The previous part discusses the GI/BSI/DFKI Protection Profile which constitutes after the implementation of the identified improvements as the proposed evaluation methodology for remote electronic voting systems. The result can now be applied to available systems. Currently, there is no system that has been evaluated against the GI/BSI/DFKI Protection Profile or even against the improved version.

Proof of Concept

A triple band differential rectenna for RF energy harvesting applications is proposed in this paper. The rectenna is designed to operate in frequency bands of universal mobile telecommunication service (2.1 GHz), lower WLAN/Wi-Fi (2.4–2.48 GHz), and WiMAX (3.3–3.8 GHz). For designing the proposed rectenna, first a differentially fed multiband slot antenna that works as the front-end receiving unit is designed, fabricated, and tested to check its performance. It is observed that a peak antenna gain of 7, 5.5, and 9.2 dBi is achieved at 2, 2.5, and 3.5 GHz, respectively. In the next step, a triple band differential rectifier is designed using the Villard voltage doubler where interdigital capacitors (IDCs) in lieu of lumped components are used. The full rectifier circuit comprising of the rectifying unit and impedance matching circuit is fabricated and tested to check its performance in the desired bands. The peak RF-dc conversion efficiency of 68% is obtained using the three-tone measurement. In the final stage, both antenna and the rectifier circuit are integrated through SMA connecter in order to implement the proposed rectenna. Measurement of the proposed rectenna shows an approximate maximum efficiency of 53% at 2 GHz, 31% at 2.5 GHz, and 15.56% at 3.5 GHz.

Design of Triple Band Differential Rectenna for RF Energy Harvesting

Magnetic levitation has been used to implement low-cost and maintenance-free electromagnetic energy harvesting. The ability of levitation-based harvesting systems to operate autonomously for long periods of time makes them well-suited for self-powering a broad range of technologies. In this paper, a combined theoretical and experimental study is presented of a harvester configuration that utilizes the motion of a levitated hard-magnetic element to generate electrical power. A semi-analytical, non-linear model is introduced that enables accurate and efficient analysis of energy transduction. The model predicts the transient and steady-state response of the harvester a function of its motion (amplitude and frequency) and load impedance. Very good agreement is obtained between simulation and experiment with energy errors lower than 14.15% (mean absolute percentage error of 6.02%) and cross-correlations higher than 86%. The model provides unique insight into fundamental mechanisms of energy transduction and enables the geometric optimization of harvesters prior to fabrication and the rational design of intelligent energy harvesters.

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Magnetic levitation-based electromagnetic energy harvesting: a semi-analytical non-linear model for energy transduction.

Wireless power transfer (WPT) technologies are a major trend in emerging internet-of-things (IoT) applications. Because they negate the need for heavy, bulky batteries and can power multiple elements simultaneously, WPT systems enable very compact ubiquitous IoT wireless devices. However, the realization of high-performance, ultracompact (electrically small) rectennas, i.e., the rectifying antennas that enable midrange and far-field WPT, is challenging. We present the first electrically small ( $\textit {ka} ) and low-profile ( $0.04~\lambda _{0}$ ) linearly (LP) and circularly (CP) polarized WPT rectennas at 915 MHz in the IMS band. They are facilitated by the seamless integration of highly efficient rectifiers, i.e., RF signal to dc power conversion circuits, with electrically small Huygens dipole LP and CP antennas. Their optimized prototypes have cardioid, broadside radiation patterns, and effective capture areas larger than their physical size. Experimental results validate that they achieve an 89% peak ac-to-dc conversion efficiency, effectively confirming that they are ideal candidates for many of the emerging IoT applications.

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Electrically Small, Low-Profile, Highly Efficient, Huygens Dipole Rectennas for Wirelessly Powering Internet-of-Things Devices

Multi-beam antennas are critical components in future terrestrial and non-terrestrial wireless communications networks. The multiple beams produced by these antennas will enable dynamic interconnection of various terrestrial, airborne and space-borne network nodes. As the operating frequency increases to the high millimeter wave (mmWave) and terahertz (THz) bands for beyond 5G (B5G) and sixth-generation (6G) systems, quasi-optical techniques are expected to become dominant in the design of high gain multi-beam antennas. This paper presents a timely overview of the mainstream quasi-optical techniques employed in current and future multi-beam antennas. Their operating principles and design techniques along with those of various quasi-optical beamformers are presented. These include both conventional and advanced lens and reflector based configurations to realize high gain multiple beams at low cost and in small form factors. New research challenges and industry trends in the field, such as planar lenses based on transformation optics and metasurface-based transmitarrays, are discussed to foster further innovations in the microwave and antenna research community.

