Radio frequency (RF) energy harvesting is an energy conversion technique used to convert electromagnetic (EM) fields into electrical energy. One of the essential elements of the RFEH technique is the design of the antenna. This is determined by the RF-frequency, available space and needed power. RF energy can be received by placing a spiral wire on each side of metal plates. This creates two oppositely charged coils, which in turn generate electrical energy. While RFEH can be widely applied, it requires FCC approval due to the radiation of energy.
RFEH can generate energy in the mWatt range for IoT devices. A well-known application is the Electronic Shelf Labels (ESL) in convenience stores, where every price label is RF powered through a UHF – reader and therefore wirelessly connected to be able to update product prices instantly from a distance (price tags have unidirectional communication).
Powercast, is a company specialised in RFEH based products where batteries or battery replacement is completely eliminated and applicable in various lifetime autonomous solutions.
Besides eliminating batteries and battery replacement, RFEH is an appealing solution which opens up a new era of applications like the ESL example and many others since no wiring is required at all, eliminating the cost of the wiring harness, but has also the freedom of placement.
Also, in consumer applications, RFEH is gradually finding its use. For example, in 2022, Samsung unveiled a remote control that can stay constantly charged through a combination of a solar cell and RFEH using Wi-Fi.
Generating infrared light isn’t difficult. But generating it on a chip — reliably, efficiently, and compactly — is a different story. Traditional IR sources rely on heating elements. They radiate across a wide range of wavelengths, consume significant power, and require filters to isolate the signals. Manageable in labs, unworkable in wearables.
Innovation tends to follow a familiar path: first, we invent something powerful. Then we shrink it. Only then does it become an everyday part of the infrastructure. But one layer is still missing in today’s technology: sensing beyond the visible.
The journey from concept to market looks very different in traditional tech compared to deep tech. While traditional tech benefits from streamlined processes and quicker iteration, deep tech ventures face longer, more complex cycles due to the groundbreaking nature of their innovations.