Reconfigurable Metasurface: Enabling Tunable Reflection in 6G Wireless Communications

Abstract

With the continuous advancement of technology, there is an increasing need for innovative solutions that can handle complex applications such as haptic communications, Internet of Things for smart cities, automation, and manufacturing. One technology that has received much attention is the phase reconfigurable metasurface for reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs). The RIS demands low-power consumption, simple configuration, angular stability, and polarization insensitivity. The use of phase reconfigurable metasurfaces provides benefits such as low cost, low power consumption, and improved communication coverage and quality. This article introduces a reconfigurable combined-loop metasurface that can effectively manipulate phase reflection. This is achieved by incorporating four PIN diodes between two meta-atoms of a 2 × 2 periodic array within a single-layer metallic structure. By controlling the state of the PIN diodes, which can be switched into 16 different states, the metasurface can achieve various phase reflections. The proposed structure has validated a 32× 32 metasurface through numerical simulations and experiments that exhibit promising results, demonstrating its potential for use in 6G applications.

Design of 2.5 Bit Programmable Metasurface Unit Cell for Electromagnetic Manipulation

“…Since the introduction of programmable (or reconfigurable) metasurfaces [3][4][5][6], both academia and industry have extensively explored their potential in applications such as wireless communication and remote sensing. Reconfigurable metasurfaces are typically made up of a spatial feeder and a reflective surface.…”

Joint Beamforming and Phase Shifts Design for RIS-Aided Multi-User Full-Duplex Systems in Smart Cities

“…Moreover, it can reduce energy consumption compared with conventional relays [ 7 ]. In view of the revolutionary technology that endows network entities with reconfigurable properties, RIS has become a promising technology for 6G networks [ 8 , 9 ] and could be extensively applied in the coverage tribulations circumstances [ 10 , 11 ]. Overall, the united technology of FD and RIS can theoretically obtain two-fold performance gains, including time-frequency domain multiplexing and signal enhancement.…”