ORCID

0009-0004-6779-5968

Date of Award

2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Electrical Engineering

First Advisor

Jeff Frolik

Abstract

Wireless sensors have become essential components in modern communication systems, enabling the seamless collection and transmission of data across diverse environments. These sensors are considered enabling technology for distributed monitoring of physical conditions, converting them into electrical signals that can be wirelessly transmitted to central processing units. The integration of wireless sensors into communication networks allows for real-time monitoring and data analysis without the constraints of wired infrastructure, leading to significant advancements in Internet of Things (IoT) applications, environmental monitoring, healthcare, and industrial automation. Their flexibility and ease of installation make them well-suited for large-scale, hard-to-reach, or mobile applications, ideal for environments where traditionalwired systems may struggle. However, many current wireless sensors are expensive, require batteries, and have limited operational lifespans, making them less viable for long-term, maintenance-free deployments.

Harmonic transponders, which operate based on nonlinear interactions between transmitted and received signals, present significant opportunities in the design and development of wireless sensor networks due to their ability to detect and respond to external stimuli without the need for an internal power source. This work explores the nonlinear analysis of harmonic transponders, particularly focusing on their unique ability to generate harmonics from an incident fundamental frequency signal. The second harmonic frequencies are utilized in these systems to enhance signal detectionand reduce interference.

This work demonstrates the potential of harmonic transponders as a promising technology for wireless sensor networks, offering a low-cost, energy-efficient alternative for long-term deployments. By leveraging their ability to generate harmonics from incident signals, these transponders can improve signal detection, reduce interference, and operate without an internal power source. The proposed approach, including the use of harmonic transponders as passive repeaters in bistatic communication links, presents significant advantages for applications such as distance and soil moisture measurements, further expanding their practical applications in IoT, environmental monitoring, and industrial automation. This work also presents an approach to characterizing harmonic transponders by determining the intermodulation intercept pointat the desired frequency spectrum.

Language

en

Number of Pages

99 p.

Download

Share

COinS