Parallel‐series connected rectenna array using frequency selective surface (FSS) for power harvesting applications at 5.8 GHz

This article presents a frequency selective surface (FSS) and rectenna array in parallel‐series connection to harvest power of wireless power systems. To improve the basic antenna parameters, a frequency selective surface was mounted on the reverse side of the substrate. According to the results, the proposed method showed significant improvement in comparison to other methods in both single and rectenna array. Moreover, the conversion efficiency of the presented technique was increased to 76%. The output voltage of 4.5 and 9 V and the current of 60 and 120 mA were resulted for 5 and 10 rectenna units, respectively. The proposed arrays can be expanded to large scale integrated array without any significant degradation in conversion efficiency.     

高效率微波输电微带贴片接收整流天线的研究与设计

针对常用设计原理和方法的不足,引入一种新的设计原理,降低了系统的实现难度,提高了系统的整流效率,设计了一个2.45GHz的矩形微带贴片接收整流天线,仿真结果表明系统的总体转换效率达84％,证明了该设计原理的可行性和高效性。     

一种5.8GHz新颖混合结构的整流天线

整流天线决定了微波无线输电效率的高低。为了克服微带贴片整流天线需要钻孔,不利于大规模生产的问题,提出了一种新型5.8GHz混合结构的整流天线,接收面积大的矩形微带贴片构成接收天线,过渡到具有平行结构的共面带线,二极管和电容可方便地摆放在共面带线的两侧,避免了钻孔。试验表明该接收系统整流转换效率达到了78.2%,验证了设计的可行性。     

A review of self-assembled monolayers as potential terahertz frequency tunnel diodes

In this review, we describe the principles of the tunnel junction, self-assembled monolayer （SAM） application techniques, experimental testbed fabrication, and characterization of the films and devices. In addition, techniques for directed application, removal, and functionalization of the monolayers are discussed. Bottom-up fabrication techniques have seen increased attention because of their versatility and ease of use. These films see mechanical uses as surface modifiers and micro-scale lubricants. Advances in nanowatt electronics and ultra-low power sensors have opened up an energy harvesting niche for solutions which would have proven ineffective just some years ago. The focus of this study is the two- terminal junction which has potential applications in THz rectification for energy harvesting, medical imaging, and defense sensing. The quantum theory of operation behind these devices is touched on briefly---describing tunneling through the organic monolayers. Commentary on trends in research and potential future work are presented as well.     

一种新颖的5.8GHz圆极化接收整流天线

提出了一种新颖的用于微波能量传输的圆极化接收整流天线。截角矩形微带天线作为接收天线,在工作频率为5.8GHz时得到的轴比为1.2dB,使用肖特基势垒二极管作为整流部分。通过测量接收整流天线的能量转换效率,证明发射天线和接收整流天线之间的极化未对准对于输出功率和能量转换效率的影响都很小,所以这种接收整流天线非常适用于移动物体间的微波能量传输。     

A compact hollowed‐out loop rectenna without matching network for wireless sensor applications

In this article, a compact and high‐efficiency loop rectenna with matching network elimination for wireless sensor applications at 2.45 GHz is presented. The proposed hollowed‐out square loop antenna is designed and directly provides a conjugate matching to a compact voltage‐doubler rectifier. The loop rectenna can harvest microwave power without increasing the total size or affecting the performance of a wireless sensor. The experiment results show that the peak microwave‐to‐dc conversion efficiency of 74% is obtained at 2.45 GHz when the input power is 18 dBm. The dimension of rectenna is 30 × 30 × 1 mm³ and only with a weight of 0.58 g, which successfully realizes a high power‐weight‐ratio (PWR). Hence, the proposed rectenna can provide a convenient and practical charging solution for wireless sensors in various applications.     

Experimental study on an S-band near-field microwave magnetron power transmission system on hundred-watt level

A multi-magnetron microwave source, a metamaterial transmitting antenna, and a large power rectenna array are presented to build a near-field 2.45 GHz microwave power transmission system. The square 1 m² rectenna array consists of sixteen rectennas with 2048 Schottky diodes for large power microwave rectifying. It receives microwave power and converts them into DC power. The design, structure, and measured performance of a unit rectenna as well as the entail rectenna array are presented in detail. The multi-magnetron microwave power source switches between half and full output power levels, i.e. the half-wave and full-wave modes. The transmission antenna is formed by a double-layer metallic hole array, which is applied to combine the output power of each magnetron. The rectenna array DC output power reaches 67.3 W on a 1.2 Ω DC load at a distance of 5.5 m from the transmission antenna. DC output power is affected by the distance, DC load, and the mode of microwave power source. It shows that conventional low power Schottky diodes can be applied to a microwave power transmission system with simple magnetrons to realise large power microwave rectifying.     

A wideband rectifier array on dual‐polarized differential‐feed fractal slotted ground antenna for RF energy harvesting

This article reports a novel wideband rectenna for RF energy harvesting applications. A wideband fractal slotted ground antenna (SGA) is adopted. The operating frequency bands of the antenna are GSM, UMTS, Wi‐Fi, and LTE2600/4G bands. The antenna is fed by a dual‐polarized and differential‐feed (DP‐DF) microstrip lines disposed with an angle of 90° each relative to the other. The feed lines are etched on the bottom side of the substrate and connected to an array of four wideband RF‐to‐DC rectifiers. A nonuniform transmission lines filter ensures wideband behavior for each rectifier. The rectenna performances are simulated and measured. The experiments show an output DC voltage of 1 V at a power density of 26.6 μW/cm² over the frequency band of operation with a peak efficiency of 50%. The proposed rectenna is suitable for energy harvesting applications in urban environments.     

A compact omnidirectional dual‐circinal rectenna for 2.45 GHz wireless power transfer

A compact dual‐circinal rectenna with omnidirectional characteristic is designed for microwave wireless power transmission at 2.45 GHz. A novel dual‐circinal receiving antenna with the reflection coefficient of ?32.5 dB is proposed which is formed by expanding folded curves. By designing an impedance matching network with a 60 ° radial stub and a single stub, a rectifier is presented with the maximum efficiency of 55.6 % and the output dc voltage of 1.19 V under the input power of 0 dBm. Simulation and measurements have been carried out for the antenna and the rectifier. The measured results agree well with the simulated value. The results of rectenna experiment show that the maximum conversion efficiency is 51% at 2.45 GHz when the input power is 0 dBm. The proposed rectenna has the characteristics of compact size and omnidirectional harvesting which are advantageous in RF energy harvesting applications.