US 12,456,807 B2 · Multiband reflective surface with beam steering and beam splitting functionality

Abstract

The technology described herein is directed towards a multiband unit cell that is part of a reflective surface that can reflect different specific frequencies of impinging electromagnetic waves. The unit cells can have different phase profiles to facilitate beam steering and/or beam splitting functionality, independently for each specific frequency. The multiband unit cell can be a dual-band unit cell based on a straightforward unit-cell design, e.g., using diagonally arranged ring resonators as sub-cells of a supercell. Alternative design variations are also described to accommodate multi-frequency (greater than two frequency) applications. In one example implementation, the metasurface is constructed as a low-profile dual-band reflective surface with beam-steering and/or beam-splitting capabilities, e.g., utilizing only a single unit cell metal layer above a substrate. This enables precise control and manipulation of an antenna's radiation pattern, providing enhanced coverage for both frequency bands while keeping the fabrication/manufacturing costs relatively low.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A multiband device, comprising:

a first ring resonator comprising a first conductor having first dimensions;
a second ring resonator comprising a second conductor having second dimensions, wherein the second dimensions are different from the first dimensions;
a third ring resonator comprising a third conductor having the second dimensions;
and
a fourth ring resonator comprising a fourth conductor having the first dimensions,
wherein the first conductor, the second conductor, the third conductor and the fourth conductor are not in physical contact with one another, and are distributed in a geometric pattern relative to one another,
wherein the first ring resonator and the fourth ring resonator resonate at a first resonating frequency corresponding to the first dimensions in response to a first electromagnetic wave of the first resonating frequency impinging on the multiband device, and
wherein the second ring resonator and the third ring resonator resonate at a second frequency corresponding to the second dimensions in response to a second electromagnetic wave of the second resonating frequency impinging on the multiband device.

5 more elements

A unit cell, comprising:

a first pair of ring resonators comprising a first conductor and a fourth conductor, the first conductor and the fourth conductor having first dimensions that determine a first resonating frequency of the first pair of ring resonators;
and
a second pair of ring resonators comprising a second conductor and a third conductor, the second conductor and the third conductor having second dimensions that determine a second resonating frequency of the second pair of ring resonators, wherein the first frequency and the second resonating frequency are different from one another,
wherein, on the unit cell,
the first conductor is diagonally arranged relative to the fourth conductor, linearly arranged relative to the second conductor and linearly arranged relative to the third conductor,
the second conductor is diagonally arranged relative to the third conductor, and linearly arranged relative to the fourth conductor, and
the third conductor is linearly arranged relative to the fourth conductor, and
wherein the unit cell has a first phase profile, corresponding to the first pair of ring resonators, that reflects a first electromagnetic wave at the first resonating frequency in a first direction, and has a second phase profile, corresponding to the second pair of ring resonators, that reflects a second electromagnetic wave at the second resonating frequency in a second direction.

5 more elements

A device, comprising:

a reflective surface, the reflective surface comprising respective unit cells arranged on a single plane, the respective unit cells comprising a unit cell, and
the unit cell comprising a first pair of sub-cells comprising a first conductor and a fourth conductor, the first conductor and the fourth conductor having first dimensions that determine a first resonating frequency of the first pair of sub-cells;
and
a second pair of sub-cells comprising a second conductor and a third conductor, the second conductor and the third conductor having second dimensions that determine a second resonating frequency of the second sub-cells, wherein the first frequency and the second resonating frequency are different from one another,
wherein, on the unit cell,
the first conductor is diagonally arranged relative to the fourth conductor, linearly arranged relative to the second conductor and linearly arranged relative to the third conductor,
the second conductor is diagonally arranged relative to the third conductor, and linearly arranged relative to the fourth conductor, and
the third conductor is linearly arranged relative to the fourth conductor, and
wherein the unit cell has a first phase profile, corresponding to the first pair of sub-cells, that reflects a first electromagnetic wave at the first resonating frequency in a first direction, and has a second phase profile, corresponding to the second pair of sub-cells, that reflects a second electromagnetic wave at the second resonating frequency in a second direction.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Multiband reflective surface with beam steering and beam splitting functionality

Life of this patent

Multiband reflective surface with beam steering and beam splitting functionality

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20