rectifier

Abstract

A rectifier (10) comprises: a rectifier circuit (11) that is configured utilizing a plurality of diodes (201 to 204) and that on receiving input of a rectified wave generates a DC component; and a plurality of line elements connected to the rectifier circuit (11). The plurality of diodes (201-204) contains a first diode (201), a second diode (202), a third diode (203), and a fourth diode (204). The plurality of line elements are each an even-order short-circuit element (301-304) the impedance of which goes to zero at at least one among even-order harmonics of the rectified wave, thereby smoothing the output of the rectifier circuit. The plurality of line elements include: a first element, one end of which is connected to the first diode and the other end of which is open; a second element, one end of which is connected to the second diode and the other end of which is open; a third element, one end of which is connected to the third diode and the other end of which is open; and a fourth element, one end of which is connected to the fourth diode and the other end of which is open.

Description

rectifier

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a rectifier for converting high frequency to direct current.

[0002] A bridge rectifier, which consists of four diodes arranged in a bridge configuration, is known as a rectifier that converts microwave frequencies into direct current. One such bridge rectifier uses shunt capacitors that are short-circuited for even-order harmonics (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The shunt capacitors are multiple capacitors that are connected to shunts and are arranged between the output side of the bridge-connected diodes and ground.

[0003] Patent No. 5885149

[0004] When the frequency band of the fundamental wave of the rectified wave exceeds 20 GHz, the chip capacitor connected to the output side of the bridge-connected diodes becomes less likely to short-circuit against even-order harmonics due to the influence of inductive components. Furthermore, in high frequency bands, the performance of capacitors is more susceptible to variations. As a result, the performance difference between individual rectifiers becomes greater, resulting in a decrease in the quality of the rectifiers.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a rectifier that can achieve high conversion efficiency with a simple circuit configuration and that suppresses performance variations.

[0006] To achieve the above object, a rectifier according to the present disclosure includes a rectifier circuit and a plurality of line members. The rectifier circuit is configured using a plurality of diodes, and receives a rectified wave and generates a DC component. The plurality of diodes include first and third diodes, each having an anode connected to the input side of the rectifier circuit and a cathode connected to the output side of the rectifier circuit, and second and fourth diodes, each having a cathode connected to the input side of the rectifier circuit and an anode connected to the output side of the rectifier circuit. Each of the plurality of line members is an even-order short-circuit member that has zero impedance for at least one even-order harmonic of the rectified wave and smoothes the output of the rectifier circuit, and has one end connected to the diode and the other end open.

[0007] According to the present disclosure, each of the multiple line components has zero impedance for at least one of the even-order harmonics of the rectified wave, smoothing the output of the rectifier circuit, thereby enabling high conversion efficiency to be obtained with a simple circuit configuration and suppressing performance variation.

[0008] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a rectifier according to embodiment 1. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an operating state and a current path of a diode in a rectifier circuit included in the rectifier according to embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing another operating state and a current path of a diode in a rectifier circuit included in the rectifier according to embodiment 1. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a time waveform of a current flowing through a diode in the rectifier according to embodiment 1. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a time waveform of a current flowing through a diode in the rectifier according to embodiment 1. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a current path of an even-order harmonic in the rectifier according to embodiment 1. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a current path of an even-order harmonic in the rectifier according to embodiment 1. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing one example of the configuration of a rectifier according to embodiment 1. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing another example of the configuration of a rectifier according to embodiment 1. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a further example of the configuration of a rectifier according to embodiment 1. FIG. 11 is a diagram explaining problems with the rectifier according to embodiment 1. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing another example of the configuration of a rectifier according to embodiment 2. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a further example of the configuration of a rectifier according to embodiment 2. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a rectifier according to embodiment 3. FIG. 15 is a diagram showing another example of the configuration of a rectifier according to embodiment 3.

[0009] Rectifiers according to embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below. In the drawings, the same or equivalent parts are designated by the same reference numerals.

[0010] First Embodiment. FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a rectifier 10 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. The rectifier 10 includes a rectifier circuit 11 using diodes and a plurality of even-order short-circuiting means 301 to 304 connected to the rectifier circuit 11. The rectifier 10 also includes input terminals 100 and 101 and an output terminal 500. The input terminals 100 and 101 are high-frequency input terminals to which high-frequency signals are differentially input. The rectifier circuit 11 includes a plurality of diodes, four diodes 201 to 204, arranged in a bridge configuration. Diode 201 is the first diode in the rectifier circuit 11. Diode 202 is the second diode in the rectifier circuit 11. Diode 203 is the third diode in the rectifier circuit 11. Diode 204 is the fourth diode in the rectifier circuit 11. The rectifier circuit 11 converts the high-frequency rectified wave input to the input terminals 100 and 101 to generate a DC component. The output terminal 500 outputs a single-phase DC. The rectifier circuit 11 outputs a single-phase DC between the output terminal 500 and the ground GND. Therefore, the ground side connected to the ground GND also becomes the output side of the rectifier circuit 11.

