Sony Group Corporation
SYSTEM, PANEL DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PASSIVE REFLECTION OF RF SIGNALS

Abstract:

A system for reflecting an RF signal comprises a plurality of antenna units (2) configured to receive and passively reflect the RF signal, and a reference antenna (6'). Each antenna unit (2) comprises a respective phase shifter (8) operable to adjustably impose a phase change on the RF signal before reflection. The system may be a Large Intelligent Surface (LIS) and the antenna units may be included in an arrangement of separate panel devices. A control system (20) is configured to operate the respective phase shifter (8) to phase align a first analog antenna signal (ASn) with a first analog reference signal (REF), which are received by the respective antenna unit (2) and the reference antenna (6'), respectively, in response to a first RF signal; determine, for the respective phase shifter (8), a first phase setting resulting in phase alignment, and store the first phase setting. The first phase settings enable the system to perform beamforming in reception and/or reflection essentially without power consumption.