Synthesis of Rectenna for Powering Micro-Watt Sensors by Harvesting Ambient RF Signals' Power

Abstract

In the article, a dual and wide band antenna array suitable for RF rectenna applications was synthesized and global rectenna systems are presented. The array consists of two bowtie-shaped patches, printed on the one side of a dielectric slab (FR4). Οn the other side of the slab, an aperture-textured metallic ground layer, is printed. Examples of full-wave rectifiers connected, through matching networks, to the antenna elements and forming integrated rectenna systems for radio-frequency (RF) power harvesting at 868 MHz, from 920 to 960 MHz and at 1.8 GHz, are presented. Statistical results over frequency and the directions of arrival (DoAs) of incoming waves were received showing, at the rectifier, mean direct current (DC) voltage of 580 mV, and mean power of 58 μW, for circularly polarized waves of field intensity of 1.8 V/m. The DC voltage can reach 800 mV, the power 120 μW and the efficiency 68% when the waves come from DoAs of maximum antenna’s gain. Due to the wideband performance of the antenna, it could be used at various frequency slots as long as the matching network’s operation frequency is changed. Thus the proposed rectennas could be suitable for energizing low-power sensors or at least to charge their batteries.