A compact 2.45 GHz, low power wireless energy harvester with a reflector-backed folded dipole rectenna

Abstract

This paper paper describes the design procedure as well as the experimental performance of a 2.45GHz 10 μW wireless energy harvester (WEH) with a maximum total efficiency of ≈ 30% at 1 μW/cm2 incident power density. The WEH integrates a shunt high-speed rectifying diode with a folded dipole. A metal reflector increases the gain of the rectenna and a quarter wavelength differential line is used as a choke. Both a VDI WVD and a Skyworks GaAs Schottky diode are integrated with the antenna and their performance is compared.