Le sujet de thèse abordé dans ce mémoire s'inscrit dans la thématique du LE²P sur l'autonomie énergétique des réseaux de capteurs. Ce travail est axé sur la partie réception et redressement du transfert de l'énergie sans fil pour l'apport d'énergie à des capteurs nomades. Ce procédé n'est pas nouveau et prend son origine dans les années 1950. Les connaissances dans l'appréhension de ce processus sont nombreuses pour certains guides d'onde tels que le microruban. Mais la nécessité de perçages dans ces structures de guide d'onde peut être contraignante et causer des disparités dans une chaîne de construction. Ceci a motivé les travaux présentés dans ce mémoire qui utilise une technologie de guide d'onde coplanaire (CPW) peu exploitée. Ainsi, la conception d'un tel dispositif passe par la maîtrise d'un point de vue conceptuel et expérimental de cette technologie. La démarche consiste à utiliser ce guide d'onde coplanaire en minimisant les effets négatifs que peut engendrer ce dernier, pour s'abroger du besoin de perçage et faciliter la réalisation des dispositifs de redressement en limitant le nombre d'interactions humaines. / The thesis subject dealt in this report lies in the LE²P framework on the energy sustainability of wireless sensor network. This work is dedicated to the reception and rectifying part of wireless power transfer to give energy sustainability to nodes in a sensor network. This process is not new and originate from the years 1950. The behavior of this process is since well-known in several waveguide such technology as microstrip. But the need of drill in those waveguide circuit may be inconvenient and lead to discrepancy from one circuit to another. This was the motivational keystone to the work address in this report which uses coplanar waveguide (CPW) over microstrip. The conception of such devices goes through a good conceptual and experimental understanding of the waveguide technology. The approach in this document consists of using coplanar waveguide while minimizing its drawbacks, in order to avoid drilling in the substrate and ease the realization of the rectifying part by limiting the human interaction.

<div> <div> <div> <div> <p>This dissertation presents and develops a novel method of wireless power transfer that relies on electromagnetic coupling from open-wire transmission lines instead of tra- ditional methods. Wireless power transfer techniques are being rapidly pursued in re- search currently due to the potential utility of powering devices over the air instead of with direct electrical connections. Uses for such techniques include an array of ap- plications from consumer electronics, to medical devices, to cars and UAVs. While con- ventional wireless power transfer techniques exist, it is shown here that open-wire trans- mission line methods present distinct advantages for certain applications. In particular, wireless power transfer using Goubau and twin-lead line architectures will be conceptual- ized and investigated in terms of their theory, design, and efficiency performance. Fur- ther, a circuit model theory will be developed in this work to provide a generalized for- mulation for open-wire-line wireless power transfer analysis. Additionally, receiver de- sign techniques will be outlined and geometries based on metamaterial principles will be pursued in order to achieve receiver miniaturization and access the applications this af- fords. </p> </div> </div> </div> </div>

This thesis is an examination of one of the main technologies to be developed on the path to Space Solar Power (SSP): Wireless Power Transfer (WPT), specifically power beaming. While SSP has been the main motivation for this body of work, other applications of power beaming include ground-to-ground energy transfer, ground to low-flying satellite wireless power transfer, mother-daughter satellite configurations, and even ground-to-car or ground-to-flying-car power transfer. More broadly, Wireless Power Transfer falls under the category of radio and microwave signals; with that in mind, some of the topics contained within can even be applied to 5G or other RF applications. The main components of WPT are signal transmission, propagation, and reception. This thesis focuses on the transmission and propagation of wireless power signals, including beamforming with Phased Array Antennas (PAAs) and evaluations of transmission and propagation efficiency. Signals used to transmit power long distances must be extremely directive in order to deliver the power at an acceptable efficiency and to prevent excess power from interfering with other RF technology. Phased array antennas offer one method of increasing the directivity of a transmitted beam through off-axis cancellation from the multi-antenna source. Besides beamforming, another focus of this work is on the equations used to describe the efficiency and far field distance of transmitting antennas. Most previously used equations, including the Friis equation and the Goubau equation, are formed by examining singleton antennas, and do not account for the unique properties of antenna arrays. Updated equations and evaluation methods are presented both for the far field and the efficiency of phased array antennas. Experimental results corroborate the far field model and efficiency equation presented, and the implications of these results regarding space solar power and other applications are discussed. The results of this thesis are important to the applications of WPT previously mentioned, and can also be used as a starting point for further WPT and SSP research, especially when looking at the foundations of PAA technology.

