Phase cascade lattice rectifier array: an exactly solvable nonlinear network circuit

Abstract

An exact analysis of a 2-D lattice network consisting ofN×N sites with rectifier and AC source elements with controllable phases reveals a method for generating ripple-free DC power without the use of any filtering circuit elements. A phase cascade configuration is described in which the current ripple in a load resistor goes to zero in the large Nlimit, enhancing the rectification efficiency without requiring any additional capacitor or inductor based filters. The integrated modular configuration is qualitatively different from conventional rectenna arrays in which the source, rectifier and filter systems are physically disjoint. Nonlinear networks in the large N limit of source-rectifier arrays are potentially of interest to a fast evolving field of distributed power networks.