Energy harvesting with a low-cost and high efficiency rectenna for low-power input

Abstract

In this paper a low-complexity, low-cost and high efficiency rectenna is analyzed, fabricated and measured, for low input power. Even though the configuration employs a low-cost, lossy substrate and a low-complexity rectifier circuit with a single diode, the rectenna efficiency reaches 20% and 37% at -20 and -10 dBm, respectively. Measurements agree well with simulations.