This dissertation is particularly focused on a novel approach of a wirelessly powered neuromodulation system for chronic patients. The inductively coupled transmitter (TX) and receiver (RX) coils are designed through optimization to achieve maximum efficiency. A power management unit (PMU) consisting of a voltage rectifier, voltage regulator along with a stimulation circuitry is also designed to provide pulse stimulation to genetically modified neurons. For continuous health monitoring purposes, the response from the brain due to stimulation needs to be recorded and transmitted wirelessly outside the brain for analysis. A low-power high-data duty-cycled impulse-radio ultra-wideband (IR-UWB) transmitter is designed and implemented using the standard CMOS process. Another focus of this dissertation is the design of a reverse electrowetting-on-dielectric (REWOD) based energy harvesting circuit for wearable sensor applications which is capable of generating a very low-frequency signal from motion activity such a walking, running, jogging, etc. A commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) based and on-chip based energy harvesting circuit is designed for very low-frequency signals. The experimental results show promising progress towards the advancement in the wirelessly powered neuromodulation system and building the self-powered wearable sensor.

Electrical stimulation on nerves is a relatively new area of research and has been proved to speed up recoveryfrom nerve damage. In this work, the efficiency and stability of antennas integrated on printed circuit boards provided by the department of electrical engineering are examined. An automated test bench containing a stepmotor with a slider and an Arduino is created. Different setups were used when measuring on the boards, which resulted in that the largest antenna gave the most stable output despite the distance between transmitterand receiver. The conclusion was that the second best antenna and the smallest one would be suitable as well,and the better choice if it is to be implemented under the skin. A physical setup consisting of LEDs, an Arduino, a computer, and a function generator was created to examinethe voltage control functionality, where colored LEDs were lit depending on the voltage level. The functionality was then implemented in a circuit that in the future shall be integrated on the printed circuit board. To control high voltages a limiter circuit was examined and implemented. The circuit was simulated and tested, with a realization that a feature covering voltage enlargement is needed for the future.

