Abstract
This paper presents a radio frequency (RF) energy harvesting (RFEH) system with a multiband antenna configuration that can simultaneously harvest energy from the sub-6 GHz and 5G millimeter-wave (mm-Wave) frequency bands. The performance of the RFEH system is studied from −25 dBm to 5 dBm input power levels underlying the maximization of the overall efficiency and possible optimization strategies. The maximum achievable power conversion efficiency (PCE) is formulated as a mathematical programming problem and solved by optimizing the design factors including antenna geometry, operational frequencies, rectifier topologies, and rectifier parameters. An array of broadband high gain patch antennas with reconfigurable rectifiers, an impedance matching network, and a voltage-multiplier circuit are employed in the system to maximize the PCE. The voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) and reflection coefficient (S11) of the antenna are estimated and optimized by numerical method. Simulations are conducted to evaluate the performances of the rectenna and the voltage-multiplier circuit. Results for radiation pattern, wave absorption, input impedance, voltage, and power across the load resistance as a function of frequency are obtained for the optimized configuration. The overall efficiency of the optimized RFEH system is measured at various power inputs and load resistances.
Effect of coupling capacitance in voltage multiplier design optimization for RF energy harvesting
