3.3V DC output at -16dBm sensitivity and 77% PCE rectifier for RF energy harvesting

Astrie Nurasyeila Fifie Asli (Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM))
Yan Chiew Wong (Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM))

International Journal of Power Electronics and Drive Systems (IJPEDS)
Vol 10, No 3: September 2019

This paper presents a high voltage conversion at high sensitivity RF energy harvesting system for IoT applications. The harvesting system comprises bulk-to-source (BTMOS) differential-drive based rectifier to produce a high efficiency RF energy harvesting system. Low-pass upward impedance matching network is applied at the rectifier input to increase the sensitivity and output voltage. Dual-oxide-thickness transistors are used in the rectifier circuit to maintain the power efficiency at each stage of the rectifier. The system is designed using 0.18µm Silterra RF in deep n-well process technology and achieves 4.07V output at -16dBm sensitivity without the need of complex auxiliary control circuit and DC-DC charge-pump circuit. The system is targeted for urban environment.