[0011] When a high-frequency rectified wave is input to input terminals 100, 101 and full-wave rectified by rectifier circuit 11, even-order short-circuiting means 301-304 short-circuit (zero impedance) at least one of the even-order harmonics of the rectified wave generated by full-wave rectification. Furthermore, even-order short-circuiting means 301-304 have a smoothing function that smoothes the output of rectifier circuit 11. Note that the harmonics of the rectified wave are signal waves contained in the rectified signal and have frequencies that are integer multiples of the frequency of the rectified wave.

[0012] In the rectifier circuit 11, the connections of the diodes 201 to 204 are determined in consideration of the board wiring layout. For example, the anode of the diode 201 is connected to the input terminal 100 on the input side of the rectifier circuit 11. The cathode of the diode 201 is connected to a connection point 510 via a transmission line 401 on the output side of the rectifier circuit 11. The anode of the diode 203 is connected to the input terminal 101 on the input side of the rectifier circuit 11. The cathode of the diode 203 is connected to a connection point 510 via a transmission line 403 on the output side of the rectifier circuit 11. The connection point 510 is connected to an output terminal 500 via a transmission line 410. The rectifier 10 outputs direct current from the output terminal 500. The anode of the diode 202 is connected to a connection point 511 via a transmission line 402 on the ground side of the rectifier circuit 11. The cathode of diode 202 is connected to input terminal 100 on the input side of rectifier circuit 11. The anode of diode 204 is connected to connection point 511 via transmission line 404 on the ground side of rectifier circuit 11. The cathode of diode 204 is connected to input terminal 101 on the input side of rectifier circuit 11. Connection point 511 is connected to ground GND on the back surface of the substrate via via 411, thereby being grounded.

[0013] The rectifier 10 can be applied to a rectenna. A rectenna is an antenna with a rectifier that converts microwave-band high-frequency waves received by the antenna to direct current (DC). Conversion from high-frequency waves to DC is also known as RF-DC conversion. Rectennas are used in the power receiving section of wireless power transmission (WPT). To achieve a highly efficient transmission system, the rectifier that constitutes the rectenna must achieve high efficiency in RF-DC conversion. To achieve high efficiency in a microwave rectifier, appropriate processing of harmonics is required. Harmonics in a rectifier are generated by switching between on and off in a diode. The rectifier 10 achieves high efficiency in RF-DC conversion with a simple circuit configuration.

[0014] Next, the operating state and current path of the four diodes 201 to 204 included in the rectifier circuit 11 when a high-frequency rectified wave is input to the input terminals 100 and 101 will be described. The rectifier circuit 11 is a bridge rectifier circuit configured using multiple diodes 201 to 204 as bridge-connected diodes. Such a bridge rectifier circuit is included in a full-wave rectifier circuit. The rectifier circuit 11 receives a high-frequency rectified wave and generates a DC component.

[0015] FIG. 2 shows the operating states and current paths of diodes 201-204 in rectifier circuit 11 when input terminal 100 is at a positive voltage for an AC voltage supplied to input terminals 100 and 101. During the positive half cycle of the high-frequency signal supplied to input terminals 100 and 101, diodes 201 and 204 are forward biased. At this time, diode 201 is in an on state 201S1. Diode 204 is in an on state 204S1. On the other hand, diodes 202 and 203 are reverse biased. At this time, diode 202 is in an off state 202S1. Diode 203 is in an off state 203S1. Arrow A01 indicates a current flowing from input terminal 100 to rectifier circuit 11. This current flows from the rectifier circuit 11 to the output terminal 500 as a current indicated by an arrow A02 via diode 201, transmission line 401, connection point 510, and transmission line 410. Arrow A03 indicates a current flowing from ground GND to the rectifier circuit 11. This current flows from the rectifier circuit 11 to the input terminal 101 as a current indicated by an arrow A04 via connection point 511, transmission line 404, and diode 204.

[0016] FIG. 3 shows the operating states and current paths of diodes 201-204 in rectifier circuit 11 when input terminal 100 is at a negative voltage for AC voltages supplied to input terminals 100 and 101. During the negative half-cycle of the high-frequency signal supplied to input terminals 100 and 101, diodes 201 and 204 are reverse-biased. At this time, diode 201 is in an off state 201S2. Diode 204 is in an off state 204S2. On the other hand, diodes 202 and 203 are forward-biased. At this time, diode 202 is in an on state 202S2. Diode 203 is in an on state 203S2. Arrow A11 indicates a current flowing from input terminal 101 to rectifier circuit 11. This current flows from the rectifier circuit 11 to the output terminal 500 as a current indicated by arrow A12 via diode 203, transmission line 403, connection point 510, and transmission line 410. Arrow A13 indicates a current flowing from ground GND to the rectifier circuit 11. This current flows from the rectifier circuit 11 to the input terminal 100 as a current indicated by arrow A14 via connection point 511, transmission line 402, and diode 202.

