A Parametric Study of Inductive SWIPT Systems Assisted by Metamaterial Using Virtual Magnetic TL-Based Channel Modeling

Abstract This paper presents a general methodology based on the description of the inductive channel as virtual magnetic transmission-lines (VMGTLs). In comparison with other existing methods, VMGTL approach presents a better physical insight of the channel behavior since the model correctly preserves the energy flow between the transmitting and receiving coils. Besides that, it facilitates the integration into the analysis of highly nonlinear and dispersive structures such as metamaterial (MTM) lenses. Particularly, the virtual-TL analogy clarifies that the enhancement of the transmission gain between any two coils assisted by MTM is not due to an enhanced coupling between the drivers, as usually claimed, but to the emergence of propagating near-field modes supported by the MTM. This approach, by means of a parametric study, also indicates, for the first time, that MTMs could be employed not only for the increasing of power but also of data transfer due to the emergence of a sub-resonant region of minimum distortion. Nonetheless, since both effects are mutually exclusive, no passive MTM structure could simultaneously improve power and data transmission.