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Microwave invisibility cloak.<\/p><\/div>Earlier today\u00a0Fractal Antenna Systems, Inc. announced that they have recently been awarded the first patent on an invisibility cloak by the United States Patent and Trademark Office \u2014 U.S. Patent No.\u00a08,253,639<\/a><\/strong>, titled “Wideband electromagnetic cloaking systems.” \u00a0Invisibility cloaks have long been a prop in science fiction stories, such as the Harry Potter invisibility cloak<\/a><\/strong> or the device used to cloak the Romulan bird of prey<\/a><\/strong> in Star Trek. \u00a0The concept of invisibility goes back even much further in the writings of H.G. Wells<\/a><\/strong> and others. \u00a0But the science fiction invisibility cloaks seem to suggest that objects could be rendered invisible by diverting waves in a \u2018see thru\u2019 effect. \u00a0That is at least the path that these cloaks inspired researchers to take, seemingly to great affect.<\/p>\n The ‘639 patent\u00a0disclosure relates to techniques for cloaking objects at certain wavelengths \/ frequencies or over certain wavelength \/ frequency ranges (bands). Such techniques can provide an effective electromagnetic lens and\/or lensing effect for certain wavelengths \/ frequencies or over certain wavelength \/ frequency ranges (bands). \u00a0Representative frequencies of operation can include, but are not limited to, those over a range of 500 MHz to 1.3 GHz. Operation at other frequencies, including for example those of visible light, infrared and ultraviolet are also contemplated by the disclosure and could be achieved by appropriate scaling of dimensions and selection of shape of the resonator elements.<\/p>\n According to the inventor,\u00a0Nathan Cohen, who is an astrophysicist and expert in optics,\u00a0a viable infrared invisibility cloak is months away and a visible light cloak perhaps two years away. Notwithstanding, the patenting of the\u00a0world\u2019s first invisibility cloak is a milestone in innovation.<\/p>\n Cohen notes that some in\u00a0the public may believe invisibility cloaks had been realized and invented as far back as 2006, by others. \u201cIn truth, the patent office has rejected their claims for an invisibility cloak,\u201d said Cohen. \u201cFractal\u2019s award of Patent 8,253,639 is the first invisibility cloak patent award.\u201d<\/p>\n The patent claims awarded in the ‘639 patent do seem somewhat broad, which could make this patent an important, pioneering patent. \u00a0Claim 1 covers the following:<\/p>\n 1. An electrical resonator system, comprising: a plurality of concentric electrical resonator shells, each shell including a substrate having first and second surfaces and a close-packed arrangement of electrically conductive material formed on the first surface, wherein the closed-packed arrangement comprises a plurality of self-similar electrical resonator shapes and is configured to operate at a desired passband of electromagnetic radiation; wherein the close-packed arrangements of at least two of the electrical resonator shells are different in size and\/or shape; and wherein a resonator in the close-packed arrangement comprises a second order or higher fractal.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Fractal Antenna Systems has geared up development and production for invisibility cloak applications. First uses will be to improve coverage in \u2018blind spots\u2019 for microwave telecommunications and to remove antenna shadows. This use is explained in a 6 minute video produced by the company and uploaded to YouTube, which you can see below:<\/p>\n