6G • Spectrum
Metasurface Phase Modulator
Liquid Crystal & Varactor Meta-Elements
Sub-wavelength electromagnetic elements whose refractive index is dynamically tuned using liquid crystals or varactor diodes to modulate wave phases.
Technical Explanation
The functional building block of Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS) and Dynamic Metasurfaces (DMA) is the tunable meta-atom. By applying minute DC bias voltages to liquid crystal layers or varactor diodes embedded inside sub-wavelength metal patches, the local electromagnetic resonance shifts, altering the reflected or transmitted wave phase from 0 to 360 degrees in fractions of a microsecond.
Key Functions
- Continuous 0 to 360 degree dynamic phase shifting of high-frequency radio waves
- Ultra-low electrical power consumption (<1 milliwatt per meta-element)
- Liquid crystal, varactor diode, and phase-change material (PCM) implementations
- Sub-microsecond phase switching speed supporting real-time beam tracking
- Scalable planar lithographic manufacturing on glass and flexible polymer substrates
Specifications
IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, ETSI ISG RIS
Interfaces
MetaAtom-BiasPhase-Matrix-Bus
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