[0017] FIG. 4 shows the time waveforms of the currents flowing through the diodes 201 and 203. The direction of the current in FIG. 4 is positive from the anode to the cathode for both diodes 201 and 203. The currents flowing through each diode 201 and 203 have a half-wave rectified waveform. In this case, the half-wave rectified waveform includes a DC component, even-order harmonic components, and odd-order harmonic components. The sum of the currents flowing through the diodes 201 and 203 flows out from the output side of the rectifier circuit 11. This sum of the currents has a full-wave rectified waveform. The full-wave rectified waveform includes a DC component and even-order harmonic components, but does not include odd-order harmonic components. Therefore, the odd harmonics of the rectified wave do not flow out of the rectifier circuit 11 to the output terminal 500.

[0018] The current flowing through each of the diodes 202 and 204 has a half-wave rectified waveform, similar to that of the diodes 201 and 203. The sum of the currents flowing through the diodes 202 and 204 flows on the ground side of the rectifier circuit 11. This sum of the currents has a full-wave rectified waveform. The full-wave rectified waveform contains a DC component and even-order harmonic components, but does not contain odd-order harmonic components. Therefore, the odd-order harmonics of the rectified wave do not flow from the ground GND into the rectifier circuit 11.

[0019] 5 shows the time waveforms of the currents flowing through the diodes 201 and 202. In FIG. 5, the positive current direction for the diode 201 is from the cathode to the anode, while the positive current direction for the diode 202 is from the anode to the cathode. In this case, the sum of the currents flowing through the diodes 201 and 202 is a positive value when the current flows from the rectifier circuit 11 to the input terminal 100. This sum of the currents is expressed using an odd function. The sum of the currents flowing through the diodes 201 and 202 does not include even-order harmonic components.

[0020] With respect to the direction of current, the direction from cathode to anode is defined as the positive direction for diode 203. With respect to diode 204, the direction from anode to cathode is defined as the positive direction for current. Therefore, the sum of the currents flowing through diodes 203 and 204 is a positive value when the current flows from rectifier circuit 11 to input terminal 101. The sum of the currents flowing through diodes 203 and 204 can also be expressed using an odd function, as in the case of diodes 201 and 202.

[0021] When the even-order short-circuiting means 301 to 304 are not provided, the rectifier circuit 11, which functions as a bridge rectifier circuit, converts half of each waveform cycle into a DC signal containing pulsation. The full-wave rectifier circuit rectifies both the positive voltage side and the negative voltage side of the waveform, resulting in two pulses per cycle. This causes the frequency of the pulsation to be twice the frequency of the input signal. The output terminal 500 outputs the DC converted by the rectifier circuit 11.

[0022] The junction 510 where the cathode of diode 201 and the cathode of diode 203 are connected is the output of rectifier 10. Without even-order shorting means 301-304, the output waveform at output terminal 500 includes a DC component and even-order harmonic components. The leakage of even-order harmonics to the output side reduces the efficiency of RF-DC conversion. Additionally, the DC output of rectifier 10 becomes impossible or difficult to smooth sufficiently when even-order harmonics are present. When the rectified wave is a high frequency exceeding 20 GHz, the even-order harmonics will exceed 40 GHz. In this case, the influence of the inductive component of the capacitor becomes significant, making it difficult to short-circuit the output side of the bridge-connected diodes with a capacitor at even-order harmonics.

[0023] The rectifier 10 according to the first embodiment includes a plurality of even-order short-circuiting means 301 to 304, each having one end connected to the output side or the ground side of bridge-connected diodes and the other end open. The rectifier 10 prevents leakage of even-order harmonics to the output side, thereby smoothing the output. The even-order short-circuiting means 301 is connected to the cathode of the diode 201 and serves as a first even-order short-circuiting member that shorts out even-order harmonics on the output side of the rectifier circuit 11. The even-order short-circuiting means 302 is connected to the anode of the diode 202 and serves as a second even-order short-circuiting member that shorts out even-order harmonics on the ground side of the rectifier circuit 11. The even-order short-circuiting means 303 is connected to the cathode of the diode 203 and serves as a third even-order short-circuiting member that shorts out even-order harmonics on the output side of the rectifier circuit 11. The even-order short-circuiting means 304 is a fourth member that is connected to the anode of the diode 204 and serves as a fourth even-order short-circuiting member that short-circuits even-order harmonics on the ground side of the rectifier circuit 11. Being short-circuited to even-order harmonics is also referred to as an even-order short-circuit.

[0024] Even-order short-circuiting means 301 short-circuits even-order harmonics at the cathode of diode 201 (making the impedance zero). Even-order short-circuiting means 302 short-circuits even-order harmonics at the anode of diode 202. Even-order short-circuiting means 303 short-circuits even-order harmonics at the cathode of diode 203. Even-order short-circuiting means 304 short-circuits even-order harmonics at the anode of diode 204. By generating these even-order short-circuits, rectifier 10 equipped with even-order short-circuiting means 301 to 304 prevents even-order harmonics from leaking to the output side and smooths the output.

