Design and optimization of broadband CPW rectenna for RF energy harvesting

ABSTRACT

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are widely used in a variety of sectors, including the surveillance, healthcare, and military, and so on. The high cost and short lifespan of wireless sensor networks prohibit emerging and low-income nations for using their benefits. This article proposes a compact, low cost, and broadband coplanar waveguide rectenna with a simple novel ground plane operate in band range of 4.8–5.5 GHz (700 MHz) for an effective solution to radio frequency (RF) energy harvesting applications in WSNs. A parametric study of distinct antennas is also conducted to strengthen the attributes of the proposed antenna. The defected ground structure created on the co-plane offers 105° measured half power beamwidth (HPBW) in the H-plane for wide angular coverage. As a result, design alignment does not need to be extremely perfect in order to make conversion efficiency constant. The rectifying circuit is made compact by using a two-stub impedance matching network. At load resistance of 1k Ω, the power conversion efficiency of the proposed rectenna for a low input power level of −10 dBm is 27.2% (simulated) and 20.1% (measured) while its maximum value is 52.5% (simulated) and 50.1% (measured) for input power level of 10 dBm.

KEYWORDS:

• Antenna design
• energy harvesting
• power conversion efficiency
• rectifier design
• wireless sensor network

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).