Half-Wave Rectifier

Ideal diode model

T
Vout
Vin

Vout

Vdc

Diode conducts only for positive input

voltages. An AC input with zero average
yields a non-sinusoidal output with a
non-zero DC component. The
conversion of AC to DC is called
rectification.
The conduction angle c is that part of
the cycle during which the diode is
conducting.

Vin

Vout

Constant voltage drop model

vd
Vdc

The average DC component is given by

1
Vdc
T
Bob York, 2006-2009

V (t ) dt

Vin

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Half-Wave Rectifier
T

Assume constant voltage drop model

V (t ) vd
Vout (t ) in
0

Vin vd
otherwise

Vdc

Conduction Angle

vd

Vm

ton sin 1

vd

Vm

vd

V
m

1
Vout (t ) dt
T

toff

for vd Vm

Ideal rectifier:

vd 0

Vm sin t vd dt

Vdc

ton

Vm
vd2 c vd

1 2

2 Vm
Vm
Bob York, 2006-2009

2vd
Vm

Average DC Value
T

Vin

toff sin 1

c (toff ton ) 2sin 1

1
Vdc
T

vd

Vout

Vin (t ) Vm sin t

Vm

0.318Vm

Vm vd
vd2
Vdc

1
for vd Vm
2 Vm 2Vm2
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Half-Wave Rectifier
Ideal diode model

Suppose we reverse the diode: now

only the negative portion of the input
signal passes through

Vin

Vdc
Vout
Vin

Vout

c
Other than the poarity reversal, all
math on conduction angle and DC
magnitude is identical

Vdc

vd
Constant voltage drop model

Bob York, 2006-2009

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Peak Detector

Vin

Bob York, 2006-2009

Vout

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Peak-Detector with Load

Any load or leakage path will discharge the
capacitor. In this case, the output will
depend on how the RC time constant
compares with the period of the input signal.

Vin

Vout

For
For

C = 100 nF

=T

C = 1000 nF

= 10 T

T = 1 mS

T, circuit acts like an ideal rectifier

T, circuit acts like an ideal peak detector

Bob York, 2006-2009

= 0.1 T

10 k

The plots at right consider the various

cases for the simple circuit above with
a 1kHz, 5V sinusoidal input

= RC

C = 10 nF

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Peak-Detector as an AM Demodulator

Output of detector

Amplitude-modulated signal

Bob York, 2006-2009

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