Filters

A filter uses the characteristics of Inductors

and Capacitors to smooth the pulsating DC
waveform supplied by the Rectifier.

Ideal filter characteristics

• Rapid charge time constant for filter capacitors and
inductors.
• Slow discharge time constant for filter capacitors
and inductors.

1
Filters, Ripple Voltage, and Diode Current

A capacitor is added in parallel with the

load resistor of a half-wave rectifier to
form a simple filter circuit.

The voltage across capacitor follows the
initial portion of the signal voltage.

When the signal voltage reaches
its peak and begins to decrease,
the voltage across the capacitor
starts to decrease or discharge.

If the RC time constant is large,
the voltage across the capacitor
discharges exponentially.

During this time period, the diode
is cut off.
Filters, Ripple Voltage, and Diode Current

During the next positive cycle of the

input voltage, there is a point at which
the input voltage is greater than the
capacitor voltage, diode turns back on.

The diode remains on until the input

reaches its peak value and the
capacitor voltage is completely
recharged.

Since the capacitor filters out a
large portion of the sinusoidal
signal, called a filter capacitor.

The steady-state output voltage of the

RC filter
Filters, Ripple Voltage, and Diode Current

Figure: Half-wave rectifier with smoothing capacitor.

Filters, Ripple Voltage, and Diode Current

The ripple effect in the output from a full-wave rectifier circuit:

The capacitor charges to its peak voltage value when the input
signal is at its peak value.

As the input decreases, the diode becomes reverse biased and
the capacitor discharges through the output resistor R.

The output voltage or the voltage across the capacitor:
t’ = time after the output has reached its peak
RC = time constant of the circuit

The smallest output voltage:

T’ = the discharge time

Filters, Ripple Voltage, and Diode Current

The ripple voltage Vr is the difference between VM and VL:

The diode in a filtered

rectifier circuit conducts
for a brief interval ∆t
near the peak of the
input signal.

The diode current
supplies the charge lost
by the capacitor during
the discharge time.
 Capacitor Filter Operation

Charge RC time constant is developed from the internal resistance of
the rectifier diodes and the capacitance of the filter capacitor. The net
result is that the low resistance of the rectifier diodes develop a rapid
charge RC time constant.

Discharge RC time constant is developed from the filter capacitor and

the load resistance. Since the load resistance is rather large, the discharge
RC time constant is somewhat long.

RB is called the “Bleeder Resistor” because it provides a path for the
filter capacitor(s) to discharge when power is removed from the circuit.
RB has a very large resistance and usually draws <10% of normal
operating current.

7
 Power Supply Filters And Regulators
As we have seen, the output of a rectifier is a pulsating DC. With filtration and
regulation this pulsating voltage can be smoothed out and kept to a steady value.
 Power Supply Filters And Regulators
The advantage of a full-wave rectifier over a half-wave is quite clear. The capacitor
can more effectively reduce the ripple when the time between peaks is shorter.
 Power Supply Filters And Regulators

Being that the capacitor

appears as a short during the
initial charging, the current
through the diodes can
momentarily be quite high. To
reduce risk of damaging the
diodes, a surge current
limiting resistor is placed in
series with the filter and load.