APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR AFFECTING AN ELECTRIC FIELD DURING A COMMUNICATION

摘要

An apparatus for communicating via a medium while affecting the strength and/or direction of an electric field experienced by the medium is provided. The apparatus includes signal guiding means for guiding a signal. The signal guiding means may include a dielectric material and has an operative state in which the at least one signal propagates therealong and an inoperative state in which no signal is propagated therealong. Also included is field establishing means for establishing a variable electric field within the dielectric material. The field establishing means may establish a first electric field directed in a first direction when the signal guiding means is in the operative state and may at least temporarily establish a second electric field directed in a second direction that is different from the first direction and rotated at least 90 degrees from the first direction when the signal guiding means is in the inoperative state.