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Modeling, Design and Development of Micrometer Wave Energy Harvester Using…

Award Information

Agency:
Department of Defense 		Branch:
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency 		Award ID:
96694 		Program Year/Program:
2010 / SBIR
Agency Tracking Number:
09SB2-0230 		Solicitation Year:
N/A 		Solicitation Topic Code:
DARPA 09-010 		Solicitation Number:
N/A
Small Business Information
CoolCAD Electronics
5000 College Avenue Suite 2103 College Park, MD -
View profile »
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No
 
Phase 1
Fiscal Year: 2010
Title: Modeling, Design and Development of Micrometer Wave Energy Harvester Using Rectenna Arrays
Agency / Branch: DOD / DARPA
Contract: W31P4Q-10-C-0065
Award Amount: $98,994.00
 

Abstract:

We propose to directly harvest energy from infrared (3-14microns) radiation sources using micro-antennas coupled to rectifying diodes and storage capacitors. The antenna receives infrared electromagnetic radiation and the rectifier converts it to direct current which is then stored. Large numbers of these rectennas connected in a conformal, light-weight array should be able to harvest energy sufficient to help power complete systems such as UAVs. In the Phase I effort, we will model, design and begin fabricating a single rectenna, as well as model an entire group of these rectennas integrated into an infrared focal plane array. Modeling will include solving Maxwell's equations for micro-antenna design and simulating electron transport in tunneling diodes through numerical solution of the Schrodinger and Poisson equations. We will develop compact rectenna models for input into circuit simulators to analyze rectenna based sub-circuits and the entire energy harvester array. The developed design tools will be used to maximize energy absorption and facilitate impedance transformation to extract higher antenna voltages and thereby optimize rectification. We will also prototype scaled models of the rectenna array and fabricate experimental rectenna test structures. This will lead to more robust rectenna designs and fabrication techniques for implementation in Phase II.

Principal Investigator:

Michael Holloway
Senior Engineer
2404326535
michael.holloway@coolcadelectronics.com

Business Contact:

Neil Goldsman
President
2404326535
neil.goldsman@coolcadelectronics.com
Small Business Information at Submission:

CoolCAD Electronics
7101 Poplar Avenue Takoma Park, MD 20912

EIN/Tax ID: 205470694
DUNS: N/A
Number of Employees:
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No