Radio-Frequency Communication via Reflective Devices

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.

FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to electronic devices and, more particularly, to electronic devices with wireless circuitry.

BACKGROUND

Electronic devices are often provided with wireless capabilities. An electronic device with wireless capabilities has wireless circuitry that includes one or more antennas. The wireless circuitry is used to perform communications using radio-frequency signals conveyed by the antennas.

As software applications on electronic devices become more data-intensive over time, demand has grown for electronic devices that support wireless communications at higher data rates. However, the maximum data rate supported by electronic devices is limited by the frequency of the radio-frequency signals. As the frequency of the radio-frequency signals increases, it can become increasingly difficult to perform satisfactory wireless communications because the signals become subject to significant over-the-air attenuation and typically require line-of-sight.

SUMMARY

A wireless system may include a wireless access point (AP) and a user equipment (UE) device. The AP and the UE device may communicate using wireless signals at relatively high frequencies. The AP may convey wireless signals within a corresponding AP beam. When a line of sight (LOS) between the AP and the UE device is blocked or otherwise offers insufficient wireless performance, the AP and the UE may communicate by reflecting the wireless signals off a reflective device.

The reflective device may have an array of reflectors. Each reflector may be oriented in a respective orientation. The reflectors may be fixed or may be electrically adjustable. Each reflector may have a respective field of view (FOV). The reflectors across the array may collectively cover a wide FOV. The AP may illuminate different portions of the wide FOV by changing the AP beam to illuminate different reflectors in the reflective device. Additionally or alternatively, the AP may control the reflective device to electrically rotate the reflectors to cover different portions of the wide FOV. This may allow the AP to communicate with one or more UE devices at different locations even when there are no LOS paths. The reflective device may be less expensive, may consume less power, and may involve less control overhead than scenarios where a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) of programmable antenna elements is used to reflect wireless signals between the AP and the UE devices.

The AP may calibrate the position/orientation of the reflective device with respect to the AP. Once calibrated, the AP may establish wireless communications with the UE device by performing a sweep of AP beams over the reflectors of the reflective device. If desired, the AP may also control the reflective device to sweep over different reflector orientations. The AP may transmit reflector-specific or reflector and orientation-specific preambles during the sweeps. The UE device may transmit a measurement report to the AP based on wireless performance metric data gathered during the sweeps. The AP may select an optimal reflector and AP beam to use based on the measurement report. The optimal reflector and AP beam may be the reflector and AP beam that were used when the UE device was able to successfully receive one of the transmitted preambles, for example. 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 the active reflector to maintain communications with the UE device even as the UE device moves over time.

An aspect of the disclosure provides a method of operating a wireless access point to communicate with a user equipment device. The method can include transmitting a first signal to a first reflector on a reflective device while the first reflector has a first orientation. The method can include transmitting a second signal to a second reflector on the reflective device while the second reflector has a second orientation different from the first orientation. The method can include conveying wireless data with the user equipment device via reflection off the first reflector.

An aspect of the disclosure provides a method of operating a first electronic device to wirelessly communicate with a second electronic device. The method can include transmitting wireless signals within a set of signal beams, each signal beam in the set of signal beams pointing towards a different respective reflector on a reflective device. The method can include receiving a measurement report associated with the wireless signals from the second electronic device. The method can include transmitting wireless data to the second electronic device within a selected signal beam from the set of signal beams, wherein the selected signal beam is selected based on the measurement report and the wireless data is conveyed using radio-frequency signals reflected off a reflector on the reflective device that overlaps the selected signal beam.

An aspect of the disclosure provides a wireless access point. The wireless access point may include a phased antenna array, the phased antenna array being configured to use a first signal beam to convey wireless signals with a user equipment device via reflection of the wireless signals off a first reflective panel in an array of reflective panels on a reflective device, the first signal beam overlapping the first reflective panel. The wireless access point may include one or more processors. The one or more processors may be configured to sweep the phased antenna array over a set of signal beams, the signal beams in the set of signal beams overlapping reflective panels on the reflective device adjacent to the first reflective panel. The one or more processors may be configured to update an active signal beam of the phased antenna array based on wireless performance metric data generated by the user equipment device while the phased antenna array swept over the set of signal beams.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG.1is a schematic diagram of an illustrative communications system8(sometimes referred to herein as communications network8) for conveying wireless data between communications terminals. Communications system8may include network nodes (e.g., communications terminals). The network nodes may include user equipment (UE) such as one or more UE devices10. The network nodes may also include external communications equipment (e.g., communications equipment other than UE devices10) such as external communications equipment34. External communications equipment34(sometimes referred to herein simply as external equipment34) may include one or more electronic devices and may be a wireless base station, wireless access point, or other wireless equipment. Implementations in which external communications equipment34is a wireless access point are described herein as an example. External communications equipment34may therefore sometimes be referred to herein as wireless access point (AP)34.

AP34may be communicably coupled to one or more other network nodes6in a larger communications network4via wired and/or wireless links Network4may include one or more wired communications links (e.g., communications links formed using cabling such as ethernet cables, radio-frequency cables such as coaxial cables or other transmission lines, optical fibers or other optical cables, etc.), one or more wireless communications links (e.g., short range wireless communications links that operate over a range of inches, feet, or tens of feet, medium range wireless communications links that operate over a range of hundreds of feet, thousands of feet, miles, or tens of miles, and/or long range wireless communications links that operate over a range of hundreds or thousands of miles, etc.), communications gateways, wireless access points, base stations, switches, routers, servers, modems, repeaters, telephone lines, network cards, line cards, portals, user equipment (e.g., computing devices, mobile devices, etc.), etc. Network4may include communications (network) nodes or terminals coupled together using these components or other components (e.g., some or all of a mesh network, relay network, ring network, local area network, wireless local area network, personal area network, cloud network, star network, tree network, or networks of communications nodes having other network topologies), the Internet, combinations of these, etc. UE devices10may send data to and/or may receive data from other nodes or terminals in network4via AP34(e.g., AP34may serve as an interface between user equipment devices10and the rest of the larger communications network).

User equipment (UE) device10ofFIG.1is an electronic device (sometimes referred to herein as electronic device10or device10) and may be a computing device such as a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a computer monitor containing an embedded computer, a tablet computer, a cellular telephone, a media player, or other handheld or portable electronic device, a smaller device such as a wristwatch device, a pendant device, a headphone or earpiece device, a device embedded in eyeglasses, goggles, or other equipment worn on a user's head, or other wearable or miniature device, a television, a computer display that does not contain an embedded computer, a gaming device, a navigation device, an embedded system such as a system in which electronic equipment with a display is mounted in a kiosk or automobile, a wireless internet-connected voice-controlled speaker, a home entertainment device, a remote control device, a gaming controller, a peripheral user input device, equipment that implements the functionality of two or more of these devices, or other electronic equipment.

As shown in the functional block diagram ofFIG.1, UE device10may include components located on or within an electronic device housing such as housing12. Housing12, which may sometimes be referred to as a case, may be formed of plastic, glass, ceramics, fiber composites, metal (e.g., stainless steel, aluminum, metal alloys, etc.), other suitable materials, or a combination of these materials. In some situations, part or all of housing12may be formed from dielectric or other low-conductivity material (e.g., glass, ceramic, plastic, sapphire, etc.). In other situations, housing12or at least some of the structures that make up housing12may be formed from metal elements.

UE device10may include control circuitry14. Control circuitry14may include storage such as storage circuitry16. Storage circuitry16may include hard disk drive storage, nonvolatile memory (e.g., flash memory or other electrically-programmable-read-only memory configured to form a solid-state drive), volatile memory (e.g., static or dynamic random-access-memory), etc. Storage circuitry16may include storage that is integrated within UE device10and/or removable storage media.

Control circuitry14may include processing circuitry such as processing circuitry18. Processing circuitry18may be used to control the operation of UE device10. Processing circuitry18may include on one or more processors, microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, host processors, baseband processor integrated circuits, application specific integrated circuits, central processing units (CPUs), graphics processing units (GPUs), etc. Control circuitry14may be configured to perform operations in UE device10using hardware (e.g., dedicated hardware or circuitry), firmware, and/or software. Software code for performing operations in UE device10may be stored on storage circuitry16(e.g., storage circuitry16may include non-transitory (tangible) computer readable storage media that stores the software code). The software code may sometimes be referred to as program instructions, software, data, instructions, or code. Software code stored on storage circuitry16may be executed by processing circuitry18.

Control circuitry14may be used to run software on UE device10such as satellite navigation applications, internet browsing applications, voice-over-internet-protocol (VOIP) telephone call applications, email applications, media playback applications, operating system functions, etc. To support interactions with external equipment, control circuitry14may be used in implementing communications protocols. Communications protocols that may be implemented using control circuitry14include internet protocols, wireless local area network (WLAN) protocols (e.g., IEEE 802.11 protocols—sometimes referred to as Wi-Fi®), protocols for other short-range wireless communications links such as the Bluetooth® protocol or other wireless personal area network (WPAN) protocols, IEEE 802.11ad protocols (e.g., ultra-wideband protocols), cellular telephone protocols (e.g., 3G protocols, 4G (LTE) protocols, 3GPP Fifth Generation (5G) New Radio (NR) protocols, Sixth Generation (6G) protocols, sub-THz protocols, THz protocols, etc.), antenna diversity protocols, satellite navigation system protocols (e.g., global positioning system (GPS) protocols, global navigation satellite system (GLONASS) protocols, etc.), antenna-based spatial ranging protocols, ultra-wideband protocols, optical communications protocols, or any other desired communications protocols. Each communications protocol may be associated with a corresponding radio access technology (RAT) that specifies the physical connection methodology used in implementing the protocol.

UE device10may include input-output circuitry20. Input-output circuitry20may include input-output devices22. Input-output devices22may be used to allow data to be supplied to UE device10and to allow data to be provided from UE device10to external devices. Input-output devices22may include user interface devices, data port devices, and other input-output components. For example, input-output devices22may include touch sensors, displays (e.g., touch-sensitive and/or force-sensitive displays), light-emitting components such as displays without touch sensor capabilities, buttons (mechanical, capacitive, optical, etc.), scrolling wheels, touch pads, key pads, keyboards, microphones, cameras, buttons, speakers, status indicators, audio jacks and other audio port components, digital data port devices, motion sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes, and/or compasses that detect motion), capacitance sensors, proximity sensors, magnetic sensors, force sensors (e.g., force sensors coupled to a display to detect pressure applied to the display), temperature sensors, etc. In some configurations, keyboards, headphones, displays, pointing devices such as trackpads, mice, and joysticks, and other input-output devices may be coupled to UE device10using wired or wireless connections (e.g., some of input-output devices22may be peripherals that are coupled to a main processing unit or other portion of UE device10via a wired or wireless link).

Input-output circuitry20may include wireless circuitry24to support wireless communications. Wireless circuitry24(sometimes referred to herein as wireless communications circuitry24) may include baseband circuitry such as baseband circuitry26(e.g., one or more baseband processors and/or other circuitry that operates at baseband), radio-frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry such as transceiver28, and one or more antennas30. If desired, wireless circuitry24may include multiple antennas30that are arranged into a phased antenna array (sometimes referred to as a phased array antenna) that conveys radio-frequency signals within a corresponding signal beam that can be steered in different directions. Baseband circuitry26may be coupled to transceiver28over one or more baseband data paths. Transceiver28may be coupled to antennas30over one or more radio-frequency transmission line paths32. If desired, radio-frequency front end circuitry may be disposed on radio-frequency transmission line path(s)32between transceiver28and antennas30.

In the example ofFIG.1, wireless circuitry24is illustrated as including only a single transceiver28and a single radio-frequency transmission line path32for the sake of clarity. In general, wireless circuitry24may include any desired number of transceivers28, any desired number of radio-frequency transmission line paths32, and any desired number of antennas30. Each transceiver28may be coupled to one or more antennas30over respective radio-frequency transmission line paths32. Radio-frequency transmission line path32may be coupled to antenna feeds on one or more antenna30. Each antenna feed may, for example, include a positive antenna feed terminal and a ground antenna feed terminal. Radio-frequency transmission line path32may have a positive transmission line signal path that is coupled to the positive antenna feed terminal and may have a ground transmission line signal path that is coupled to the ground antenna feed terminal. This example is illustrative and, in general, antennas34may be fed using any desired antenna feeding scheme.

Radio-frequency transmission line path32may include transmission lines that are used to route radio-frequency antenna signals within UE device10. Transmission lines in UE device10may include coaxial cables, microstrip transmission lines, stripline transmission lines, edge-coupled microstrip transmission lines, edge-coupled stripline transmission lines, transmission lines formed from combinations of transmission lines of these types, etc. Transmission lines in UE device10such as transmission lines in radio-frequency transmission line path32may be integrated into rigid and/or flexible printed circuit boards. In one embodiment, radio-frequency transmission line paths such as radio-frequency transmission line path32may also include transmission line conductors integrated within multilayer laminated structures (e.g., layers of a conductive material such as copper and a dielectric material such as a resin that are laminated together without intervening adhesive). The multilayer laminated structures may, if desired, be folded or bent in multiple dimensions (e.g., two or three dimensions) and may maintain a bent or folded shape after bending (e.g., the multilayer laminated structures may be folded into a particular three-dimensional shape to route around other device components and may be rigid enough to hold its shape after folding without being held in place by stiffeners or other structures). All of the multiple layers of the laminated structures may be batch laminated together (e.g., in a single pressing process) without adhesive (e.g., as opposed to performing multiple pressing processes to laminate multiple layers together with adhesive).

