2. Rectification
ïź Rectification is the conversion of alternating
current (AC) to direct current (DC).
ïź There are two different rectification circuits,
known as 'half-wave' and 'full-wave' rectifiers.
3.
4. Half-wave rectifier
ïź In this type of rectification, the top, or positive,
half of the a.c. waveform is allowed to pass
through the rectifier.
ïź The half-wave rectifier is the simplest type of
rectifier since it only uses one diode.
5.
6.
7. ïź While the output of the half-wave rectifier is
DC (it is all positive), it would not be suitable
as a power supply for a circuit. Firstly, the
output voltage continually varies between 0V
and Vs-0.7V, and secondly, for half the time
there is no output at all.
8. The Full-wave Rectifier
ïź Both halves of the waveform (negative and
positive) are rectified and the resultant output
is a fluctuating uni-directional waveform.
11. ïź Four diodes are arranged so that both the
positive and negative parts of the AC
waveform are converted to DC. When the AC
input is positive, diodes A and B are forward-
biased, while diodes C and D are reverse-
biased.
12. ïź When the AC input is negative, the opposite
is true - diodes C and D are forward-biased,
while diodes A and B are reverse-biased.