An optimization of a reconfigurable CPW antenna for RF energy harvesting cognitive radio application

Radio Frequency (RF) plays a vital role nowadays in harvesting RF Energy from the ambient source. An antenna is required to harvest RF energy and solve the spectrum underutilization problem for the Cognitive Radio (CR) system. This paper presents an optimization of a reconfigurable Coplanar Waveguide Antenna (CPW), which harvests RF energy and is also used for sensing and communication purposes. The performance metrics of the proposed antenna are gain, radiation efficiency, front-back ratio (FBR) and group delay. First, the optimized CPW antenna (sensing antenna) is designed and fabricated in the FR4 substrate for the wideband frequency range of (0.25–3 GHz) with the fractional bandwidth percentage of 175%. The gain of the proposed optimized CPW antenna for different frequency band is: DTV band (UHF-0.47 GHz)-3.327 dBi, GSM 900-2.39 dBi, GSM 1800-3.42 dBi, 3G-3.227 dBi, and Wi-Fi-3.21 dBi. The average gain of the optimized CPW antenna for the frequency range of (0.25–3 GHz) is 3.11 dBi, and the maximum radiation efficiency of the antenna is 91.05%. Next, the optimized CPW antenna is reconfigurable, and it can be reconfigured for a specific frequency band using a PIN diode switch. When the PIN diode switch is in ON state, the antenna acts as a reconfigurable antenna (communicating antenna), and it is operated for the specific frequency band of (0.47 GHz-DTV [UHF] band), (0.9, 1.8, and 2.1 GHz-mobile bands), and (2.4 GHz-Wi-Fi bands). The maximum gain of the optimized frequency reconfigurable CPW antenna is 3.61 dBi, and the radiation efficiency is 92.5%. In the OFF state, the antenna acts as a sensing antenna, and it operates at a wideband frequency range of (0.25–3 GHz). Finally, the prototype of a four-stage Villard voltage multiplier RF-dc conversion circuit using an adjustable impedance matching network is proposed for powering the cognitive radio applications.