In performing wireless transmission, baseband circuitry26may provide baseband signals to transceiver28(e.g., baseband signals that include wireless data for transmission). Transceiver28may include circuitry for converting the baseband signals received from baseband circuitry26into corresponding radio-frequency signals (e.g., for modulating the wireless data onto one or more carriers for transmission, synthesizing a transmit signal, etc.). For example, transceiver28may include mixer circuitry for up-converting the baseband signals to radio frequencies prior to transmission over antennas Transceiver28may also include digital to analog converter (DAC) and/or analog to digital converter (ADC) circuitry for converting signals between digital and analog domains. Transceiver28may transmit the radio-frequency signals over antennas30via radio-frequency transmission line path32. Antennas30may transmit the radio-frequency signals to external wireless equipment by radiating the radio-frequency signals into free space.

In performing wireless reception, antennas30may receive radio-frequency signals from external equipment34. The received radio-frequency signals may be conveyed to transceiver28via radio-frequency transmission line path32. Transceiver28may include circuitry for converting the received radio-frequency signals into corresponding baseband signals. For example, transceiver28may include mixer circuitry for down-converting the received radio-frequency signals to baseband frequencies prior to conveying the baseband signals to baseband circuitry26and may include demodulation circuitry for demodulating wireless data from the received signals.

Front end circuitry disposed on radio-frequency transmission line path32may include radio-frequency front end components that operate on radio-frequency signals conveyed over radio-frequency transmission line path32. If desired, the radio-frequency front end components may be formed within one or more radio-frequency front end modules (FEMs). Each FEM may include a common substrate such as a printed circuit board substrate for each of the radio-frequency front end components in the FEM. The radio-frequency front end components in the front end circuitry may include switching circuitry (e.g., one or more radio-frequency switches), radio-frequency filter circuitry (e.g., low pass filters, high pass filters, notch filters, band pass filters, multiplexing circuitry, duplexer circuitry, diplexer circuitry, triplexer circuitry, etc.), impedance matching circuitry (e.g., circuitry that helps to match the impedance of antennas30to the impedance of radio-frequency transmission line path32), antenna tuning circuitry (e.g., networks of capacitors, resistors, inductors, and/or switches that adjust the frequency response of antennas30), radio-frequency amplifier circuitry (e.g., power amplifier circuitry and/or low-noise amplifier circuitry), radio-frequency coupler circuitry, charge pump circuitry, power management circuitry, digital control and interface circuitry, and/or any other desired circuitry that operates on the radio-frequency signals transmitted and/or received by antennas30.

While control circuitry14is shown separately from wireless circuitry24in the example ofFIG.1for the sake of clarity, wireless circuitry24may include processing circuitry that forms a part of processing circuitry18and/or storage circuitry that forms a part of storage circuitry16of control circuitry14(e.g., portions of control circuitry14may be implemented on wireless circuitry24). As an example, baseband circuitry26and/or portions of transceiver28(e.g., a host processor on transceiver28) may form a part of control circuitry14. Baseband circuitry26may, for example, access a communication protocol stack on control circuitry14(e.g., storage circuitry16) to: perform user plane functions at a PHY layer, MAC layer, RLC layer, PDCP layer, SDAP layer, and/or PDU layer, and/or to perform control plane functions at the PHY layer, MAC layer, RLC layer, PDCP layer, RRC, layer, and/or non-access stratum layer.

The term “convey wireless signals” as used herein means the transmission and/or reception of the wireless (e.g., radio-frequency) signals (e.g., for performing unidirectional and/or bidirectional wireless communications with external wireless communications equipment). Antennas30may transmit the wireless signals by radiating the signals into free space (or to free space through intervening device structures such as a dielectric cover layer). Antennas30may additionally or alternatively receive the wireless signals from free space (e.g., through intervening devices structures such as a dielectric cover layer). The transmission and reception of wireless signals by antennas30each involve the excitation or resonance of antenna currents on an antenna resonating (radiating) element in the antenna by the wireless signals within the frequency band(s) of operation of the antenna.

Transceiver circuitry26may use antenna(s)30to transmit and/or receive wireless signals that convey wireless communications data between UE device10and AP34. The wireless communications data may be conveyed bidirectionally or unidirectionally. The wireless communications data may, for example, include data that has been encoded into corresponding data packets such as wireless data associated with a telephone call, streaming media content, internet browsing, wireless data associated with software applications running on UE device10, email messages, etc.

Additionally or alternatively, wireless circuitry24may use antenna(s)30to perform wireless (radio-frequency) sensing operations. The sensing operations may allow UE device10to detect (e.g., sense or identify) the presence, location, orientation, and/or velocity (motion) of objects external to UE device10. Control circuitry14may use the detected presence, location, orientation, and/or velocity of the external objects to perform any desired device operations. As examples, control circuitry14may use the detected presence, location, orientation, and/or velocity of the external objects to identify a corresponding user input for one or more software applications running on UE device10such as a gesture input performed by the user's hand(s) or other body parts or performed by an external stylus, gaming controller, head-mounted device, or other peripheral devices or accessories, to determine when one or more antennas needs to be disabled or provided with a reduced maximum transmit power level (e.g., for satisfying regulatory limits on radio-frequency exposure), to determine how to steer (form) a radio-frequency signal beam produced by antennas30for wireless circuitry24(e.g., in scenarios where antennas30include a phased array of antennas30), to map or model the environment around UE device10(e.g., to produce a software model of the room where UE device10is located for use by an augmented reality application, gaming application, map application, home design application, engineering application, etc.), to detect the presence of obstacles in the vicinity of (e.g., around) UE device10or in the direction of motion of the user of UE device10, etc. The sensing operations may, for example, involve the transmission of sensing signals (e.g., radar waveforms), the receipt of corresponding reflected signals (e.g., the transmitted waveforms that have reflected off of external objects), and the processing of the transmitted signals and the received reflected signals (e.g., using a radar scheme).

Wireless circuitry24may transmit and/or receive wireless signals within corresponding frequency bands of the electromagnetic spectrum (sometimes referred to herein as communications bands or simply as “bands”). The frequency bands handled by wireless circuitry24may include wireless local area network (WLAN) frequency bands (e.g., Wi-Fi® (IEEE 802.11) or other WLAN communications bands) such as a 2.4 GHz WLAN band (e.g., from 2400 to 2480 MHz), a 5 GHz WLAN band (e.g., from 5180 to 5825 MHz), a Wi-Fi® 6E band (e.g., from 5925-7125 MHz), and/or other Wi-Fi® bands (e.g., from 1875-5160 MHz), wireless personal area network (WPAN) frequency bands such as the 2.4 GHz Bluetooth® band or other WPAN communications bands, cellular telephone frequency bands (e.g., bands from about 600 MHz to about 5 GHz, 3G bands, 4G LTE bands, 5G New Radio Frequency Range 1 (FR1) bands below 10 GHz, 5G New Radio Frequency Range 2 (ER2) bands between 20 and 60 GHz, 6G bands at sub-THz or THz frequencies greater than about 100 GHz, 100-1000 GHz, etc.), other centimeter or millimeter wave frequency bands between 10-100 GHz, near-field communications frequency bands (e.g., at 13.56 MHz), satellite navigation frequency bands (e.g., a GPS band from 1565 to 1610 MHz, a Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) band, a BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) band, etc.), ultra-wideband (UWB) frequency bands that operate under the IEEE 802.15.4 protocol and/or other ultra-wideband communications protocols, communications bands under the family of 3GPP wireless communications standards, communications bands under the IEEE 802.XX family of standards, and/or any other desired frequency bands of interest.

Over time, software applications on electronic devices such as UE device10have become more and more data intensive. Wireless circuitry on the electronic devices therefore needs to support data transfer at higher and higher data rates. In general, the data rates supported by the wireless circuitry are proportional to the frequency of the wireless signals conveyed by the wireless circuitry (e.g., higher frequencies can support higher data rates than lower frequencies). Wireless circuitry24may convey centimeter and millimeter wave signals to support relatively high data rates (e.g., because centimeter and millimeter wave signals are at relatively high frequencies between around 10 GHz and 100 GHz). However, the data rates supported by centimeter and millimeter wave signals may still be insufficient to meet all the data transfer needs of UE device10. To support even higher data rates such as data rates up to 5-100 Gbps or higher, wireless circuitry24may convey wireless signals at frequencies greater than about 100 GHz.

As shown inFIG.1, wireless circuitry24may transmit wireless signals46to external equipment34and/or may receive wireless signals46from external equipment34. Wireless signals46may be tremendously high frequency (THF) signals (e.g., sub-THz or THz signals) at frequencies greater than around 100 GHz (e.g., between 100 GHz and 1 THz, between 80 GHz and 10 THz, between 100 GHz and 10 THz, between 100 GHz and 2 THz, between 200 GHz and 1 THz, between 300 GHz and 1 THz, between 300 GHz and 2 THz, between 70 GHz and 2 THz, between 300 GHz and 10 THz, between 100 GHz and 800 GHz, between 200 GHz and 1.5 THz, or within any desired sub-THz, THz, THF, or sub-millimeter frequency band such as a 6G frequency band), may be millimeter (mm) or centimeter (cm) wave signals between 10 GHz and around 70 GHz (e.g., 5G NR FR2 signals), or may be signals at frequencies less than 10 GHz (e.g., 5G NR FR1 signals, LTE signals, 3G signals, 2G signals, WLAN signals, Bluetooth signals, UWB signals, etc.). If desired, the high data rates supported by THF signals may be leveraged by UE device10to perform cellular telephone voice and/or data communications (e.g., while supporting spatial multiplexing to provide further data bandwidth), to perform spatial ranging operations such as radar operations to detect the presence, location, and/or velocity of objects external to UE device10, to perform automotive sensing (e.g., with enhanced security), to perform health/body monitoring on a user of UE device10or another person, to perform gas or chemical detection, to form a high data rate wireless connection between UE device10and another device or peripheral device (e.g., to form a high data rate connection between a display driver on UE device10and a display that displays ultra-high resolution video), to form a remote radio head (e.g., a flexible high data rate connection), to form a THF chip-to-chip connection within UE device10that supports high data rates (e.g., where one antenna30on a first chip in UE device10transmits wireless signals46to another antenna30on a second chip in UE device10), and/or to perform any other desired high data rate operations.

In implementations where wireless circuitry24conveys THF signals, wireless circuitry may include electro-optical circuitry. The electro-optical circuitry may include light sources that generate first and second optical local oscillator (LO) signals. The first and second optical LO signals may be separated in frequency by the intended frequency of wireless signals46. Wireless data may be modulated onto the first optical LO signal and one of the optical LO signals may be provided with an optical phase shift (e.g., to perform beamforming). The first and second optical LO signals may illuminate a photodiode that produces current at the frequency of wireless signals46when illuminated by the first and second optical LO signals. An antenna resonating element of a corresponding antenna30may convey the current produced by the photodiode and may radiate corresponding wireless signals46. This is illustrative and, in general, wireless circuitry24may generate wireless signals46using any desired techniques.

Antennas30may be formed using any desired antenna structures. For example, antennas30may include antennas with resonating elements that are formed from loop antenna structures, patch antenna structures, inverted-F antenna structures, slot antenna structures, planar inverted-F antenna structures, helical antenna structures, monopole antennas, dipoles (e.g., planar dipole antennas such as bowtie antennas), hybrids of these designs, etc. Parasitic elements may be included in antennas30to adjust antenna performance.

If desired, two or more of antennas30may be integrated into a phased antenna array (sometimes referred to herein as a phased array antenna or an array of antenna elements). Each antenna30in the phased antenna array forms a respective antenna element of the phased antenna array. Each antenna30in the phased antenna array has a respective phase and magnitude controller that imparts the radio-frequency signals conveyed by that antenna with a respective phase and magnitude. The respective phases and magnitudes may be selected (e.g., by control circuitry14) to configure the radio-frequency signals conveyed by the antennas30in the phased antenna array to constructively and destructively interfere in such a way that the radio-frequency signals collectively form a signal beam (e.g., a signal beam of wireless signals46) oriented in a corresponding beam pointing direction (e.g., a direction of peak gain). The signal beams of wireless signals46formed by phased arrays of antennas30may sometimes be referred to herein as UE beams or UE signal beams. The control circuitry may adjust the phases and magnitudes to change (steer) the orientation of the signal beam (e.g., the beam pointing direction) to point in other directions over time. This process may sometimes also be referred to herein as beamforming. Beamforming may boost the gain of wireless signals46to help overcome over-the-air attenuation and the signal beam may be steered over time to point towards AP34even as the position and orientation of UE device10changes.

