Design and Characterization of a 900 MHz Energy Harvesting Prototype

Abstract

This paper presents the experimental design and characterization of an optimized radio-frequency energy-harvesting prototype device to operate in the GSM 900 band. The energy harvesting device is based on an off-the-shelf GSM antenna, Schottky diode rectifier, and was implemented on a standard FR4 substrate. The experimental results show that the harvesting device is capable of generating 0.3 V DC voltage at an input power of −17 dBm at 956 MHz frequency. The measured efficiency of the developed energy harvesting system was 68%, at R_L = 1.6 kΩ, which is a very significant performance relative to other prototypes of the same class reported in literature.

KEYWORDS:

• Antenna
• Energy harvesting
• Impedance
• Radio frequency
• Rectifier

Additional information

Notes on contributors

N. Taruvinga

Nicholas Taruvinga (born 1987) received his BSc (Hons) in physics from Midlands State University in 2012. He is working as a technician in the Department of Applied Physics and Telecommunications at Midlands State University since 2012 and is currently pursuing a Master of Philosophy in physics.

A. Nechibvute

Action Nechibvute (born 1977) received his PhD in Physics in the area of energy harvesting for wireless sensor devices, from Midlands State University in 2015. He received an MSc in physics from the University of Botswana in 2008 received a BSc in physics and mathematics from Midlands State University and the University of Zimbabwe in 2001. He is an academic researcher at Midlands State University. Email: [email protected]

A. Chawanda

Albert Chawanda (born 1968) received BSc (Hons) in physics, MSc in applied physics from the University of Zimbabwe, and PhD in physics from the University of Pretoria. He is a researcher at Midlands State University. Email: [email protected]