3. Reconfigurable intelligent surfaces
WEF Emerging Technology 2024
These innovative surfaces turn ordinary walls and surfaces into intelligent components for wireless communication while enhancing energy efficiency in wireless networks. They hold promise for numerous applications, from smart factories to vehicular networks.
Competitive Environment in reconfigurable intelligent surfaces
Companies and universities with conceptually close patents to the technology definition
Countries in technology
(number of active patents in technology in 2024 country by inventor address)
Development of patent publications
(publications per year)
EconSight comment and short analysis
Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS) are highly relevant for the future of smart environments, such as Smart Cities. These antenna-like surfaces are therefore in the focus of several players but seem to be highly favored by Qualcomm. No other company has even a slightly similar activity in this topic. In the lead are many of the well-known mobile and com-player of the world, such as Samsung, Ericsson, LTE, Xiaomi or Huawei to name only few, but none comes close to Qualcomm in patent activity in this field. Surprisingly nearly no smaller players have been found, beside Kreemo. We can also see a rather high share of university patents, which indicates a not yet fully developed technology space and many more patents to expect in the coming years.
Background
- Textual concepts are generated for each WEF technology.
- The concepts are applied to our full-text AI-RAG (retrieval augmented generation system) which is optimised for highest precision patent analysis to identify the semantically close patents for each technology.
- A competitive environment with the most relevant companies and research institutions is developed where the relevance is calculated as the similarity of their patents compared to the technology concept. The closer to the technology core, the higher the similarity. Large corporates, small specialists and research institutions are shown separately.
Reconfigurable intelligent surfaces: These innovative surfaces turn ordinary walls and surfaces into intelligent components for wireless communication while enhancing energy efficiency in wireless networks. They hold promise for numerous applications, from smart factories to vehicular networks.
This invention relates to a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) designed to enhance wireless communication and energy efficiency in smart factory environments. The RIS consists of an array of programmable meta-materials that can dynamically adjust their electromagnetic properties to optimize signal propagation and reduce energy consumption. By actively reconfiguring the surface in response to changing network conditions, the system improves data transmission reliability and reduces power requirements, making it ideal for industrial automation and Internet of Things (IoT) applications.
The present invention describes a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) for use in vehicular networks. The RIS is composed of a grid of tunable elements that can be controlled to manipulate the reflection and refraction of wireless signals, thereby optimizing communication links between vehicles and infrastructure. This technology enhances signal coverage, reduces latency, and improves overall network performance, even in challenging environments with high mobility and signal obstructions. The RIS also contributes to energy savings by minimizing the need for additional communication infrastructure.
This invention presents a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) that integrates energy harvesting capabilities to enhance wireless communication while improving energy efficiency. The RIS is composed of programmable meta-materials that can reconfigure in real-time to optimize signal paths and reduce interference. Additionally, the surface is equipped with photovoltaic cells that convert ambient light into electrical energy, which is then used to power the RIS and nearby wireless devices. This dual-functionality makes the RIS an ideal solution for sustainable wireless networks in urban and remote environments.
The invention provides an adaptive reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) tailored for 5G and next-generation wireless networks. The RIS uses a matrix of electronically controllable meta-materials to dynamically shape and direct wireless signals, enhancing network performance by mitigating interference and improving signal strength in dense urban environments. The surface can be integrated into existing infrastructure, such as building facades, to create smart communication environments. This technology not only improves data rates and connectivity but also reduces the overall energy consumption of wireless networks.
This patent describes a multi-functional reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) designed for integration into smart building communication systems. The RIS consists of a configurable array of meta-materials that can dynamically alter their electromagnetic properties to enhance wireless signal distribution within the building. The surface can be reprogrammed to adapt to varying network demands, providing improved connectivity and energy efficiency. Additionally, the RIS can be used for indoor positioning and environmental sensing, making it a versatile component for modern smart buildings.
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