Joint Channel and Antenna Modeling for Magnetic Induction Communication in Inhomogeneous Media

Abstract

Magnetic induction communication (MIC) demonstrates high penetration efficiency and low propagation loss in extreme environments. It is used in underground and underwater environments to enable critical applications that cannot be achieved by using terrestrial wireless techniques. This paper studies the channel and antenna modeling for MIC in inhomogeneous environments, where a transmitter and a receiver are in two different media. This problem finds a large number of practical applications such as communicating with wireless sensors in the soil, water, walls, and the human body using a wireless device in the air. This paper develops a joint channel and antenna model considering the inhomogeneity of the surrounding environments. An exact full-wave model and a near field approximation model are developed and evaluated to show the characteristics of this novel wireless technique as well as the limitations of existing solutions. Using the communication with underground sensors as an example, the results show that the path loss of MIC strongly depends on the propagation media which is drastically different from electromagnetic wavebased wireless communications in terrestrial environments. Also, we find that the MIC channel in inhomogeneous media exhibits non-reciprocity due to different transmission coefficients through the boundary. Moreover, the boundary can be neglected when the carrier frequency is sufficiently low. The developed model provides a tool to design wireless sensor networks in inhomogeneous extreme environments.

A Survey on Underwater Wireless Power and Data Transfer System

“…For MI, the Inductive Wireless Power Transfer (IWPT) system will be implemented following the model proposed by Al Sinayyid et al [7] through the use of IoUT Multi Coil nodes. Li et al [8] developed Multi Coil nodes that can adapt to the direction of the incoming signal, while Guo et al [36] enhanced Multi Coil transmission by introducing spatial diversity. Kisseleff et al [48] revealed the possibility of electromagnetic wave propagation in UWSN through the ocean floor layers.…”

“…In addition to utilizing metal materials to propagate MI transmission signals in air and soil environments, propagation techniques using Inhomogeneous Media have proven successful in [36]. To enhance the induction transfer coefficient, optimization of the coupling mechanism is performed [37].…”

“…Costly to implement and maintain [9], [10], [11], [12], [35], [36], [37], [38], [39], [40], [41], [42], [43], [44], [45], [46], [47], [48] Omnidirectional MI optimization with combination of Fusion sensor and Coupling technique…”