Optically Driven Control Circuitry for Reconfigurable Surfaces

Recent advancements in 5G and 6G networks operating at mmWave and THz frequencies promise higher speeds but face new challenges including free-space losses and hardware constraints. Reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs) address these challenges by dynamically manipulating electromagnetic waves using hundreds to thousands of tunable unit cells for beamforming and signal amplification. However, to properly control EM waves, individual control of the tuning state of every radiating element is needed.

 

Researchers at Arizona State University have developed an optically driven biasing circuitry designed to operate reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs) at millimeter-wave and terahertz frequencies by replacing conventional vertical interconnects (vias) with optical control. The optically driven biasing circuitry is designed to overcome the limitations of traditional PCB circuit designs. By leveraging optical control, it unlocks the potential for larger-scale reconfigurable surfaces operating at higher frequencies, thereby enhancing performance and scalability. This approach simplifies biasing networks, avoids interference caused by vias, and enables scalable, compact, and flexible RIS implementations suitable for applications in advanced wireless communications, wearable devices, and radar systems.

 

This innovative optically driven biasing circuitry controls reconfigurable intelligent surfaces without the need for complex vertical electrical interconnects and may enable a new class of advantageous beamformers.

 

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