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AppleGranted patentNetworks & wirelessInterest 6/10

Apple patents motorized mirrors that steer Wi-Fi signals

This filing describes a device with small, motorized panels that act like mirrors for radio waves. A wireless router sends signals to these panels, which then bounce the connection to your phone or laptop. The device can adjust the angle of the panels to keep the connection stable as you move around.

Why it mattersIt offers a potential way to improve wireless coverage in rooms where direct signals from a router are weak or blocked.

In the filing’s own words

A wireless access point (AP) may communicate with a user equipment (UE) device via reflection off a reflective device having an array of fixed or adjustable reflectors in different orientations. The AP may illuminate different portions of an area by pointing a signal beam to different reflectors and/or by controlling the reflective device to electrically rotate the reflectors. The AP may calibrate the position of the reflective device and may establish wireless communications with the UE device by performing a sweep of signal beams over the reflectors and/or by controlling the reflective device to sweep over different reflector orientations. The AP may track movement of the UE device over time. The AP may sweep the AP beam over a subset of the reflectors around an active reflector to maintain communications with the UE device even as the UE device moves over time.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. A reflective device comprising: a support; a first reflective panel having a first orientation relative to the support; and a second reflective panel having a second orientation relative to the support, wherein the second orientation is different from the first orientation, the first reflective panel and the second reflective panel being configured to reflect radio-frequency signals between a wireless access point and one or more user equipment (UE) devices; one or more actuators coupled to the first reflective panel; one or more processors configured to control the one or more actuators to rotate the first reflective panel to a third orientation different from the first orientation; one or more additional actuators coupled to the second reflective panel, the one or more processors being configured to control the one or more additional actuators to rotate the second reflective panel to a fourth orientation different from the second orientation; and an antenna, wherein the antenna is configured to receive a control signal that instructs the one or more processors to rotate the first reflective panel.

Facts

Company
Apple (Apple Inc.)
Official title
Reflective devices for conveying radio-frequency signals
Patent number
US12739019B2
Application number
18322950
Filed
May 24, 2023
Granted
Sep 15, 2026
Inventors
4
Claims
20

Classified under

H04B 7/145 Electricity & electronicsH04B 7/04013 Electricity & electronics
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.