CIRCUIT AND METHOD FOR ELIMINATING SURFACE CURRENTS ON METALS

摘要

A two dimensional periodic pattern of capacitive and inductive elements (12, 14) defined in the surface of a metal sheet are provided by a plurality of conductive patches (62) each connected to a conductive back plane sheet (30) between which an insulating dielectric (26) is disposed. The elements act to suppress surface currents in the surface defined by them. In particular, the array forms a ground plane mesh (24) for use in combination with an antenna. The performance of the ground plane mesh is characterized by a frequency band within which no substantial surface currents are able to propagate along the ground plane mesh. Use of such a ground plane in aircraft or other metallic vehicles thereby prevents radiation from the antenna from propagating along the metallic skin of the aircraft or vehicle. The surface also reflects electromagnetic waves without the phase shift that occurs on a normal metal surface.