Rectenna

thumb|right|alt=A printed rectenna lighting an LED from a Powercast 915 MHz transmitter, flexible meshed antenna bent with a red LED light|A printed meshed rectenna lighting an LED from a Powercast 915 MHz transmitter

A rectenna ('''rectifying antenna') is a special type of receiving antenna that is used for converting electromagnetic energy into direct current (DC) electricity. They are used in wireless power transmission systems that transmit power by radio waves. A simple rectenna element consists of a dipole antenna with a diode connected across the dipole elements. The diode rectifies the AC induced in the antenna by the microwaves, to produce DC power, which powers a load connected across the diode. Schottky diodes are usually used because they have the lowest voltage drop and highest speed and therefore have the lowest power losses due to conduction and switching. Large rectennas consist of arrays of many power receiving elements such as dipole antennas.