UHF-Band Wireless Power Transfer System for Structural Health Monitoring Sensor Network

Abstract

For detecting and measuring health conditions of bridges, wireless sensor networks are used in these days. However, battery life is critically restricting the application and maintenance cost of sensor network systems. To extend life time, a wireless power transfer system at UHF band is introduced to supply the current wireless sensor network. This power transfer system is based on electric wave at 950 MHz. This power transfer system is redesigned for tiny power transmission, including a combination of a rectenna and a Cockcroft-Walton boost converter, battery board, and a control board. Also, current wireless sensor network is redesigned for power transfer system. The working flow of sensor network is modified to bottom-to-top to save power of sensor modules which are the power bottleneck of this sensor system. As a result, the system is able to support a sensor module continuously with received power of −14 dBmW, when the transmitting antenna is 30 dBmW at 10 meters distance.