Electromagnetic meta-materials

Abstract

Apparatus including meta-materials and methods for making the apparatus are described. Circuit components, such as split ring resonators and/or spiral loops, may be formed on substrates to form the meta-materials. The meta-materials may be used in various types of apparatus. The methods of making the apparatus may include forming two and/or three-dimensional structures comprising the meta-materials.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A meta-material, comprising:
 a plurality of corrugated substrates comprising a first corrugated substrate and a second corrugated substrate, the first corrugated substrate comprising a plurality of first peaks and a plurality of first troughs, and the second corrugated substrate comprising a plurality of second peaks and a plurality of second troughs,   wherein each of the first and second corrugated substrates has at least one circuit component formed thereon, and   wherein the first peaks are substantially aligned with the second peaks and the first troughs are substantially aligned with the second troughs.   
     
     
         2 . The meta-material of  claim 1 , wherein the first corrugated substrate and the second corrugated substrate form in combination at least part of a honeycomb structure. 
     
     
         3 . The meta-material of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one circuit component is a split ring resonator. 
     
     
         4 . The meta-material of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one circuit component comprises a spiral loop. 
     
     
         5 . The meta-material of  claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive layer disposed between the first corrugated substrate and the second corrugated substrate and configured to maintain the first corrugated substrate and the second corrugated substrate in a fixed relation relative to each other. 
     
     
         6 . The meta-material of  claim 5 , further comprising a filler material disposed between at least a portion of the first corrugated substrate and the second corrugated substrate. 
     
     
         7 . The meta-material of  claim 6 , wherein the filler material comprises a syntactic foam. 
     
     
         8 . The meta-material of  claim 1 , further comprising a filler material disposed between at least a portion of the first corrugated substrate and the second corrugated substrate. 
     
     
         9 . The meta-material of  claim 8 , wherein the filler material comprises a syntactic foam. 
     
     
         10 . A meta-material, comprising:
 a slab of a first material; and   a plurality of substrate strips disposed within the first material and arranged in an array, wherein a first substrate strip of the plurality of substrate strips has a circuit component formed thereon.   
     
     
         11 . The meta-material of  claim 10 , wherein the slab of material comprises syntactic foam. 
     
     
         12 . The meta-material of  claim 10 , wherein the first substrate strip comprises a printed circuit board. 
     
     
         13 . The meta-material of  claim 10 , wherein the circuit component is a split ring resonator. 
     
     
         14 . The meta-material of  claim 10 ,
 wherein the first substrate strip and a second substrate strip of the plurality of substrate strips are disposed at a substantially right angle relative to each other.   
     
     
         15 . An apparatus comprising the meta-material of  claim 10 , and further comprising:
 a container in which the slab is disposed,   wherein the first substrate strip passes at least partially through a first surface of the container.   
     
     
         16 . A meta-material, comprising:
 a plurality of substrate strips comprising a first substrate strip and a second substrate strip, wherein each of the first and second substrate strips includes at least one circuit component formed thereon, and   wherein the second substrate strip is disposed at least partially within a slot of the first substrate strip.   
     
     
         17 . The meta-material of  claim 16 , wherein each of the plurality of substrate strips is disposed at least partially within a slot of at least one other substrate strip of the plurality of substrate strips. 
     
     
         18 . The meta-material of  claim 17 , wherein the substrate strips of the plurality of substrate strips are interconnected to form a grid pattern. 
     
     
         19 . The meta-material of  claim 17 , wherein the substrate strips of the plurality of substrate strips are interconnected for form a cube. 
     
     
         20 . The meta-material of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one circuit component comprises a spiral loop.