Powering e-textiles using a single thread radio frequency energy harvesting rectenna

Wagih, Mahmoud, Weddell, Alex S. and Beeby, Steve (2021) Powering e-textiles using a single thread radio frequency energy harvesting rectenna. International Conference on the Challenges, Opportunities, Innovations and Applications in Electronic Textiles, Virtual. 03 - 04 Nov 2020. (doi:10.3390/proceedings2021068016).

Abstract

Radio Frequency Energy Harvesting (RFEH) and Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) are increasingly seen as a method of enabling sustainable computing, as opposed to mechanical or solar EH WPT does not require special materials or resonators and can be implemented using low-cost conductors and standard semiconductor devices. This work revisits the simplest antenna design, the wire monopole to demonstrate the lowest-footprint, lowest-cost rectifying antenna (rectenna) based on a single Schottky diode. The antenna is fabricated using a single Litz-wire silk-coated thread, embroidered into a standard textile substrate. The rectifier is fabricated on a compact low-cost flexible printed circuit board (PCB) using ultra-thin Polyimide copper laminates to accommodate low-footprint surface mount components. The antenna maintains its bandwidth across the 868/915 MHz license-free band on- and off-body with only −4.7 dB degradation in total efficiency in human proximity. The rectenna achieves up to 55% RF to DC efficiency with 1.8 V DC output, at 1 mW of RF power, demonstrating its suitability as a power-supply unit for ultra-low power e-textile nodes.

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Contributors

Author: Mahmoud Wagih

Author: Alex S. Weddell

Author: Steve Beeby

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