Precision rectifier
electrical circuit
The precision rectifier, sometimes called a super diode, is an operational amplifier (opamp) circuit configuration that behaves like an ideal diode and rectifier.
The op-amp-based precision rectifier should not be confused with the power MOSFET-based active rectification ideal diode.
Basic circuit
The basic circuit implementing such a feature is shown on the right, where
R
L
{\displaystyle R_{\text{L}}}
can be any load. When the input voltage is negative, the opamp puts its most negative voltage on the diode's anode, so the diode is reverse biased and works like an open circuit. Since almost no current will flow through the diode, the output voltage
V
out
{\displaystyle V_{\text{out}}}
will be pulled down to ground through
R
L
{\displaystyle R_{\text{L}}}
. When the input becomes positive, it is amplified by the opamp, which switches the diode on. Because of the negative feedback, just enough current will flow through
R
L
{\displaystyle R_{\text{L}}}
so that
V
out
{\displaystyle V_{\text{out}}}
equals the input voltage.
The actual threshold is very close to zero, but is not zero. It equals the actual threshold of the diode, divided by the gain of the opamp.
This basic configuration has a problem, so it is not commonly used.
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