The Display-Driven Future - Powered and Extended by 5G Signal

At Corning, we envision a more connected future.  

Reliable 5G - and even 6G - signal is core to how people everywhere connect with each other. And that connection will also be critical for our vehicles, factories, and offices.  

As 5G signal becomes attainable for more people in more places, the next priority will be ensuring that signal reaches its final destination as seamlessly as possible. Even the strongest 5G signals are easily disrupted by physical barriers. For example, buildings can create signal dead zones outdoors and walls and furniture can create dead zones indoors. These disruptions limit signal coverage and often require an additional network of signal repeaters. 

That’s where Corning’s advanced display glass and materials science expertise comes in. Using fusion-formed advanced glass and metal patterning technology, Corning is ready to support an alternate approach.

A reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) device integrates with small cells to help deliver more seamless 5G coverage. The RIS aims to help 5G signal navigate around physical obstacles to help deliver uninterrupted network coverage by reflecting signals in a designated direction.

To enable RIS devices, the right substrate - with the right material properties and patterning - plays a key role.

Together with our innovation partners, Corning determined that a glass substrate with excellent optical properties and low dielectric loss is ideal, ensuring the 5G signal maintains its strength as it meets with - and is reflected by - the RIS. Precise conducting patterning is added to this specialized glass before it's added to the RIS device.

The right combination of materials in an RIS devices in the right environments may provide the benefit of lowering total cost of ownership for network providers versus semiconductor-based signal repeater alternatives.

And they can also add aesthetics, using glass printing, to help the RIS blend beautifully with its environment.

Materials science expertise led Corning and our innovation partners to transform the TV landscape over the last 50 years, and Corning is applying that same expertise to explore glass-based solutions to new opportunities every day.