Near-Field RIS Beam Reflection for 6G Shadow Area Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 6G communication systems face challenges in achieving efficient beam coverage, particularly in shadow areas due to the trade-off between vertical and horizontal beam directions, and the need for additional antennas and complex designs to enhance coverage, which increases power consumption and costs.
Innovation Solution
A base station integrated with a near field reflecting intelligent surface (RIS) that includes a meta surface to reflect RIS beams into target areas, allowing for beam coverage expansion without additional circuit design or power consumption, by identifying operation modes and controlling the transceiver based on the type of near field RIS and configuration information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If additional antennas are used to enhance beam coverage in shadow areas, then coverage is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
A reflecting intelligent surface (RIS) is introduced as an intermediary component to reflect and redirect communication beams into shadow areas. The RIS acts as a mediator between the base station antenna and the target coverage area, enabling beam steering without adding complex antenna systems. The RIS panel with programmable reflection coefficients redirects beams to extend coverage into previously unreachable shadow regions.
2Area of stationary object
If additional antennas are deployed to expand coverage, then coverage area increases, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reflecting intelligent surface serves as a passive intermediary that redirects beams using programmable reflection coefficients without requiring active power consumption for signal generation. The RIS panels reflect and steer beams into shadow areas utilizing the existing transmitted signal energy, thereby extending coverage area without proportionally increasing the base station's power consumption.
3Area of stationary object
If conventional beamforming is used to cover shadow areas, then coverage is improved, but the system requires complex circuit design and additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The reflecting intelligent surface is introduced as a simpler intermediary alternative to complex conventional beamforming systems. The RIS panels with programmable reflection coefficients provide beam steering capability through a more straightforward architecture, reducing circuit design complexity while achieving the same coverage extension into shadow areas.
4Area of stationary object
If wired links are added to extend coverage, then coverage area increases, but device complexity and installation complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The reflecting intelligent surface serves as a wireless intermediary that extends communication range without requiring physical wired connections. The RIS panels are wirelessly integrated into the existing base station system, reflecting and redirecting beams to extend coverage area while avoiding the installation complexity and physical constraints associated with wired link extensions.
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 effectively expands beam coverage into shadow areas, reducing power consumption and design complexity while enhancing communication range without the need for additional antennas or wired links, thus improving communication efficiency and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
the near field RIS including at least one meta surface which reflects an RIS beam into a target area
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a 5G or 6G communication system for supporting higher data rates after the 4G communication system such as LTE.According to the disclosure, a base station (BS) including a near field reflecting intelligent surface (RIS) may include the near field RIS including at least one meta surface which reflects an RIS beam into a target area, a transceiver and a processor. The processor may be configured to identify an operation mode among a normal mode or an RIS mode based on whether a target area is included in a reflecting beam coverage, and control the transceiver to transmit the RIS beam onto the meta surface based on at least one of a type of the near field RIS, configuration information of the near field RIS or information about the target area, in response to the operation mode being identified as the RIS mode.