Background
At the Holst Centre on the High Tech Campus in Eindhoven research is carried out in the fields of Wireless Autonomous Transducer Solutions (WATS) and Systems in Foil (SIF). Within the WATS program, one of the research topics is wireless, RF energy transfer. Through the reception of ambient RF energy (GSM, DTV, WLAN), etc.) or the reception of dedicatedly transmitted RF signals, low-power sensors are directly powered or batteries are charged over distances ranging from a few decimetres to many meters. The focus in this research is on DC voltage maximization over large distances and on DC power maximization on intermediate (1-3m distances).
Project description
For small wireless applications (like hearing aids), the space available for an antenna is extremely limited. Recently, an antenna measuring less than 0.11 wavelengths by 0.03 wavelenghts, impedance matched to 50Ω, has been introduced. This antenna consists of a small loop that is coupled to a larger, capacitor-loaded loop. In an earlier MSc final project, approximate models for the subcomponents of this antenna have been developed.
In this project we want to add a second small loop, coupled to the larger loop to pick up a RF signal and rectify that signal for wireless power transfer, next to the reception and transmission of data by the first loop. Therefore, the modeling needs to be extended by the second loop. Then, all the sub-models need to be combined and - when necessary - be updated.
The sub-models and final model will be compared with full-wave analysis results and with measurement results obtained from prototypes to be made during the project.
Project organization
The work in this project will be conducted at the Holst Centre premises and will be supervised by Huib Visser. A second supervisor will be appointed from the EM group and will provide for a regular consultancy and will guard the project progress.
Contact
Dr.ir. Huib Visser, h.j.visser@tue.nl / huib.visser@imec-nl.nl