A Compact Dual-Band Dual-Circular-Polarization Wideband Rectenna Using Reverse Wilkinson Power Divider for Wireless Information and Power Transfer

A dual-band wideband rectenna designed for simultaneous wireless information and power transfer through the innovative use of a reverse Wilkinson power divider is proposed in this letter. This approach diverges from the traditional method, which involves loading the antenna with a Wilkinson power divider. Specifically, this work introduces a novel concept that repurposes the Wilkinson power divider in a reverse manner, thereby endowing it with a new function when integrated with an antenna. The rectenna consists primarily of a slotted square metal patch, a Wilkinson power divider, and a rectifying circuit. The operating bandwidths of the proposed rectenna span 1.8 GHz to 3.15 GHz and 5.45 GHz to 6.5 GHz. It achieves maximum efficiencies of 75.3% and 73.3% at an input power of 10 dBm and operating frequencies of 2.45 GHz and 5.8 GHz, respectively. With its compact structure and high level of integration, this rectenna offers substantial potential for use in Internet of Things and wireless sensor network applications.