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Quasi-Optical Multi-Beam Antenna Technologies for B5G and 6G mmWave and THz Networks: A Review

Due to the growing implications of energy costs and carbon footprints, the need to adopt inexpensive, green energy harvesting strategies are of paramount importance for the long-term conservation of the environment and the global economy. To address this, the feasibility of harvesting low power density ambient RF energy simultaneously from multiple sources is examined. A high efficiency multi-resonant rectifier is proposed, which operates at two frequency bands (478-496 and 852-869 MHz) and exhibits favorable impedance matching over a broad input power range (-40 to -10 dBm). Simulation and experimental results of input reflection coefficient and rectified output power are in excellent agreement, demonstrating the usefulness of this innovative low-power rectification technique. Measurement results indicate an effective efficiency of 54.3%, and an output DC voltage of 772.8 mV is achieved for a multi-tone input power of -10 dBm. Furthermore, the measured output DC power from harvesting RF energy from multiple services concurrently exhibits a 3.14 and 7.24 fold increase over single frequency rectification at 490 and 860 MHz respectively. Therefore, the proposed multi-service highly sensitive rectifier is a promising technique for providing a sustainable energy source for low power applications in urban environments.

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Multi-service highly sensitive rectifier for enhanced RF energy scavenging

Applications and technologies of the Internet of Things are in high demand with the increase of network devices. With the development of technologies such as 5G, machine learning, edge computing, and Industry 4.0, the Internet of Things has evolved. This survey article discusses the evolution of the Internet of Things and presents the vision for Internet of Things 2.0. The Internet of Things 2.0 development is discussed across seven major fields. These fields are machine learning intelligence, mission critical communication, scalability, energy harvesting-based energy sustainability, interoperability, user friendly IoT, and security. Other than these major fields, the architectural development of the Internet of Things and major types of applications are also reviewed. Finally, this article ends with the vision and current limitations of the Internet of Things in future network environments.

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Internet of Things 2.0: Concepts, Applications, and Future Directions

In this paper, a compact $4\times6$ Butler matrix (BM) based on microstrip lines is designed and applied to a linear antenna array. The proposed design creates four beams in four different directions within the 27.5 and 28.5 GHz band. One of the advantages of this BM is a reduction in the size of the beamforming network (BFN). In order to attain this objective, the basic microstrip-based $4\times4$ BM is designed, and then modified to a $4\times6$ BM through a dual-substrate structure to avoid crossing lines using microstrip-to-slotline transitions. The BFN is cascaded with a six-element linear antenna array with endfire radiating elements. The array can be conveniently integrated into the BFN. The resulting design benefits from low-loss characteristics, ease of realization, and low fabrication cost. The array is fabricated and tested, and the experimental results are in good agreement with the simulated ones. The multi-beam antenna size is $5.6 \lambda \times 4.6 \lambda $ including feed lines and feed network, while the new BM design is only $3.5\lambda _{0} \times 1.4\lambda _{0} $ , which is almost half as large as the traditional one. The measured radiation patterns show that the beams cover roughly a spatial range of 90° with a peak active gain of 11 dBi.

Compact Planar Beamforming Array With Endfire Radiating Elements for 5G Applications

Being incident and polarization angle insensitive are crucial characteristics of metamaterial perfect absorbers due to the variety of incident signals. In the case of incident angles insensitivity, facing transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) waves affect the absorption ratio significantly. In this scientific report, a crescent shape resonator has been introduced that provides over 99% absorption ratio for all polarization angles, as well as 70% and 93% efficiencies for different incident angles up to [Formula: see text] for TE and TM polarized waves, respectively. Moreover, the insensitivity for TE and TM modes can be adjusted due to the semi-symmetric structure. By adjusting the structure parameters, the absorption ratio for TE and TM waves at [Formula: see text] has been increased to 83% and 97%, respectively. This structure has been designed to operate at 5 GHz spectrum to absorb undesired signals generated due to the growing adoption of Wi-Fi networks. Finally, the proposed absorber has been fabricated in a [Formula: see text] array structure on FR-4 substrate. Strong correlation between measurement and simulation results validates the design procedure.

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Wide-angle metamaterial absorber with highly insensitive absorption for TE and TM modes.

Future Internet of Things (IoT) devices are expected to be fully ubiquitous. To achieve this vision, a new generation of IoT devices needs to be developed, which can operate autonomously. To achieve autonomy, IoT devices must be completely wireless, both in terms of transmission and power. Further, accurate sensing is another crucial parameter of autonomy. Several wireless standards have been developed for improving the efficiency of IoT applications. However, the powering of IoT devices, sensor accuracy, and efficiency of electronic devices are open research problems in literature. With the advent of metamaterial perfect absorbers (MPAs), electromagnetic waves can be used as a source of energy, to enable sensing of the phenomenon and as a carrier for exchanging data. In this article, an extensive application-based investigation has been conducted on design principles and various methods of enhancing MPA characteristics. Moreover, the current applications that benefit from MPA, such as absorption of undesired frequencies, optical switching, energy harvesting, and sensing, are investigated. Finally, some implemented examples of MPA in industrial applications are provided along with possible directions for future work and open research areas.

Negin Shariati

Papers

Multi-service highly sensitive rectifier for enhanced RF energy scavenging

Internet of Things 2.0: Concepts, Applications, and Future Directions

Compact Planar Beamforming Array With Endfire Radiating Elements for 5G Applications

Wide-angle metamaterial absorber with highly insensitive absorption for TE and TM modes.

Review on Metamaterial Perfect Absorbers and Their Applications to IoT