Transforming 5G Wireless Power Harvesting: A Broadbeam Equiconvex Lens-Integrated mmWave Harvester for Smart City Environments

For the first time, the authors propose a 3D lens-enabled, broadbeam energy harvester capable of mW-level of harvested power across a wide angular coverage. The design incorporates a 25-rectenna ‘pixel’ array, each featuring a circularly polarized antenna with a highly sensitive half-wave rectifier, and an equiconvex 3D dielectric lens to enhance power capture and angular coverage. In proof-of-concept testing, the harvester achieved mW-level of harvested power at incident power densities as low as 0.1 mW/cm2, with a peak power capture of 6.5 mW, and maintained mW-level performance across a broad solid angle of 2.68 sr, representing the highest combined harvested power across angular coverage among mmWave harvesters. With 5G/mm-Wave EIRP of 75 dBm, the harvester can theoretically capture 6.5 mW at 40m and sustain 1 mW out to 80m. With broadbeam coverage and efficient energy harvesting, this system enables advanced smart city applications while reducing reliance on traditional power sources.