59
a great
speed, where
beam
can be made wider.
www.ionizedgasantennas.com

Adaptive Directionality of Smart Plasma Antennas.


Refer to slide 24
In order to further reduce the transmission power levels,
thus conserving battery power and concealing the
position of the users and nodes, a low spreading gain
code can be applied to each users signal.
The low gain permits us to maintain a high data rate.
The highly directional property of our smart antenna
does not require a high gain for multiple access.
A low tap Walsh code would be enough to permit very
low transmission levels, and good protection for each
user.
In addition, automatic power control can be implemented
to decrease the collective power transmission of the
entire network.
Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

60

Adaptive Directionality of Smart Plasma Antennas.


Refer to slide 24

In a civilian setting, where goals are to provide low cost and


flexibility, we can use the directivity of a smart antenna as a form of
implementing SDMA. The figure on slide 24 shows an example of
this.
In this case, consider the angle of service for each user can be
estimated by a pair of omni-directional antennas placed on the same
tower.
This setup allows the array of smart antennas to provide
uninterrupted service to users without having to estimate the
direction of service.
The adaptive beamwidth can be adjusted to accommodate users
who are in close proximity, providing protection from interference for
each user.
The variable number of beams from our smart antenna allows the
base to service a variable number of users at diverse locations.
This eliminates the need for a technician to install additional
antennas or make changes when new users initiate service or when
other users terminate service.
Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

61

Our Smart Plasma Antennas on


Humvees

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

62

Adaptive Directionality of Smart Plasma


Antennas. Refer to slide 28.
In a mobile setting, as in where our goals are to provide as much
flexibility, mobility, stealth, and protection from jamming as possible,
we tailor our design to meet these needs.
We consider a wireless ad hoc network, where there are several
nodes deployed which provide as a network backbone. An example
are the humvees in slide 28.
Each humvee is equipped with an array of plasma antennas, where
each of our smart antennas can create a variable number of
antenna gain lobes of adaptive beamwidth and direction.
Each soldier has a low power omni-directional antenna which is
served by the humvee which can offer the best signal to noise ratio
and has the capacity to serve that user.

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

63

Adaptive Directionality of Smart Plasma


Antennas. Refer to slide 28.
The signal to noise ratio levels and directions of
service can be determined by performing a 360
sweep by each of our smart antennas. In order
to distinguish between users of a given sector,
as well as lower power usage, a user spreading
code can be applied to users of each sector.
This setup provides mobility, since the periodic
scanning performed by smart antennas allows
all users as well as all ad hoc nodes to move
about without loosing the network contact. Each
user may be served by any node, which allows
for additional flexibility.
Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

64

GPS aided and GPS free positioning


using plasma antennas.
Routing methods rely on the position
information of nodes of the network.
In this section we explain how using smart
plasma antennas can enhance the GPS
aided positioning.
A method that exploits pattern
programmability of smart plasma
antennas for GPS free positioning is given.
Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

65

GPS aided and GPS free positioning


using plasma antennas.
GPS is a widely used positioning technology that allows
few meters accuracy when it is used in the stand alone
mode or even millimeter accuracy when it is used in the
differential mode.
To reach such accuracy many sources of position error
should be estimated and/or eliminated.
These sources of error are differential, receiver clock
bias, satellite clock bias, ephemeris error, ionospheric
delay, tropospheric delay, integer ambiguity (cycles), and
multipath error.
Among all these sources of error multipath is the only
source that cannot be estimated and eliminated.
Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

66

GPS aided and GPS free positioning


using plasma antennas.

The positioning technique in GPS algorithm is based on


triangulation.
It means that a receiver measures its distance from the
four or more satellites and based on these measurement
finds its location.
Any path that is not line of sight does not reflect the true
distance between the satellite and GPS receiver.
To reduce the effect of multipath error, the GPS
antennas are designed so that the multipath caused by
the sea or ground are attenuated, but these antennas
cannot eliminated the multipath caused by other objects
such as buildings or hills.
Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

67

GPS aided and GPS free positioning


using plasma antennas.
Smart plasma antennas may for the first time provide a
practical programmable antenna pattern that can
effectively eliminate all unwanted path and therefore,
reduce multipath induced error significantly.
The possibility exists that smart plasma antenna
radiation patterns can be programmed so that each
satellite in view is assigned a lobe in the pattern.
To account for mobile receivers and satellite movement,
a beam steering algorithm could adaptively point these
beams towards the associated satellite.

