Wireless Power Transmission: R&D Activities Within Europe

• Published in: IEEE transactions on microwave theory and techniques 2014-04, Vol.62 (4), p.1031-1045
• Main Authors: Borges Carvalho, Nuno, Georgiadis, Apostolos, Costanzo, Alessandra, Rogier, Hendrik, Collado, Ana, García, José Angel, Lucyszyn, Stepan, Mezzanotte, Paolo, Kracek, Jan, Masotti, Diego, Boaventura, Alírio J. Soares, de las Nieves Ruíz Lavin, Maria, Pinuela, Manuel, Yates, David C., Mitcheson, Paul D., Mazanek, Milos, Pankrac, Vitezslav
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Coils; Computer-aided design (CAD) techniques; Couplings; Educational institutions; energy harvesting; inductive power transfer (IPT); Internet of Things (IoT); machine-to-machine (M2M) communication; power management; Radio frequency; rectenna; RF identification (RFID); Software; Substrates; Wireless communication; wireless power transmission (WPT); Wireless sensor networks
• ISSN: 0018-9480; 1557-9670
• DOI: 10.1109/TMTT.2014.2303420

Wireless power transmission (WPT) is an emerging technology that is gaining increased visibility in recent years. Efficient WPT circuits, systems and strategies can address a large group of applications spanning from batteryless systems, battery-free sensors, passive RF identification, near-field communications, and many others. WPT is a fundamental enabling technology of the Internet of Things concept, as well as machine-to-machine communications, since it minimizes the use of batteries and eliminates wired power connections. WPT technology brings together RF and dc circuit and system designers with different backgrounds on circuit design, novel materials and applications, and regulatory issues, forming a cross disciplinary team in order to achieve an efficient transmission of power over the air interface. This paper aims to present WPT technology in an integrated way, addressing state-of-the-art and challenges, and to discuss future R&D perspectives summarizing recent activities in Europe.