- At the IEEE Wireless Power Technology Conference and Expo (WPTCE) in Kyoto, Japan, Rohde & Schwarz presented a proof-of-concept for far-field testing of wireless power systems.
- The radio-frequency (RF) power tester uses test and measurement instruments from the German company, as well as commercially available wireless load development kits.
- This solution supports the wireless RF power standard established by the AirFuel Alliance.
According to Statista estimates, the number of wireless communication devices will reach 29 billion by 2030. Traditional methods of powering devices, such as manual recharging, battery replacements or wireless charging pads, are impractical and require costly regular maintenance. RF technology offers a promising alternative: devices can be wirelessly powered by converting RF signals into direct current (DC).
“Today, we have over 15 billion connected IoT devices, yet we still power them manually. At the very least, low‑power IoT devices should be powered over‑the‑air and without human interaction. We clearly see that wireless RF energy can meet this need, offering a maintenance‑free solution that provides power on demand to multiple devices – even when the devices are in use or in motion”, says Dr.-Ing. Rania Morsi, head of the WPT project at Rohde & Schwarz,
Wireless power supply via radio frequency
RF wireless powering is a contactless power transfer technology that enables multiple devices to be powered simultaneously within several meters of the power source. This eliminates the need for wires and the hassle of maintaining batteries. RF wireless powering has a wide range of applications, and its most prominent use cases are for low‑power IoT devices. For example, inside a smart building or a smart car, this technology would enable the many sensors to be powered without manual recharging or battery exchange.
Wireless power transmission also has environmental benefits. Battery manufacturing is a highly energy intensive process, and the toxic material in batteries can also enter water sources. Wireless power transfer enables the use of battery-less devices, which potentially reduces the impact of batteries on the environment.
AirFuel RF standardized technology
The AirFuel Alliance is an international coalition coordinating efforts to develop a standardized RF wireless charging technology called AirFuel RF™. Rohde & Schwarz’s WPT project aims to develop a test solution for wireless power transmitters and receivers in line with industry standards for wireless power devices.
At the recent IEEE WPTCE conference in Kyoto, Japan, Rohde & Schwarz demonstrated the feasibility of this technology using a prototype wireless power tester (WPT) system. According to AirFuel Alliance specifications, the wireless charge resonator system operates at 6.78 MHz ± 15 kHz.
The Rohde & Schwarz WPT system supports the AirFuel Alliance compliance test specification for RF charging. It comprises the R&S SMB100B RF and microwave signal generator, the R&S FSV3000 signal and spectrum analyzer and the R&S NGU source and measurement unit (SMU) used as a battery emulator, plus two R&S HMC8012 digital multimeters. The automatic test system can be controlled via a web interface.