[0025] FIG. 6 shows the current paths of even-order harmonics in the rectifier 10 including the even-order short-circuiting means 301-304 when the high-frequency signal supplied to the input terminals 100 and 101 is in a positive half cycle. At this time, diode 201 is in an operating state 201S3, and diode 204 is in an operating state 204S3. The arrows drawn within the squares corresponding to the positions of diodes 201 and 204 indicate that even-order harmonic currents, such as DC current, second-order harmonic current, fourth-order harmonic current, and sixth-order harmonic current, are flowing from left to right. The directions of currents other than DC current may not match the actual directions. Meanwhile, diode 202 is in an off state 202S3, and diode 203 is in an off state 203S3. In the operating state 201S3, the anode and cathode of diode 201 are short-circuited. Furthermore, even-order harmonics generated by diode 201 are absorbed by the even-order short-circuiting means 301. Therefore, even-order harmonics generated in diode 201 are confined to diode 201. In operating state 204S3, the anode and cathode of diode 204 are short-circuited. Furthermore, even-order harmonics generated in diode 204 are absorbed by even-order short-circuiting means 304. Therefore, even-order harmonics generated in diode 204 are confined to diode 204.

[0026] FIG. 7 shows the current paths of even-order harmonics in the rectifier 10 including the even-order short-circuiting means 301-304 when the high-frequency signal supplied to the input terminals 100 and 101 is in a negative half cycle. At this time, diode 202 is in an operating state 202S4, and diode 203 is in an operating state 203S4. The arrows drawn within the squares corresponding to diodes 202 and 203 indicate that even-order harmonic currents, such as DC current, second-order harmonic current, fourth-order harmonic current, and sixth-order harmonic current, are flowing from left to right. The directions of currents other than DC current may not match the actual directions. Meanwhile, diode 201 is in an off state 201S4, and diode 204 is in an off state 204S4. In the operating state 202S4, the anode and cathode of diode 202 are short-circuited. Furthermore, even-order harmonics generated by diode 202 are absorbed by the even-order short-circuiting means 302. Therefore, even-order harmonics generated in diode 202 are confined to diode 202. In operating state 203S4, the anode and cathode of diode 203 are short-circuited. Furthermore, even-order harmonics generated in diode 203 are absorbed by even-order short-circuiting means 303. Therefore, even-order harmonics generated in diode 203 are confined to diode 203.

[0027] During each cycle of the high-frequency signal, each of the diodes 201-204 switches between an on state and an off state. Each of the even-order short-circuiting means 301-304, arranged corresponding to each of the diodes 201-204, shorts out at least one of the even-order harmonics on the output side or ground side of the rectifier circuit 11. Therefore, even-order harmonics generated by the switching of each of the diodes 201-204 can be confined to the terminals to which each of the diodes 201-204 is connected. Thus, the rectifier 10 can achieve high efficiency in RF-DC conversion by preventing even-order harmonics from leaking to the output side. Furthermore, the smoothing function of the even-order short-circuiting means 301-304 allows DC with suppressed pulsation due to even-order harmonics to be output from the output terminal 500.

[0028] FIG. 8 shows an example configuration of the rectifier 10. Each of the even-order short-circuiting means 301 to 304 in FIG. 8 is a single open stub using a transmission line. The even-order short-circuiting means 301 is formed by a line member 311 having an electrical length L1 that is a quarter wavelength of the second harmonic of the rectified wave. The even-order short-circuiting means 302 is formed by a line member 312 having an electrical length L1 that is a quarter wavelength of the second harmonic of the rectified wave. The even-order short-circuiting means 303 is formed by a line member 313 having an electrical length L1 that is a quarter wavelength of the second harmonic of the rectified wave. The even-order short-circuiting means 304 is formed by a line member 314 having an electrical length L1 that is a quarter wavelength of the second harmonic of the rectified wave.

[0029] In the even-order short-circuiting means 301 arranged corresponding to the diode 201, one end of the line member 311 is connected to the cathode of the diode 201 and the other end is open. In the even-order short-circuiting means 302 arranged corresponding to the diode 202, one end of the line member 312 is connected to the anode of the diode 202 and the other end is open. In the even-order short-circuiting means 303 arranged corresponding to the diode 203, one end of the line member 313 is connected to the cathode of the diode 203 and the other end is open. In the even-order short-circuiting means 304 arranged corresponding to the diode 204, one end of the line member 314 is connected to the cathode of the diode 204 and the other end is open. In the configuration shown in Figure 8, line members 311 and 313 arranged on the output side of rectifier circuit 11 and line members 312 and 314 arranged on the ground side of rectifier circuit 11 short-circuit the second harmonic of the rectified wave.

[0030] When the bridge-connected diodes of a full-wave rectifier circuit are switched between on and off states, the lower the harmonic order, the higher the level of the harmonic signal. The lower the harmonic order, the greater the impact on the efficiency of RF-DC conversion. The rectifier 10 shown in FIG. 8 prevents the second harmonic, which has the greatest impact on the efficiency of RF-DC conversion, from leaking to the output.

