A Coulomb force reconfigurable system

Abstract

Coulomb forces can be created by placing non-volatile packets of charge on at least two opposing insulated Coulomb plates. Arrays of Coulomb plates can be formed near the surface of several substrates (chips). The Coulomb forces can be used to levitate and move any top substrates juxtaposed and placed over a bottom substrate by dynamically charging/discharging selected plates in the array of Coulomb plates of each opposing substrate. The charge on these plates can be altered using a control unit that dynamically forms a minimum energy surface that allows the elevated substrates to slide into new positions. A larger top substrate can be artificially formed by forcing adjacent elevated substrates together in a patterned sequence to form reconfigurable systems that can be physically adjusted to operate at a particular frequency range or to perform manipulative functions. For instance, Coulomb Force Levitated Systems can allow different antenna structures to be generated on-the-fly.