Ambient RF Energy Harvesting From a Two-Way Talk Radio for Flexible Wearable Wireless Sensor Devices Utilizing Inkjet Printing Technologies

Abstract

A complete design and additive fabrication process of flexible wearable radio-frequency (RF) energy harvesters for off-the-shelf 2 W two-way talk radios utilizing inkjet printing technology is discussed in this paper. As a result of numerous output dc power measurements of fabricated proof-of-concept prototypes, a maximum output power of 146.9 mW and 43.2 mW was achieved with an H-field and E-field harvester, respectively. Also, the effect of misalignment between receiver and hand-held radio on harvesting performance is discussed in detail. To verify their potential in real-world wearable autonomous RF modules, the operation of E- and H-field energy harvesters was verified by utilizing an LED and a microcontroller communication module under on-body and on-bottle conditions, and the effect of the energy harvesters on the performance of the harvested communication systems was inspected through received power measurements in an anechoic chamber.