[0031] Each of the even-order short-circuiting means 301-304 in Figure 8 is an even-order short-circuiting element constructed using a single line component. The output of the rectifier circuit 11 can be smoothed by the even-order short-circuiting means 301-304, thereby eliminating the need for a capacitor as a smoothing element. This allows for high conversion efficiency to be achieved with a simple circuit configuration when rectifying high frequencies above 20 GHz. Furthermore, the capacitor-free rectifier 10 can reduce performance variations. The simple configuration that prevents second-order harmonics from leaking to the output side allows for the device to be made more compact.

[0032] FIG. 9 shows another example configuration of the rectifier 10. The even-order short-circuiting means 301 to 304 in FIG. 9 each include a plurality of open stubs corresponding to the even-order harmonics (second, fourth, sixth, etc.) of the rectified wave. The even-order short-circuiting means 301 includes line members 321 and 331 in addition to a line member 311. The line member 321 has an electrical length L2 that is a quarter wavelength of the fourth harmonic of the rectified wave. The line member 331 has an electrical length L3 that is a quarter wavelength of the sixth harmonic of the rectified wave. The even-order short-circuiting means 302 includes line members 322 and 332 in addition to a line member 312. The line member 322 has an electrical length L2 that is a quarter wavelength of the fourth harmonic of the rectified wave. The line member 332 has an electrical length L3 that is a quarter wavelength for the sixth harmonic of the rectified wave. The even-order short-circuiting means 303 includes line members 323 and 333 in addition to the line member 313. The line member 323 has an electrical length L2 that is a quarter wavelength for the fourth harmonic of the rectified wave. The line member 333 has an electrical length L3 that is a quarter wavelength for the sixth harmonic of the rectified wave. The even-order short-circuiting means 304 includes line members 324 and 334 in addition to the line member 314. The line member 324 has an electrical length L2 that is a quarter wavelength for the fourth harmonic of the rectified wave. The line member 334 has an electrical length L3 that is a quarter wavelength for the sixth harmonic of the rectified wave. Each of the even-order short-circuiting means 301 to 304 may include an open stub having an electrical length of a quarter wavelength for the eighth or higher even-order harmonics. Each of the even-order short-circuiting means 301 to 304 may include two open stubs, each having an electrical length of a quarter wavelength for the second and fourth even-order harmonics. Each of the even-order short-circuiting means 301 to 304 may include a plurality of open stubs, each having an electrical length of a quarter wavelength for each of a plurality of even-order harmonics.

[0033] The line members 311 to 314 in Fig. 9 are short-circuited with respect to second harmonics, similarly to the configuration in Fig. 8. In the even-order short-circuiting means 301 arranged corresponding to the diode 201, the line members 321 and 331 have one end connected to the cathode of the diode 201 and the other end open. In the even-order short-circuiting means 302 arranged corresponding to the diode 202, the line members 322 and 332 have one end connected to the anode of the diode 202 and the other end open. In the even-order short-circuiting means 303 arranged corresponding to the diode 203, the line members 323 and 333 have one end connected to the cathode of the diode 203 and the other end open. In the even-order short-circuiting means 304 arranged corresponding to the diode 204, the line members 324 and 334 have one end connected to the anode of the diode 204 and the other end open. In the configuration shown in Fig. 9, line members 321 and 323 arranged on the output side of rectifier circuit 11 and line members 322 and 324 arranged on the ground side of rectifier circuit 11 are short-circuited with respect to the fourth harmonic of the rectified wave. In the configuration shown in Fig. 9, line members 331 and 333 arranged on the output side of rectifier circuit 11 and line members 332 and 334 arranged on the ground side of rectifier circuit 11 are short-circuited with respect to the sixth harmonic of the rectified wave. Additionally, each of the even-order short-circuiting means 301 to 304 may include a line member that is short-circuited with any even-order harmonic.

[0034] Each of the even-order short-circuiting means 301 to 304 in Fig. 9 is an even-order short-circuiting element configured using a plurality of line members. In the case of Fig. 9, the rectifier 10 has a larger circuit size than in the case of Fig. 8. In contrast, the rectifier 10 in Fig. 9 is highly effective in preventing leakage of even-order harmonics to the output side. Therefore, the rectifier 10 having the configuration in Fig. 9 has higher RF-DC conversion efficiency than the configuration in Fig. 8.

[0035] Fig. 10 shows yet another example of the configuration of the rectifier 10. The rectifier circuit 11 in Fig. 10 is connected from a connection point 511 to an output terminal 501 via a transmission line 412. The output terminals 500 and 501 are DC output terminals that differentially output DC.

[0036] 10 , a connection point 511 connected to the anode of diode 202 and the anode of diode 204 provides the output of rectifier 10. The anode of diode 202 is connected to connection point 511 via transmission line 402 on the output side of rectifier circuit 11. The anode of diode 204 is connected to connection point 511 via transmission line 404 on the output side of rectifier circuit 11. Connection point 511 is connected to output terminal 501 via transmission line 412. In the configuration of FIG. 10 , the configuration in which the anode of diode 201 and the cathode of diode 202 are connected to input terminal 100, the configuration in which the anode of diode 202 and the cathode of diode 204 are connected to input terminal 101, and the configuration on the cathode sides of diodes 201 and 203 are the same as the configuration of FIG. 1 .

