Rectenna with non-linear adaptive load capable of operating over a broad range of input power levels

A rectenna design is introduced which is capable of effectively operating over a broad input power level at 915 MHz. Silicon Schottky diodes with low forward voltage and low zero-bias junction capacitance are applied to construct a bridge-rectifier. A novel non-linear adaptive load, of which the equivalent impedance changes when the input power varies, is proposed and applied at the terminal of the rectenna. The circuit is simulated using Advanced Design System (ADS), demonstrating an overall RF-to-DC conversion efficiency greater than 50% for an input power ranging from -13.5 dBm to 0 dBm.