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

68

The figure below shows how smart plasma antennas may be used
to eliminate multipath in GPS aided positioning

GPS receiver with


omnidirectional
antenna
Haleakala R&D, Inc.

GPS receiver with


plasma antenna

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

69

GPS-free positioning
using plasma antennas.
Although the GPS provides acceptable accuracy when four or
more satellites are in view, natural or man-made obstacles can
block the satellite signals easily.
Also the GPS signal is not available for positioning inside
buildings.
Even when a GPS signal is available it is not always possible to
use this technology, because the communication unit may not
have enough battery life to power up a GPS receiver or simply
because it is not economically feasible to have a GPS receiver
in the unit.

For all these reasons GPS-free positioning is an important part


of academic research, and an industrial challenge. A GPS-free
positioning technique that uses a smart plasma antenna to
estimate the Angle of Arrival AoA of the received signal and
use that for position estimation.

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

70

GPS-free positioning using


plasma antennas.

Since the plasma tube can be activated and deactivated very quickly,
the plasma antenna can be considered as a fast steerable directional
antenna. The access point or a mobile node can obtain information
about the location of another node by using the following method:

It first sends a message starting from the first beam. Then it waits for
the node in this direction to respond.

Upon receiving the message, a node responds by sending back an


acknowledgement. The first node then stores the beam direction of
that node.

After that or a timeout indicating there is no node residing in this


direction, the antenna steers to the next beam, and likewise to cover
the whole 360 degree.

This steering/response method is used to acquire the spatial


signature of each user.

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

71

GPS-free positioning using


plasma antennas.

The access point or mobile node sequentially steers the beam towards
different directions, so that the entire space is covered. The objective
of the localization protocol is to locate all users as fast as possible.
So far we suppose acknowledgement in each directional beam is
contention free.
We need to consider the situation that there are more than one node in
some directions. In this case, some back-off mechanism can be used.
The same directional beam of first node may have to send the
message multiple times to locate all the neighbors.
The space is successively scanned by a beam until all the direction of
neighbors are found and the procedure is repeated for all users
equipped with plasma antennas.
Once the network nodes have the AoA information, they can use it in
position estimation. It is assumed that some nodes in the network
have their position information before hand.
These nodes are called anchor nodes. Now using the anchor nodes we
explain how the other nodes in the network can locate themselves in
the same coordinate system.

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

72

GPS-free positioning using


plasma antennas.
In the next figure we assume that node 1 and 2 are the
anchor nodes. Using a smart plasma antenna, each
node can estimate the angel of arrival alpha for i,j
=1,,6. It is obvious that node 3 can find its position by
just measuring the angle of arrival and knowing the
position of nodes 1 and 2. Node 4 can use the position of
node 3 and 1 and the angle of arrival to estimate its
position. This process can be repeated for node 5 and 6
and other nodes if applicable. If nodes are capable of
measuring their distance from one another we can use a
mean square estimator to incorporate all information with
the objective of minimizing the mean square of the error
of the position.
Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

73

GPS-free positioning using


plasma antennas.
2

1, 2
1,3

3,1

2,3

2,1

3, 2

3
4
Haleakala R&D, Inc.

6
Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;
www.ionizedgasantennas.com

74

GPS-free positioning using


plasma antennas.
One important aspect of the smart plasma antennas is
that the antenna pattern is programmable.
Because we use plasma and not metal the side lobes
may be reduced (however more research on sidelobe
reduction using plasma antennas is needed),
and by turning on and off the plasma tubes we can
virtually make any complicated pattern on demand.
This capability in directional antennas is unprecedented.
In addition to this we can use signal processing
algorithms to adaptively change the pattern so that the
intended transmitter and the intended receiver can point
their corresponding beams at each other to use the
highest gain for data transmission.
Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

75

GPS-free positioning using


plasma antennas.

