Flexible IRS Board Layout for Low-Cost Millimeter-Wave Beamforming
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Ultra high frequency band communication faces challenges such as high path loss, limited range, and high manufacturing and installation costs due to the complexity and cost of existing intelligent reflecting surface (IRS) technologies, particularly in commercializing millimeter wave and terahertz wave communications.
Innovation Solution
A reflective intelligent reflecting surface (IRS) flexible board using ultra-light, flexible, and low-cost printing technology, featuring a flexible film with unit cells comprising ICs, line patterns, and symmetric antenna patterns printed with conductive and functional ink, allowing for phase-adjustment of RF signals and easy installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing IRS technology is used to recover path loss in ultra high band communication, then communication performance is improved, but manufacturing cost and installation difficulty significantly increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible substrate instead of rigid PCB boards to manufacture IRS panels. This allows the IRS to be bent and conform to various wall surfaces, significantly easing installation difficulty while maintaining the same unit cell configuration and communication performance. The flexible film carries all passive elements and interconnections, enabling the system to adapt to different deployment scenarios without increasing manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The IRS panel is divided into multiple unit cells, each containing passive elements (PIN diodes, capacitors, inductors) that can be independently controlled. This segmentation allows for modular manufacturing where each unit cell can be fabricated separately and then assembled into larger panels, reducing overall manufacturing cost and simplifying installation by allowing panels to be divided and distributed across different locations.
2Area of stationary object
If large-area IRS is deployed to overcome path loss, then communication coverage is improved, but installation on wall surfaces becomes difficult and aesthetics are harmed
Solution Approach 1:
By using flexible substrates, the IRS panels can be bent and conform to wall surfaces, allowing large-area deployment without creating rigid, visually obtrusive structures. The flexibility enables the IRS to be installed on curved or irregular surfaces, maintaining aesthetics while achieving the necessary aperture area for path loss compensation in ultra high band communication.
3Reliability
If multiple IRSs are installed to form radio paths, then communication reliability is improved, but total cost significantly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The IRS system is segmented into multiple independently controllable unit cells across multiple panels. Each unit cell contains passive elements that can be individually addressed and controlled, allowing a single IRS infrastructure to create multiple radio paths through software-controlled beamforming. This eliminates the need for deploying multiple complete IRS systems, significantly reducing total cost while maintaining the ability to form multiple communication paths for enhanced reliability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables cost-effective and aesthetically versatile implementation of IRS units, reducing complexity and power consumption while enhancing beamforming capabilities, thus overcoming the limitations of existing IRS technologies in ultra high frequency band communications.
Implementation Method 1
beamforming which reflects an electromagnetic wave in a desired direction is possible by converting a phase of the electromagnetic wave incident in each unit cell
Implementation Method 2
reflects an electromagnetic wave in a desired direction
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a reflective intelligent reflecting surface (IRS) flexible board, which includes: a flexible film; and a plurality of unit cells formed on the flexible film, in which each of the plurality of unit cells includes an IC for adjusting a reflection phase, a line pattern for driving the IC, and first and second antenna patterns formed symmetrically to each other based on the IC or the line pattern.