As shown inFIG.1, AP34may also include control circuitry36(e.g., control circuitry having similar components and/or functionality as control circuitry14in UE device10) and wireless circuitry38(e.g., wireless circuitry having similar components and/or functionality as wireless circuitry24in UE device10). Wireless circuitry38may include baseband circuitry40and transceiver42(e.g., transceiver circuitry having similar components and/or functionality as transceiver circuitry28in UE device10) coupled to two or more antennas44(e.g., antennas having similar components and/or functionality as antennas30in UE device10). Antennas44may be arranged in one or more phased antenna arrays (e.g., phased antenna arrays that perform beamforming similar to phased antenna arrays of antennas30on UE device10). AP34may use wireless circuitry38to transmit a signal beam of wireless signals46to UE device10(e.g., as downlink (DL) signals transmitted in a downlink direction) and/or to receive a signal beam of wireless signals46transmitted by UE device10(e.g., as uplink (UL) signals transmitted in an uplink direction). The signal beams of wireless signals46formed by phased arrays of antennas44may sometimes be referred to herein as AP beams or AP signal beams.

Each AP beam may be defined by a set of beamforming coefficients, settings, phases, and/or magnitudes for each of the antennas or antenna elements in the phased array of antennas44. AP34may include or store a codebook that stores the sets of beamforming coefficients, settings, phases, and/or magnitudes for generating each of the AP beams. The codebook may include codebook indices for each AP beam and may, if desired, include information identifying the orientation of the corresponding AP beam relative to AP34. Similarly, each UE beam may be defined by a set of beamforming coefficients, settings, phases, and/or magnitudes for each of the antennas or antenna elements in the phased array of antennas30. UE device10may include or store a codebook that stores the sets of beamforming coefficients, settings, phases, and/or magnitudes for generating each of the UE beams The codebook may include codebook indices for each UE beam and may, if desired, include information identifying the orientation of the corresponding UE beam relative to UE device10.

While communications at high frequencies allow for extremely high data rates (e.g., greater than 100 Gbps), wireless signals46at such high frequencies are subject to significant attenuation during propagation over-the-air. Integrating antennas30and44into phased antenna arrays helps to counteract this attenuation by boosting the gain of the signals within a signal beam. However, signal beams are highly directive and may require a line-of-sight (LOS) between UE device10and external equipment34. If an external object is present between AP34and UE device10, the external object may block the LOS between UE device10and AP34, which can disrupt wireless communications using wireless signals46. If desired, system8may include a reflective device that allows UE device10and external equipment34to continue to communicate using wireless signals46even when an external object blocks the LOS between UE device10and AP34(or whenever direct over-the-air communications between AP34and UE device10otherwise exhibits less than optimal performance).

As shown inFIG.1, system8may include one or more reflective devices such as reflective device50. Reflective device50may sometimes also be referred to as a reflective surface, a radio-frequency reflective device, a reflector device, or a radio-frequency reflector device. AP34may be separated from UE device10by a line-of-sight (LOS) path. In some circumstances, an external object such as object51may block the LOS path. Object51may be, for example, part of a building such as a wall, window, floor, or ceiling (e.g., when UE device10is located inside), furniture, a body or body part, an animal, a cubicle wall, a vehicle, a landscape feature, or other obstacles or objects that may block the LOS path between AP34and UE device10.

In the absence of external object51, AP34may form a corresponding AP beam of wireless signals46oriented in the direction of UE device10and UE device10may form a corresponding UE beam of wireless signals46oriented in the direction of external equipment34. UE device10and AP34can then convey wireless signals46over their respective signal beams and the LOS path. However, the presence of external object51prevents wireless signals46from being conveyed over the LOS path.

Reflective device50may be placed or disposed within system8in such a way so as to allow reflective device50to reflect wireless signals46between UE device10and AP34despite the presence of external object51within the LOS path. More generally, reflective device50may be used to reflect wireless signals46between UE device10and AP34when reflection via reflective device50offers superior radio-frequency propagation conditions relative to the LOS path regardless of the presence of external object51(e.g., when the LOS path between AP34and reflective device50and the LOS path between reflective device50and UE device10exhibit superior propagation/channel conditions than the direct LOS path between UE device10and AP34). When reflective device50is placed within system8, AP34may transmit downlink wireless signals46towards reflective device50(e.g., within an AP beam oriented towards reflective device50rather than towards UE device10) and reflective device50may reflect the wireless signals (the AP beam) towards UE device10, as shown by arrow54. Conversely, UE device10may transmit uplink wireless signals46towards reflective device50(e.g., within a UE beam oriented towards reflective device50rather than towards AP34) and reflective device50may reflect the wireless signals (the UE beam) towards AP34, as shown by arrow56.

Reflective device50may include a set of one or more reflectors48. Reflective device50may be powered or may be unpowered. In implementations where reflective device50is powered, reflective device50may include control circuitry such as control circuitry52and may, if desired, include one or more antennas such as antenna58. Control circuitry52may include processing circuitry (e.g., one or more processors) and/or storage circuitry. Control circuitry52may control one or more operations of reflective device50.

In some implementations when reflective device50is powered, reflective device50may include antenna elements arranged in one or more arrays (e.g., phased arrays of antenna elements). The antenna elements may be formed using any desired antenna structures. For example, the antenna elements may include loop antenna structures, patch antenna structures, inverted-F antenna structures, slot antenna structures, planar inverted-F antenna structures, helical antenna structures, monopole antennas, dipoles (e.g., planar dipole antennas such as bowtie antennas), hybrids of these designs, etc. The control circuitry may control the operation of the array of antenna elements. In these implementations, when electro-magnetic (EM) energy waves (e.g., waves of wireless signals46) are incident on reflective device50, the wave is effectively reflected by each antenna element in the array (e.g., via re-radiation by each antenna element with a respective phase and amplitude response). The control circuitry may program the response of the antenna elements to set and change the scattering, absorption, reflection, and diffraction properties of the entire reflective device over time to change the direction of reflected wave to point in different desired directions. The reflective device may sometimes be referred to as a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) or intelligent reflective surface (IRS) in these implementations.

Implementing reflective device50as a RIS can be very difficult and can consume an excessive amount of time and power. For example, time and power is required to calculate and set phase shifts for all of the antenna elements, complicated beam finding and tracking procedures may be required for static and dynamic environments, and it can be difficult to adapt to situations in which the same reflective device serves multiple UE devices. The RIS may require tens of thousands of independently controlled antenna elements and tens of thousands of beams to sweep over an initialization or tracking procedures, and the corresponding phase shifters may utilize expensive PIN diodes and/or varactor diodes. The phase shifts often also introduce amplitude reduction to the impinging wave, which further reduces the efficiency of the reflective device. This may make the calculation of the overall reflection and thus the different phase shifts even more complicated. It would therefore be desirable for reflective device50to be able to reflect wireless signals46between AP34and UE device10without implementing reflective device50as a RIS (e.g., without using actively adjusted antenna elements and phase shifters to reflect radio-frequency signals).

To mitigate these issues, reflective device50may use passive (unpowered) reflectors such as reflectors48to reflect wireless signals46between AP34and UE device10. Reflectors48may include radio-frequency reflectors (e.g., radio-frequency mirrors) rather than antenna elements. A set of reflectors48may be arranged in an array or in another pattern on reflective device50. Each reflector48may include a tile (e.g., a planar tile) of radio-frequency reflective material such as metal or other materials that exhibit reflectivity greater than a threshold reflectivity at the frequencies of wireless signals46. Each reflector48may span a corresponding surface area and may be oriented in a different respective direction. Each reflector48may therefore reflect incident radio-frequency signals from a respective range of incidence angles onto a respective range of reflected (output) angles (e.g., within a corresponding field-of-view (FOV) of the reflector). The reflectors48across the set (array) may be disposed at different orientations/angles to configure the reflectors48across reflective device50to collectively allow for the reflection of wireless signals46from a wide range of incidence angles onto a wide range of reflected (output) angles (e.g., within a corresponding FOV of reflective device50).

If each reflector48is sufficiently large, AP34may have a different AP beam that points towards each respective reflector48in reflective device50. Similarly, UE device10may have a different UE beam that points towards each respective reflector48in reflective device50. By illuminating different reflectors48on reflective device50with wireless signals46, AP34and UE device10may direct the wireless signals (via reflection off reflective device50) in different directions (e.g., to cover different locations across an entire room or area despite the presence of external object51in the LOS path). On the other hand, reducing the size of reflectors48may help to focus the wireless signals within a particular spot beam while minimizing the size of reflective device50.

Consider an example in which reflectors48are configured to span a reflection range (FOV) of 90 degrees. Assuming an angular resolution of 4 degrees, reflective device50may cover the FOV with an array of 22-by-22 reflectors48. Because reflectors48are passive, un-powered, non-radiative, and are not configured to re-radiate incident radio-frequency signals with different phases and magnitudes, implementing reflective device50with reflectors48may be significantly less expensive, may consume significantly less power, and may involve significantly less operating overhead than a RIS having antenna elements that reflect incident radio-frequency signals.

In implementations where reflective device50is unpowered, the orientation of reflectors48may be set and/or calibrated (e.g., manually by hand, using tools, using set-up equipment, etc.) during installation of reflective device50in system8to cover the desired FOV. In implementations where reflective device50is unpowered and in implementations where reflective device is powered, reflectors48may be fixed in place with corresponding orientations upon installation in system8. In these implementations, AP34and UE device10may transmit wireless signals46to a desired location simply by changing which reflector48is illuminated by the corresponding signal beam.

In implementations where reflective device50is powered, one or more reflectors48may be dynamically and electrically (e.g., electro-mechanically) adjustable/configurable. For example, the electrically adjustable reflectors48may include electromechanical actuators (e.g., piezoelectric actuators or shifters, micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) structures, motors, etc.) that rotate or change the orientation/angle of the reflectors based on control signals provided by control circuitry52. In these implementations, AP34and UE device10may transmit wireless signals46to a desired location by changing which reflector48is illuminated by the corresponding signal beam and/or via electromechanical rotation of reflectors48. In general, powered implementations for reflective device50may consume more power than unpowered implementations for reflective device50but may offer more dynamic adaptability for covering a desired area with reflected radio-frequency signals. Implementations in which reflectors48are fixed (e.g., fixed in place with corresponding fixed orientations/angles) may consume less power and/or involve less control and resource overhead than implementations in which reflectors48are electrically adjustable.

In implementations where reflective device50is powered, control circuitry52may use antenna(s)58to communicate with AP34and/or UE device10using radio-frequency signals59. Radio-frequency signals59may be conveyed using a different RAT than wireless signals46if desired (e.g., using a control RAT). AP34and/or UE device10may transmit control signals (e.g., control commands) to reflective device50in radio-frequency signals59. The control signals may be used to control, set, change, and/or rotate the orientation/angle of one or more of the adjustable reflectors48on reflective device50. For example, AP34or UE device10may transmit a control signal to reflective device50in radio-frequency signals59that instructs control circuitry52to adjust or rotate one or more of reflectors48by a given angle. Such rotations may be performed while establishing and/or maintaining communications between AP34and UE device10via reflective device50(e.g., while setting up an initial configuration for reflective device50and/or for tracking UE device10as the UE device moves after communications have already been established).

AP34and UE device10may communicate using multiple RATs.FIG.2is a diagram showing how AP34and UE device10may communicate using both a control RAT and a data transfer RAT for establishing and maintaining communications between AP34and UE device10via reflective device50. As shown inFIG.2, AP34and UE device10may each include wireless circuitry that operates according to a data transfer RAT DR (sometimes referred to herein as data RAT DR) and a control RAT CR. Data RAT DR may be a sub-THz communications RAT such as a 6G RAT, a cm/mm wave RAT such as a 5G NR FR2 RAT, and/or any other RAT that is used to convey wireless signals46via reflection off reflective device50(FIG.1).

Control RAT CR may be associated with wireless communications that consume much fewer resources and are less expensive to implement than the communications of data RAT DR. For example, control RAT CR may be Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, a cellular telephone RAT such as a 3G, 4G, or 5G NR FR1 RAT, etc. As another example control RAT CR may be an infrared communications RAT (e.g., where an infrared remote control or infrared emitters and sensors use infrared light to convey signals for the control RAT between UE device10and AP34).

UE device10and AP34may use control RAT CR to convey radio-frequency signals SIGB (e.g., control signals) between UE device10and AP34. UE device10and AP34may use data RAT DR to convey wireless signals SIGA via reflection off reflective device50(e.g., as shown by arrows54and56ofFIG.1). UE device10and/or AP34may also use control RAT CR to communicate with antenna(s)58on reflective device50(FIG.1). AP34and/or UE device10may use radio-frequency signals SIGB and control RAT CR to calibrate reflectors48on reflective device50and/or to establish/maintain communications between AP34and UE device10(via reflection off reflective device50) using data RAT DR. AP34and UE device10may also use data RAT DR to convey wireless signals SIGA within uninterrupted signal beams (e.g., direct signal beams that do not reflect off reflective device50) when a LOS path between UE device10and AP34is available. Control RAT CR may not require a LOS path between AP34and UE device10(e.g., because the control RAT is associated with radio-frequency signals at much lower frequencies than data RAT DR). The control RAT is therefore particularly suitable for establishing and maintaining communications using the data RAT via reflective device50when AP34does not have a LOS path to UE device10.

