Abstract:
984, 856. Photo-electric full-wave rectifying circuits. INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION. Sept. 3, 1963 [Sept. 24, 1962], No. 34676/63. Heading G1A. In a full-wave rectifying circuit input from an A.C. generator 1 is applied through a transformer 2, 3 to circuit input terminals 3a and 3b. Each of these terminals is connected to the secondary winding centre-tap 3c through a photo-emissive device 4a, 4b, which passes current, and emits light only during alternate half-cycles. The two devices are effective alternately and the light from them falls respectively on photo-conductive devices 5a and 5b connected respectively to terminals 3a and 3b and jointly to output terminal 7. The second output terminal 8 is also connected to the centre tap 3c and a filter circuit 6 may be provided to smooth the output. In operation during one half cycle of the input waveform photo-emissive device 4a is illuminated and light from it falls on photo-conductor 5a enabling current to pass from terminal 3a to output terminal 7. In the following half cycle device 4a is extinguished and device 4b illuminated so that photo-conductor 5a has a high impedance and 5b a low one thus allowing current of the same polarity as in the previous half cycle to pass from terminal 3b to terminal 7. The devices 4a and 4b may each comprise a diode and a neon tube connected in series. The neon tubes may be replaced by electroluminescent phosphor elements. In a modification (Fig. 3) the neon 11 in unit 4a also illuminates photo-conductive device 19 which is in parallel with the neon 18 in device 4b. This neon is not associated with a diode but is, by the means, prevented from lighting except on the half cycles when neon 11 is not lit. Devices 4a and 4b may also comprise photo-emissive unidirectionally conducting units such as gallium arsenide or gallium phosphide diodes.