<p>Future 6G wireless communication systems require innovative solutions to overcome severe path loss, particularly in the millimeter-wave (mmWave) frequency bands. This study presents a novel Low-Complexity M-shaped Reconfigurable Intelligent Metasurface (LCM-RIM) designed to mitigate path loss in indoor environments. The proposed LCM-RIM features a compact, single-layer unit cell based on a low-loss Rogers substrate, offering a lightweight and cost-effective design suitable for seamless integration into wall-mounted installations in office and conference room settings. Each unit cell incorporates an AlGaAs PIN diode, enabling control at high frequencies and facilitating 1-bit phase modulation with discrete phase shifts of <InlineEquation ID="IEq1"> <InlineMediaObject> <ImageObject Color="BlackWhite" FileRef="41598_2025_9741_Article_IEq1.gif" Format="GIF" Height="14" Rendition="HTML" Resolution="72" Type="Linedraw" Width="17" /> </InlineMediaObject> <EquationSource Format="TEX">\(0^\circ\)</EquationSource> </InlineEquation> and <InlineEquation ID="IEq2"> <InlineMediaObject> <ImageObject Color="BlackWhite" FileRef="41598_2025_9741_Article_IEq2.gif" Format="GIF" Height="14" Rendition="HTML" Resolution="72" Type="Linedraw" Width="33" /> </InlineMediaObject> <EquationSource Format="TEX">\(180^\circ\)</EquationSource> </InlineEquation>, operating at 24.12 GHz. This configuration supports passive beamforming with low hardware complexity and minimal power consumption. A <InlineEquation ID="IEq3"> <InlineMediaObject> <ImageObject Color="BlackWhite" FileRef="41598_2025_9741_Article_IEq3.gif" Format="GIF" Height="14" Rendition="HTML" Resolution="72" Type="Linedraw" Width="54" /> </InlineMediaObject> <EquationSource Format="TEX">\(32 \times 32\)</EquationSource> </InlineEquation> array configuration (1024 elements) with <InlineEquation ID="IEq4"> <InlineMediaObject> <ImageObject Color="BlackWhite" FileRef="41598_2025_9741_Article_IEq4.gif" Format="GIF" Height="14" Rendition="HTML" Resolution="72" Type="Linedraw" Width="35" /> </InlineMediaObject> <EquationSource Format="TEX">\(0.5\lambda\)</EquationSource> </InlineEquation> element spacing is used to enhance the gain. The LCM-RIM is employed to enable effective wavefront manipulation and ensure scalability for large-area coverage. To evaluate system-level performance, a numerical path loss model is developed by characterizing the angular gain profile of the LCM-RIM, which follows a Gaussian distribution across reflection angles. The model is validated using MATLAB simulations under various transmitter-receiver distances and angles of incidence. Results indicate that the LCM-RIM structure can enhance received signal strength by up to 15 dB in typical mmWave indoor scenarios. These findings underscore the potential of the proposed LCM-RIM design for practical deployment in future 6G networks, offering an efficient and scalable solution to address mmWave path loss in enclosed environments.</p>

A low-complexity M-shaped reconfigurable intelligent meta-surface for mitigating pathloss in wireless systems

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2025年7月8日

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Maira Khafagy,
Sherief Fathi,
Ahmed Magdy

摘要

Future 6G wireless communication systems require innovative solutions to overcome severe path loss, particularly in the millimeter-wave (mmWave) frequency bands. This study presents a novel Low-Complexity M-shaped Reconfigurable Intelligent Metasurface (LCM-RIM) designed to mitigate path loss in indoor environments. The proposed LCM-RIM features a compact, single-layer unit cell based on a low-loss Rogers substrate, offering a lightweight and cost-effective design suitable for seamless integration into wall-mounted installations in office and conference room settings. Each unit cell incorporates an AlGaAs PIN diode, enabling control at high frequencies and facilitating 1-bit phase modulation with discrete phase shifts of \(0^\circ\) and \(180^\circ\) , operating at 24.12 GHz. This configuration supports passive beamforming with low hardware complexity and minimal power consumption. A \(32 \times 32\) array configuration (1024 elements) with \(0.5\lambda\) element spacing is used to enhance the gain. The LCM-RIM is employed to enable effective wavefront manipulation and ensure scalability for large-area coverage. To evaluate system-level performance, a numerical path loss model is developed by characterizing the angular gain profile of the LCM-RIM, which follows a Gaussian distribution across reflection angles. The model is validated using MATLAB simulations under various transmitter-receiver distances and angles of incidence. Results indicate that the LCM-RIM structure can enhance received signal strength by up to 15 dB in typical mmWave indoor scenarios. These findings underscore the potential of the proposed LCM-RIM design for practical deployment in future 6G networks, offering an efficient and scalable solution to address mmWave path loss in enclosed environments.