FIG.3is a perspective front view of reflective device50. As shown inFIG.3, reflective device may include a set of reflectors48(e.g., reflective panels, sheets, or tiles). Each reflector48has a corresponding lateral reflective surface60. Each reflective surface60has a corresponding normal axis62oriented perpendicular to the reflective surface. Reflectors48may be placed, disposed, or oriented in a set of angles/orientations. For example, reflectors48may be oriented such that the normal axis62of each reflector48points in a different respective direction (e.g., is oriented at a different respective angle with respect to the X-Y-Z axes ofFIG.3). This may configure reflective device50to exhibit a curved shape (e.g., that is curved around one or more axes). Normal axes62of reflectors48may, for example, be oriented at non-zero angles with respect to the X, Y, and/or Z axes ofFIG.3(or any other angles in any other coordinate system). Normal axes62may also form the reflective axes of reflectors48. For example, each reflector48will reflect radio-frequency signals incident at a given incident angle onto a corresponding output (reflected) angle that is equal to the incident angle as measured with respect to the reflector's normal axis62but on the opposing side of the normal axis (e.g., normal axis62may bisect the incident and output angles).

Each reflector48may thereby be configured to reflect radio-frequency signals from a different respective range of incident angles onto a different respective range of output (reflected) angles (e.g., within a respective FOV of the reflector). The ranges of incident angles may point towards AP34, for example. The ranges of output angles may point towards different locations in system8where a UE device10may be present. Reflective device50may include any desired number of reflectors48(e.g., one reflector48, two reflectors48, three reflectors48, four reflectors48, 4-16 reflectors48, more than 16 reflectors48, more than 32 reflectors48, more than 64 reflectors48, more than 128 reflectors48, etc.). The number, size, and/or orientations of reflectors48across reflective device50may be selected to collectively provide coverage across a sufficiently large FOV (e.g., a 90 degree FOV). AP34may transmit radio-frequency signals to a particular location in the FOV of reflective device50by directing its AP beam onto the reflector48of reflective device50having a range of output angles that point towards that location. AP34may change the location over time by changing its AP beam and thus the reflector48that is illuminated with radio-frequency signals transmitted by AP34.

In the example ofFIG.3, each reflector48is a rectangular panel (tile) having a length68and a perpendicular width70. If desired, reflectors48may be square panels (e.g., where length68equals width70). Reflectors48may have other shapes having any desired number of straight and/or curved edges. The dimensions of reflectors48may be sufficiently large to allow each reflector to be illuminated by a different respective AP beam of AP34but sufficiently small so as to provide sufficient focusing for the radio-frequency signals while also minimizing the size of reflective device50. Length68and/or width70(or the maximum lateral dimension of reflector48in implementations where reflector48is non-rectangular) may, for example, be greater than ten times the wavelength of the radio-frequency signals reflected by reflective device50(e.g., wireless signals46ofFIG.1). Reflectors48may be planar or may, in other implementations, be curved (e.g., spherically curved, parabolically curved, freeform curved, etc.).

The reflectors48in reflective device50may be mounted to support structures66(sometimes referred to herein simply as support66). Support structures66may couple reflectors48to an underlying structure while allowing reflectors48to remain in their corresponding relative orientations/angles. In implementations where reflectors48are electrically adjustable, electromechanical actuators may couple reflectors48to support structures66. The electromechanical actuators may be electrically controlled to adjust the orientation/angle of reflectors48with respect to support structures66. Support structures66may, if desired, include mounting structures (e.g., adhesive, brackets, a frame, screws, pins, clips, etc.) that can be used to affix or attach reflective device50to the underlying structure. The underlying structure may be another electronic device, a wall, the ceiling, the floor, furniture, etc. Disposing reflective device50on a ceiling, wall, window, column, pillar, or at or adjacent to the corner of a room (e.g., a corner where two walls intersect, where a wall intersects with the floor or ceiling, where two walls and the floor intersect, or where two walls and the ceiling intersect), as examples, may be particularly helpful in allowing reflective device50to reflect wireless signals between AP34and UE device10around various objects51that may be present (e.g., when AP34is located outside and UE device10is located inside, when AP34and UE device10are both located inside or outside, etc.). If desired, reflectors48and/or support structures66may be enclosed within a housing64. The housing may be formed from materials that are transparent to wireless signals46.

FIG.4is a top view showing one example of how reflective device50may be used to convey wireless signals46between AP34and different locations in area (region)78of system8. Area78may not have a LOS path to AP34(e.g., due to the presence of external object51). In the example ofFIG.4, reflective device50includes at least five reflectors48such as reflectors48-1,48-2,48-3,48-4, and48-5. Reflectors48-1through48-5may be fixed reflectors or may be electrically adjustable reflectors. The example ofFIG.4shows a cross-section of reflective device50and, in general, reflective device50may include additional reflectors48above and/or below reflectors48-1through48-5(e.g., into and out of the plane of the page).

In the implementation ofFIG.4, the reflectors are oriented in a curved configuration in which each reflector is oriented at a greater angle than the previous reflector with respect to a given axis. For example, as shown inFIG.4, reflector48-1is oriented at a first angle76with respect to a given axis (e.g., an axis parallel to the X-axis ofFIG.4). The first angle76may be, for example, 45 degrees. Reflector48-1may be oriented at a second angle with respect to the axis that is larger than the first angle, reflector48-3may be oriented at a third angle with respect to the axis that is larger than the second angle, reflector48-4may be oriented at a fourth angle with respect to the axis that is larger than the third angle, and reflector48-5may be oriented at a fifth angle with respect to the axis that is larger than the fourth angle (e.g., 90 degrees). This may configure reflective device50to collectively exhibit a FOV74of 90 degrees (e.g., extending between the X and Y axes ofFIG.4).

AP34may transmit wireless signals46(FIG.1) to different locations72in system8by transmitting the wireless signals46using different AP beams75pointed towards different respective reflectors48. For example, AP34may have a first AP beam75-1that points towards (overlaps) reflector48-1, may have a second AP beam75-2that points towards (overlaps) reflector48-2, may have a third AP beam75-3that points towards (overlaps) reflector48-3, may have a fourth AP beam75-4that points towards (overlaps) reflector48-4, and may have a fifth AP beam75-5that points towards (overlaps) reflector48-5. In general, AP34may have an AP beam75that points towards each reflector48in reflective device50. The lateral dimensions of each reflector48may be sufficiently large so that each AP beam75illuminates only a respective one of reflectors48at the distance of reflective device50from AP34, for example.

Reflector48-1may reflect AP beam75-1towards location72-5in system8. Reflector48-2may reflect AP beam75-2towards location72-4in system8. Reflector48-3may reflect AP beam75-3towards location72-3in system8. Reflector48-4may reflect AP beam75-4towards location72-2in system8. Reflector48-5may reflect AP beam75-5towards location72-1in system8. When a UE device10is present at location72-5, AP34may thereby transmit wireless signals46to the UE device by transmitting wireless signals46towards reflector48-1within AP beam75-1. Similarly, when a UE device10is present at location72-4, AP34may transmit wireless signals46to the UE device by transmitting wireless signals46to reflector48-2within AP beam75-2. When a UE device10is present at location72-3, AP34may transmit wireless signals46to the UE device by transmitting wireless signals46to reflector48-3within AP beam75-3. When a UE device10is present at location72-2, AP34may transmit wireless signals46to the UE device by transmitting wireless signals46to reflector48-4within AP beam75-4. When a UE device10is present at location72-1, AP34may transmit wireless signals46to the UE device by transmitting wireless signals46to reflector48-5within AP beam75-5. AP34may change the AP beam75used to illuminate reflective device50(and thus the reflector48that reflects wireless signals46) as needed based on the location of the UE device within area78of system8(e.g., to continue to transmit wireless signals46to the UE device even if the UE device moves over time).

If desired, multiple UE devices10may be present in system8at once (e.g., in a multi-user scenario). For example, a first UE device may be at location72-1whereas a second UE device is at location72-5. In these situations, AP34may transmit wireless signals46to the first UE device by illuminating reflector48-5using AP beam75-5and may transmit wireless signals46to the second UE device by illuminating reflector48-1using AP beam75-1. AP34may concurrently transmit wireless signals46to both the first and second UE devices by concurrently illuminating reflector48-1using AP beam75-1and reflector48-5using AP beam75-5(e.g., in implementations where the phased antenna array(s) on AP34support transmission over concurrent AP beams using a spatial multiplexing scheme).

If desired, AP34may transmit wireless signals46to the first and second UE devices using a time division multiplexing scheme in which AP34illuminates reflectors48-1and48-5during alternating time periods. If desired, AP34may transmit wireless signals to different UE devices at the same location72using a frequency division multiplexing scheme in which AP34illuminates the same reflector48with wireless signals46of different frequencies (e.g., where each frequency conveys a wireless data stream for a respective one of the UE devices). Any desired combination of spatial, time, and frequency division multiplexing schemes may be used to concurrently or sequentially transmit wireless signals46to any desired number of UE devices10at one or more locations72in system8. When reflective device50has a sufficient number of reflectors48, an entirety of area78of system8may be provided with radio-frequency coverage via reflection off reflective device50.

While the example ofFIG.4illustrates downlink transmission of wireless signals46from AP34to UE device(s)10via reflective device50for the sake of simplicity, reflective device50may conversely reflect wireless signals46during uplink transmission of wireless signals46from UE device(s)10to AP34. The UE device may, for example, transmit the wireless signals within a UE beam oriented towards the corresponding reflector48on reflective device50that reflects wireless signals incident from the direction of the UE device towards AP34.

AP34may calibrate the distance and orientation of reflectors48on reflective device50prior to establishing communications with UE device10via reflective device50. This calibration may allow AP34to know which reflectors48to illuminate to transmit wireless signals46to different specific locations72in area78of system8. In implementations where reflectors48are fixed reflectors, this calibration may be performed once (e.g., upon installation of reflective device50in system8).

FIG.5is a diagram showing one example in which AP34calibrates reflective device50using optical signals. As shown inFIG.5, AP34may include optical equipment80. Optical equipment80may include a set of optical emitters (e.g., one or more lasers) and a corresponding set of optical sensors (e.g., one or more optical sensors). Optical equipment80may additionally or alternatively be separate from AP34such as optical equipment used by an administrator, user, or technician for AP34(e.g., the optical emitters may include laser pointers).

The optical emitter(s) may emit optical signals82(e.g., laser light) towards different locations on reflective device50. Reflective device50may include two or more calibration points (e.g., three calibration points)83. Each calibration point83may be located on a different reflector48of reflective device50. Calibration points83may include optical reflectors (e.g., laser reflection bubbles) that reflect the incident optical signals82back towards their respective emitter (e.g., back towards the optical sensor(s) in optical equipment34). For example, a first calibration point83may be mounted to reflector48-1whereas a second calibration point83is mounted to reflector48-5. Optical equipment80may transmit optical signals82-1towards the calibration point83on reflector48-1and may transmit optical signals82-2towards the calibration point83on reflector48-5. The calibration point83on reflector48-1may reflect optical signals82-1back towards optical equipment80. The calibration point83on reflector48-5may reflect optical signals82-2back towards optical equipment80. Optical equipment80may include a single optical emitter to identify a three-dimensional location of reflective device50. Optical equipment80may include multiple optical emitters (e.g., three optical emitters that emit optical signals82towards respective calibration points83) to identify the three-dimensional location of reflective device as well as its orientation (e.g., to identify the position of reflective device50in six dimensions or degrees of freedom).

AP34may process the transmitted and/or received optical signals to detect (e.g., characterize, determine, compute, measure, etc.) the distance between AP34and the corresponding calibration point83. By measuring this distance across multiple points on reflective device50(e.g., across each of calibration points83), AP34may detect (e.g., calculate, measure, computer, sense, etc.) the distance and/or orientation of one or more reflectors48and thus reflective device50itself with respect to AP34. For example, AP34may characterize the orientation and position of reflective device50using a first angle ψ with respect to axis84and a second angle θ with respect to axis84, for example. Once AP34knows the distance between AP34and reflective device50and/or the distance to or orientation of one or more reflectors48, AP34may form suitable AP beams that are pointed towards different reflectors48on reflective device50.

The example ofFIG.5is illustrative and non-limiting. If desired, ultra-wideband (UWB) signals may be used to calibrate the position/orientation of reflective device50with respect to AP34, as shown in the example ofFIG.6. As shown inFIG.6, AP34may include at least two antennas58(e.g., UWB antennas). Reflective device50may include at least three UWB antennas88. Each UWB antenna88may be mounted to a respective reflector48on reflective device50. If desired, each UWB antenna88may be integrated into a wireless (UWB) tag such as tags86(e.g., a first tag86-1, a second tag86-2, a third tag86-3, etc.). Each tag86may be mounted to a respective reflector48. In other implementations, a user may place a single tag86or another electronic device with a UWB antenna at different locations on reflective device50(e.g., on different reflectors48) at different times during calibration.

