EMI Shielding Using Flexible Optically Transparent Screens for Smart Electromagnetic Environments

Past generations of wireless systems focused largely toward power and bandwidth to support higher data rates, coverage, and quality of service. Smart electromagnetic environments, on the other hand, are aimed at meeting these expectations through modifications in the electromagnetic properties of the geometry, which were once considered an uncontrollable part of a wireless system. This is done through careful placement of smart electromagnetic structures that can constructively manipulate the propagation of electromagnetic waves. In this work, we present optically transparent electromagnetic screens for shielding applications that require visual observation. New aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) thin films, that are low-loss, and optically transparent, are deposited on plastic for use as absorbing-type shields. We also present a simple and reliable technique to fabricate all-metallic single-layer reflecting-type shields. All these shields have a unique combination of shielding effectiveness (SE) and optical transparency that advance the state of the art. They can be used as curtains or walls in indoor environments, windows for autonomous vehicles and as covers to shield smart IoT devices.