[0037] The rectifier 10 in Fig. 10 includes a plurality of even-order short-circuiting means 301 to 304, one end of which is connected to the output side of the bridge-connected diodes and the other end of which is open. The even-order short-circuiting means 301 is a first even-order short-circuiting element connected to the cathode of the diode 201 and short-circuits even harmonics on the output side of the rectifier circuit 11. The even-order short-circuiting means 302 is a second even-order short-circuiting element connected to the anode of the diode 202 and short-circuits even harmonics on the output side of the rectifier circuit 11. The even-order short-circuiting means 303 is a third even-order short-circuiting element connected to the cathode of the diode 203 and short-circuits even harmonics on the output side of the rectifier circuit 11. The even-order short-circuiting means 304 is a fourth even-order short-circuiting element connected to the anode of the diode 204 and short-circuits even harmonics on the output side of the rectifier circuit 11.

[0038] Each of the even-order short-circuiting means 301-304 in FIG. 10 is an even-order short-circuiting element configured using one or more line components. Each of the even-order short-circuiting means 301-304 may include a line component that shorts out any even-order harmonic. In the configuration of FIG. 10, the output of the rectifier circuit 11 can be smoothed by the even-order short-circuiting means 301-304, and as a result, the rectifier 10 does not require a capacitor as a smoothing element. This allows the rectifier 10 to achieve high conversion efficiency with a simple circuit configuration. Furthermore, the capacitor-free rectifier 10 can suppress performance variations.

[0039] As described above, the rectifier 10 includes a rectifier circuit 11 configured using multiple diodes 201-204 and even-order short-circuiting means 301-304 connected to the rectifier circuit 11. The rectifier circuit 11 receives a rectified wave and generates a DC component. The even-order short-circuiting means 301-304 include multiple line elements, such as line elements 311-314. Each of the multiple line elements included in the even-order short-circuiting means 301-304 is an even-order short-circuiting element that has zero impedance (short-circuited) for at least one of the even-order harmonics of the rectified wave and smooths the output of the rectifier circuit 11. One end is connected to one of the diodes 201-204 and the other end is open. This allows the rectifier 10 to have a simple circuit configuration that does not require a capacitor as a smoothing element, thereby achieving high conversion efficiency and suppressing performance variation. A capacitor may be connected to the output terminal of the rectifier 10.

[0040] Second Embodiment. FIG. 11 illustrates a configuration example of a rectifier 20 according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. Similar to the rectifier 10, the rectifier 20 includes a rectifier circuit 11, input terminals 100 and 101, a plurality of even-order short-circuiting means 301 to 304, and an output terminal 500. Unlike the rectifier 10, the rectifier 20 includes a transmission line 420 inserted between a connection point 511 included in the rectifier circuit 11 and a via 411. The transmission line 420 has an electrical length L1 that is a quarter wavelength with respect to the second harmonic of the rectified wave. By generating even-order short-circuits using the even-order short-circuiting means 301 to 304, the rectifier 20 can prevent even-order harmonics from leaking to the output side and smooth the output.

[0041] FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a problem with the rectifier 10. In the rectifier 10 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the effect of the even-order short circuit may be reduced if variations in the board wiring pattern occur. In the rectifier 10, the connection point 511 is connected to the ground GND through the via 411. The transmission line passing through the via 411 can be replaced with an equivalent circuit EC1 including the inductor Le1. Therefore, the connection point 511 is equivalently represented by a circuit loaded with the inductor Le1.

[0042] The line member 312 in the even-order short-circuiting means 302 and the line member 314 in the even-order short-circuiting means 304 have an electrical length L1 that is a quarter wavelength of the second harmonic of the rectified wave. However, due to variations in the board wiring pattern, it is assumed that the electrical lengths of the line members 312 and 314 will be shorter than the quarter wavelength of the second harmonic. Under this assumption, the line member 312 can be replaced with an equivalent circuit EC2 including a capacitor Ce1, and the line member 314 can be replaced with an equivalent circuit EC3 including a capacitor Ce2. Therefore, the line member 312 can be represented equivalently as a circuit loaded with a capacitor Ce1. The line member 314 can be represented equivalently as a circuit loaded with a capacitor Ce2.

[0043] In the equivalent circuits EC1 to EC3, parallel resonance at the second harmonic may occur between the inductor Le1 and the capacitors Ce1 and Ce2. When this parallel resonance occurs, the combined impedance seen from the connection point between the anode of the diode 202 and the anode of the diode 204 becomes open (infinite) with respect to the second harmonic. Therefore, the line members 312 and 314 are considered equivalently unconnected, reducing the effect of the even-order short circuit.

