State-of-the-Art Techniques in RF Energy Harvesting Circuits

Abstract

The exigency for continuous use of electrical devices has created greater demands for electricity along with more efficient transmission techniques. Energy from natural resources can be solar, thermal, vibration, friction, or Radio Frequencies (RF) signals. This state-of-the-art work provides a summary of RF energy harvesting techniques and can be used as a guide for the manufacture of RF energy scavenging modules. The use of Radio Frequency (RF) Energy Harvesting (EH) technique contributes to the development of autonomous energy devices and sensors. A rectenna system includes three main units: the receiving antenna, the impedance matching network, and the rectifier. We thoroughly analyze how to design a rectenna system with special emphasis given on the design of the rectifier. At the same time many works of the last 10 years are presented. This review article categorizes the used topologies depending on the type of antennas, IMNs, and rectifiers and comparatively presents their advantages and disadvantages.

Printed Electronics in Radiofrequency Energy Harvesters and Wireless Power Transfer Rectennas for IoT Applications

“…Combining battery-less powering devices in a broad spectrum of applications and RF power delivered with lightweight and cost-effective, ecofriendly printed electronics techniques could widen the application of IoT devices. However, knowledge about the capability of printed electronics techniques to manufacture rectenna components is bounded by the limited number of presented appli-cations in related reviews, focused on specific aspects of the RF energy harvesting and wireless power transfer domain (such as RF EH in specific applications, [1,13,68,173] hardware, and design methodologies, [23,55,66] RF powered wireless networks, [100] protocols design, [174] radiation sources, [23] ) or different spectrums of printed electronics applications. [6,24,137,[175][176][177] In this review, we present printed electronics techniques found to be the best candidates for manufacturing radio frequency energy harvesting and wireless power transfer systems and describe rectenna components manufactured by them.…”

“…[63][64][65] A rectenna consists of an antenna, impedance matching network, and rectifier (sometimes also additionally functioning as a voltage multiplier). [66] The antenna intercepts RF energy propagating through space. Then, a rectifier converts obtained energy, maximized by the impedance matching network, [57] into the direct current with desired voltage amplitude.…”

“…[ 102 ] Even small changes in the matching network can cause a considerable drop in the efficiency of the rectenna. [ 66 ] Therefore, technological precision at this stage is critical to the entire circuit. [ 68 ] Using lumped elements to manufacture a matching network can be challenging because it is hard to get components with the exact same values as are needed in the circuit.…”

Radiofrequency Energy Harvesting Systems for Internet of Things Applications: A Comprehensive Overview of Design Issues

“…Some directly propose solutions to manage the energy harvested without being interested in the processes of transforming RF waves into DC electrical energy suitable for powering the WS [ 14 , 15 ]. Other studies deal only with RF/DC transformation without examining rectenna powering techniques [ 16 , 17 ]. The solutions for minimizing WSs’ energy budget are often ignored or treated independently.…”

Dipole Antenna With Horn Waveguide for Energy Harvesting in DTV Systems

“…If it still consumes conventional energy, that would have a serious impact on the economic and social development of many countries [1]. Due to this problem, many researchers have developed new forms of renewable energy, such as solar energy [2], biomass energy [3], wind energy [4], thermal energy [5], and radio frequency energy (RF), such as the digital TV, mobile, and WiFi frequency range [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]. Due to the foregoing, researchers have been interested in developing the field of energy harvesting from radio frequency (RF) that uses a receiver antenna and AC to DC power conversion circuit.…”