L'électronique a connu une évolution incontestable ces dernières années. Les progrès réalisés, notamment dans l'électronique numérique et l'intégration des circuits, ont abouti à des systèmes plus performants, miniatures et à faible consommation énergétique. Les évolutions technologiques, alliant les avancées de l'informatique et des technologies numériques et leur intégration de plus en plus poussée au sein d'objets multiples, ont permis le développement d'un nouveau paradigme de systèmes qualifiés de systèmes cyber-physiques. Ces systèmes sont massivement déployés de nos jours grâce à l'expansion des applications liées à l'Internet Des Objets (IDO). Les systèmes cyber-physiques s'appuient, entre autre, sur le déploiement massif de capteurs communicants sans fil autonomes, ceux-ci présentent plusieurs avantages : * Flexibilité dans le choix de l'emplacement. Ils permettent l'accès à des zones dangereuses ou difficiles d'accès. * Affranchissement des câbles qui présentent un poids, un encombrement et un coût supplémentaire. * Elimination des problèmes relatifs aux câbles (usure, étanchéité...) * Facilité de déploiement de réseaux de capteurs Cependant, ces capteurs sans fils nécessitent une autonomie énergétique afin de fonctionner. Les techniques conventionnelles telles que les batteries ou les piles, n'assurent le fonctionnement des capteurs que pour une durée limitée et nécessitent un changement périodique. Ceci présente un obstacle dans le cas où les capteurs sans fils sont placés dans un endroit où l'accès est impossible. Il est donc nécessaire de trouver un autre moyen d'approvisionner l'énergie de façon permanente à ces réseaux de capteurs sans fil. L'intégration et la miniaturisation des systèmes électroniques ont permis la réalisation de systèmes à faible consommation, ce qui a fait apparaître d'autres techniques en termes d'apports énergétiques. Parmi ces possibilités se trouvent la récupération d'énergie électromagnétique et le transfert d'énergie sans fil (TESF). En effet, l'énergie électromagnétique est de nos jours, omniprésente sur notre planète, l'utiliser donc comme source d'énergie pour les systèmes électroniques semble être une idée plausible et réalisable. Cette thèse s'inscrit dans ce cadre, elle a pour objectif la conception et la fabrication de systèmes de récupération d'énergie électromagnétique pour l'alimentation de réseaux de capteurs sans fil. Le circuit de récupération d'énergie électromagnétique est appelé " Rectenna ", ce mot est l'association de deux entités qui sont " antenne " et " rectifier " qui désigne en anglais le " redresseur ". L'antenne permet de récupérer l'énergie électromagnétique ambiante et le redresseur la convertit en un signal continu (DC) qui servira par la suite à alimenter les capteurs sans fil. Dans ce manuscrit, plusieurs rectennas seront présentées, pour des fréquences allant des bandes GSM 868MHz, 915MHz, passant par l'UMTS à 2GHZ et WIFI à 2,45GHz, et allant jusqu'aux bandes Ku et Ka. / The electronic domain has known a significant expansion the last decades, all the advancements made has led to the development of miniature and efficient electronic devices used in many applications such as cyber physical systems. These systems use low-power wireless sensors for: detection, monitoring and so on. The use of wireless sensors has many advantages: * The flexibility of their location, they allow the access to hazardous areas. * The realization of lighter system, less expensive and less cumbersome. * The elimination of all the problems associated to the cables (erosion, impermeability...) * The deployment of sensor arrays. Therefore, these wireless sensors need to be supplied somehow with energy to be able to function properly. The classic ways of supplying energy such as batteries have some drawbacks, they are limited in energy and must be replaced periodically, and this is not conceivable for applications where the wireless sensor is placed in hazardous places or in places where the access is impossible. So, it is necessary to find another way to permanently provide energy to these wireless sensors. The integration and miniaturization of the electronic devices has led to low power consumption systems, which opens a way to another techniques in terms of providing energy. Amongst the possibilities, we can find the Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) and Energy Harvesting (EH). In fact, the electromagnetic energy is nowadays highly available in our planet thanks to all the applications that use wireless systems. We can take advantage of this massive available quantity of energy and use it to power-up the low power wireless sensors. This thesis is incorporated within the framework of WPT and EH. Its objective is the conception and realization of electromagnetic energy harvesters called "Rectenna" in order to supply energy to low power wireless sensors. The term "rectenna" is the combination of two words: Antenna and Rectifier. The Antenna is the module that captures the electromagnetic ambient energy and converts it to a RF signal, the rectifier is the RF circuit that converts this RF signal into a continuous (DC) signal that is used to supply the wireless sensors. In this manuscript, several rectennas will be presented, for different frequencies going from the GSM frequencies (868 MHz, 915 MHz) to the Ku/Ka bands.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / This thesis proposes a reconfigurable phased array of antennas for wireless power transfer. The array finds use in many applications, from drone destruction (for defense) to wireless charging of robots and mobile devices. It utilizes a novel feeding architecture to greatly reduce the number of high cost elements (such as amplifiers and phase shifters) as well as the quantity of unused resources in the system. Upon the instruction of the CPU, the array can separate into any number of subarrays, each of which transmits power to a single receiver, steering its beam as the receiver changes location. Currently dormant elements in the array can be used to provide position information about the receivers, either via Radar, or by listening for beacons pulses from the receiver. All of this is made possible, with only 4 amplifiers and 3 phase shifters, by the proposed 4-Bus Method. The source signal is divided into four buses, which are respectively phase shifted by 270 degrees, 180 degrees, 90 degrees, and 0 degrees (no shifter required) and then amplified. The CPU calculates, based on the number and positions of the receivers / targets, what the amplitude and phase excitation must be at each element. Any phase and amplitude which could be required can be achieved by simply adding together appropriate quantities of the correct two buses. In order to achieve this, the key piece is the variable power divider. These differ from Wilkinson dividers in that the dividing ratio can be changed via an applied DC voltage. Therefore, at each junction, by properly diverting the power levels on each phase bus to their proper location, complete delocalization of both amplifiers and phase shifters can be achieved. A method has also been developed which helps overcome the limitations of each variable power divider. That is, in certain instances, it may be desirable to pass all the power to a single output port or the other, which is not a possibility inherently possible with the device. With the use of a unique combination of RF switches, the nodes achieve much enhanced flexibility. Finally, an intensive study is carried out, in an attempt to yield greater understanding, as well as quick, useful approximations, of the behaviors of both rectangular and hexagonal arrays of various sizes and beam steering angles for wireless power.

