Intelligent Reflecting Surface Tiling for Consistent Pitch Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large intelligent reflecting surfaces face challenges in manufacturing, transportation, and installation costs, and combining multiple surfaces leads to inconsistent pitch and impaired in-plane uniformity due to ineffective frame regions and gaps.
Innovation Solution
The configuration of intelligent reflecting surfaces with overlapping mounting surfaces and inclined reflective regions ensures consistent pitch and reduced ineffective areas by aligning reflective elements in a tiled arrangement, using thin film transistors for individual control of electrodes, and adjusting phases to direct radio waves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple intelligent reflecting surfaces are combined to increase size, then the coverage area is improved, but the pitch consistency and in-plane uniformity deteriorate due to frame regions and gaps
Solution Approach 1:
The intelligent reflecting surface is divided into multiple independently controllable regions or elements, each with its own phase control capability. This segmentation allows each element to be precisely controlled to maintain consistent pitch across the entire combined structure, overcoming the uniformity issues that arise when combining multiple surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple intelligent reflecting surfaces are merged into a single coordinated system with unified phase control. The mounting surfaces are designed to overlap and align precisely, eliminating gaps and frame regions between elements, thereby maintaining consistent pitch and in-plane uniformity across the combined structure.
2Area of stationary object
If multiple intelligent reflecting surfaces are combined to increase size, then the coverage area is improved, but the installation complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into modular intelligent reflecting elements that can be independently manufactured and installed. Each module contains its own phase control circuitry and liquid crystal elements, allowing for simplified individual installation while achieving large coverage areas when combined.
Solution Approach 2:
The intelligent reflecting elements are designed with universal mounting interfaces and standardized configurations, making them interchangeable and easy to install in various positions. The overlapping mounting surface design provides alignment features that simplify the installation process and reduce complexity.
3Ease of operation
If the reflecting surface is tilted to control radio wave direction, then the directional control is improved, but the alignment precision with adjacent surfaces becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamic phase control through liquid crystal elements that can adjust the phase of reflected radio waves in real-time. This dynamic control allows the tilted reflecting surface to maintain precise alignment with adjacent surfaces by electronically adjusting phase delays, compensating for any physical misalignments that occur during installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the electrical parameters (phase and amplitude) of the signals applied to each intelligent reflecting element to achieve precise directional control. By adjusting these parameters, the system can compensate for variations in tilt angles and maintain consistent alignment across multiple combined surfaces without requiring extremely tight mechanical tolerances.
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
This configuration allows for cost-effective installation and simplified directional control of radio waves by maintaining consistent pitch and reducing ineffective regions, enhancing the reflection strength and uniformity of combined reflecting devices.
Implementation Method 1
a phase shifter using a phenomenon in which a dielectric constant of a liquid crystal is changed by an applied voltage
Implementation Method 2
a liquid crystal metasurface reflecting plate in which a reflection direction of a radio wave is changed by utilizing the dielectric anisotropy of a liquid crystal
Data Source
AI summary
A reflecting device includes a first intelligent reflecting surface; and a second intelligent reflecting surface, each of the first intelligent reflecting surface and the second intelligent reflecting surface includes a reflecting surface arranged with a plurality of intelligent reflecting elements, and a mounting surface adjacent to the reflecting surface, and arranged with a circuit that drives the plurality of intelligent reflecting elements. A second side of the first intelligent reflecting surface opposite to a first side arranged with the mounting surface is arranged to overlap the mounting surface of the second intelligent reflecting surface. The normal direction of the reflecting surface of the first intelligent reflecting surface is inclined with respect to the normal direction of a virtual straight line connecting the first side of the first intelligent reflecting surface and the first side of the second intelligent reflecting surface.