A Simple, Low-Cost Simultaneous Wireless Information and Power Transmission Method Based on Radiation-Reshaped Antenna

A simple simultaneous wireless information and power transmission (SWIPT) technique is proposed in this article. Different from conventional SWIPT methods, which need an extra control unit or circuit for separating information and power, the proposed one reallocates the transmitting power by employing a single antenna with reshaped far-field radiation. The antenna consists of a patch, a metal loop, and a parasitic patch, which are configured in a stacked structure. With proper excitation, hybrid reshaped radiation can be formed. The far-field radiation along the Z-axis is strengthened, which can be used for power transmission. The radiation in the XoY plane is also higher than that of a patch element, which is beneficial to information transmission. The less useful back-lobe radiation is suppressed to achieve a good front-to-back ratio. The mechanism of the antenna is studied, and a prototype is implemented. A demonstration system is finally built using a conventional Wi-Fi router, and the SWIPT strategy is validated. After the antenna replacement, energy transmission capability in the main lobe direction can be enhanced, and a low-power node can be driven successfully. Meanwhile, the communication function of the router can be maintained with lateral radiation, and the test signal can be received with a mobile phone.