This adaptive algorithm is specially important when the receiver and


the transmitter are mobile. We call this the Beam/Pattern Tracking
Algorithm.
In the beam/pattern tracking algorithm the signal strength at each
active beam is compared with its adjacent (inactive) beams.
Once the signal strength in the adjacent beam is higher the driver
changes the pattern so that the beam with higher signal strength is
active.
Using this algorithm the receiver and the transmitter can point their
the antenna beam to multiple receiver/transmitters while tracking their
movements.
This algorithm is specially useful when line-of-sight between the
transmitter and the receiver is available and is strong. This is the case
for GPS receivers.
In the GPS receivers we can use smart plasma antennas and the driver
for our beam tracking algorithm to remove or significantly attenuate
the multipath.

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

76

Conclusions on the Commercial


Smart Plasma Antenna Prototype
This is an intelligent, high performance steerable
antenna with:
Compact size
Light weight
Stealth and jam resistant

Rugged packaging has been done


We have potential manufacturing capability on our
commercial prototype with:
Impeccable Instruments, Inc. (CEO, Jeff Peck) in the
Knoxville, TN area.
Industrial Instruments, Inc. (CEO, Fred Dyer) in the
Knoxville, TN area.

Complete manufacturing can be done in USA.


Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

77

Our SynFoam Housing for the Plasma Tubes.


House the plasma tubes in strong and lightweight synthetic foam called Synfoam which can be
molded into any shape we want. UDC SynFoam is a high performance syntactic foam combining
high strength and low density with very low moisture absorption. SynFoam's syntactic foam
products feature a density of less than 20 pcf and a compressive strength greater than 2000 psi.
The index of diffraction of the Synfoam is nearly one so it is invisible to rf signals. See website:
http://www.udccorp.com/products/synfoamsyntacticfoam.html.

Synfoam Housing for our Plasma Tubes. We have cushioning foam to put
around the tubes in this encapsulation. PLASMA CAN BE HOUSED IN
SYNFOAM WITHOUT TUBES. We can mold Synfoam into any shape we want.
We will make custom made rugged tubes as well.
Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

78

Future Smart Cell Phone Antenna Application.


Directional and Electronically Steerable Plasma Antenna System using a
Cluster of Plasma Antennas in Close Vicinity

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

79

Future Smart Cell Phone Antenna Application.


Directional and Electronically Steerable Plasma Antenna System
using a Cluster of Plasma Antennas in Close Vicinity

A cluster of plasma antennas such that the


diameter of the cluster is much less than a wave
length can fit in a cell phone.
The steerablity comes from being able to
extinguish the plasma in any given number of
plasma antennas in any time sequence in the
cluster of plasma antennas.
Once computerized this system becomes a
smart plasma antenna which fits in a cell phone.
Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

80

Lower Thermal Noise and Higher Data


Rate Plasma Antennas than
Corresponding Metal Antennas
Higher Signal to Noise Ratio and Higher Data Rate
Plasma Antennas over Corresponding Metal
Antennas.

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

81

Thermal Noise in A Plasma Antenna Compared To a


Metal Antenna

The Nyquest Theorem [see reference below] states that the thermal
noise generated in a resistor is:

Equation [1]

F (T , R)

kTR

K is Boltzmanns constant, T is the absolute temperature in degrees K


The misconception is:
Since T is higher in a plasma antenna obviously the noise in the plasma
antenna is higher.

This expression for the Nyquest Theorem is an approximation [ see


reference below].

Reference: * Fundamentals of Statistical and Thermal Physics, F. Reif,


McGraw-Hill, 1965, Section 15. 16, pp 587-589.

