Numerical Validation of a MOSFET-Based Control Circuit for High-Power Intelligent Reflecting Surfaces for Wireless Power Transfer Applications

TL;DR

This paper introduces a MOSFET-based control circuit for high-power IRSs at 2.4 GHz, capable of handling over 1 W per unit cell, validated through theoretical modeling and simulations for wireless power transfer.

Contribution

The work presents a novel MOSFET-based binary control circuit design that withstands high input power and maintains phase control, enabling high-power IRS deployment.

Findings

Stable operation up to 1.25 W input power.

Impedance variation suppression via back-to-back MOSFET topology.

Successful beam steering demonstrated through simulations.

Abstract

Intelligent reflecting surfaces (IRSs) have attracted considerable attention because of their ability to dynamically control electromagnetic wave propagation. While most existing IRSs have been developed for low-power communication and sensing applications, their extension to high-power wireless power transfer (WPT) environments remains largely unexplored, as the high induced currents can damage or saturate the sensitive control elements, disrupting their tuning functionality. Here, we propose a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor-based (MOSFET-based) binary control circuit for IRSs operating at 2.4 GHz that can withstand input power levels exceeding 1 W per unit cell. The control circuit employs a back-to-back MOSFET switching topology with series and parallel capacitors to suppress impedance variations arising from device nonlinearity while maintaining a reflection phase difference of approximately 180 degrees between the ON and OFF states. A theoretical model based on transmission lines is developed and validated against full-wave co-simulations incorporating nonlinear SPICE device models. The dynamic range is evaluated with respect to both the rated current and the reflection phase difference, demonstrating stable operation up to 1.25 W. Supercell-level beam steering is further demonstrated through far-field simulations, confirming active control of the reflection angle via switching pattern reconfiguration. These results establish a foundation for the deployment of IRSs in high-power WPT scenarios.