Apple patents smart surfaces that split signal work to save power
Apple describes a system where a wall-like surface helps guide wireless signals between a router and your device. Instead of one computer doing all the math, the surface uses multiple processors to share the work of adjusting its antenna settings. This split approach aims to use less battery power and change the signal path faster.
In the filing’s own words
A system may include an access point (AP), a user equipment (UE) device, and a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS). The RIS may have antenna elements and phase shifters programmed using phase settings to form signal beams. The AP may calculate a first portion of the phase settings and may transmit the first portion to the RIS. The RIS may include a first processor that generates a second portion of the phase settings. The RIS may include a second processor coupled to the first processor over a bus. The second processor may generate the phase settings based on the second portion. The second processor may distribute the phase settings to the phase shifters. By distributing calculation of the phase settings between the AP and the RIS, power consumption of the system may be minimized while also minimizing the time required to re-configure the beams of the RIS.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A first electronic device configured to redirect wireless signals between a second electronic device and a third electronic device, the first electronic device comprising: first phase shifters coupled to a first set of antenna elements; second phase shifters coupled to a second set of antenna elements; a first processor configured to generate a first value and a second value; a bus system; a second processor coupled to the first processor and the first phase shifters over the bus system, the second processor being configured to set the first phase shifters using first phase settings that are based on the first value, wherein the first electronic device is configured to redirect the wireless signals while the first phase shifters are configured using the first phase settings; and a third processor coupled to the first processor and the second phase shifters over the bus system, the third processor being configured to set the second phase shifters using second phase settings that are based on the second value.
Facts
- Company
- Apple (Apple Inc.)
- Official title
- Distributed configuration of reconfigurable intelligent surfaces
- Patent number
- US12771407B2
- Application number
- 18465929
- Filed
- Sep 12, 2023
- Granted
- Oct 20, 2026
- Inventors
- 3
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
H04B 7/04013 Electricity & electronicsH01Q 3/46 Electricity & electronicsMore from Apple in Networks & wireless
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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.