Systems and methods for beamforming using integrated configurable surfaces in antenna

Abstract

Aspect of the present disclosure provide a device that includes an array of subarrays (AoSA) comprising a plurality of subarrays, each subarray including a plurality of antenna elements and a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) that includes a plurality of configurable elements. The AoSA and the RIS are spaced apart from one another such that each subarray and a corresponding subset of the plurality of configurable elements are in each other's near field. Some embodiments described in the disclosure allow large spacing between antenna elements of the AoSA, thereby enabling lower complexity in circuit implementation for power amplification and phase shifting that may be associated with each antenna element, especially as high frequencies where spacing between antenna elements decreases and in some embodiments, reduces the number of antennas that are used.