Analyzing and Maximizing the Power Harvesting Efficiency of a Textile Rectenna Through Reflector-Based Shielding

Wagih, M. , Weddell, A. S. and Beeby, S. (2021) Analyzing and Maximizing the Power Harvesting Efficiency of a Textile Rectenna Through Reflector-Based Shielding. In: 15th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation (EuCAP 2021), Dusseldorf, Germany, 22-26 March 2021, ISBN 9788831299022 (doi: 10.23919/EuCAP51087.2021.9411484)

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Publisher's URL: https://doi.org/10.23919/EuCAP51087.2021.9411484

Abstract

Wearable rectennas harvest power from off-body sources; shielding mechanisms such as microstrip antennas' ground planes are typically used to reduce absorption by the body. This work investigates the use of unconnected reflectors to improve textile rectennas' harvesting capabilities. A high-efficiency rectenna using a textile-based rectifier, achieving over 40% RF-DC efficiency from −20 dBm power, and a monopole is investigated with different clothing layers in the presence and absence of a reflector. It is shown that a textile reflector can improve the DC output of a rectenna, on an external clothing layer, by over 100% through improving the measured gain by 2.4 dB. However, for rectennas with less than 2.0 mm clearance from the body, a reflector can have detrimental effect on the rectenna. The proposed reflector-backed rectenna achieves a wearable harvesting efficiency of 40%, from an ultra-low power density of 0.3 μW/cm 2, demonstrating significant sensitivity improvement over state-of-the-art rectennas.

Item Type:Conference Proceedings
Keywords:Antenna, Electronic Textile, RF Energy Harvesting, Rectifier, Wireless Power Transfer
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Wagih, Dr Mahmoud
Authors: Wagih, M., Weddell, A. S., and Beeby, S.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Systems Power and Energy
Journal Name:15th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation, EuCAP 2021
Publisher:IEEE
ISBN:9788831299022
Published Online:27 April 2021
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