A novel, dual-band, voltage-multiplying (RF-DC) rectifier circuit with load-tuned stages resulting in a 50 Ω input-impedance and high RF-DC conversion in 2.4 and 5.8 GHz bands for wireless energy-harvesting is presented. Its novelty is in the use of optimal-length transmission lines on the load side of the 4 half-wave rectifying stages within the two-stage voltage multiplier topology. Doing so boosts the rectifier's output voltage due to an induced standing-wave peak at each diode's input, and gives the rectifier a 50 Ω input-impedance without an external-matching-network in the 2.4 GHz band. Comparisons with other rectifiers show the proposed design achieving a higher DC output and better immunity to changing output loads for similar input power levels and load conditions. The second novelty of this rectifier is a tuned secondary feed that connects the rectifier's input to its second stage to give dual-band performance in the 5.8 GHz band. By tuning this feed such that the second stage and first stage reactances cancel, return-loss resonance in the 5.8 GHz band is achieved in addition to 2.4 GHz. Simulations and measurements of the design show RF-DC sensitivity of −7.2 and −3.7 dBm for 1.8V DC output, and better than 10 dB return-loss, in 2.4 and 5.8 GHz bands without requiring an external-matching-network.

Space probes suffer from a fundamental problem, which is the limited energy available for their operation. Energy supply is essential for continuous operation and ultimately the most important sub-system for its sustainable functioning. Considering, for instance, the last space probe put on Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko, called “Philae”, which was sent by Rosetta (http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Rosetta), to operate and to monitor comet activity, its operation was jeopardized due to the fact that it landed on a shadowed zone (no direct sunlight). Since its operational energy was only based on solar harvesters, the energy for its operation was limited by solar energy availability. In this paper a study on a viable alternative based on wireless power transmission is presented and discussed at the system level. It is proved that, using current technology, it is possible to create alternatives or supplement to existing power sources such as solar panels to power up these important space probes and to secure their operation.

An internal wireless system (IWS) for satellites was proposed in a previous study to reduce the weight of satellites. It is a system that uses wireless communication modules to communicate between the satellite's subsystems. We proposed a complete IWS that employs microwave wireless power transmission technology, and we proposed a design of GHz band high efficiency rectifier based charge pump rectifiers with a class-f filter called class-f charge pump rectifiers. We theoretically compare the diode losses in a charge pump and single shunt rectifier, and experimentally verify the results. Apart from this, we consider that the class-f charge pump rectifiers will be used for a rectenna array. In order to know the direct current (DC) load change of class-f charge pump circuits is connected as a rectenna array, we measured the conversion efficiencies of a 2 by 2 rectenna array, connected in series and in parallel. The results of the experiment indicate that the optimum load of the rectifier changes to four times DC load when connected in series, and to 1/4 the DC load when connected in parallel.