Single-layer frequency-selective wallpaper for Wi-Fi blocking in the built environment

随着无线通信在社会中的普及，我们越来越依赖无线网络来进行日常事务，其中许多涉及敏感数据的传输。这种依赖性导致了对私有安全网络以及无连接区域的需求不断增长。G集团土地开发公司是一家卑诗省当地的房地产开发商，致力于通过将创新技术融入他们的建筑物来区分自己与其他开发商。为了实现这一目标，他们正在寻求将Wi-Fi阻止功能直接集成到建筑环境中。随着全球射频（RF）屏蔽市场价值70亿美元，UBC和G集团之间的研究合作提供了一个令人兴奋的机会，将这项技术带到加拿大和全球市场。 频率选择性表面（FSS）是一种金属图案表面，可以通过选择性地透射，反射或吸收特定频段来过滤电磁波。多频带FSS可以通过将多个单频带FSS层叠在一起或通过在表面图案中引入多谐振元件来设计;然而，这些设计历来遭受高设计复杂性和高制造成本，这使得集成到建筑环境中不切实际。通过之前的NSERC Engage Grant，申请人与G Group合作提出了一种具有独立可调阻带的新型单层无源FSS。在这个CRD项目中，双方将继续合作，并将FSS应用于建筑环境中的Wi-Fi阻塞。关键任务将包括使阻带的位置对所有入射波偏振和入射角都具有鲁棒性，使FSS适应各种各样的背衬，并为G集团开发定制印刷工艺，以避免依赖第三方制造商。实现这些研究成果对于G集团实现其通过一家全加拿大企业将Wi-Fi阻断技术纳入真实的房地产开发的目标至关重要。

With the ubiquity of wireless communication in society, we are increasingly reliant on wireless networks to carry out our everyday transactions, many of which involve the transmission of sensitive data. This dependence has resulted in a growing demand for private secure networks as well as connection-free zones. G Group Land Development is a local BC real-estate developer that strives to differentiate itself from other developers by incorporating innovative technologies into their buildings. In furtherance of that goal, they are seeking to integrate Wi-Fi blocking functionality directly into the built environment. With the global market for radio-frequency (RF) shielding valued at $7 billion, a research collaboration between UBC and G Group provides an exciting opportunity to bring this technology to Canadian and worldwide markets. Frequency-selective surfaces (FSS) are metallic patterned surfaces that can filter electromagnetic waves by selectively transmitting, reflecting, or absorbing specific frequency bands. Multi-band FSS can be designed by layering multiple single-band FSS together or by introducing multi-resonant elements in the surface pattern; however, these designs have historically suffered from high design complexity and high cost of manufacturing, which has made integration into the built environment impractical. Through a previous NSERC Engage Grant, the applicant worked with G Group to propose a novel single-layer passive FSS with independently tunable stop bands. In this CRD project, both parties will continue their collaboration and apply the FSS to Wi-Fi blocking in the built environment. Key tasks will include making the location of the stop bands robust to all incoming wave polarizations and incidence angles, adapting the FSS to a wide variety of backings, and developing a custom printing process for G Group to avoid reliance on third-party manufacturers. Achieving these research outcomes is critical to enabling G Group to achieve its objective of incorporating Wi-Fi blocking technology into real estate development through a wholly-Canadian enterprise.