ECE 220:

SEMICONDUCTOR DIODES
Diode Circuit Analysis

Prepared by: Engr. Arcel Salem

2nd Sem. AY 2022-2023
ELECTRONICS CIRCUITS

HALF-WAVE
and
FULL-WAVE
RECTIFIER

ECE220 Engr. Salem

RECALL
Approximate and ideal semiconductor diode models

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RECTIFIER
• Circuits that are used to convert AC signals to DC in power supplies.

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HALF-WAVE RECTIFICATION
• The diode only conducts when it is forward biased, therefore only half of the AC cycle
passes through the diode to the output.

Conduction region
(0→T/2)

Nonconduction region
(0→T/2)

• The DC output voltage is 0.318 𝑉𝑚 , where 𝑉𝑚 = the peak AC voltage.

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HALF-WAVE RECTIFICATION
• The process of removing one-half the input signal to establish a DC level is called half-
wave rectification.

𝑉𝑑𝑐 = 0.318 𝑉𝑚

Half-wave rectified signal

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PIV (PRV)
• Because the diode is only forward biased for one-half of the AC cycle, it is also reverse
biased for one-half cycle.

• It is important that the reverse breakdown voltage rating of the diode be enough to
withstand the peak, reverse-biasing AC voltage.

PIV (or PRV) > 𝑉𝑚

• PIV = Peak inverse voltage

• PRV = Peak reverse voltage
• 𝑉𝑚 = Peak AC voltage

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FULL-WAVE RECTIFICATION
• The DC level obtained from a sinusoidal input can be improved 100% using a process
called full-wave rectification.
• The most familiar network for performing such function uses four diodes connected in a
bridge configuration.

Full-wave bridge rectifier

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BRIDGE NETWORK

Conduction path for the positive region of 𝑣𝑖

Conduction path for the negative region of 𝑣𝑖

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CENTER-TAPPED TRANSFORMER RECTIFIER
• Second popular full-wave rectifier uses two diodes but requiring a center-tapped (CT)
transformer to establish the input signal across each section of the secondary of the
transformer.

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CENTER-TAPPED TRANSFORMER RECTIFIER

Network conditions for the positive region of 𝑣𝑖

Network conditions for the negative region of 𝑣𝑖

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FULL-WAVE RECTIFICATION
• The rectification process can be improved by using a full-wave rectifier circuit.

• Full-wave rectification produces a greater DC output:

• Half-wave: 𝑉𝑑𝑐 = 0.318 𝑉𝑚

• Full-wave: 𝑉𝑑𝑐 = 0.636 𝑉𝑚

Input and output waveforms for a full-wave rectifier

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EXAMPLE
• Determine the output waveform of the network shown and calculate the output DC level
and the required PIV of each diode.

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SUMMARY OF RECTIFIER CIRCUITS
Rectifier Ideal 𝑽𝑫𝑪 Realistic 𝑽𝑫𝑪

Half Wave Rectifier 𝑉𝐷𝐶 = 0.318𝑉𝑚 𝑉𝐷𝐶 = 0.318𝑉𝑚 − 0.7

Bridge Rectifier 𝑉𝐷𝐶 = 0.636𝑉𝑚 𝑉𝐷𝐶 = 0.636𝑉𝑚 − 2(0.7 𝑉)

Center-Tapped Transformer Rectifier 𝑉𝐷𝐶 = 0.636𝑉𝑚 𝑉𝐷𝐶 = 0.636𝑉𝑚 − 0.7 𝑉

• 𝑉𝑚 = peak of the AC voltage

• In the center-tapped transformer rectifier circuit, the peak AC voltage is the transformer
secondary voltage to the tap.

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REFERENCES

• Electronic Devices and Circuit Theory, 10th & 11th edition by Robert L.
Boylestad and Louis Nashelsky

ECE220 Engr. Salem