Minimizing Body Impact on Wearable Rectenna Performance for Energy Harvesting Using a Huygens Source

Abstract

This paper presents the design and optimization of a new rectenna for wearable applications in the ISM band. The rectenna features a microstrip dipole antenna embroidered on the top surface of a felt textile substrate and connected by a Schottky diode rectifier. Additionally, a magnetic dipole is integrated on the bottom surface of the substrate to create a Huygens source, effectively reducing the impact of the human body on rectenna performance. The results demonstrate that with a very low input power (-15 dBm), the rectenna can increase the gain by 2.54 dBi at a frequency of 2.45 GHz and a distance of 5 mm from the body. Furthermore, the rectenna maintains a reflection coefficient (S11) below -25 dB across different bending radii, indicating its adaptability to body movements. The proposed rectenna is cost-effective, flexible, and suitable for both on-body and off-body applications.