A Wide Input Range Dual-Path CMOS Rectifier for RF Energy Harvesting

This brief presents a dual-path CMOS rectifier with adaptive control for ultrahigh-frequency (UHF) RF energy harvesters. The input power range with high power conversion efficiency (high PCE) of the rectifier is extended by the proposed architecture, which includes a low-power path and a high-power path. The dual-path rectifier with an adaptive control circuit is fabricated in a 65-nm CMOS process. Operating at 900 MHz and driving a 147-kΩ load resistor, the measured PCE of this work can be maintained above 20% with an 11-dB input range from -16 to -5 dBm, while only an 8-dB input range can be achieved with traditional single-path rectifiers. A sensitivity of -17.7 dBm is measured with 1-V output voltage across a capacitive load.