UWB signals90may be conveyed between antennas58on AP34and UWB antennas88on reflective device50for detecting (calibrating) the position/orientation of reflective device50with respect to AP34. UWB antennas88and/or antennas58may transmit and/or receive UWB signals90according to an ultra-wideband (UWB) protocol such as the IEEE 802.15.4 protocol and/or other ultra-wideband communications protocols. UWB signals90may be based on an impulse radio signaling scheme that uses band-limited data pulses. UWB signals90may have any desired bandwidths such as bandwidths between 499 MHz and 1331 MHz, bandwidths greater than 500 MHz, etc. The presence of lower frequencies in the baseband may sometimes allow UWB signals to penetrate through objects such as walls. In an IEEE 802.15.4 system, a pair of electronic devices such as AP34and reflective device50may exchange wireless time stamped messages. Time stamps in the messages may be analyzed to determine the time of flight of the messages and thereby determine the distance (range) between the devices and/or an angle between the devices (e.g., an angle of arrival of incoming radio-frequency signals). UWB signals90may be conveyed in UWB frequency bands such as an ultra-wideband communications band between about 5 GHz and about 8.5 GHz (e.g., a 6.5 GHz UWB communications band, an 8 GHz UWB communications band, and/or at other suitable frequencies).

As shown inFIG.6, a first antenna58may use UWB signals90transmitted by each of the first, second, and third UWB antennas88on reflective device50to detect the range between AP34and the first, second, and third UWB antennas88, respectively, and thus the ranges between AP34and each of the reflectors48coupled to the first, second, and third UWB antennas. If desired, AP34may include three or more antennas58that convey UWB signals. By measuring this distance across multiple points on reflective device50(e.g., the location of each UWB antenna88), AP34may detect (e.g., calculate, measure, computer, sense, etc.) the distance and/or orientation of one or more reflectors48and thus reflective device50itself with respect to AP34. Once AP34knows the distance between AP34and reflective device50and/or the distance to or orientation of one or more reflectors48, AP34may form suitable AP beams that are pointed towards different reflectors48on reflective device50. Calibration using UWB signals (as shown inFIG.6) may, for example, be triggered and performed autonomously by AP34(whereas calibration using optical signals as shown inFIG.5may be triggered by a user). Other frequencies or RATs may be used to calibrate reflective device50using radio-frequency signals if desired.

FIG.7is a flow chart of illustrative operations involved in establishing and maintaining wireless communications between an AP34and UE device10via reflection of wireless signals46off reflective device50. The operations ofFIG.7may be performed after AP34and reflective device50have been installed in system8(e.g., after reflectors48have been placed in an initial set of orientations/angles to configure reflective device50to exhibit a sufficient FOV over area78of system8).

At operation100, AP34may calibrate the position, distance to, and/or orientation of one or more reflectors48and/or of reflective device50with respect to AP34. AP34may, for example, detect, measure, sense, or calculate the position, distance to, and/or orientation of one or more reflectors48and/or of reflective device50with respect to AP34using optical signals (FIG.5), using UWB signals (FIG.6), or using other techniques. AP34may identify AP beams based on the detected position, distance to, and/or orientation of one or more reflectors48and/or of reflective device50with respect to AP34. For example, AP34may identify AP beams that point towards each reflector48in reflective device50based on the detected position, distance to, and/or orientation of one or more reflectors48and/or of reflective device50with respect to AP34.

Following the initial calibration, AP34may monitor system8for the presence of a UE device10that wishes to communicate with AP34using data RAT DR. When a UE device10enters system8and a LOS path is present between the UE device and AP34, AP34and UE device10may convey wireless signals46over the data RAT and the LOS path. When the LOS path is blocked or otherwise offers inferior radio-frequency propagation to communication via reflective device50, AP34may choose to communicate with UE device10via reflective device50(e.g., by illuminating a reflector48on reflective device50that reflects wireless signals46between the current position of the UE device and AP34). AP34may select the particular reflector48on reflective device50to use by beam steering over different AP beams. Thus, the reflector selection speed is limited only by the antenna tuning duration at the AP, which is generally very rapid and is much faster than reconfiguring the many antenna elements on a RIS in implementations where reflective device50is a RIS.

Processing may advance to operation102when the LOS path is blocked between UE device10and AP34or otherwise offers inferior radio-frequency propagation to communication via reflective device50. At operation102, AP34and UE device10may be placed into a selection mode. For example, UE device10may use control RAT CR to inform AP34that it wishes to begin or continue communicating using data RAT DR and may subsequently begin to listen for wireless signals46transmitted by AP34using data RAT DR. Additionally or alternatively, AP34may use control RAT CR to inform UE device10that it is about to begin or continue transmitting wireless signals46. UE device may subsequently begin to listen for wireless signals46transmitted by AP34. UE device10may listen for wireless signals46by actively receiving radio-frequency energy using the data RAT and one or more antennas, attempting to decode wireless signals or data in the received radio-frequency energy, gathering wireless performance metric data from the received radio-frequency energy, comparing the wireless performance metric data to one or more threshold values, etc. The wireless performance metric data may include received power values, signal strength values, received signal strength indicator values, signal-to-noise ratio values, noise floor values, error rate values, signal quality values, decoded data, and/or any other desired values that characterize the satisfactory reception of wireless signals46at UE device10.

At operation104, AP34may select one of the reflectors48on reflective device50. AP34may have knowledge of the different reflectors48on reflective device50, their respective orientations/positions, and/or the AP beams that are oriented towards each of the reflectors from the calibration performed at operation100.

At operation106, AP34may transmit wireless signals46(e.g., sub-THz signals, MM/CM wave signals, etc.) towards the selected reflector48. AP34may, for example, transmit wireless signals46within the AP beam75(FIG.4) that is oriented/pointed towards (e.g., overlaps) the selected reflector (e.g., at the known (calibrated) distance/orientation of the selected reflector with respect to AP34). AP34may include a very short pre-amble within the transmitted wireless signals46. The pre-amble may be specific/unique to the particular selected reflector48and AP beam75(e.g., the preamble may be a reflector-specific preamble). UE device10may concurrently listen for the wireless signals46transmitted by AP34. UE device10may sweep over different UE beams while listening for the wireless signals46if desired (e.g., during each iteration of operation106). While listening for wireless signals46, UE device may gather wireless performance metric data indicative of whether UE device10received the transmitted wireless signals46that reflected off the selected reflector48.

If reflectors48remain in reflective device50for testing, processing may loop back to operation104via path108and AP34may select a subsequent reflector48in reflective device50to reflect wireless signals46. AP34may transmit a different respective preamble in the wireless signals46to each selected reflector48and UE device10may continue to listen for wireless signals46while gathering wireless performance metric data. This is illustrative and, in other implementations, AP34may transmit the same preamble or another signal to each selected reflector48. AP34may continue to sweep/scan over different reflectors48in reflective device50until no reflectors48remain in reflective device50, at which point processing may proceed to operation112via path110.

At operation112, UE device10may transmit a measurement report or other feedback (control) signals to AP34(e.g., the measurement report may be a type of feedback signal structured as a measurement report). The measurement report or other feedback signals may include the wireless performance metric data gathered while AP34swept over AP beams75and reflectors48. The wireless performance metric data in the measurement report or other feedback signals may include information identifying any preamble (or the preamble itself) that was successfully received (e.g., successfully decoded) at UE device10during the sweep/scan over AP beams75and reflectors48. Since each transmitted preamble is specific to a corresponding one of reflectors48(e.g., was reflected by a corresponding one of reflectors48), the information identifying the preamble may help AP34to determine which reflector48successfully reflected wireless signals46towards the current location of UE device10. UE device10may, for example, use control RAT CR to transmit the measurement report to AP34. If desired, UE device10may transmit feedback signals to AP34using the data RAT instead of over the control RAT. There may be, for example a frame structure where AP34periodically transmits a reference signal (e.g., an identical or indistinguishable preamble) and at some point after the preamble transmission, AP34may listen for a response from UE device10(e.g., similar to a random access channel (RACH) process). Once the UE device hears/receives the preamble reflected off reflective device50, the UE device has knowledge of the successful UE beam setting and it can respond in the RACH time slot corresponding to the received preamble.

At operation114, AP34may select an optimal reflector48and a corresponding optimal AP beam75(e.g., the AP beam pointed towards the optimal reflector) based on the wireless performance metric data in the measurement report. AP34may, for example, select the reflector48corresponding to the preamble identified in the measurement report as the optimal reflector. If desired, AP34may select the optimal reflector48by comparing other wireless performance metric data gathered by UE device10and included in the measurement report to one or more threshold values (e.g., where the optimal reflector reflected wireless signals from which UE device10gathered wireless performance metric data that exceeded the one or more threshold values). If desired, AP34may use control RAT CR to inform UE device10of the selected optimal reflector48and/or AP beam75.

If desired, UE device10may select an optimal UE beam to use based on the wireless performance metric data gathered while iterating through operation106. For example, UE device10may select the UE beam that was active when UE device10was able to successfully receive or decode a preamble in wireless signals46as the optimal UE beam. The optimal UE beam may, for example, be oriented/pointed towards the optimal reflector48on reflective device50. If desired, UE device10may use control RAT CR to inform AP34of the selected optimal UE beam. Additionally or alternatively, UE device10may select an optimal UE beam based on information received from AP34(e.g., over the control RAT) identifying the selected reflector and/or AP beam.

At operation116, AP34and UE device10may convey wireless signals46via reflection off the selected optimal reflector48(e.g., using data RAT DR, sub-THz frequencies, MM/CM wave frequencies, etc.). AP34may transmit and receive wireless signals46within the selected optimal AP beam, which may be oriented/pointed towards (e.g., overlapping) the selected optimal reflector48. UE device10may transmit and receive wireless signals46within the selected optimal UE beam, which may be oriented/pointed towards (e.g., overlapping) the selected optimal reflector48. In this way, AP34and UE device10may convey wireless data (using wireless signals46) at extremely high data rates despite the lack of an LOS path between AP34and UE device10.

At operation118, AP34and/or UE device10may track the position of UE device10over time. AP34may update the selected optimal reflector48(and its corresponding AP beam75) over time based on the tracked position of UE device10. The updated optimal reflector48may, for example, be a reflector48that reflects wireless signals46between AP34and a new (updated) position of UE device10even if UE device10has moved over time. Similarly, UE device10may update its selected optimal UE beam over time based on its tracked position. This may allow wireless signals46to continue to be conveyed between AP34and UE device10via reflection off reflective device50even as UE device10moves over time.

AP34and UE device10may track UE device10in any desired manner using data RAT DR and/or control RAT CR. For example, AP34may vary its active AP beam75and thus the active reflector48used to reflect wireless signals46(at operation120). AP34may, for example, illuminate different reflectors48around the selected optimal reflector48to check whether a different reflector will perform better in communicating with UE device10. UE device10may gather wireless performance metric data while AP34varies the active AP beam. UE device10may transmit the wireless performance metric data and/or any preambles that were decoded while AP34varied the active AP beam to AP34over the control RAT (e.g., within a measurement report). If the wireless performance metric data indicates that one of the other reflectors48reflects wireless signals with improved radio-frequency performance at UE device10, then AP34may select that reflector as a new (updated) optimal reflector48and may continue to communicate with UE device10using the new (updated) optimal reflector48(and the corresponding AP beam).

AP34may perform operation120periodically or in response to any desired trigger condition. For example, AP34may perform operation120when AP34gathers wireless performance metric data from wireless signals46transmitted by UE device10that fall below a threshold value, when UE device10requests that AP34perform operation120over control RAT CR (e.g., when UE device10gathers wireless performance metric data from wireless signals46transmitted by UE device10that fall below a threshold value), etc. The AP beam variation of operation120may be performed relatively quickly such that only a limited amount of communication time is blocked by attempting to find an updated optimal reflector. Communication disruption may be further limited by limiting the variation of the active AP beam to only a subset of the total AP beams (e.g., by sweeping over a subset of reflectors48such as only the reflectors48adjacent to the currently active reflector48and AP beam75).

Additionally or alternatively, UE device10may gather sensor data (at operation122). The sensor data may be indicative of movement and/or rotation of UE device10. The sensor data may include, for example, position sensor data, satellite navigation system data (e.g., GPS data), accelerometer data, gyroscope data, inertial measurement unit data, compass data, light sensor data, wireless performance metric data, etc. When the sensor data indicates that UE device10has moved or rotated by an amount that exceeds a threshold value (e.g., by an amount such that the UE device is likely to have moved out of the coverage area of the currently-selected AP beam75as reflected off the currently-selected reflector48), UE device10may transmit information to AP34(e.g., using control RAT CR) that includes the gathered sensor data and/or that otherwise identifies the amount of movement or rotation of UE device10that has occurred. AP34may process this information to select a new (updated) optimal reflector48and corresponding AP beam75(e.g., AP34may select a new optimal reflector48and AP beam75based on the sensor data gathered by UE device10). The new (updated) optimal reflector48may be the reflector that reflects wireless signals46to the new current position of UE device10as identified by the sensor data, for example.

If desired, AP34may scan or sweep over signal beams based on the sensor data received from UE device10. For example, UE device10moving or rotating by an amount exceeding a threshold value may form the trigger condition with which AP34performs operation120(e.g., UE device10may request that AP device34perform operation120when UE device10has detected that it has moved or rotated). As another example, when the sensor data includes wireless performance metric data gathered by UE device10, the wireless performance metric data (e.g., received signal strength values) falling below a threshold value may form the trigger condition with which AP34performs operation120(e.g., UE device10may request that AP device34perform operation120when UE device10has detected that its received signal level has dropped by an excessive amount).

