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Digital coding metamaterials with multi-modulation schemes and beam steering for intra-chip millimeter-wave connectivity

Digital coding metamaterials with multi-modulation schemes and beam steering for intra-chip millimeter-wave connectivity
Digital coding metamaterials with multi-modulation schemes and beam steering for intra-chip millimeter-wave connectivity

In modern wireless communication systems, data transmission is achieved through the collaboration of digital modulation circuits and antennas. Digital baseband signals are first modulated in terms of amplitude, frequency, and phase of the carrier wave and then transmitted directionally via antennas. However, in intra-chip environments, the performance of on-chip antennas is fundamentally constrained by micro-fabrication and integration requirements. As a result, these antennas often exhibit low gain and efficiency and are susceptible to interference among closely spaced transmission channels. To address these limitations, we propose a digital coding metamaterial for direct signal modulation within intra-chip wireless channels, providing an alternative solution to achieve directional signal delivery without depending on the antenna’s intrinsic radiation pattern. The proposed metamateiral can directly convert digital control inputs into discrete phase shifts of a 70 GHz TE-mode surface wave, enabling post-radiation modulation as the electromagnetic wave propagates through the metamaterial. When combined with a single broadcast antenna, multiple metamaterial units can perform simultaneous, multi-directional modulation and transmissions. The proposed metamaterial supports various phase shift modulation schemes, including BPSK, QPSK, and 8-PSK. Furthermore, it enables hybrid modulation and beam steering modes, offering a beam steering range of up to. The proposed metamateiral presents an innovative method for information routing in intra-chip transmission, helps reduce signal crosstalk under parallel transmission, and expands wireless channel capacity and spectral efficiency.

2045-2322
Shen, Zhicheng
b5fe606f-9e08-4d0a-8f2e-3a3adbf7edbb
Taravati, Sajjad
0026f25d-c919-4273-b956-8fe9795b31ce
Yan, Jize
786dc090-843b-435d-adbe-1d35e8fc5828
Shen, Zhicheng
b5fe606f-9e08-4d0a-8f2e-3a3adbf7edbb
Taravati, Sajjad
0026f25d-c919-4273-b956-8fe9795b31ce
Yan, Jize
786dc090-843b-435d-adbe-1d35e8fc5828

Shen, Zhicheng, Taravati, Sajjad and Yan, Jize (2026) Digital coding metamaterials with multi-modulation schemes and beam steering for intra-chip millimeter-wave connectivity. Scientific Reports, 16 (1), [3337]. (doi:10.1038/s41598-025-33590-7).

Record type: Article

Abstract

In modern wireless communication systems, data transmission is achieved through the collaboration of digital modulation circuits and antennas. Digital baseband signals are first modulated in terms of amplitude, frequency, and phase of the carrier wave and then transmitted directionally via antennas. However, in intra-chip environments, the performance of on-chip antennas is fundamentally constrained by micro-fabrication and integration requirements. As a result, these antennas often exhibit low gain and efficiency and are susceptible to interference among closely spaced transmission channels. To address these limitations, we propose a digital coding metamaterial for direct signal modulation within intra-chip wireless channels, providing an alternative solution to achieve directional signal delivery without depending on the antenna’s intrinsic radiation pattern. The proposed metamateiral can directly convert digital control inputs into discrete phase shifts of a 70 GHz TE-mode surface wave, enabling post-radiation modulation as the electromagnetic wave propagates through the metamaterial. When combined with a single broadcast antenna, multiple metamaterial units can perform simultaneous, multi-directional modulation and transmissions. The proposed metamaterial supports various phase shift modulation schemes, including BPSK, QPSK, and 8-PSK. Furthermore, it enables hybrid modulation and beam steering modes, offering a beam steering range of up to. The proposed metamateiral presents an innovative method for information routing in intra-chip transmission, helps reduce signal crosstalk under parallel transmission, and expands wireless channel capacity and spectral efficiency.

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s41598-025-33590-7 - Version of Record
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More information

Accepted/In Press date: 17 December 2025
Published date: 22 January 2026
Additional Information: © 2026. The Author(s).

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 511047
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/511047
ISSN: 2045-2322
PURE UUID: 831757df-3a02-41d7-be89-79af9325753d
ORCID for Sajjad Taravati: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-3992-0050
ORCID for Jize Yan: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-2886-2847

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 29 Apr 2026 16:41
Last modified: 30 Apr 2026 02:12

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Contributors

Author: Zhicheng Shen
Author: Sajjad Taravati ORCID iD
Author: Jize Yan ORCID iD

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