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Precision Rectifiers

Rectifiers convert AC to DC but conventional rectifiers cannot rectify voltages below 0.7V. Precision rectifiers use op-amps and diodes to rectify smaller signals. Precision rectifiers are classified as half-wave and full-wave. A half-wave precision rectifier uses an op-amp, two diodes, and feedback to rectify the positive half of the input signal. A full-wave precision rectifier uses four diodes and feedback to rectify both halves of the input signal. Peak detectors use a diode and capacitor to detect voltage peaks in non-sinusoidal waves and store the peak value.

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Dr. Balraj Singh
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285 views7 pages

Precision Rectifiers

Rectifiers convert AC to DC but conventional rectifiers cannot rectify voltages below 0.7V. Precision rectifiers use op-amps and diodes to rectify smaller signals. Precision rectifiers are classified as half-wave and full-wave. A half-wave precision rectifier uses an op-amp, two diodes, and feedback to rectify the positive half of the input signal. A full-wave precision rectifier uses four diodes and feedback to rectify both halves of the input signal. Peak detectors use a diode and capacitor to detect voltage peaks in non-sinusoidal waves and store the peak value.

Uploaded by

Dr. Balraj Singh
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Precision rectifiers

Rectifiers are circuits used to convert ac signal into dc signal. Normally diodes are used
conventionally. The major demerit is that it cannot rectify voltages below 0.7V, the cut in
voltage for a diode. Due to this the conventional rectifiers produce distortion at the output. To
achieve precision rectification, we need a circuit that keeps output equal to input for input greater
than zero. This is done by using op-amps along with diodes and these circuits are called
Precision rectifiers. These rectify voltages below 0.7 V also, hence called small signal precision
rectifiers. The precision rectifiers are classified as Half wave and Full wave precision rectifiers.
The output of a conventional rectifier is shown

Conventional rectifier output


Half Wave rectifier
An ideal inverting amplifier can be converted into an ideal half wave rectifier by adding two
diodes as shown in the figure.

Precision HWR in inverting mode


When the input is positive, diode D1 conducts causing VOA to go to negative by one diode drop.
Hence diode D2 gets reverse biased. The output becomes zero as for all practical purposes no
current flows through Rf and input current flows through D1. For negative input D2 conducts and
D1 is OFF. The negative input forces the op-amp output positive and causes D2 to conduct. The
circuit now acts like an inverter for Rf = R1 and output becomes positive.
The op-amp used must be high speed op-amp as it switches between open and closed loop
operations. Slew rate is the major demerit. The waveforms are shown in the figure

Positive Precision HWR


A small Positive Precision HWR is shown in the figure.

D1 is used in the feedback path and the analysis can be done for input > 0V and < 0 V.
Case 1 : Vi > 0V.
Consider the input to be positive going. Due to the high open loop gain of the op-amp, a high
output VOA is obtained. Hence D1 is forward biased and acts as an ideal switch. The cut-in
voltage of the diode gets divided by the AOL and hence when input starts increasing D1 becomes
ON. The circuit acts like a voltage follower. From the virtual ground, Vn = Vp = Vi and VO = Vn
due to feedback path. Hence the entire half cycle is available across the load.
Case 2: Vi < 0V.
When the input goes negative, the VOA attains –Vsat making the diode reverse biased. D1 acts
like open circuit.

Due to OFF diode, the feddback is open.No current flows through the load, hendce no output.
Hnce the entire negative half cycle gets clipped.
Precison Fullwave rectifiers
The basic circuit of a full wave precision diode is shown in the figure

Basic precison FWR


Hence for Vi < 0, the output is positive. The input-output waveforms are shown in the figure.
Peak Detector
Square, triangular, saw tooth and pulse waves are non sinusoidal waveforms. To measure the
true rms value of the signal we need to know the peak values of those signals. This is achieved
by using a peak detector. It is a circuit that notes and remembers the positive or negative peaks of
the input for an infinite period until it is rest. The circuit follows the voltage peaks of a signal and
stores the highest value as voltage on a capacitor. If higher peak occurs in an input, new value is
stored. The highest value is stored until the capacitor is discharged. Consider a positive peak
detector circuit shown in figure

Basic positive peak detector circuit


The input charges the capacitor through the diode. Capacitor gets charges equal to the highest
input voltage neglecting the small diode drop. The condition remains same unless and until
discharged with the help of MOSFET reset switch. The circuit acts like a voltage follower.
Hence the output follows the input until the condition exists. If the input is less than the voltage
across the capacitor, the diode becomes reverse biased. The capacitor holds charge till the input
voltage again exceeds the voltage across the capacitor. The waveform for a positive peak
detector is shown in the figure.

Waveform for a positive peak detector


It may be noted from the graph that the peak is missed at time t1. The circuit may be reset i.e the
capacitor voltage can be made zero by connecting a low leakage MOSFET switch across the
capacitor. Reversing the diode position detects the lowest or most negative voltage of the input
signal.
Peak detectors are used in test and measurement instrumentation and in AM communication.

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