When the wireless link between UE device10and AP34(via data RAT DR) has been lost, UE device10may inform AP34that the link has been lost (at operation124). UE device10may detect that the wireless link has been lost when the wireless performance metric data gathered by UE device10has fallen below a threshold value, when UE device10is no longer receiving wireless signals46transmitted by AP34, etc. UE device10may use control RAT CR to inform AP34that the wireless link has been lost. Additionally or alternatively, AP34may detect that the wireless link has been lost (e.g., when the wireless performance metric data gathered by AP34has fallen below a threshold value, when AP34is no longer receiving wireless signals46transmitted by UE device10, etc.). When the wireless link has been lost, processing may loop back to operation102via path126to perform a full sweep over AP beams and reflectors48on reflective device50until the wireless link with UE device10is re-acquired.

The example ofFIG.7is illustrative and non-limiting. If the LOS path between AP34and UE device10returns, AP34may reconfigure its antennas to use an AP beam that points towards UE device and UE device10may reconfigure its antennas to use a UE beam that points towards AP34. If desired, UE device10may transmit measurement reports to AP34after each iteration of operation106rather than waiting until AP34has finished sweeping over all reflectors48on reflective device50. The operations described herein as being performed by AP34may alternatively be performed by UE device whereas the operations described herein as being performed by UE device10may be performed by AP34(e.g., the UE device may control establishment of data RAT communications with AP34via reflective device50).

FIG.8is a front view of reflective device50showing one example of how AP34may sweep/scan over different AP beams75and reflectors48while establishing data RAT communications with UE device10via reflective device50(e.g., while iterating through operation106ofFIG.7). AP34may sweep through AP beams75and corresponding reflectors48in any desired pattern. In the example ofFIG.8, AP34sweeps through reflectors48and AP beams75from a first AP beam75-1overlapping a first reflector48-1to a sixteenth AP beam75-16overlapping a sixteenth reflector48-16in a raster scan pattern, as shown by arrow130. AP34may transmit a respective preamble or repetitions of the respective preamble to each reflector48(e.g., using the corresponding AP beam75) and each reflector48may reflect its preamble(s) in a different respective direction.

In the raster scan pattern ofFIG.8, each reflector48in a given row is used to reflect a respective reflector-specific preamble in wireless signals46in order from left to right and then each subsequent row is similarly scanned until all reflectors48have reflected the corresponding reflector-specific preambles in wireless signals46. This example is illustrative and non-limiting. AP34may sweep through reflectors48in any other desired orders/patterns. Reflective device50includes sixteen reflectors48arranged in four rows and columns in this example. In general, reflective device50may include any desired number of reflectors48arranged in any desired number of rows, any desired number of columns, and/or in any other desired pattern.

FIG.9is a front view of reflective device50showing one example of how AP34may vary its active AP beam75and the active reflector48while tracking UE device10(e.g., while performing operation120ofFIG.7). As shown inFIG.9, AP34may convey wireless signals46within selected optimal AP beam75-6overlapping a selected optimal reflector48-6(e.g., as selected while processing operation114ofFIG.7). In response to a trigger condition, AP34may vary its active AP beam75and thus the active reflector48around selected optimal AP beam75-6.

AP34may vary the active AP beam and the active reflector by scanning/sweeping through AP beams75adjacent to the selected optimal AP beam75-6and thus scanning/sweeping through reflectors48adjacent to selected optimal reflector48-6. For example, AP34may begin to transmit wireless signals46within AP beam75-1overlapping reflector48-1. AP34may then sweep through the AP beams and reflectors48around selected optimal AP beam75-6and selected optimal reflector48-6to AP beam48-5overlapping reflector48-5, as shown by arrow132. UE device10may gather wireless performance metric data during this sweep and may transmit a measurement report identifying the wireless performance metric data to AP34(e.g., over the control RAT).

UE device10and/or AP34may process the wireless performance metric data to identify whether one of the swept AP beams and reflectors offers superior wireless performance in communicating with UE device10than selected optimal AP beam75-6and selected optimal reflector48-6. For example, if UE device10has moved from its initial position, AP beam75-5and reflector48-5may offer better wireless performance than selected optimal AP beam75-6and selected optimal reflector48-6(e.g., because UE device10may have moved to a location in area78of system8that overlaps the AP beam75-5as reflected by reflector48-5and has moved away from the location in area78that overlaps the AP beam75-6as reflected by reflector48-6). Since it is unlikely that UE device10has moved far from its initial position within the time scale of UE tracking, sweeping over AP beams and reflectors around the current selected optimal AP beam and reflector may be highly likely to maintain communications with UE device10. By limiting the sweep over AP beams and reflectors to a subset of all of the available AP beams and reflectors (e.g., to the AP beams and reflectors adjacent to or around selected optimal AP beam and selected optimal reflector48-6), UE tracking may be performed relatively quickly without significant disruptions to wireless data transfer between UE device10and AP34.

This example is illustrative and non-limiting. AP34may sweep through reflectors48in any other desired orders/patterns while processing operation120ofFIG.7. Reflective device50includes sixteen reflectors48arranged in four rows and columns in this example. In general, reflective device50may include any desired number of reflectors48arranged in any desired number of rows, any desired number of columns, and/or in any other desired pattern.

If desired, one or more reflectors48on reflective device50may be electrically adjustable. FIG. is a side view of an electrically adjustable reflector48. As shown inFIG.10, reflective device50may include one or more electromechanical actuators134(sometimes referred to herein simply as actuators134) that couple reflector48to support structures66(e.g., reflector48may be mounted to support structures66using one or more electromechanical actuators134, may be coupled to support structures66by or through one or more electromechanical actuators134, etc.). Electromechanical actuators134may include piezoelectric actuators or shifters, micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) structures, motors, etc.

Electromechanical actuators134may receive electrical control signals from control circuitry52(FIG.1) that control electromechanical actuators134to mechanically move or rotate some or all of reflector48. Electromechanical actuator(s)134may rotate, raise, lower, tilt, or otherwise adjust the position and/or orientation (angle) of reflector48with respect to support structures66. For example, electromechanical actuator(s)134may raise or lower a first (e.g., left) side (edge) of reflector48to change the distance of the first side of reflector48from support structures66and/or may raise or lower a second (e.g., right) side (edge) of reflector48opposite the first side of reflector48to change the distance of the second side of reflector48from support structures66, as shown by arrows136. Electromechanical actuator(s)134may raise or lower additional edges of reflector48to tilt reflector48in three dimensions if desired.

In the example ofFIG.10, reflector48has a non-tilted orientation in which the left side and the right side of reflector48are both located at distance H1from support structures66and in which the reflective surface of reflector48lies within a plane parallel to the horizontal axis ofFIG.10. An incident AP beam75may reflect off reflector48about normal axis62of reflector48. AP beam75may be incident on reflector48at incident angle αi1with respect to normal axis62. Reflector48may reflect signal beam75at output (reflected) angle αR1with respect to normal axis62(e.g., on the side of normal axis62opposite to incident angle αi1). Reflector48may act as a radio-frequency mirror such that the magnitude of incident angle αi1is equal to the magnitude of output angle αR1. This may serve to reflect AP beam75in a direction given by angle β1with respect to the horizontal axis ofFIG.10.

If desired, electromechanical actuator(s)134may rotate or tilt reflector48to reflect AP beam at a different angle, thereby providing the reflected AP beam to a different location in area78of system8(FIG.4).FIG.11is a side view showing one example of how electromechanical actuator(s)134may rotate or tilt reflector48so the reflective surface of reflector48no longer lies in a plane parallel with the horizontal axis. As shown inFIG.11, electromechanical mechanical actuator(s)134may rotate or tilt reflector48such that the first (left) side of reflector48is located at distance H from support structures66whereas the second (right) side of reflector48is located at distance H2from support structures66. This configures the reflective surface60of reflector48to lie within a plane oriented at a non-parallel angle with respect to the horizontal axis ofFIG.11.

The incident AP beam75may reflect off reflector48about normal axis62of reflector48. AP beam75may be incident on reflector48at incident angle au with respect to normal axis62when reflector48is tilted in this way. Reflector48may reflect signal beam75at output (reflected) angle αR2with respect to normal axis62(e.g., on the side of normal axis62opposite to incident angle αi2). Reflector48may act as a radio-frequency mirror such that the magnitude of incident angle αi2is equal to the magnitude of output angle αR2. This may serve to reflect AP beam75in a direction given by angle β2with respect to the horizontal axis ofFIG.10. Angle β2is different from (e.g., greater than) angle β1ofFIG.10. As such, the tilted configuration (orientation) ofFIG.11may serve to direct (reflect) AP beam in a different direction than the un-tilted configuration (orientation) ofFIG.10.

The control signals provided to electromechanical actuator(s)134may control electromechanical actuator(s)134to switch between the un-tilted orientation ofFIG.10and the tilted orientation ofFIG.11. The control signals may also control the amount and/or direction (e.g., the particular angle in spherical coordinates) with which reflector48is tilted, thereby changing angle β to any desired value and allowing reflector48to reflect AP beam75to any desired location within area78of system8(FIG.4). If desired, electromechanical actuator(s)134may additionally or alternatively control reflector48to impart a phase shift to the signals in AP beam75.

FIG.12is a side view showing how electromechanical actuator(s)134may control reflector48to impart a phase shift to the signals in AP beam75. As shown inFIG.12, electromechanical actuator(s)134may adjust the overall distance of reflector48from support structures66to impart the signals in AP beam75with a selected phase shift. In the example ofFIG.12, electromechanical actuator(s)134have separated reflector48from support structures66by a uniform height H2across its reflective surface60(e.g., in an un-tilted orientation). This may cause reflector48to impart the wireless signals in AP beam with a first phase upon reflection off of reflector48. On the other hand, when electromechanical actuator(s)134have separated reflector48from support structures66by a uniform height H1that is less than height H2across its reflective surface (e.g., as shown in the un-tilted orientation ofFIG.10), reflector48to impart the wireless signals in AP beam75with a second phase upon reflection off of reflector48that is different from the first phase.

If desired, electromechanical actuator(s)134may impart a selected phase shift to AP beam75while in a tilted configuration (e.g., by changing the separation of reflector48from support structures66ofFIG.11with by a uniform offset across reflective surface60). By uniformly changing the separation of the entire reflective surface60of reflector48with respect to support structures66, reflector48may be controlled to impart a selected phase shift to the reflected signals. If desired, different phase shifts may be applied across the reflectors48on reflective device50to configure multiple reflected beams to constructively/destructively interfere (e.g., to perform beamforming), to minimize interference between the beams, or for any other desired purposes. While the examples ofFIGS.10-12illustrate downlink transmission of wireless signals46from AP34to UE device(s)10via reflector48for the sake of simplicity, reflector48may conversely reflect wireless signals46during uplink transmission of wireless signals46from UE device(s)10to AP34(e.g., the AP beam75ofFIGS.10-12may be equivalently replaced with a UE beam).

Electromechanical actuator(s)134may actively and dynamically adjust the orientation (angle) of reflector48to change the direction with which wireless signals46are directed/reflected within area78of system8(e.g., while establishing a wireless link between UE device10and AP34via reflective device and/or while tracking UE device10after a wireless link has already been established).FIG.13is a top view showing how the orientation of reflector48may be adjusted to change the direction with which wireless signals46are directed/reflected in system8.

As shown inFIG.13, reflective device50may include at least a first reflector48-1and a second reflector48-2. At least first reflector48-1may be electrically adjustable (support structures66and electromechanical actuator(s)134have been omitted fromFIG.13for the sake of clarity). When reflector48-1has a first orientation (e.g., is oriented or tilted at a first angle with respect to the support structure), reflector48-1may reflect an incident AP beam75as reflected AP beam75R-1, which is pointed in a first direction towards a first location72A in system8. The electromechanical actuator(s) may change the orientation/angle of reflector48-1(e.g., may rotate reflector48-1) to a different orientation orientation/angle140, as shown by arrow142. When reflector48-1has the second orientation (e.g., is oriented or tilted at a second angle with respect to the support structure), reflector48-1may reflect the incident AP beam75as reflected AP beam75R-2, which is pointed in a second direction towards a first location72B in system8.

AP34and/or UE device10may use the control RAT to instruct reflective device50when and how to rotate reflector48-1. During UE tracking, for example, reflector48-1may be rotated from the first orientation to the second orientation when UE device10moves from location72A to location72B in system8. If desired, reflector48-1may be rapidly toggled or switched between the first and second orientations to allow AP34to convey wireless signals46with both a first UE device10at location72A and a second UE device10that is concurrently at location72B (e.g., using a time division multiplexing scheme). While the example ofFIG.13illustrates downlink transmission of wireless signals46from AP34via reflector48for the sake of simplicity, reflector48may conversely reflect wireless signals46during uplink transmission of wireless signals46from UE device(s)10(e.g., at locations72A or72B) to AP34(e.g., the AP beam75ofFIG.13may be equivalently replaced with a UE beam). The angles/orientations of reflectors48may sometimes be referred to herein as reflector angles/orientations.

During the initial establishment of a wireless link between UE device10and AP34via reflective device50, reflector48-1may be swept through different orientations while AP34searches for UE device10within system8over the data RAT (e.g., AP34may sweep through reflectors48and orientations of the reflectors to cover each location within system8while attempting to discover UE device10).

