Rectifier Circuits

• Diode circuits with sinusoidal inputs

• Used to convert AC power into DC power

• Two types of rectifiers:

– Half wave rectifier
– Full wave rectifier
 Half Wave Rectifier (HWR)

Input & output waveforms, assuming rD << R

Considering ideal diode
DC or Average value of output voltage
 Diode with simplified equivalent
circuit
• If Si diode is used, VK = 0.7V & Vo = Vi – VK

• The effect is reduction of area above the

axis, which reduces the resulting DC
voltage level

• For Vm >> VK, we can write

Vdc = 0.318 (Vm – VK) (approx.)
 Full Wave Rectifier (FWR)
1. Using Centre-Tapped Transformer

PIV across each diode

is 2Vm - Vk
Assuming ideal diodes
 Full Wave Rectifier (FWR)

2. Bridge Network
 Analysis of Bridge Rectifier
Assuming ideal diode
Vdc= 0.636Vm
Peak value of the output voltage
V0max= Vm- 2Vk

For Vm>> 2Vk, Vdc ≈ 0.636(Vm- 2Vk)

PIV ≥ Vm-Vk
 HWR with Capacitor Filter

Assuming ideal diode

for simplicity,
VD = 0, Rf = 0
FWR with Capacitor Filter

Assuming triangular
ripple waveform,

Vo (dc) = Vm – Vr(p-p)/2

Vo (dc)
 Rectifier with Capacitor Filter
𝑇′
• Ripple voltage: Vr p−p ≈ 𝑉𝑚 where 𝑇 ′ is the
𝑅𝐶
capacitor discharge time

• HWR: 𝑇 ′ ≈ 𝑇 = 1 𝑓
𝑇 𝑉𝑚
Vr p−p ≈ 𝑉𝑚 =
𝑅𝐶 𝑓𝑅𝐶

• FWR: 𝑇 ′ ≈ 𝑇 2 = 1 2𝑓
𝑇 𝑉𝑚
Vr p−p ≈ 𝑉𝑚 =
2𝑅𝐶 2𝑓𝑅𝐶
 Rectifier with Capacitor Filter contd.

• Ripple factor (𝑟) is a measure of effectiveness of a

rectifier circuit
𝑉𝑎𝑐 𝐼𝑎𝑐 𝐼𝑎𝑐 𝐼2 𝑟𝑚𝑠
𝑟= = , 𝐼𝑟𝑚𝑠 = 𝐼𝑎𝑐 + 𝐼𝑑𝑐 , = −1
𝑉𝑑𝑐 𝐼𝑑𝑐 𝐼𝑑𝑐 𝐼2 𝑑𝑐

𝐼𝑚 𝐼𝑚
• HWR: 𝐼𝑟𝑚𝑠 = , 𝐼𝑑𝑐 = , 𝑟 = 1.21
2 𝜋

𝐼𝑚 2 𝐼𝑚
• FWR: 𝐼𝑟𝑚𝑠 = , 𝐼𝑑𝑐 = , 𝑟 = 0.48
2 𝜋
 Wave Shaping Circuits

Diodes can be used in waveshaping circuits that

either limit or “clip” portions of a signal, or shift
the dc voltage level. These circuits are called
clippers and clampers respectively.

Clippers are networks that employ diodes to clip

away a portion of the input signal without distorting
the remaining part of the applied waveform
Example 1: Clipper Circuit
Example 2

VO

VDO = 0.7V
3.3 V
Vo = (4 – 0.7)V
Vi
= 3.3V
3.3 V
Example 3

Example 4

Find VO

Assume VDO=0, Rf=0 for

both diodes.
Example 4 Solution:
For 0<Vi<2V, D1 & D2 are OFF as these
are reverse biased.
Therefore, Vo = Vi
For Vi > 2V, D1 turns ON and
i1 = (Vi – 2)/(10+10) Vo

Also, Vo = i1R2 + 2 = (Vi – 2)/20 x 10 +2 4

= Vi/2 – 1 + 2 = Vi/2 + 1 2

(e.g. If Vi = 6V, Vo = 6/2 + 1 = 4V)

─4 ─2 2 4 6 Vi
For -4<Vi<0, both D1 & D2 are OFF
─2
& Vo = Vi
─4

For Vi < -4V, D2 turns ON and Vo = -4V

Voltage Transfer Characteristics
Example 4 Waveforms
 Clampers
A clamper is a network constructed of a diode, a resistor and a capacitor that
shifts a waveform to a different DC level without changing the appearance of
the applied signal.

Example
 Clampers

Try the following on your own –

1. Reverse the direction of the diode

Signal is now clamped to positive levels

2. Add a battery in series with the diode – try both polarities

of the battery
Clamping level is now decided by the battery voltage

3. See what happens when the input is a sine wave (or any
arbitrary waveform)
We still get clamping action