Analysis of a capacitive-filter, half-wave rectifier fed by a parallel-load resonant tank

The capacitive-filter, half-wave type of rectifiers, connected to a parallel-load resonant tank, is a simple and useful rectifier topology. It finds application in high-voltage supplies, various inductive power/information links and radio frequency identification systems. Yet, the characteristics of this rectifier topology have not been studied up to the present. The various uses of the rectifier are reviewed and a way of analysing the rectifier circuit using a semi-analytical method is proposed. Accurate analytical solutions are also provided by means of curve-fitting techniques. Results from an experiment conducted on a prototype rectifier show a very close match with the analysis predictions.