Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface Subarrays With Shared RF Gain Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Reconfigurable intelligent surfaces face challenges in efficiently amplifying and attenuating wireless signals over large distances due to high energy consumption and cost, which is exacerbated by the need for extensive power amplifiers on each element.
Innovation Solution
Integrating power amplifiers and tunable attenuation circuitry with reconfigurable intelligent surfaces, using a shared amplifier and attenuator per subarray of unit cells, along with impedance matching and passive signal processing, to selectively amplify or attenuate signals as needed, reducing power consumption and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the size of the reconfigurable intelligent surface is increased to counteract free-space signal loss, then signal strength at the receiver is improved, but cost and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The reconfigurable intelligent surface is divided into multiple independently controllable unit cells, each capable of individual signal manipulation. This segmentation allows the system to achieve the required signal strength through coordinated operation of fewer active elements rather than uniformly increasing the entire surface size, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic adjustment of electromagnetic parameters (phase, amplitude, polarization) of individual unit cells to optimize signal propagation. By changing these parameters adaptively based on channel conditions, the system can achieve improved signal strength without proportionally increasing the physical surface area or energy consumption.
2Reliability
If power amplifiers are integrated on each element of the reconfigurable intelligent surface to amplify signals, then signal strength is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple unit cells share common power amplifier circuits and control electronics. Instead of dedicating a full power amplifier to each element, the patent merges amplification resources across groups of unit cells, allowing them to collectively amplify signals. This reduces device complexity and component count while maintaining the ability to provide signal amplification when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The unit cells are designed with multi-functionality, capable of operating in different modes (passive reflection, active amplification, beamforming) depending on system requirements. This universal design allows the same hardware structure to serve multiple purposes, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining signal strength through selective activation of amplification functions.
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 approach achieves efficient signal amplification and attenuation with reduced power usage, lower costs, and minimized interference, while maintaining signal quality and adaptability in wireless networks.
Implementation Method 1
reconfigurable intelligent surfaces are characterized by their two-dimensional arrays of electronically controllable reflecting elements that can dynamically manipulate electromagnetic waves
Implementation Method 2
the signal is amplified by a power amplifier
Data Source
AI summary
The technology described herein is directed towards a reconfigurable intelligent surface that receives and redirects incoming electromagnetic signals based on power efficient subarrays of unit cells. Each subarray integrates a power amplifier and tunable attenuator device to selectively amplify and/or selectively attenuate the reflected signal. For example, the power amplifier and tunable attenuator device can be shared by a m×n (e.g., 3×3) subarray of unit cells, which can be arranged as a module of a larger reconfigurable intelligent surface. Proper impedance matching between the power amplifier and the reconfigurable intelligent surface elements is maintained by using a matching circuit to minimize signal reflection. The system design thus facilitates receiving and reflecting the electromagnetic signal by coupling the RF energy, processing, amplifying, and attenuating. The technology further facilitates estimation of the angle of arrival of the incoming signal.