Metasurfaces for Polarization-Insensitive and Directional Backscatter Communications

Achieving low-power and polarization-insensitive communication is a crucial and challenging task in the Internet of Everything. In this communication, we propose and demonstrate the implementation of two amplitude-reconfigurable metasurfaces, loaded with p-i-n diodes and operated around 5.8 GHz, to develop a novel polarization-insensitive backscatter communication (BC) system. Both communication transmitters using uniform and gradient metasurfaces are able to achieve high-efficiency polarization conversion and thus can cooperate with the receiver end to mitigate the interference generated by environmental carrier sources. To achieve the directional information transmission, we design a corner reflector metasurface and a gradient metasurface, which, respectively, enhances the gain in the backward and fixed scattering directions. Due to the advantages of polarization insensitivity and low energy consumption, this system promises great potential for future engineering applications in the Internet of Things, particularly for smart homes, wearable sensing, and other related areas.