The project establishes the application of inkjet printing as a key technology for the implementation of batteryless and wireless sensor and communication circuits based on wireless power transfer and energy harvesting, enabling the realization of the Internet of Things (IoT). The IoT concept place a strong emphasis on low power wireless sensing and communication circuits. The World Wide Research Forum (WWRF) estimates that 7 trillion wireless devices will be serving 7 billion people by 2017. Batteryless, passive RFID systems with sensing functionality are a fundamental technology for realizing a network of interconnected devices, which represents the vision of IoT2. Inkjet printing technology presents an ideal candidate for implementing circuits and systems for IoT applications by permitting a large volume production, good resolution, and enabling the use of a variety of low cost and flexible substrate materials such as paper, wood, textiles, Kapton and PET.
The research outcomes of the project focus in two goals, 1) demonstrate low profile,conformal, inkjet printed RF energy harvesters and autonomous wireless sensor and communication circuits, and 2) establish inkjet printing in millimeter wave frequencies.
The results of this proposal have a direct impact towards the implementation of low cost, large volume, autonomous sensors for IoT solutions. The fields of energy harvesting and wireless power transfer combined with a promising fabrication technique such as inkjet printing allow for the realization of a multitude of new applications in fields such as i) health, ii) real time location systems, iii) smart buildings, iv) security.