Radio frequency (RF) communication, although most popular, is unsuitable for environments involving aqueous and animal/plant tissue media, cluttered environments (e.g., small regions with many radios), applications requiring extremely low power consumption, etc. For such environments, magnetic induction (MI) communication appears to be a viable new technology. It has many desirable properties for propagation in challenging environments. In this thesis, we have experimentally explored the use of Magnetic Induction (MI) based communications for communication through the body. Such communication modalities are essential for wireless communication between implanted therapeutic devices. RF is known to work poorly in this environment due to primarily an ionized aqueous propagation media. We have built a custom experimental testbed using magnetic coils and performed simulations of intrabody propagation for MI based communication using the Sim4Life package. Ultrasound (US) communications have been explored extensively for intra-body environments, and we compare MI against US as well. We experimentally showed that ultrasonic coupling (USC) works better than magnetic resonance coupling (MRC) for transmission through the body at 8 MHz frequency, as USC generates more power than MRC. We have also experimentally compared MR coupling against other forms of intra-body communication, such as galvanic and capacitive. We have done a deep in-depth study of in/on body simulation. According to those studies, the simulations work quite well, and yield a percentage error in the power received for USC as 3-4 %, while for MRC, as 4-5 %. The orientation of USC and MRC sensors causes only 1-2 % error, which doesn't have much impact. / Computer and Information Science

Wireless power transfer (WPT) systems are important in many areas, such as medical, communication, transportation, and consumer electronics. The underlying WPT system is comprised of a transmitter (TX) and receiver (RX). For biomedical applications, such systems can be implemented on rigid or flexible substrates and can be implanted or wearable. The efficiency of a WPT system is based on power transfer efficiency (PTE). Many WPT system optimization techniques have been explored to achieve the highest PTE possible. These are based on either a figure-of-merit (FOM) approach, quality factor (Q-factor) maximization, or by sweeping values for coil geometries. Four WPT systems for biomedical applications are implemented with inductive coupling. The thesis later presents an optimization technique for finding the maximum PTE of a range of frequencies and coil shapes through frequency, geometry and shape sweeping. Five optimized TX coil designs for different operating frequencies are fabricated for three shapes: square, hexagonal, and octagonal planar-spirals. The corresponding RX is implemented on polyimide tape with ink-jet-print (IJP) silver. At 80 MHz, the maximum measured PTE achieved is 2.781% at a 10 mm distance in the air for square planar-spiral coils.

The maritime transport sector makes a significant contribution to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, playing a consistent and increasing part in global CO2 emissions. Electrification of marine transportation is a key and necessary step for achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement and for avoiding the worst consequences of climate change. Sweden is among the first countries pleading for zero-emission transportation within 2045. However, one of the key challenges facing the widespread adoption of electric boats is the availability and efficiency of charging infrastructure.  Wireless power transfer technology with more focus on inductive power transfer technology in the marine sector was investigated. The focus is wireless charging infrastructure for passenger ferries in Goteborg. Vesta was the ferry chosen for the case study and it operates on the Saltholmen to Vrångö route. The route, schedule, and ferry energy consumption were investigated to implement the wireless charging infrastructure. Swot analysis was performed to show the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of the research. Based on this investigation, the power profile, energy storage, and adopted solution with its system were proposed.