FIG.14is a flow chart of illustrative operations involved in establishing and maintaining wireless communications between an AP34and UE device10via reflection of wireless signals46off reflective device50in implementations where reflective device50includes electrically adjustable reflectors48(e.g., reflectors coupled to support structures66using electromechanical actuator(s)134ofFIGS.10-12). The operations ofFIG.14may be performed after AP34and reflective device50have been installed in system8, after AP34has calibrated the position/orientation of reflective device50(e.g., at operation100ofFIG.7), after a UE device10has entered the system but that does not have a LOS path to AP34, and after the AP and UE device have been placed into a selection mode (e.g., at operation102ofFIG.7), for example.

At operation150, AP34may control reflective device50to place the reflectors48in reflective device50in a first set of angles/orientations. AP34may control reflective device50to place the reflectors48in reflective device50in the first set of angles/orientation using the control RAT, for example.

At operation152, AP34may begin a sweep/scan of AP beams using two nested control loops: a first loop over different reflectors48in reflective device50and a second loop over different sets of angles/orientations of reflectors48. As a part of the first loop, AP34may select one of the reflectors48on reflective device50.

At operation154, AP34may transmit wireless signals46towards the selected reflector48(e.g., within the AP beam75overlapping the selected reflector48). The selected reflector may be in a corresponding angle/orientation of the first set of angles/orientations. The wireless signals may include a very short pre-amble that is specific/unique to the particular selected reflector48and the corresponding angle/orientation of the selected reflector (e.g., the preamble may be a reflector and angle-specific preamble). UE device10may concurrently listen for the wireless signals46transmitted by AP34. UE device10may sweep over different UE beams while listening for the wireless signals46if desired (e.g., during each iteration of operation154). While listening for wireless signals46, UE device10may gather wireless performance metric data indicative of whether UE device10received the transmitted wireless signals46that reflected off the selected reflector48.

If reflectors48remain in reflective device50for testing, processing may loop back to operation152via path156and AP34may select a subsequent reflector48in reflective device50to reflect wireless signals46. AP34may transmit a different respective preamble in the wireless signals46to each selected reflector48and UE device10may continue to listen for wireless signals46while gathering wireless performance metric data. AP34may continue to sweep/scan over different reflectors48in reflective device50until no reflectors48remain in reflective device50, at which point processing may proceed to operation160via path158(e.g., to begin to iterate over the second loop).

At operation160, AP34may determine whether sets of angles/orientations for the reflectors48in reflective device50remain If sets of angles/orientations for the reflectors48in reflective device50remain, processing may proceed to operation164via path162.

At operation164, AP34may control reflective device50to place the reflectors48in reflective device50in a subsequent (next) set of angles/orientations. AP34may control reflective device50to place the reflectors48in reflective device50in the subsequent set of angles/orientations using the control RAT, for example. Processing may then loop back to operation152via path166and AP34may sweep over the reflectors48while oriented in the subsequent set of angles/orientations (e.g., while transmitting reflector and angle-specific preambles to each respective reflector). This process may continue until no sets of angles/orientations of reflectors48remain, at which point processing may proceed from operation160to operation170via path168.

The example ofFIG.14in which AP34sweeps over an inner loop of reflectors and an outer loop of reflector angles/orientations is illustrative and non-limiting. In other implementations, AP34may sweep over an inner loop of reflector angles/orientations and an outer loop of reflectors. In these implementations, AP34may transmit wireless signals46to a given reflector48and may control reflective device50to sweep that reflector48through each of its available angles/orientations (e.g., while transmitting a different reflector and angle-specific preamble while the reflector48is in each of its available angles/orientations) before transmitting wireless signals46to the next reflector. If desired, AP34may control reflective device50prior to transmitting wireless signals46to switch its reflectors48between different sets of angles/orientations at predetermined times that are time-synchronized with the sweep of AP beams and the transmission of reflector and angle-specific preambles by AP34, rather than instructing reflective device50to switch angles/orientations at the beginning of each iteration of the outer loop. In these implementations, operation164may be omitted, for example.

At operation170, UE device10may transmit its measurement report (or other feedback signals) to AP34. The measurement report or other feedback signals may include (identify) the wireless performance metric data gathered while AP34swept over AP beams75, reflectors48, and sets of reflector angles/orientations. The wireless performance metric data in the measurement report or other feedback signals may include information identifying any preamble (or the preamble itself) that was successfully received (e.g., decoded) at UE device10during the sweep/scan over AP beams75, reflectors48, and reflector angles/orientations. Since each transmitted preamble is specific to a corresponding one of reflectors48and a corresponding angle/orientation from one of the sets of angles/orientations (e.g., was reflected by a corresponding one of reflectors48while oriented at a corresponding angle/orientation), the information identifying the preamble may help AP34to determine which reflector48and which angle/orientation of that reflector successfully reflected wireless signals46towards the current location of UE device10. UE device10may, for example, use control RAT CR to transmit the measurement report or other feedback signals to AP34or may use the data RAT to transmit the feedback signals to AP34.

At operation172, AP34may select an optimal reflector48, a corresponding optimal AP beam75, and a corresponding optimal angle/orientation of the optimal reflector based on the measurement report or other feedback signals received from UE device10. AP34may, for example, select the reflector48, AP beam75, and reflector angle/orientation of the reflector corresponding to the preamble identified in the measurement report or other feedback signals as the optimal reflector, AP beam, and reflector angle/orientation, respectively. If desired, AP34may select the optimal reflector48, AP beam and reflector angle/orientation by comparing other wireless performance metric data gathered by UE device10and included in the measurement report or other feedback signals to one or more threshold values. If desired, AP34may use control RAT CR to inform UE device10of the selected optimal reflector48, AP beam75, and/or reflector angle/orientation.

At operation174, AP34may control reflective device50to place the selected optimal reflector48in the corresponding selected optimal reflector angle/orientation (e.g., using the control RAT).

At operation176, AP34and UE device10may convey wireless signals46via reflection off the selected optimal reflector48(e.g., using data RAT DR, sub-THz frequencies, MM/CM wave frequencies, etc.) while the selected optimal reflector48is oriented at the selected optimal reflector angle/orientation.

At operation178, AP34and/or UE device may track the position of UE device10over time. AP34may update the selected optimal reflector48(and its corresponding AP beam75) and/or the optimal reflector angle/orientation over time based on the tracked position of UE device10(e.g., using operations120-124ofFIG.7while optionally varying reflector angle/orientation in addition to varying the active reflector while performing operation120). Processing may, for example, loop back to operation150via a return path (not shown inFIG.14for the sake of clarity) similar to path126ofFIG.7.

The example ofFIG.14is illustrative and non-limiting. If the LOS path between AP34and UE device10returns, AP34may reconfigure its antennas to use an AP beam that points towards UE device10and UE device10may reconfigure its antennas to use a UE beam that points towards AP34. If desired, UE device10may transmit measurement reports or other feedback signals to AP34after each iteration of operation154rather than waiting until AP34has finished sweeping over all reflectors48and reflector angles/orientations on reflective device50. The operations described herein as being performed by AP34may alternatively be performed by UE device10whereas the operations described herein as being performed by UE device10may be performed by AP34(e.g., the UE device may control establishment of data RAT communications with AP34via reflective device50).

FIG.15is a front view of reflective device50showing one example of how AP34may sweep/scan over different AP beams75, reflectors48, and reflector angles/orientations while establishing data RAT communications with UE device10via reflective device50(e.g., while iterating through operation154and the inner and outer loops ofFIG.14). AP34may sweep through AP beams75and corresponding reflectors48in any desired pattern. In the example ofFIG.15, while the reflectors48on reflective device50are oriented in a first set of angles/orientations A, AP34sweeps through reflectors48and AP beams75from a first AP beam75-1overlapping a first reflector48-1to a ninth AP beam75-9overlapping a ninth reflector48-9in a raster scan pattern, as shown by arrow180.

Once each reflector has been scanned while the reflectors48on reflective device50are oriented in the first set of angles/orientations A, AP34may control reflective device50to rotate its reflectors48into a second set of angles/orientations B (e.g., in a second iteration of the outer loop ofFIG.14). AP34may then sweep through reflectors48and AP beams75from a first AP beam75-1overlapping a first reflector48-1to a ninth AP beam75-9overlapping a ninth reflector48-9in a raster scan pattern, as shown by arrow180. Once each reflector has been scanned while the reflectors48on reflective device50are oriented in the second set of angles/orientations B, AP34may control reflective device50to rotate its reflectors48into a third set of angles/orientations C (e.g., in a third iteration of the outer loop ofFIG.14). AP34may then sweep through reflectors48and AP beams75from a first AP beam75-1overlapping a first reflector48-1to a ninth AP beam75-9overlapping a ninth reflector48-9in a raster scan pattern, as shown by arrow180. This process may repeat until each available reflector angle/orientation has been tested or until any desired number of reflector angles/orientations have been tested for establishing communications with UE device10. The scan pattern shown inFIG.15is illustrative and non-limiting. If desired, the beam scan and reflector tilt patterns may be different than as shown inFIG.15. For example, the opposite tilt/orientation may be used when scanning a neighboring reflective tile, because that would be the closest angle, or a neighboring reflection may come from the same tile but with the next tilt level (similar to as shown inFIG.9).

When reflectors48are electrically adjustable, as in the example ofFIG.15, rotating the reflectors between different reflector angles/orientations may allow reflective device50to effectively cover the same overall FOV as implementations where reflectors48are fixed but while requiring significantly fewer reflectors. The reflective device50shown in the example ofFIG.15, in which reflective device50includes nine electrically adjustable reflectors48may, for example, exhibit the same field of view as the reflective device50shown in the example ofFIG.8when the reflectors48in the example ofFIG.8are fixed. This may, for example, allow for a significant reduction in the overall size of reflective device50without sacrificing FOV or wireless performance in reflecting wireless signals46. Consider one example in which fixed reflectors48can be shifted within a range of 2 degrees. This may require 45-by-45 fixed reflectors48to cover a sufficient FOV. If each reflector48is electrically adjustable between different angles/orientations within +/−5 degrees, the same FOV may be covered with an array of 10-by-10 reflectors48. If desired, some of the reflectors48in reflective device50may be fixed whereas other reflectors48in reflective device50are electrically adjustable. If desired, electromechanical actuator(s)134may rotate/tilt the entire array of reflectors48in reflective device50.FIG.16is a side view showing one example of how electromechanical actuator(s)134may rotate/tilt the entire array of reflectors48in reflective device50. This may serve to minimize hardware effort for reflector adjustment but may reduce the number of possible settings for reflective device50.

As shown inFIG.16, electromechanical actuator(s)134may rotate/tilt the entire array of reflectors48about support structures66, between at least an un-tilted orientation in which both the first side (edge) (e.g., reflector48-1) and the second side (edge) (e.g., reflector48-3) of reflective device50is separated from support structures66by distance H1, and a tilted orientation182, as shown by arrow184. In the tilted orientation, the first side (edge) of reflective device50may be located at distance H1from support structures66while the second side (edge) of reflective device50is located at a greater distance H2from support structures66. Electromechanical actuator(s)134may additionally or alternatively change the separation of the array of reflectors48by a uniform amount across its reflective surface to impart the reflected signals with a desired phase shift.

If desired, reflective device50may include reflectors48having different dimensions, shapes, and/or sizes.FIG.17is a front view showing one example of how reflective device50may include reflectors48having different sizes. As shown inFIG.17, reflective device50may include at least a first set of reflectors48L having a first size (surface area) and a second set of reflectors48S having a second size (surface area) that is smaller than the first size. Reflectors48L and reflectors48S may be grouped together on reflective50, may be interleaved or interspersed among each other, or may be arranged in any desired pattern. Reflectors48S may be used to cover broader reflection beams than reflectors48L and may thus be used to speed up the initial beam search whereas reflectors48L are used for UE tracking, for example. In general, the reflectors48in reflective device50may have any desired shapes and sizes and reflective device50may include any desired number of sets of reflectors48having different shapes, sizes, and/or dimensions.

As used herein, the term “concurrent” means at least partially overlapping in time. In other words, first and second events are referred to herein as being “concurrent” with each other if at least some of the first event occurs at the same time as at least some of the second event (e.g., if at least some of the first event occurs during, while, or when at least some of the second event occurs). First and second events can be concurrent if the first and second events are simultaneous (e.g., if the entire duration of the first event overlaps the entire duration of the second event in time) but can also be concurrent if the first and second events are non-simultaneous (e.g., if the first event starts before or after the start of the second event, if the first event ends before or after the end of the second event, or if the first and second events are partially non-overlapping in time). As used herein, the term “while” is synonymous with “concurrent.”

The methods and operations described above in connection withFIGS.1-17may be performed by the components of UE device10, reflective device50, and/or AP34using software, firmware, and/or hardware (e.g., dedicated circuitry or hardware). Software code for performing these operations may be stored on non-transitory computer readable storage media (e.g., tangible computer readable storage media) stored on one or more of the components of UE device10, reflective device50, and/or AP34. The software code may sometimes be referred to as software, data, instructions, program instructions, or code. The non-transitory computer readable storage media may include drives, non-volatile memory such as non-volatile random-access memory (NVRAM), removable flash drives or other removable media, other types of random-access memory, etc. Software stored on the non-transitory computer readable storage media may be executed by processing circuitry on one or more of the components of UE device10, reflective device50, and/or AP34. The processing circuitry may include microprocessors, central processing units (CPUs), application-specific integrated circuits with processing circuitry, or other processing circuitry.

