Integrated physical device identification for remote management of wearable metasurfaces

Abstract

The technology described herein is directed towards a wearable device that includes a passive metasurface of unit cells with a distinct signature corresponding to a physical radiation pattern of signals reflected by the metasurface. The distinct signature facilitates remote management of the metasurface, such as to activate or deactivate the metasurface with respect to a device, system and/or user account. The metasurface interacts with a transceiver coupled to a computing device. The transceiver transmits a wireless radio frequency signal towards the metasurface, whereby the metasurface reflects an altered instance of the incoming signal back to the transceiver. The radiation pattern of the reflected signal is distinct per metasurface, providing a signature of that particular metasurface. When activated, the receipt of an expected, matched signal's signature at the computing device, can, for example, facilitate proximity detection of the user and/or authentication of the user. Various wearable designs can incorporate the metasurfaces.