GaN HEMT Class-E Rectifier for DC plus AC Power Recovery

A 915 MHz GaN HEMT-based class-E rectifier is proposed in this paper to be used for DC+AC wireless power recovery. Taking advantage of the time reversal (TR) duality principle, the rectifier was derived from a class-E inverter, whose output network was designed for high-efficiency operation over a wide range of resistive loads. The addition of an appropriate gate-side termination allows the device to be turned-on without an additional RF source for gate driving. The rectifier reduced sensitivity to load variation, as well as its capability for efficiently and linearly recovering the envelope of an AM RF excitation, were then characterized. An average efficiency of 82% has been measured for the combined RF-to-DC and RF-to-AC power conversion of a 1.6 W modulated carrier. Frequency multiplexing and frequency modulation alternatives for high-level DC+AC wireless power transmission are finally presented.