Nonlinear Energy Harvesting Models in Wireless Information and Power Transfer

TL;DR

This paper compares linear and nonlinear RF energy harvesting models for SWIPT, emphasizing the importance of accounting for practical circuit non-idealities to accurately assess system performance.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive comparison of RF energy harvesting models, including nonlinear effects and sensitivity limits, for more realistic SWIPT system analysis.

Findings

Nonlinear models significantly differ from linear ones in SWIPT performance predictions.

Limited sensitivity impacts the probability of successful energy harvesting.

Practical circuit characteristics must be incorporated for accurate SWIPT modeling.

Abstract

This work compares different linear and nonlinear RF energy harvesting models, including limited or unlimited sensitivity, for simultaneous wireless information and power transfer (SWIPT). The probability of successful SWIPT reception under a family of RF harvesting models is rigorously quantified, using state-of-the-art rectifiers in the context of commercial RFIDs. A significant portion of SWIPT literature uses oversimplified models that do not account for limited sensitivity or nonlinearity of the underlying harvesting circuitry. This work demonstrates that communications signals are not always appropriate for simultaneous energy transfer and concludes that for practical SWIPT studies, the inherent non-ideal characteristics of the harvester should be carefully taken into account; specific harvester's modeling methodology is also offered.