Diode bridge

A diode bridge is a <a href="/facts/Bridge_circuit/TjwcbgwT">bridge</a> rectifier circuit of four <a href="/facts/Diode/JyaoyGnk">diodes</a> that is used in the process of converting <a href="/facts/Alternating_current/qxICS3xa">alternating current</a> (AC) from the input terminals to direct current (DC, i.e. fixed <a href="/facts/Electrical_polarity/fGRB4SGP">polarity</a>) on the output terminals. Its function is to convert the negative voltage portions of the AC waveform to positive voltage, after which a <a href="/facts/Low-pass_filter/QFsUjw7h">low-pass filter</a> can be used to smooth the result into DC.
When used in its most common application, for conversion of an <a href="/facts/Alternating-current/qxICS3xa">alternating-current</a> (AC) input into a <a href="/facts/Direct-current/r9MNUx84">direct-current</a> (DC) output, it is known as a bridge rectifier. A bridge <a href="/facts/Rectifier/me8XDxND">rectifier</a> provides <a href="/facts/Rectifier/me8XDxND">full-wave rectification</a> from a two-wire AC input, resulting in lower cost and weight as compared to a rectifier with a three-wire input from a <a href="/facts/Transformer/EYYfXWrF">transformer</a> with a <a href="/facts/Center_tap/9vp7M3Io">center-tapped</a> secondary winding.
Prior to the availability of <a href="/facts/Integrated_circuit/fjn6vg7C">integrated circuits</a>, a bridge rectifier was constructed from separate diodes. Since about 1950, a single four-terminal component containing the four diodes connected in a bridge configuration has been available and is now available with various <a href="/facts/Voltage/EN2po6N2">voltage</a> and current ratings.
Diodes are also used in bridge topologies along with capacitors as <a href="/facts/Voltage_multiplier/pm6sqLLl">voltage multipliers</a>.

Diode bridge open-in-new

Diode bridge