The device converts radio waves into electricity

Researchers at Japanese communications infrastructure company Nihon Dengyo Kosaku (DENGYO) have developed a device they call the rectenna that converts radio waves into air into electricity.

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The name rectenna is a combination of the word rectifier (which is often used to convert AC to DC power, but also to detect radio signals) and from antennas.

The rectenna device can convert radio waves into air into electricity

Researchers say the rectenna can convert both wifi signals and terrestrial signals, and of course the amount of power that is being converted depends on the amount of radio waves around.

The rectenna has two sizes, small 12mm thick, to convert the wifi signal; and 30mm thick, to convert digital signals to ground. Each one looks like a flat white pad.

Engineers demonstrating the two devices at the Tokyo Big Sight show said the electricity produced by the wifi version was measured in microwatt units at a distance of 10cm from the source, though not much but enough to provide power. the amount of a small sensor.

Meanwhile, digital terrestrial signals can produce about 1.2mV and 0.06μW of electricity inside the exhibition hall at Tokyo Big Sight. The signals received are from a land digital program sent from the Tokyo broadcast station 5.5 km away.

Although the devices do not convert too much electricity, the team believes they can be used for a variety of purposes, or create new devices that utilize these small amounts of electricity.

They also noted that in some areas, such as near the Tokyo station, the rectenna could produce more energy. In one case, this device was able to produce 6mW of electricity at a location 3 or 4km from the tower.