[0044] The rectifier 20 shown in FIG. 11 has a configuration in which a transmission line 420 is disposed between a connection point 511 and a via 411. The transmission line 420 is connected to the ground side of the rectifier circuit 11 and is a ground-side line member having an electrical length L1 that is a quarter wavelength relative to the second harmonic of the rectified wave. In this configuration, the impedance on the via 411 side as viewed from the connection point 511 is set to an open circuit at the second harmonic. The via 411 is equivalently unconnected at the second harmonic. In other words, the via 411 can be treated as not existing at the second harmonic. Because the connection point 511 of the rectifier circuit 11 is not connected to the via 411 at the second harmonic, the equivalent capacitor Ce1 of the line member 312 and the equivalent capacitor Ce2 of the line member 314 do not generate parallel resonance with the equivalent inductor Le1 of the via 411 at the second harmonic. In this way, the rectifier 20 in which the transmission line 420 is arranged can prevent performance degradation due to variations in the board wiring pattern.

[0045] FIG. 13 shows another example configuration of the rectifier 20. The even-order short-circuiting means 301 to 304 in FIG. 13 each include multiple open stubs corresponding to the even-order harmonics (second, fourth, sixth, etc.) of the rectified wave. The rectifier 20 in FIG. 13 has a different configuration from the rectifier 10 in FIG. 9 due to the presence of a transmission line 420 disposed between the connection point 511 and the via 411. The transmission line 420 has an electrical length L1 that is a quarter wavelength of the second harmonic of the rectified wave, so the connection point 511 of the rectifier circuit 11 is not connected to the via 411 at the second harmonic. Therefore, the capacitors Ce1 and Ce2 of the line members 312 and 314 do not generate parallel resonance with the inductor Le1 of the via 411 at the second harmonic.

[0046] FIG. 14 shows yet another example configuration of the rectifier 20. The rectifier 20 of FIG. 14 has a configuration in which a transmission line 421 is disposed between a connection point 511 and a via 411. The transmission line 421 is a line member having an electrical length L2 that is a quarter wavelength of the fourth harmonic of the rectified wave. In this configuration, the impedance on the via 411 side as viewed from the connection point 511 is set to an open circuit at the fourth harmonic. The connection point 511 of the rectifier circuit 11 is not connected to the via 411 at the fourth harmonic. Therefore, the equivalent capacitor of the line member 322 and the equivalent capacitor of the line member 324 do not generate parallel resonance with the equivalent inductor of the via 411 at the fourth harmonic. Alternatively, the transmission line connected between the rectifier circuit 11 and the via 411 may have an electrical length of a quarter wavelength for any even-order harmonic, so that the connection point 511 with the rectifier circuit 11 is not connected to the via 411 for any even-order harmonic.

[0047] Third Embodiment. FIG. 15 illustrates a configuration example of a rectifier 30 according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure. Similar to the rectifier 10 in FIG. 1, the rectifier 30 includes a rectifier circuit 11, input terminals 100 and 101, a plurality of even-order short-circuiting means 301 to 304, and an output terminal 500. Unlike the rectifier 10 in FIG. 1, the rectifier 30 includes a capacitor 600 connected between a connection point 510 and a connection point 511 included in the rectifier circuit 11. The connection point 510 illustrated in FIG. 15 is connected to the output terminal 500 via a transmission line 410. The connection point 511 illustrated in FIG. 15 is grounded by being connected to the ground GND on the back surface of the substrate via a via 411. One end of the capacitor 600 is connected to the connection point 510 on the output side of the rectifier circuit 11, and the other end is connected to the connection point 511 on the ground side of the rectifier circuit 11. As described above, the rectifier 30 in FIG. 15 includes a capacitor 600 having one end connected to the output side of the rectifier circuit 11 and the other end connected to the ground side of the rectifier circuit 11 .

[0048] FIG. 16 shows another example of the configuration of the rectifier 30. Similar to the rectifier 10 of FIG. 10 , the rectifier circuit 11 included in the rectifier 30 in FIG. 16 is connected from a connection point 511 to an output terminal 501 via a transmission line 412. The output terminals 500 and 501 are DC output terminals that differentially output DC. Unlike the rectifier 10 of FIG. 10 , the rectifier 30 includes a capacitor 600 connected between a connection point 510 included in the rectifier circuit 11 and a connection point 511. The connection point 510 shown in FIG. 16 is connected to the output terminal 500 via a transmission line 410. The connection point 511 shown in FIG. 16 is connected to the output terminal 501 via a transmission line 412. The capacitor 600 is connected at one end to the connection point 510 corresponding to one side of the differential output on the output side of the rectifier circuit 11, and at the other end to the connection point 511 corresponding to the other side of the differential output. Thus, the rectifier 30 of FIG. 16 includes a capacitor 600 having one end connected to one side of the differential output and the other end connected to the other side of the differential output.

[0049] 15 and 16 , the capacitor 600 prevents low-frequency noise, which is noise with a frequency lower than that of the fundamental wave that has flowed into the rectifier 30, from leaking to the output side. This allows the rectifier 30 to suppress noise contained in the output. The capacitance value of the capacitor 600 can be determined arbitrarily so as to suppress the leakage of low-frequency noise. The capacitance value of the capacitor 600 may be determined based on the radio wave environment in which the rectifier 30 is installed.

