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Wireless Device Converts

The researchers at Duke University designed a power-harvesting device using metamaterials that is able to convert lost microwave energy into electricity with an efficiency of 37%, comparable to solar panels. The device is made of inexpensive materials configured as an array to capture microwave signals and convert them to direct current voltage capable of charging small electronics. This versatile energy harvester could potentially harvest signals from Wi-Fi, satellites, or other sources. With further modifications, the metamaterial could be integrated into devices to allow wireless charging without plugging in.

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56 views

Wireless Device Converts

The researchers at Duke University designed a power-harvesting device using metamaterials that is able to convert lost microwave energy into electricity with an efficiency of 37%, comparable to solar panels. The device is made of inexpensive materials configured as an array to capture microwave signals and convert them to direct current voltage capable of charging small electronics. This versatile energy harvester could potentially harvest signals from Wi-Fi, satellites, or other sources. With further modifications, the metamaterial could be integrated into devices to allow wireless charging without plugging in.

Uploaded by

Deyeck Verga
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Wireless Device Converts "Lost" Energy into Electric Power

Using inexpensive materials comparison, Universal Serial Bus With additional modifications, the
configured and tuned to capture (USB) chargers for small electronic
researchers said the power-
microwave signals, researchers at devices provide about 5V."We were
harvesting metamaterial could
Duke University's Pratt School of aiming for the highest energy
potentially be built into a cell phone,
Engineering have designed a power- efficiency we could achieve," said
allowing the phone to recharge
harvesting device with efficiency Hawkes. We had been getting
similar to that of modern solar energy efficiency around 6 to 10 wirelessly while not in use. This

panels.The device wirelessly percent, but with this design we were feature could, in principle, allow
converts the microwave signal to able to dramatically improve energy people living in locations without
direct current voltage capable of conversion to 37 percent, which is
ready access to a conventional
recharging a cell phone battery or comparable to what is achieved in
power outlet to harvest energy from
other small electronic device, solar cells.Its possible to use this
a nearby cell phone tower
according to a report appearing in design for a lot of different
instead.Our work demonstrates a
the journal Applied Physics Letters in frequencies and types of energy,
December 2013. (It is now available including vibration and sound energy simple and inexpensive approach to

online.)It operates on a similar harvesting, Katko said. Until now, a electromagnetic power harvesting,
principle to solar panels, which lot of work with metamaterials has said Cummer. The beauty of the
convert light energy into electrical been theoretical. We are showing
design is that the basic building
current. But this versatile energy that with a little work, these materials
blocks are self-contained and
harvester could be tuned to harvest can be useful for consumer
additive. One can simply assemble
the signal from other energy applications.For instance, a
more blocks to increase the
sources, including satellite signals, metamaterial coating could be
sound signals or Wi-Fi signals, the applied to the ceiling of a room to scavenged power. For example, a

researchers say. The key to the redirect and recover a Wi-Fi signal series of power-harvesting blocks
power harvester lies in its application that would otherwise be lost, Katko could be assembled to capture the
of metamaterials, engineered said. Another application could be to
signal from a known set of satellites
structures that can capture various improve the energy efficiency of
passing overhead, the researchers
forms of wave energy and tune them appliances by wirelessly recovering
explained. The small amount of
for useful power that is now lost during
energy generated from these signals
applications. Undergraduate use.The properties of metamaterials
engineering student Allen Hawkes, allow for design flexibility not might power a sensor network in a

working with graduate student possible with ordinary devices like remote location such as a
Alexander Katko and lead antennas, said Katko. When mountaintop or desert, allowing data
investigator Steven Cummer, traditional antennas are close to
collection for a long-term study that
professor of electrical and computer each other in space they talk to each
takes infrequent measurements. The
engineering, designed an electrical other and interfere with each others
research was supported by a
circuit capable of harvesting operation. The design process used
Multidisciplinary University Research
microwaves. They used a series of to create our metamaterial array
five fiberglass and copper energy takes these effects into account, Initiative from the Army Research

conductors wired together on a allowing the cells to work together. Office (Contract No. W911NF-09-1-
circuit board to convert microwaves 0539).
into 7.3V of electricity. By

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