Flexible Superlattice Skins for Low-loss Radiofrequency Conductors

Improves Signal Strength and Integrity of Conductors and Other RF Components at High Frequency Bands by Decreasing Resistance

This metaconductor skin combines multiple ferromagnetic and non-ferromagnetic layers into a flexible superlattice structure that wraps radiofrequency (RF) components such as conductors, transmission lines, 3-D antennas, or waveguides to improve signal integrity and power efficiency at high frequencies. The global market for RF components is projected to exceed $17.5 billion by 2022. As the growing number of electronic devices crowd out lower frequencies, new devices must increasingly operate within higher frequency bands in order to facilitate the high-speed, high-quality communications required by rising internet service demands. Due to the skin effect, however, resistance increases as operating frequencies increase. Conductors become less effective and suffer from poor signal integrity, leading to higher signal loss, noise, and longer circuitry delays that reduce the performance of electronic devices. Available conductors with reduced resistance and improved RF signal loss often use special alloy materials that require costly, complex production processes. Additionally, most resistance reduction by these conductors comes at frequencies below 10 GHz, which is not effective within the higher frequency spectra that promising future applications will operate, such as millimeter wave frequencies of over 30 GHz.

Researchers at the University of Florida have developed a flexible metaconductor skin that wraps around conductors and other interconnecting components to decrease resistance and signal loss in RF electronics used in high-frequency applications. The superlattice structure utilizes different ferromagnetic materials and dimensions in order to yield low resistance at targeted frequency ranges.

Application

Flexible ferromagnetic or non-ferromagnetic superlattice structure that wraps around radiofrequency components in conductors, transmission lines, 3-D antennas, waveguides, and others to reduce signal loss at targeted frequency ranges

Advantages

• Reduces electrical resistance in radiofrequency (RF) conductors operating at high frequencies, improving the signal integrity, power efficiency, and performance of RF electronics
• Increases resistance reduction effect with additional layers of the metaconductor skin, potentially eliminating the skin effect for maximal signal integrity
• Wraps around non-conducting material cores, enabling the production of freeform RF components, such as 3-D antennas, waveguides or arbitrary objects
• Covers RF components made of copper, bronze, or aluminum that are already in use, increasing the effective conductor cross section for cost-effective signal integrity improvements
• Targets particular high frequency ranges by using different ferromagnetic materials and dimensions in the skin’s composition, extending application to future broadband frequency spectra such as Ku, K, Ka, and millimeter wave bands
• Shields RF components from interference due to resistance or electromagnetic radiation, ensuring high signal quality and strong device performance

Technology

This flexible magnetic/non-magnetic substrate functions as a metaconductor by covering conducting or non-conducting radiofrequency (RF) components to provide conductors with superior signal integrity for Ku, K, Ka, and millimeter wave frequency broadband applications. The skin consists of multiple layers of ferromagnetic and non-ferromagnetic materials arranged in a nanoscale lattice structure. By cancelling out the magnetic flux generated by the alternating current flowing within, the skin eliminates the eddy current effect. Layers of the metaconductor skin wrap around a conductor, reducing the resistance in the conductor and significantly improving signal integrity and power efficiency.