Direct Transmission of Digital Message via Programmable Coding Metasurface.

Area of Science:

• Metasurface technology
• Wireless communication systems

Background:

• Modern wireless communication relies on a conventional architecture involving digital-to-analog conversion and microwave devices.
• Despite advancements, the fundamental architecture of wireless systems has remained largely unchanged for decades.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and validate a new wireless communication architecture that transmits digital information directly using programmable coding metasurfaces.
• To offer an alternative to conventional wireless systems, potentially enhancing information security.

Main Methods:

• Digital information is directly modulated onto a programmable coding metasurface composed of digital units with opposite phase responses.
• The metasurface, illuminated by a feeding antenna, modulates information into radiation patterns for transmission.
• A prototype was constructed to experimentally validate the proposed architecture.

Main Results:

• The proposed method successfully transmits digital information directly via a coding metasurface.
• Information modulated in radiation patterns was received correctly by multiple spatially distributed receivers.
• The experimental prototype confirmed the feasibility of the new architecture.

Conclusions:

• A novel wireless communication architecture is presented, eliminating the need for digital-analog converters and complex microwave circuitry.
• This direct digital transmission method via metasurfaces offers a new paradigm for wireless communications.
• The technology shows promise for applications prioritizing information security.