公开(公告)号：US20170237157A1

公开(公告)日：2017-08-17

申请号：US15342094

申请日：2016-11-02

Applicant: The Boeing Company

Inventor： Manny S. Urcia, JR. ,  Alec Adams ,  Edward V. White

IPC: H01Q1/36 ,  H01Q1/28 ,  H01Q21/22

CPC classification number: H01Q1/364 ,  H01Q1/085 ,  H01Q1/286 ,  H01Q3/01 ,  H01Q21/22

Abstract: A reconfigurable antenna is provided having a liquid metal in contact with an electrolyte with the liquid metal being in a first configuration. A plurality of electrodes includes a first electrode in contact with the liquid metal and a second electrode in contact with the electrolyte. A voltage source connected across the first and second electrodes applies a voltage of a predetermined magnitude and a predetermined polarity in order to move the liquid metal from the first configuration to a second configuration and to measure resultant current flow and modify the applied voltage based on the resultant current flow. Cessation of the applied voltage locks the liquid metal in this second configuration.