User:Honeybadgers4/Project 4

My Instructor's user page which points to this.

Rectenna
What is Rectenna?

Creating a rectifier/regulator (R/R) to convert A/C into useable D/C  and charge the phone wirelessly.

Tools/Materials
-Phone          -Resistors

-Copper Wires   -Transistors

-Screwdrivers   -Diodes

-Blade          -LEDs

-Wire Strippers -Capacitors

-Soldering Iron -Prototype Board 5x7 cm Pack of 10

-Multimeter     -Transmitter 915MHz

-Heat Gun       -Magnet Wire 28 Gauge AWG enameled Copper

-Metal Base     -Female SMA Connector

Week 1
Bob, Sam, Jen, and Chan decided to work on the rectenna project. Rectenna utilizes microwaves and converts it to AC electricity. That energy will be sent from a router and transmitted through a whip antenna to another receiving whip antenna that converts it into energy a phone could. Rectenna generally includes the antenna, rectifier and voltage multiplier (charge pump). We have been working on our proposal to make a general guideline on how to build a rectenna. For now, we have assigned our roles in the group and figured out what we need for this project. Bob will be providing us with the electrical tools because he has a workshop at his place. Sam will be working on the electrical circuits because he has experience with that topic. Jen and Chan will be helping out Bob and Sam with their work. After determining what we need to acquire, we have to order the parts.

We need to buy many parts for this project

$Copper foil

$PSU

$Resistors

$Transistors

$Diode

$LEDs

$Capacitors

$Prototype board 5x7cm pack of 10 (Amazon.com)

$Soft Copper Tubing 1/4-Inch OD x 10-Foot Coil with Caps On Both Ends

$Magnet Wire 28 Gauge AWG Enameled Copper 1000 Feet Coil Winding 155C Red

These are the parts that we need to buy in order for us to work on our project.

Week 2
We did our proposal presentation to the class. Jey wanted us to edit our block diagram to show that the transmitter and the whip antenna has the antenna symbol. He also wanted us to make an exel file to show our tasks. They had to be detailed in a way that every member had their job. We continued to search for our parts. There was a kit we found that included most of the parts we needed for this project. Even the 915 MHz router was included.

Bob is working on Arduino Uno to transmit to the whip antenna.

Jen and Chan are working on the base whip antenna.

Sam is working on the charge pump and the rectenna.

Week 3
We edited the block diagram that Jey told us to change. Also, we updated the excel file, showing our members' tasks and roles. During class, Jey gave us a great website called Rogers Cooperation. This company gives out free electric circuit board samples. Now, if we can obtain those, we would be very happy. But we do not have the right materials to edge the board. We are contacting the company to see if we can cut the board with a x acto knife because etching a board with chemical takes a long time and is expensive. It would be a great experience for us since we will be cutting the board ourselves.

The technician did not answer his work phone or answer reply to our email. We are still working on contacting them to see if the x acto knife works. While waiting, the members are still working on their tasks.

Week 4
Bob: I have been working with the Arduino, attempting to get it connected to an antenna and successfully transmitting. So far I haven't had much luck with the RFM69 as there is not much information about it. I've been able to connect it to the NRF905 but I don't have the proper arduino programming skill to make it work so far. We've been able to get it connected and I'm going to go onto the arduino site so that I can ask how to connect that.

We are still working on contacting the Rogers Corp for some electric circuits. Received the antenna parts. Now. Chan needs to find a base plate for the antenna. Jey wants the base plate to be made out of copper. It has to be at least 12 x 12 inch and 1/8 inch thin. Having trouble finding the base sheet with the right size and thickness. Found one that is 6 x 12 inch. Other items are very expensive.

Jen: I sent an email to Foerster about the SMA jacks for the base mounts from minicircuit.com. We need one SMA- FEM to SMA-FEM adapter as well as two SMA-M to BNC-F adapters. Awaiting Foerster's answer.

Week 5
We are trying to establish a wireless connection between the Arduino boards. We have each board connected to separate computer running separate programs.

Ordered a aluminum sheet for the ground base to Scott. Thickness - 1/8 inches Length - 6 inches Width - 6 inches

Scott emailed us about the aluminum plate. He said that there is a hard disk that has aluminum plate we can use. But we were unable to find any, so instead we found a metal scrap we can use.

Jen: We emailed Scott about the SMA jacks/adapters. He wants them from Jameco. We need 3 SMA – Male to BNC Female Adapter, 2 Female to BNC Female Adapter, 2 SMA Adapter Female to Female Straight Panel Mount. Our Schottky diodes arrived and I will be practicing surface mount soldering soon. I need to acquire forceps and a pair of magnifying googles.

Week 6
Jen: Learned more about surface mount soldering and the importance of using flux. Spoke with John about getting certified for the heat gun since soldering might prove difficult for use with the diodes. John also mentioned that there is a soldering rework station that will help with the excess solder that accumulates and connects the pins.

Worked on making the presentation for the class. Currently, we covered half of the goals we had but we do not have a product to demonstrate.

Chan: Waiting for the connector so that I can drill the hole into the base plate, according to the measurement of the connector. Then I will solder the antenna to the base plate.

Week 7
I, Chan, worked on the power point with the group. What we did was we went back to our old power point and figured out what we needed to change or add. The only problem we had was the weekly goal. Our predicted goal time was way off compared to our actual time. But aside from that, all we did was add more information about our roles and parts of the rectenna.

Rectenna Power Point

Week 8
Bob: http://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=274397.msg1936890#msg1936890 Ran into some issues today and found out that the ping server/client .ino examples don't seem to be working correctly. Even when I unhook one it still says "got ping" for both of them. This means that my previous testing was incorrect and I'm not sure it's transmitting at all. If I cover the antenna it stops pinging which leads me to believe something is happening but I'm not sure what.

Bob & Sam: Worked with Jey this morning to make the schottky diode without burning it up. Worked, however, the resistance is around 90k ohm and I don't know if that will work. Currently I am working with Sam to get the capacitors and diodes needed for the voltage multiplier. Sam and I put together the multiplier (mostly Sam) but we didn't have a chance to test it yet. I will post a picture of the finished breadboard thursday and we should test it then as well.

Week 9
This week we started working with Jey who picked up some SMA parts for us. We took the baseplate, drilled a hole through it, then connected the SMA connector to it. After that we connected the antenna and used a cardboard tube underneath it to keep it from snapping off on the underside. Now we need to start working on the Schottky Diode and multiplier circuit to finish the project.

Week 10
This week we mostly worked on getting ready for the presentations that would be taking place. Getting our pictures and diagrams ready as well as continuing to work on the assembly of the Schottky diodes.

Week 11
Chan and Jen worked on making a PN junction.

With this, Chan and Jen measured the ampere of the diode and the voltage of the resistor.

Started using the board and drawing up how the schottky diode schematic would look. Had some issues with it and had to draw it over again. Sam bore the brunt of this load as he is the only one with any real experience in circuit design. Sam also soldered in the capacitors for the schottky diode in this week.

Week 12
Tried to finish up the schottky board test, but ran into more issues and was unable to get it working. Turns out Sam had missed one capacitor so one more was added in to complete the circuit. Jey hooked up the oscilloscope and attempted to power the circuit, but something was not working properly and there simply was not enough time to finish the project.