Design of an efficiency‐enhanced Greinacher rectifier operating in the GSM 1800 band by using rat‐race coupler for RF energy harvesting applications

Abstract

Radio frequency energy harvesting (RFEH) circuits can convert the power of communication signals from radio frequencies (RF) in the environment into direct current and voltage (DC power). In this study, the Greinacher full-wave rectifier circuit topology was combined with a 180 hybrid ring (rat-race) coupler which was a passive RF/microwave circuit. Thus, higher RF-DC conversion efficiency was obtained. First, using the Greinacher rectifier topology, RFEH circuit operating at the center frequency of 1850 MHz was designed. Then, at this frequency, designing of the rat-race coupler having 1000 MHz bandwidth was made. The S-parameter measurements and simulation data of the designed coupler circuit were compared. Finally, the high efficiency rectifier circuit where these two circuits were used together was designed. The proposed rectifier circuit was constructed on 70 × 70 × 1.6 mm 3 FR4 substrate material with a permittivity of 4.3 (ε r = 4.3). The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the rectifier circuit, which had 125 MHz bandwidth at the center frequency of 1850 MHz and was developed with rat-race coupler, was calculated as 71% at 4.7 dBm input power. In addition, with this study, at −15 dBm input power, which was a relatively low power level, 40% PCE value was obtained. K E Y W O R D S180 hybrid ring (rat-race) coupler, Greinacher full-wave rectifier, high efficiency rectifier topology

State-of-the-Art Techniques in RF Energy Harvesting Circuits

“…As a result, they achieved an efficiency of 81.65% for 0 dBm input at 868 MHz. A different approach of designing a rectifier in a rectenna is presented in [51,52]. In both works, the authors manufactured a modified Greinacher rectifier that receives input from a rat-race coupler, that was used to divide the input RF signal into two signals with equal power and a 180 • phase shift.…”

An efficient dual‐band rectenna using symmetrical rectifying circuit and slotted monopole antenna array

“…For the rectifier, the shunt mounted (packaged SOT 323) HSMS‐285C Schottky diodes are used here because of their low threshold voltages. In order to achieve high efficiency, the standard symmetrical full‐wave Greinacher topology of the rectifier is adopted here as the basic configuration . The Greinacher topology is used in the present work because of the several advantages mentioned as: (a) the use of the Greinacher voltage multiplier increases the power handling capacity due to doubling the number of diodes.…”

“…In order to achieve high efficiency, the standard symmetrical full-wave Greinacher topology of the rectifier is adopted here as the basic configuration. [22][23][24] The Greinacher topology is used in the present work because of the several advantages mentioned as: (a) the use of the Greinacher voltage multiplier increases the power handling capacity due to doubling the number of diodes. (b) As the number of rectifiers is doubled in the Greinacher voltage multiplier configuration, the optimal resistance value for the maximum conversion efficiency increases.…”

Analysis of rectifier stage number and load resistance in an RF energy harvesting circuit

“…One of the most widely known RF rectifier circuits is the Dickson rectifier . The circuit, which can basically respond to low current and voltage, provides achieving high power conversion efficiency and high DC voltage over the output load . In addition to being practical and simple, Dickson rectifier circuits are widely preferred because they are suitable for being developed .…”

“…7,8 The circuit, which can basically respond to low current and voltage, provides achieving high power conversion efficiency and high DC voltage over the output load. 9,10 In addition to being practical and simple, Dickson rectifier circuits are widely preferred because they are suitable for being developed. 7,11,12 Another advantage of the energy harvesting process with Dickson circuits is that it creates a staged-structure by adding the same rectifier circuit one after the other.…”