Wearable Passive Metasurface Mask for Battery-Free Authentication
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wearable devices for activity tracking and health monitoring require electrical components like batteries, sensors, and antennas, increasing cost, size, and complexity, and necessitate frequent charging.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of a passive metasurface with a mask layer that interacts with a computing device via a transceiver, allowing for wireless communication without internal power sources, and customizable appearance through interchangeable masks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If existing wearable devices use electrical components (battery, sensors, circuits, controller, antennas), then the devices can perform activity tracking and health monitoring functions, but the cost, size, and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the active electrical components (battery, sensors, circuits, controller, antennas) from the wearable device, replacing them with a passive metasurface that performs authentication and communication functions without requiring internal power sources or complex electronics
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a passive metasurface that copies or mimics the communication and authentication functions of traditional active wearable devices by manipulating electromagnetic waves through metasurface unit cells, achieving similar functionality without the need for internal batteries or processors
2Ease of operation
If existing wearable devices include batteries and electrical components, then the devices can operate and communicate wirelessly, but they need to be charged frequently
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the battery from the wearable device entirely, replacing the active power-consuming communication system with a passive metasurface that harvests and utilizes ambient electromagnetic energy for wireless communication and authentication operations
Solution Approach 2:
The passive metasurface serves itself by harvesting electromagnetic energy from the environment to perform authentication and communication functions without requiring external charging or internal power sources
3Volume of moving object
If existing wearable devices use smaller battery sizes to reduce size, then the device compactness improves, but charging frequency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the battery entirely from the device, eliminating the trade-off between battery size and charging frequency by using a passive metasurface that requires no power source
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/electrical battery-powered system with an electromagnetic field-based passive metasurface system that operates without internal power sources
4Adaptability or versatility
If existing wearable devices include multiple electrical components, then the devices can perform multiple functions, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The passive metasurface performs multiple functions (authentication, wireless communication, signal manipulation) that previously required separate electrical components, thereby reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining functional versatility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions of multiple electrical components (sensors, antennas, processors for authentication) into a single passive metasurface structure that achieves the same operational goals
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
Enables cost-effective, compact, and secure wearable devices with seamless user authentication and interaction, maintaining performance and aesthetics while reducing the need for frequent charging.
Implementation Method 1
Incorporation of a passive metasurface with a mask layer that interacts with a computing device via a transceiver, allowing for wireless communication without internal power sources
Data Source
AI summary
The technology described herein is directed towards a portable or wearable device/peripheral that includes a mask for a passive metasurface. A transceiver transmits a wireless radio frequency signal towards the metasurface, whereby the metasurface reflects an altered instance of the incoming signal back to the transceiver. The radiation pattern of the reflected signal can be distinct per metasurface, providing a distinct signature of that particular metasurface for detection by a computing device expecting that signature. The mask protects the passive metasurface, as well as determines the appearance of the metasurface. For example, the mask can show a manufacturer's logo, a user's preferred personal color, pattern, and so forth. The mask can include visible functionality information, such as what direction and range the metasurface should be with respect to the transceiver. Various wearable designs for the devices are described, including rings and wristbands that incorporate masked metasurfaces.