Full-wave rectifiers based on operational transconductance amplifiers

The implementation of full-wave rectifiers using operational transconductance amplifiers (OTAs) as only main active circuit elements is presented in this paper. The proposed scheme makes use of the characteristic of the differential amplifier inside the OTA and avoids the use of diodes. The typical problems of the OTA circuit, the input voltage swing limitation and the temperature dependence of the OTA transconductance gain, have been improved. Simulation and experimental results demonstrate the performance of the proposed rectifier are included. © 2006 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.