Trichromatic-color-sensing metasurface with reprogrammable electromagnetic functions

Visible light sensing technique has been developed and generally applied in communication, imaging, and display fields. In this paper, we propose a trichromatic-color-sensing (TCS) metasurface with reprogrammable electromagnetic (EM) functions, to establish an intelligent joint between light sensing and EM manipulations. The core innovation of this design is that it proposes a new regulation concept by combining color sensing sensors. The color sensor (TCS3200) has a large dynamic response range to light, with a standard output frequency range of 2Hz to 500 kHz. And for a full-scale output, data can be collected at twice the output frequency or at a rate of one data point per microsecond. By integrating four photodiode arrays (color sensors) on the metasurface, we achieve the active sensing on trichromatic colors and achieve the real-time response in the scattering field control. A 1-bit programmable unit is designed to regulate the reflected phase response of the scattering fields using the field-programmable gate array (FPGA) hardware system. We exhibit that the incident light of blue, green, and red components can be detected and transformed into the desired metasurface scattering patterns. Therefore, three color components in the incident light field can directly control the metasurface for various EM functions, establishing the flexible connection between light and microwave fields. Three typical coding patterns including dual-beam, four-beam, and radar-cross-section (RCS) reduction are designed and demonstrated. The presented concept will help to promote the fusion of optical and microwave systems and expand the application prospects in future new wireless communication systems and radar systems.

Automated summary

This paper proposes a reprogrammable trichromatic-color-sensing metasurface that combines color sensors for active sensing and real-time response in controlling scattering fields. By designing a programmable unit and using a hardware system, the reflected phase response of the scattering fields can be regulated. The concept enables a flexible connection between light and microwave fields and expands the application prospects in wireless communication systems and radar systems.