Ambient RF Energy Harvesting

Abstract

Ambient RF (Radio Frequency) energy harvesting is a promising technology that aims to harness and utilize the ubiquitous electromagnetic radiation present in our environment. This form of energy harvesting offers a novel approach to power low-power electronic devices, opening up new possibilities for sustainable and autonomous applications. The concept behind ambient RF energy harvesting is to leverage the abundance of radio waves that are constantly present in our surroundings. These radio waves originate from various sources such as television and radio broadcasts, Wi-Fi networks, cellular signals, and other wireless communication systems. Instead of letting this energy go to waste, RF energy harvesting technology enables the capture and conversion of these radio waves into usable electrical energy. The project comprised two main components: an antenna and a rectifier. For the antenna, we designed a wideband omni-directional antenna capable of covering the WiFi bands at 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz. To ensure efficient power transfer, we developed a multiband impedance matching network, incorporating a multi-section transformer. Our project aimed to harness ambient RF energy as a sustainable power source, utilizing innovative antenna design and impedance matching techniques