RECTIFIER CIRCUIT

• US 3,566,145 A
• Filed: 05/22/1968
• Issued: 02/23/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/1968
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Edmund E. Goodale
• Original Assignee: Edmund E. Goodale
• Inventors: Goodale, Edmund E.
• Application Number:
  US04/731,140
• Time in Patent Office: 1,007 Days
• US Class Current: 330/264
• CPC Class Codes: H03D 1/06 Modifications of demodulators to reduce distortion, e.g. by negative feedback

Abstract

A rectifier circuit utilizing a feedback amplifier arrangement to minimize nonlinearity, offset and temperature dependence and to provide wide dynamic range.

Claims

1. A rectifier circuit comprising, the combination of:

a signal input terminal for receivinG a bipolar signal to be rectified;

an amplifier including inverting means having an input terminal and an output terminal;

means connecting said signal input terminal to said input terminal of said amplifiers;

a current flow control device having at least three terminals including a first terminal adapted to receive signals for controlling the flow of current through said device, said device being zero biased whereby said device conducts substantially no current in the absence of a signal of predetermined polarity at said first terminal;

means connecting said output terminal of said amplifier to said first terminal of said current flow control device;

a direct current connection from a second terminal of said current flow control device to said input terminal of said amplifier;

a direct current source connected to a third terminal of said device whereby said device conducts a current from said source in response to a signal of said predetermined polarity at said signal input terminal and is not responsive to a signal of opposite polarity at said signal input terminal; and

a utilization device connected between said third terminal and said direct current source for detecting the current conducted by said current flow control device.

2. The rectifier circuit defined by claim 1 wherein said current flow control device is a bipolar transistor, wherein said first terminal is the base terminal, said second terminal is the emitter terminal and said third terminal is the collector terminal of said transistor.

3. The rectifier circuit defined by claim 1 wherein said current flow control device is a field effect transistor and when said first terminal is the gate terminal, said second terminal is the source terminal, and said third terminal is the drain terminal of said field effect transistor.

4. The combination defined by claim 1 including current averaging means connected to receive said current conducted by said current flow control device.

5. The rectifier circuit defined by claim 1 wherein said means connecting said output terminal of said amplifier to said first terminal of said current flow control device is a direct current connection.

6. The rectifier circuit defined by claim 1 wherein said means connecting said output terminal of said amplifier to said first terminal of said current flow control device is an alternating current connection.

7. The rectifier circuit defined by claim 1 wherein said means connecting said signal input terminal to said input terminal of said amplifier is an alternating current connection.

8. The rectifier circuit defined by claim 1 including a first impedance in said direct current connection from said terminal of said current flow control device to said input terminal of said amplifier, and a second impedance connected to said second terminal an in series with said current flow control device and said direct current source.

9. The rectifier circuit defined by claim 8 wherein said first impedance is substantially larger than said second impedance whereby said current flow control device provides a gain.

10. The combination defined by claim 1 further including a second current flow control device complementary to said first mentioned current flow control device, said second device having at least three terminals including a first terminal adapted to receive signals for controlling the flow of current through said second device;

means connecting said output terminal of said amplifier to said first terminal of said second current flow control device;

a direct current connection from a second terminal of said second flow control device to said input terminal of said amplifier;

a second direct current source connected to a third terminal of said second flow control device whereby said second flow control device conducts a current from said second source in response to a signal of said opposite polarity at said signal input terminal and is not responsive to a signal of said predetermined polarity at said input teRminal; and

a second utilization device connected between said third terminal of said second flow control device and said second direct current source for detecting the current conducted by said second flow control device.

11. The combination defined by claim 10 wherein said current flow control devices are complementary transistors.