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

82

Thermal Noise in A Plasma Antenna Compared


To a Metal Antenna
Rigorous derivation of thermal noise shows that the
approximate expression of the Nyquest Theorem becomes:
Equation [2]

Where

2kTR 1
H (T , R, , )
2
1 2

is the electron-atom collision frequency and

f
2
Haleakala R&D, Inc.

is the operating antenna frequency

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

83

Thermal Noise in A Plasma Antenna


Compared To a Metal Antenna
In the limit of very large collision frequency compared to the antenna
operating frequency characteristic of a metal antenna: ,
equation [2] reduces to equation [1] characteristic of thermal noise in a metal:

2kTR 1
H (T , R, , )
2
1 2

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

2kTR

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

84

Thermal Noise in A Plasma Antenna Compared


To a Metal Antenna

The thermal noise of a plasma antenna decreases compared to a metal


antenna as the frequency increases because:
The thermal noise in a metal antenna is higher at higher operating
frequencies because of the thin skin depth and corresponding higher
electrical resistance.
The thermal noise of the plasma antenna decreases as the operating
frequency increases as seen in the power spectral density of thermal
noise for the plasma antenna:

2kTR 1
H (T , R, , )
2
1 2

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

85

Thermal Noise in A Plasma Antenna


Compared To a Metal Antenna
Other factors which further lower thermal noise in a
plasma antenna:
Ramsauer -Townsend Effect is an effect in which the
cross section of electron atom scattering is minimal.
This effect is energy dependent and our plasma
antennas operate in the energy region of the RamsauerTownsend Effect.
The Ramsauer Townsend Effect means that the
collision frequency is small and is minimal
This means even less noise thermal noise in the plasma
antenna as equation [2] becomes smaller.
Operating the plasma antenna in the afterglow state may
further reduce thermal noise

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

86

Thermal Noise in A Plasma Antenna


Compared To a Metal Antenna
With the Ramsauer- Townsend Effect and
operation in the afterglow state will broaden
the frequency range in which plasma
antennas have less thermal noise than metal
antennas.
Thermal noise in a plasma antenna can
further be reduced by reducing plasma
pressure, plasma temperature, and plasma
resistance.

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

87

Higher Gain with Plasma Antennas

Lower side lobes in a plasma antenna


Soft surface effects of plasma

Lower thermal noise


Higher data rates for plasma antenna
system pointed in space.
Plasma lens effects
Beam focusing with plasma lens

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

88

Physics of Reflection and Transmission


of Electromagnetic Waves through
Plasma
An electromagnetic wave from an antenna of
frequency
is incident on a plasma with a
plasma frequency p

The plasma frequency is proportional to the


square root of the density of unbound electrons
in the plasma or the amount of ionization in the
plasma.
Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

89

Physics of Reflection and Transmission


of Electromagnetic Waves through
Plasma
The plasma frequency is defined as

4ne e
me

ne is the density of unbound electrons, e


is the charge on the electron
me is the mass of an electron
Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

90

Physics of Reflection and Transmission


of Electromagnetic Waves through
Plasma
If the incident antenna frequency on the
plasma is much greater than the plasma
p
frequency
Such that

the antenna radiation passes through the


plasma un-attenuated
Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

91

Stacked Plasma Antenna Arrays

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

92

Stacked Plasma Antenna


Arrays
Metal antenna arrays cannot be stacked
Metal from one layer blocks radiation of another layer

Plasma density from higher frequency antenna


arrays is higher than the plasma density from the
lower frequency arrays
Higher frequency plasma antenna arrays emit
high enough frequencies to propagate through
the lower frequency plasma antenna arrays

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

93

Stacked Plasma Antenna


Arrays
When antenna frequency from the ith plasma
antenna layer exceeds the plasma frequency
from the ith +1 layer
the antenna radiation from the ith layer passes
through the ith+1 layer
Antenna radiation from ith+1 plasma antenna array
layer through ith+2 plasma antenna array layer
Antenna radiation from ith+N-1 plasma antenna array
layer passes through ith+N plasma antenna array
layer
This goes on until all the plasma antenna array layers
are transmitting independently in free space
Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

94

Stacked Plasma Antenna


Arrays
Higher frequency antenna radiation from higher
frequency arrays propagate through lower
frequency arrays
Bandwidths add
Power adds
Compactness
Stacked arrays occupy less space than metal arrays
Stacked arrays have smaller RCS
Less EMI