[0050] In the rectifier 30, the even-order short-circuiting means 301 to 304 prevent leakage of even-order harmonics to the output side by generating even-order short-circuits, thereby enabling output smoothing. The capacitor 600 is used to suppress low-frequency noise, and its use differs from that of the smoothing capacitor included in conventional rectifiers. The rectifier 30 can achieve high efficiency in RF-DC conversion through harmonic processing and smoothing in the even-order short-circuiting means 301 to 304. In addition, the rectifier circuit 30 can achieve improved resistance to low-frequency noise by using the capacitor 600.

[0051] In the configurations of Figures 11, 13, and 14, a capacitor 600 may be connected between connection point 510 and connection point 511. In the rectifiers 20 of Figures 11 and 13, a transmission line 420 is inserted between connection point 511 included in rectifier circuit 11 and via 411. Transmission line 420 has an electrical length L1 that is a quarter wavelength of the second harmonic of the rectified wave. In the rectifier 20 of Figure 14, a transmission line 421 is inserted between connection point 511 and via 411. Transmission line 421 has an electrical length L2 that is a quarter wavelength of the fourth harmonic of the rectified wave. In these cases, too, capacitor 600 is used to suppress low-frequency noise and has a different purpose from the smoothing capacitor included in conventional rectifiers. 11, 13, and 14 achieve high efficiency in RF-DC conversion through harmonic processing and smoothing in the even-order shorting means 301-304. The transmission lines 420 and 421 prevent parallel resonance in harmonics, preventing performance degradation due to variations in the board wiring pattern. Furthermore, the rectifier 20 with the addition of the capacitor 600 achieves improved resistance to low-frequency noise.

[0052] The present disclosure allows for various embodiments and modifications without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the technical idea. Furthermore, the above-described embodiments are intended to explain the present disclosure and do not limit the scope of the disclosure. That is, the scope of the present disclosure is defined by the claims, not the embodiments. Various modifications made within the scope of the claims and the meaning of the technical idea equivalent thereto are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0053] This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-070750, filed on April 24, 2023. The entire specification, claims, and drawings of Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-070750 are incorporated herein by reference.

[0054] 10, 20, 30 Rectifier, 11 Rectifier circuit, 100, 101 Input terminal, 201 to 204 Diode, 301 to 304 Even-order short-circuiting means, 311 to 314, 321 to 324, 331 to 334 Line member, 401 to 404, 410, 412, 420, 421 Transmission line, 411 Via, 500, 501 Output terminal, 510, 511 Connection point, 600 Capacitor

Claims

1. a rectifier circuit configured using a plurality of diodes, receiving a rectified wave and generating a DC component; a plurality of line members connected to the rectifier circuit; The plurality of diodes include a first diode having an anode connected to the input side of the rectifier circuit and a cathode connected to the output side of the rectifier circuit; a second diode having a cathode connected to the input side of the rectifier circuit and an anode connected to the output side of the rectifier circuit; a third diode having an anode connected to the input side of the rectifier circuit and a cathode connected to the output side of the rectifier circuit; a fourth diode having a cathode connected to the input side of the rectifier circuit and an anode connected to the output side of the rectifier circuit; The plurality of line members include each of which is an even-order short-circuiting member having zero impedance in at least one of the even-order harmonics of the rectified wave, smoothing the output of the rectifier circuit; a first member having one end connected to the cathode of the first diode and the other end open; a second member having one end connected to the anode of the second diode and the other end open; a third member having one end connected to the cathode of the third diode and the other end open; a fourth member having one end connected to the anode of the fourth diode and the other end open; Rectifier.

2. An output terminal for outputting a single-phase direct current is provided at an output side of the rectifier circuit.

2. The rectifier of claim 1.

3. The ground side of the rectifier circuit is grounded through a via.

3. The rectifier of claim 2.

4. a ground-side line member disposed between the ground side of the rectifier circuit and the via; the ground side line member has an electrical length of a quarter wavelength with respect to any of the even harmonics of the rectified wave, and a connection point of the rectifier circuit is not connected to the via in any of the even harmonics of the rectified wave; 4. The rectifier of claim 3.

5. a capacitor having one end connected to the output side of the rectifier circuit and the other end connected to the ground side of the rectifier circuit; 2. The rectifier of claim 1.

6. An output terminal for differentially outputting a direct current is provided on the output side of the rectifier circuit.

2. The rectifier of claim 1.

7. a capacitor having one end connected to one side of the differential output and the other end connected to the other side of the differential output; 7. The rectifier of claim 6.

8. Each of the plurality of line members is an open stub having an electrical length of a quarter wavelength with respect to the second harmonic of the rectified wave.

8. A rectifier according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. the plurality of line members are a plurality of open stubs each having an electrical length of a quarter wavelength for each of a plurality of even harmonics of the rectified wave, 8. A rectifier according to any one of claims 1 to 7.