For one or more aspects, at least one of the components set forth in one or more of the preceding figures may be configured to perform one or more operations, techniques, processes, or methods as set forth in the example section below. For example, circuitry associated with a UE device, base station, access point, network element, reflective device, one or more processors, etc. as described above in connection with one or more of the preceding figures may be configured to operate in accordance with one or more of the examples set forth below in the example section.

EXAMPLES

In the following sections, further exemplary aspects are provided.

Example 1 includes a method of operating a wireless access point to communicate with a user equipment device, the method comprising: transmitting, using a transmitter, a first signal to a first reflector on a reflective device concurrent with the first reflector having a first orientation; transmitting, using the transmitter, a second signal to a second reflector on the reflective device concurrent with the second reflector having a second orientation different from the first orientation; and conveying, using one or more antennas, wireless data with the user equipment device via reflection off the first reflector.

Example 2 includes the method of example 1 or some other example or combination of examples herein, further comprising: transmitting, using the transmitter, a third signal to the first reflector while the first reflector has a third orientation different from the first orientation; and transmitting, using the transmitter, a fourth signal to the second reflector while the second reflector has a fourth orientation different from the second orientation.

Example 3 includes the method of any one of examples 1 or 2 or some other example or combination of examples herein, further comprising: wirelessly transmitting control signals to the reflective device that instruct the reflective device to adjust the first reflector from the first orientation to the third orientation and that instruct the reflective device to adjust the second reflector from the second orientation to the fourth orientation.

Example 4 includes the method of any one of examples 1-3 or some other example or combination of examples herein, wherein the first signal comprises a first preamble, the second signal comprises a second preamble different from the first preamble, the third signal comprises a third preamble different from the first and second preambles, and the fourth signal comprises a fourth preamble different from the first, second, and third preambles.

Example 5 includes the method of any one of examples 1-4 or some other example or combination of examples herein, wherein conveying the wireless data comprises conveying the wireless data when the wireless access point receives information indicating that the user equipment device has received the first signal.

Example 6 includes the method of any one of examples 1-5 or some other example or combination of examples herein, further comprising: conveying, using the one or more antennas, additional wireless data with the user equipment device via reflection off the second reflector after conveying the wireless data with the user equipment device via reflection off the first reflector.

Example 7 includes the method of any one of examples 1-6 or some other example or combination of examples herein, further comprising: conveying, using the one or more antennas, additional wireless data with an additional user equipment device via reflection off the second reflector during first time periods, wherein conveying the wireless data with the user equipment device via reflection off the first reflector comprises conveying the wireless data with the user equipment device via reflection off the first reflector during second time periods interleaved with the first time periods.

Example 8 includes the method of any one of examples 1-7 or some other example or combination of examples herein, wherein transmitting the first signal comprises transmitting the first signal at a frequency greater than or equal to 100 THz.

Example 9 includes a method of operating a first electronic device to wirelessly communicate with a second electronic device, the method comprising: transmitting, using one or more antennas, wireless signals within a set of signal beams, each signal beam in the set of signal beams pointing towards a different respective reflector on a reflective device; receiving, using a receiver, a feedback signal associated with the wireless signals from the second electronic device; and transmitting, using the one or more antennas, wireless data to the second electronic device within a selected signal beam from the set of signal beams, wherein the selected signal beam is selected based on the feedback signal and the wireless data is conveyed using radio-frequency signals reflected off a reflector on the reflective device that overlaps the selected signal beam.

Example 10 includes the method of example 9 or some other example or combination of examples herein, wherein transmitting the wireless signals comprises: controlling the reflective device to set a reflector on the reflective device to a corresponding orientation.

Example 11 includes the method of any one of example 9 or 10 or some other example or combination of examples herein, wherein transmitting the wireless signals comprises: controlling the reflective device to sweep the reflectors on the reflective device over sets of different reflector orientations; and sweeping the one or more antennas over the set of signal beams while the reflective device sweeps the reflectors over the sets of different reflector orientations.

Example 12 includes the method of any one of examples 9-11 or some other example or combination of examples herein, further comprising: receiving, using the receiver, sensor data from the second electronic device; and updating the selected signal beam based on the sensor data received from the second electronic device.

Example 13 includes the method of any one of examples 9-12 or some other example or combination of examples herein, further comprising: sweeping the one or more antennas over a subset of the signal beams, the subset of the signal beams surrounding the selected signal beam; receiving, using the receiver, an additional feedback signal from the second electronic device after sweeping over the subset of the signal beams; and updating the selected signal beam to one of the signal beams in the subset of signal beams based on the additional feedback signal received from the second electronic device.

Example 14 includes the method of any one of examples 9-13 or some other example or combination of examples herein, wherein transmitting the wireless signals comprises transmitting a different respective preamble using each of the signal beams in the set of signal beams

Example 15 includes the method of any one of examples 9-14 or some other example or combination of examples herein, wherein the selected signal beam is selected based on preamble information included in the feedback signal received from the second electronic device.

Example 16 includes the method of any one of examples 9-15 or some other example or combination of examples herein, further comprising: calibrating a position of the reflective device with respect to the first electronic device prior to transmitting the wireless signals.

Example 17 includes the method of any one of examples 9-16 or some other example or combination of examples herein, wherein calibrating the position comprises transmitting, using optics, optical signals to the reflective device and receiving, using the optics, reflected optical signals from the reflective device.

Example 18 includes the method of any one of examples 9-17 or some other example or combination of examples herein, wherein calibrating the position comprises receiving ultra-wideband signals from a set of ultra-wideband antennas on the reflective device.

Example 19 includes a wireless access point comprising: a phased antenna array, the phased antenna array being configured to use a first signal beam to convey wireless signals with a user equipment device via reflection of the wireless signals off a first reflective panel in an array of reflective panels on a reflective device, the first signal beam overlapping the first reflective panel; and one or more processors configured to sweep the phased antenna array over a set of signal beams, the signal beams in the set of signal beams overlapping reflective panels on the reflective device other than the first reflective panel, and update an active signal beam of the phased antenna array based on wireless performance metric data generated by the user equipment device while the phased antenna array swept over the set of signal beams

Example 20 includes the wireless access point of example 19 or some other example or combination of examples herein, wherein the one or more processors is configured to wirelessly control the reflective device to change an orientation of the first reflective panel based on the wireless performance metric data.

Example 21 includes 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.

Example 22 includes the reflective device of claim 21 or some other example or combination of examples herein, further comprising: one or more actuators coupled to the first reflective panel; and 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.

Example 23 includes the reflective device of any one of claim 21 or 22 or some other example or combination of examples herein, further comprising: 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.

Example 24 includes the reflective device of any one of claims 21-23 or some other example or combination of examples herein, further comprising: 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.

Example 25 includes the reflective device of any one of claims 21-24 or some other example or combination of examples herein, wherein the antenna is configured to receive the control signal at a first frequency less than 10 GHz and the first reflective panel and the second reflective panel are configured to reflect radio-frequency signals at a second frequency greater than or equal to 10 GHz.

Example 26 includes the reflective device of any one of claims 21-25 or some other example or combination of examples herein, wherein the second frequency is greater than or equal to 100 GHz.

Example 27 includes the reflective device of any one of claims 21-26 or some other example or combination of examples herein, wherein the one or more actuators is configured to control the first reflective panel to change a phase shift imparted to the radio-frequency signals upon reflection of the radio-frequency signals by the first reflective panel.

Example 28 includes the reflective device of any one of claims 21-27 or some other example or combination of examples herein, wherein the one or more actuators comprise a piezoelectric shifter.

Example 29 includes the reflective device of any one of claims 21-28 or some other example or combination of examples herein, wherein the first reflective panel and the second reflective panel have a width greater than or equal to ten times a wavelength of the radio-frequency signals.

Example 30 includes the reflective device of any one of claims 21-29 or some other example or combination of examples herein, wherein the first reflective panel is larger than the second reflective panel.

Example 31 includes the reflective device of any one of claims 21-30 or some other example or combination of examples herein, further comprising: a first laser reflection bubble on the first reflective panel; and a second laser reflection bubble on the second reflective panel.

Example 32 includes the reflective device of any one of claims 21-31 or some other example or combination of examples herein, further comprising: a first ultra-wideband antenna mounted to the first reflective panel; and a second ultra-wideband antenna mounted to the second reflective panel, the first ultra-wideband antenna and the second ultra-wideband antenna being configured to transmit ultra-wideband signals to the wireless access point.

Example 33 includes the reflective device of any one of claims 21-32 or some other example or combination of examples herein, further comprising: a third reflective panel having a third orientation relative to the support, the third orientation being different from the first and second orientations; and a fourth reflective panel having a fourth orientation relative to the support, wherein the fourth orientation is different from the first, second, and third orientations, the third reflective panel and the fourth reflective panel being configured to reflect the radio-frequency signals between the wireless access point and the one or more user equipment (UE) devices.

Example 34 includes a radio-frequency reflective device comprising: a support; and an array of reflective panels mounted to the support, wherein the array of reflective panels is configured to reflect radio-frequency signals at a frequency greater than or equal to 10 GHz between a first electronic device and a second electronic device and each reflective panel in the array of reflective panels has a respective field of view.

Example 35 includes the radio-frequency reflective device of claim 34 or some other example or combination of examples herein, wherein the array of reflective panels comprises a first set of reflective panels that having fixed orientations and a second set of reflective panels having electrically adjustable orientations.

Example 36 includes the radio-frequency reflective device of any one of claim 34 or 35 or some other example or combination of examples herein, further comprising: one or more electromechanical actuators coupled to the array of reflective panels and configured to rotate one or more of the reflective panels in the array of reflective panels with respect to the support.

Example 37 includes the radio-frequency reflective device of any one of claims 34-36 or some other example or combination of examples herein, wherein the one or more electromechanical actuators are configured to rotate an entirety of the array of reflective panels with respect to the support.

Example 38 includes the radio-frequency reflective device of any one of claims 34-37 or some other example or combination of examples herein, wherein the array of reflective panels comprises at least nine reflective panels.

Example 39 includes a method of operating a reflective device to convey wireless signals between a wireless access point and one or more user equipment (UE) devices, the method comprising: rotating, using one or more electromechanical actuators, reflectors in an array of reflectors to a first set of orientations with respect to a support structure; reflecting, using the array of reflectors, a set of signal beams from the wireless access point concurrent with the reflectors in the array of reflectors being in the first set of orientations, each signal beam in the set of signal beams overlapping a respective one of the reflectors in the array of reflectors; rotating, using the one or more electromechanical actuators, the reflectors in the array of reflectors from the first set of orientations to a second set of orientations with respect to the support structure that is different from the first set of orientations; and reflecting, using the array of reflectors, the set of signal beams from the wireless access point concurrent with the reflectors in the array of reflectors being in the second set of orientations.

Example 40 includes the method of example 39 or some other example or combination of examples herein, further comprising: receiving, using an antenna, a control signal from the wireless access point, wherein rotating the reflectors in the array of reflectors from the first set of orientations to the second orientations comprises rotating the reflectors in the array of reflectors based on the control signal received from the wireless access point.

Example 41 may include an apparatus comprising means to perform one or more elements of a method described in or related to any of examples 1-40 or any combination thereof, or any other method or process described herein.

Example 44 may include a method, technique, or process as described in or related to any of examples 1-40 or any combination thereof, or portions or parts thereof.

Example 45 may include an apparatus comprising: one or more processors and one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media comprising instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the method, techniques, or process as described in or related to any of examples 1-40, or any combination thereof, or portions thereof.

Example 46 may include a signal as described in or related to any of examples 1-40, or any combination thereof, or portions or parts thereof.

Example 47 may include a datagram, information element, packet, frame, segment, PDU, or message as described in or related to any of examples 1-40, or any combination thereof, or portions or parts thereof, or otherwise described in the present disclosure.

Example 47 may include a signal encoded with data as described in or related to any of examples 1-40, or any combination thereof, or portions or parts thereof, or otherwise described in the present disclosure.

Example 48 may include a signal encoded with a datagram, TE, packet, frame, segment, PDU, or message as described in or related to any of examples 1-40, or any combination thereof, or portions or parts thereof, or otherwise described in the present disclosure.

Example 50 may include a computer program comprising instructions, wherein execution of the program by a processing element is to cause the processing element to carry out the method, techniques, or process as described in or related to any of examples 1-40, or any combination thereof, or portions thereof.

Example 51 may include a signal in a wireless network as shown and described herein.

Example 52 may include a method of communicating in a wireless network as shown and described herein.

Example 53 may include a system for providing wireless communication as shown and described herein.

Example 54 may include a device for providing wireless communication as shown and described herein.

Any of the above-described examples may be combined with any other example (or combination of examples), unless explicitly stated otherwise. The foregoing description of one or more implementations provides illustration and description but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the scope of aspects to the precise form disclosed.