Path-loss model for size and placement of engineered metasurfaces

Abstract

The technology described herein is directed towards designing and configuring a reconfigurable intelligent surface for deployment, based on a straightforward path-loss model having simplified input variables available to a designer, and having mitigated characterization complexity when compared to other path loss models. The relatively large distance that exists between the feed antenna and a reconfigurable intelligent surface facilitates approximation of certain factors, resulting in a practical solution for design and deployment of a reconfigurable intelligent surface of interest. The input variables include the geometry of the reconfigurable intelligent surface, receiver gain, transmitter gain, and the directivity of the transmitting antenna, which are parameters that are easily available to a designer for deploying a reconfigurable intelligent surface. A reconfigurable intelligent surface deployment position and/or size can be determined via an iterative optimization approach, to optimize the position and/or size based on a defined optimization cost expression.