Smart Reflectarray System based on Metamaterial Technology

这项建议旨在开发智能电磁(EM)反射器表面和相关的智能反射器，作为微波(例如8-12 GHz)和毫米波(例如24-30 GHz)标准高增益抛物面反射器的高级版本。Smart EM反射器的反射特性可以实时电子配置，以提供对反射波的幅度、相位和偏振的完全和独立控制，即完整的波束形成系统。该技术基于2D超材料(或超表面)，由电磁耦合谐振器的2D几何排列组成，其中加载了相移和幅度调节元件，通过板载软件模块提供对表面反射特性的前所未有的控制。这些结构以编程方式控制，从而可以实时配置表面/反射镜的EM反射状态。由于建议的反射器提供对反射相位和幅度的独立控制，因此几乎可以解锁无限数量的波变换，而不是形成许多实际系统的核心的最先进的纯相位反射面，从典型城市和郊区环境中的无线通信到卫星跟踪和近视线(LOS)微波回程和点对点链路。

This proposal is directed to prototype development of a Smart Electromagnetic (EM) Reflector surface and a related Smart Reflectarray as an advanced version of standard high-gain parabolic reflectors in the microwave (e.g. 8-12 GHz) and millimeter-wave band (e.g. 24-30 GHz). The reflection characteristics of the Smart EM Reflector can be electronically configured in real-time to provide complete and independent control over the amplitude, phase and polarization of the reflected wave, i.e. complete beam-forming system. The proposed technology is based on 2D Metamaterials (or metasurfaces) consisting of a 2D array of unique geometrical arrangement of electromagnetically coupled resonators, which are loaded with phase shifting and amplitude tuning elements to provide unprecedented control of the reflection characteristics of the surface through an on-board software module. The structures are programmatically controlled such that the EM reflection state of the surface/reflectarray can be configured in real time. Since the proposed reflector provides independent control of reflection phase and amplitude, a virtually unlimited number of wave transformations are unlocked, as opposed to state-of-the-art phase-only reflection surfaces that form the core of many practical systems ranging from wireless communication in typical urban and sub-urban environments to satellite tracking and near-Line-of-Sight (LOS) microwave backhaul and point-to-point links.