Compact High-Efficiency Broadband Rectifier With Multi-Stage-Transmission-Line Matching

Abstract

This brief proposes a compact high-efficiency broadband microwave rectifier for energy harvesting. The proposed rectifier is designed to operate over a broad bandwidth spanning from 2 to 3 GHz and an input power dynamic range from 0 dBm to 10 dBm. In the proposed structure, a compact broadband low-loss matching network and a dc-pass filter with a broad stopband were designed, leading to a high conversion efficiency in a wide frequency range with compactness. For the matching network, low loss and compact size were achieved by strategically choosing and designing three transmission line segments. Moreover, the proposed dc-pass filter is compact and can effectively block broadband RF signal and its in-band high order harmonics. Theoretical analysis and simulations of the proposed structure were carried out. A prototype was fabricated, which demonstrates a broadband bandwidth of 41.5% (2.0-3.05 GHz) where the RF-dc power conversion efficiency is higher than 70% at an input power of 10 dBm. The measured efficiency remains over 45% within 1.9-3.05 GHz when the input power decreases to 0 dBm. The maximum measured efficiency is 75.8% at an input power of 14 dBm.