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

95

Impedance matching of stacked


plasma antenna arrays
Each plasma antenna array is tuned to
have a narrow band frequency
Reduces problem of impedance mismatching
that broad band antennas have

The bandwidths of each layer of a plasma


antenna array adds
flexible bandwidth
reduced impedance mismatching
Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

96

Stacked Plasma Antenna


Arrays

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

97

Advantages of Stacking Plasma


Antenna Arrays
Plasma antenna arrays stacked produces
greater
Bandwidths
Multiband widths
Turn any number of plasma arrays on or off

power

But less
physical space
helps reduce antenna farm on surface ships

RCS
Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

98

Nested Plasma Antennas

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

99

Nested Plasma Antennas


Higher frequency nested plasma antennas emit higher
frequencies which propagate through lower frequency
nested plasma antennas
Bandwidths add
Large bandwidths Multiband widths
Turn any number or sequence of nested plasma antennas off or on.

Power adds
Nesting antennas means compactness
Maintains impedance matching
Each nested plasma antenna is narrow band but adds up to wide
band

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

100

Nested Plasma Antennas


Results
Antenna that is

Compact
Wideband
Multiband
High power
Impedance matched
Reconfigurable
Various radiation patterns including isotopic

Low RCS

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

101

Nested Plasma Antennas


Example of Concept: Higher Frequency Dipole Plasma Antenna Nested inside
Lower Frequency Plasma Helical Antenna and Transmission is Simultaneous
with Radiation Patterns, Bandwidths, and Power Adding.

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

102

Nested Plasma Antenna: Concept of High Frequency Plasma Antennas


Transmitting And Receiving Through Low Frequency Plasma Antennas

Top View

Low frequency
plasma
antenna

Side
View

Medium frequency
plasma antenna

High frequency
Plasma antenna

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

103

Nested Plasma Antennas


Higher frequency plasma antennas are nested
inside lower frequency plasma antennas
Geometric compatibility
Higher frequency plasma antennas are smaller
Lower frequency plasma antennas are larger
Higher frequency plasma antennas fit inside lower
frequency plasma antennas

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

104

Nested Plasma Antennas with Plasma


Windowing

Inner antenna is omnidirectional


Omnidirectional in azimuth direction when
mounted on the aircraft
Use existing broadband COTS antenna such
as a COTS biconical
Higher iterations would use nested plasma
antennas

Surround inner omnidirectional antenna


with plasma windows
Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

105

Tactical Capabilities Plasma Windowing


Concept with Plasma Antenna Nesting
External Plasma Blanket

HF band
for
example

Internal Omnidirectional Nested Plasma


Antenna

A wideband internal antenna


and multiple windows tuned to
different frequencies would
produce a multi-beam, multifreq device

Low Density Plasma Windows


Haleakala R&D, Inc.
Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;
Opened for Transmit
or Receive
www.ionizedgasantennas.com

UHF band
For example
106

Target Markets
Smart TV plasma antennas to meet the change over into digital airwaves.
Dave Wilson, senior director of Consumer Electronics Association, saw our
smart plasma antenna prototype work at the Austin antenna conference in
September and believes we should have a market in the smart TV antenna
market. We have looked at other smart antennas that address this area and
we are convinced that ours is superior.
GE and RCA have put commercial civilian smart antennas on the market
recently to address the 2009 changeover to digital airwaves.
Our smart plasma antenna capabilities are superior in many was to the
other smart TV antennas.
Our smart plasma antenna can steer the antenna beam 360 degrees and
the competition cannot. Our smart plasma antenna has a reconfigurable
beamwidth . The competition does not. Our smart plasma antenna has
higher bandwidth than the bandwidths of the competition.
We give some information on the smart TV antennas from GE and Audiovox
taken from their websites in the competition section below.

