A Novel Channel Model for Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces With Consideration of Polarization and Switch Impairments

Future wireless networks require the ability to actively adjust the wireless environment to meet strict performance indicators. Reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) technology is gaining attention for its advantages of low power consumption, cost-effectiveness, and ease of deployment. However, existing channel models for RIS often ignore important properties, such as the impairment in the RIS's switch component and the polarization efficiency among antennas, limiting their practical use. In this article, we propose a new channel model for RIS that considers these ignored properties, including the reflected field, scattered field, and antenna resonant mode. We verify the proposed model through practical implementation of a 4\times4 RIS array with patch antennas in the 3.5-GHz band, using a phase shifter as the switch component of an RIS element. The equivalent model of the phase shifter is also formulated and incorporated into the channel model. We propose a blind controlling algorithm to discuss the properties of our channel model and emphasize the importance of considering polarization and tracking mechanisms for the controlling algorithm. Our channel model is an improvement over existing models and can be used in the practical design of RIS technology. The proposed algorithm provides a practical approach to controlling the wireless environment, suitable for various wireless applications.