Patent ID: 8320143

Claim:
A full-wave rectifier configured to convert an AC input to a DC output comprising; a first input terminal; a second input terminal; a first output terminal; and a second output terminal; wherein said full-wave rectifier further comprises: a first half-wave rectifier comprising; i. a first MOSFET device having a source terminal wired to said first output terminal, a drain terminal wired to said first input terminal, and a gate terminal; ii. a fifth half-wave rectifier in parallel with said first MOSFET device, wired to the source terminal and the drain terminal of the first MOSFET device; iii. a first current monitor configured to monitor a drain-current flowing through the drain terminal of the first MOSFET device and to send a gate signal to the gate terminal of the first MOSFET device such that the first MOSFET device is switched to its ON state when said drain-current exceeds a first threshold current and the first MOSFET device is switched to its OFF state when said drain-current falls below a second threshold current; a second half-wave rectifier comprising; i. a first MOSFET device having a source terminal wired to said first output terminal, a drain terminal wired to said first input terminal, and a gate terminal; ii. a fifth half-wave rectifier in parallel with said first MOSFET device, wired to the source terminal and the drain terminal of the first MOSFET device; iii. a first current monitor configured to monitor a drain-current flowing through the drain terminal of the first MOSFET device and to send a gate signal to the gate terminal of the first MOSFET device such that the first MOSFET device is switched to its ON state when said drain-current exceeds a first threshold current and the first MOSFET device is switched to its OFF state when said drain-current falls below a second threshold current; a third half-wave rectifier having one anode wired to said first input terminal and one cathode wired to a second output terminal; and a fourth half-wave rectifier having one anode wired to said second input terminal and one cathode wired to said second output terminal.