Patent ID: 8218345

Claim:
A rectifier circuit comprising: a transformer that is connected to respond to an alternating current (AC) input signal by generating a first pair of opposite polarity AC signals and a second pair of opposite polarity AC signals, wherein the first pair of AC signals has a greater voltage range than the second pair of AC signals; first and second bipolar junction transistors (BJTs) each including an input terminal connected to receive a different one of the second pair of opposite polarity AC signals, a base terminal connected to receive a different one of the first pair of opposite polarity AC signals, and an output terminal connected to a rectified signal output node of the rectifier circuit; and a pulse width modulation circuit that is configured to control biasing of the first and second BJTs responsive to a duty cycle control signal to regulate a duty cycle between a first mode when the first BJT is forward biased and the second BJT is reverse biased and a second mode when the first BJT is reverse biased and the second BJT is forward biased.