Rectifier circuit

Abstract

A rectifier circuit for use in an energy harvesting application in which mechanical energy is converted into electrical energy by using an AC generator using an active rectifier bridge with a pair of input terminals adapted to be connected to an output of the AC generator and a pair of output terminals, an inductor connected across the output terminals of the active rectifier bridge and a storage capacitor. A pair of output switches selectively connects the storage capacitor across the inductor. A controller controls the active rectifier bridge and the pair of output switches such that in successive switching cycles within any half wave of AC input voltage from the output of the AC generator the inductor is first loaded by current from the output of the AC generator and then discharged into the storage capacitor. An energy harvesting system which uses an AC generator for generating electrical energy out of mechanical energy, a rectifier circuit which is connected with the input to the output of the AC generator and a low power wireless system as application unit. A method of rectifying an AC output voltage of an AC generator for use in an energy harvesting application.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.