Retro-directive Quasi-optical System for Low-power mmWave Interaction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electromagnetic (EM) technologies for remote object interaction, such as phased array and lens-based image array systems, face challenges with high power consumption, complexity, and difficulty in scaling with frequency, particularly in high-bandwidth applications, and require extensive computing power and signal processing.
Innovation Solution
A retro-directive quasi-optical system comprising a lens set and a pixel array with integrated transmitter and receiver antennas, which creates unique conjugate points for efficient EM wave transmission and reception without the need for active control or extensive computation, enabling flexible and power-efficient interaction with multiple spatially distributed objects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If phased array system is used for beam steering and searching, then remote object interaction capability is improved, but computing power consumption and system complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex phase-shifting control and beam synthesis computation from the system, replacing it with a passive lens-based spatial filtering approach. The lens set physically separates spatial frequencies optically, eliminating the need for complex digital signal processing and phase control circuits while maintaining beam steering and object interaction capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the electronic/phased-array mechanism with an optical/mechanical lens-based system. The lens set uses refraction and focal properties to achieve spatial filtering and beam direction control that would otherwise require complex electronic phase shifters and signal processing, thereby reducing system complexity and power consumption.
2Productivity
If phased array system operates at higher carrier frequencies for higher bandwidth, then data transmission capability is improved, but system complexity and difficulty of frequency scaling increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operating frequency parameter to higher carrier frequencies (mmWave and THz ranges) while maintaining the same lens-based architectural approach. The lens set's optical properties naturally adapt to different frequencies, allowing frequency scaling without increasing system complexity, unlike phased array systems that require reconfiguration of phase shifters and antennas at each frequency.
3Device complexity
If lens-based image array system is used for passive EM wave reception, then system simplicity is improved, but active beam steering and searching capability are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the passive lens-based image array system with an active pixel array containing both transmitter and receiver antennas. Each pixel can alternately or simultaneously perform transmission and reception functions. The lens set enables bidirectional operation: during reception, it focuses incoming EM waves onto receiver antennas; during transmission, it directs EM waves from transmitter antennas toward specific spatial directions, thereby combining simplicity with active beam steering capability.
4Adaptability or versatility
If pixel array with both Tx and Rx antennas is used for bidirectional interaction, then retro-directive space channel mapping is achieved, but power consumption and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by having pixels alternately perform transmission and reception functions in time-division manner. Each pixel transmits EM waves during one time slot and receives during another, rather than continuously operating both Tx and Rx circuits. This periodic operation reduces power consumption while maintaining the retro-directive space channel mapping capability through the lens set's optical focusing properties.
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 system provides fast-switching, low-cost, and high-resolution EM wave interaction suitable for millimeter wave and terahertz frequencies, reducing power consumption and operational complexity while maintaining high resolution and scalability.
Implementation Method 1
a lens set having one or more lenses to establish the space channels that correlate each, or part, of the objects distributed in space with one or some pixels within a pixel array
Implementation Method 2
creates unique conjugate points for efficient EM wave transmission and reception
Implementation Method 3
one or more of them are connected to one or more transmitters (Tx) and the others are connected to one or more receivers (Rx), which define the locations where the EM wave is transmitted and received
Implementation Method 4
one or more of them are connected to one or more transmitters (Tx) and the others are connected to one or more receivers (Rx), which define the locations where the EM wave is transmitted and received
Implementation Method 5
The EM waves emitted from each of the pixels may be transmitted to each of the corresponding object positions within the accessible space defined by the lens set, and the reflected or scattered EM waves from the object positions reach the same transmitting pixel of the quasi-optical lens system, thus manifesting the retro-directive properties of the proposed quasi-optical RF system
Data Source
AI summary
The proposed retro-directive quasi-optical system includes at least a lens set and a pixel array. The lens set is positioned on one side of the pixel array and the lens set instantly establishes retro-directive space channels between the pixels in the pixel array and the object(s) distributed in the accessible space defined by the lens set through infinite or finite conjugation. In the pixel array, a number of pixels are arranged as an array and each pixel is composed of at least one pair of transmitter antenna and receiver antenna. To guarantee that the electromagnetic waves transmitted from a pixel into the accessible space may be reflected back to the receiver of the same pixel, the size of each pixel is not larger than the point-spread spot size defined by the lens set, wherein the point-spread spot size can be contributed either from lens diffraction or aberration.