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

107

Target Markets
GE and Audiovox Smart TV Antennas
See:
http://www.ezdigitaltv.com/GE_Smart_
Digital_Antenna.html
and

http://www.audiovox.com/pressrelease/
AEC/release_AEC_200801075.html
Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

108

Target Markets
Smart plasma antennas as RFID readers

We have determined advantages that the smart plasma antenna can


have over other RFID antennas based on smart phased array
technology. These advantages that our smart plasma antenna can
have over smart phased array antennas for RFID applications are:
. Our smart plasma antenna has the ability to steer (scan) antenna
beams 360 degrees in milliseconds. We are aware of how to do it in
microseconds. Competition cannot steer 360 degrees.
Our smart plasma antenna beam can change direction without
scanning in milliseconds. For example: from 0 to 180 degrees in
milliseconds
Reconfigurable beamwidth..
Broader bandwidth than phased arrays by using broadband
omnidirectional antenna in the center such as a biconical antenna.
In addition, bandwidth can be reconfigured for use in US , Europe,
etc. Competition cannot do this.

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

109

Target Markets
Smart plasma antennas as RFID readers

Possible Less costs than phased array RFID antennas.


We only need one antenna and we do not need phase
shifters. Competition uses phased array RFID readers.
Our smart plasma antenna is more compact and less
cumbersome than phased array RFID antennas.
Our smart plasma antenna is light weight: weighs about
10 pounds. Competition uses phased array RFID
readers which are much heavier and larger.
Our smart plasma antenna can read vertical horizontal,
and circular polarizations by reconfiguration of plasma
antennas. Competition cannot do this.

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

110

Target Markets

Superior fixed satellite plasma antenna


Satellite plasma antennas for RVs and
yachts.
The current markets for smart antennas for
WIMAX, 4G, Wi-Fi, Blue Tooth.

West, Kirsten; Principal Analyst, West Technology


Research, Smart Antenna Technology Review,
Antenna Systems & Technology, 2008 Resource
Guide, pages 4 and 6.

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

111

Target Markets

Smart plasma antennas to replace omni directional wireless


access point antennas in big box stores such as Walmart,
CVS, Home Depot, Lowes, Best Buy, etc.
These stores utilized sometime 6-30 Omni directional wireless
access point also known as APs. The APs are extremely
inefficient and have a high total cost of ownership with data
security standard such as PCI compliance mandating encryption
key rotation every 6 months.
Major tier one retails utilize wireless infrastructure to drive
business initiatives such as markdown, inventory, and price
lookup. The big box stores such as Walmart, CVS, Home Depot,
Lowes, Best Buy etc. utilized sometime 6-30 Omni directional
wireless access point also known as APs. The APs are
extremely inefficient and have a high total cost of ownership with
data security standard such as PCI compliance mandating
encryption key rotation every 6 months.

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

112

Target Markets
What if major retailers had another wireless solution
besides 6+ Omni directional wireless APs? Why
wouldnt they utilize a technology that would drive their
TCO lower over time? Why wouldnt they want to only
maintain 1-2 devices at stores?
The smart plasma antenna could fit the technology
needs of this extremely large customer base. By
leveraging 1 to 2 plasma antennas at larger than 40,000
sq ft buildings plasma antenna technology would reduce
cost s for retailers, warehouses, distribution centers,
convention centers, arenas, airports, and malls.

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

113

CONCLUSIONS
Plasma antennas are:
Reconfigurable in:
Beamwidth
Bandwidth
Directivity

Steerable without phase shifters and/or phased arrays


Resistant to EMI and electronic warfare.
Lower in side and back lobes
Soft surface effects of plasma
Lower in thermal noise than metal antennas
Stealth

Plasma antenna arrays can be stacked


Plasma antennas can be nested
Plasma antennas have many mobile antenna applications
Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

114

Contact Information
Website: www.ionizedgasantennas.com
Address: Haleakala Research and
Development Inc., 7 Martin Road,
Brookfield, MA 01506-1762
Office phone: 518 409 1010
Email of CEO, Dr. Ted Anderson:
tedanderson@haleakala-research.com

Haleakala R&D, Inc.

Dr. Ted Anderson; 518-409-1010;


www.ionizedgasantennas.com

115

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