A High-Efficiency Multi-Mode Rectifier Array Based on Variable Power Distribution

Abstract

This study proposes a high-efficiency rectifier array with multiple power modes based on variable power distribution. The proposed rectifier array comprises of rectifier cell 1 for low-power mode, rectifier cell 2 for high-power mode, and a variable power divider. The variable power divider, composed of two branch line couplers and a variable impedance stage, determines the power-dividing ratio by controlling the variable impedance stage. If the input power is adaptively distributed in the rectifier array according to the input power, the rectifier array can maintain high efficiency over a wide input power range. The size of the proposed circuit is 67.7 mm×47.4 mm. The measurements obtained during experimentation show that proposed rectifier array has high power conversion efficiency of 80.2 % and 68.7 % in the low and high-power modes, respectively. The circuit can maintain high power conversion efficiency of over 50 % over an input power range of 4.4−28 dBm depending on the selected mode at 2.45 GHz.