Circuit arrangement and method for converting an alternating voltage into a rectified voltage

A method for converting an alternating voltage into a rectified voltage comprising:

• comparing a value of a first voltage at a first terminal of a first transistor to a value of a second voltage at a second terminal of the first transistor, the first terminal receiving the alternating voltage, and the second terminal being electrically coupled to an output terminal at which the rectified voltage is present;
• measuring a current using a resistive circuit comprising a resistor that is between the second terminal of the first transistor and the output terminal;
• and
• setting a first control signal that is supplied to a control terminal of the first transistor so that the first transistor is switched into an active operating state if the value of the first voltage at the first terminal of the first transistor is higher than the value of the second voltage at the second terminal of the first transistor, and so that the first transistor is otherwise in an inactive operating state;
• wherein the first control signal is generated so that current flowing through the output terminal is less than an adjustable limit value during every point of time of operation;
• wherein comparing is performed by a control circuit comprising a first comparator and a first cell, the first comparator comprising a first input that is electrically connected to the first terminal of the first transistor and a second input that is electrically connected to the second terminal of the first transistor;
• wherein the first comparator compares the first voltage at the first terminal of the transistor to the second voltage at the second terminal of the transistor;
• wherein the first comparator comprises an output that is electrically connected, via the first cell and a first output of the control circuit, to the control terminal of the first transistor, the output of the first comparator providing a signal corresponding to the first control signal;
• and
• wherein the first transistor is controlled to be in an active state or an inactive state based on comparison of the first voltage and the second voltage.

A circuit for converting an alternating voltage into a rectified voltage, comprising:

• a first transistor comprising a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal, the first terminal being configured to receive the alternating voltage via an input terminal, the second terminal being electrically coupled to an output terminal for outputting the rectified voltage;
• and
• a control circuit comprising a first input, a second input, and a first output, the first input being electrically coupled to the first terminal of the first transistor, the second input being electrically coupled to the second terminal of the first transistor, and the first output being electrically coupled to the control terminal of the first transistor, the first output for providing a first control signal to the first transistor;
• a resistive circuit comprising a series circuit, the series circuit comprising a second transistor and a resistor, the series circuit being electrically coupled in parallel with the first transistor, wherein the first control signal is generated so that current flowing through the output terminal is less than the adjustable limit value for the current;
• wherein the control circuit is configured to generate the first control signal based on a first voltage at the first input and based on a second voltage at the second input;
• wherein the second transistor comprises a control terminal to receive the first control signal;
• wherein the first output of the control circuit is electrically connected to the control terminal of the first transistor;
• wherein the control circuit is electrically connected to voltage taps at the resistor in order to determine a voltage drop across the resistor, the voltage drop being usable to determine a current through a parallel circuit comprising the series circuit and the first transistor.

A method for converting an alternating voltage into a rectified voltage comprising:

• comparing a value of a first voltage at a first terminal of a first transistor to a value of a second voltage at a second terminal of the first transistor, the first terminal receiving the alternating voltage, and the second terminal being electrically coupled to an output terminal at which the rectified voltage is present;
• measuring a current using a resistive circuit comprising a series circuit comprising a second transistor and a resistor, the series circuit comprising an input side and an output side and being electrically coupled, at via the input side and the output side, in parallel with the first transistor;
• and
• setting a first control signal that is supplied to a control terminal of the first transistor so that the first transistor is switched into an active operating state if the value of the first voltage at the first terminal of the first transistor is higher than the value of the second voltage at the second terminal of the first transistor, and so that the first transistor is otherwise in an inactive operating state;
• wherein the first control signal is generated so that a current flowing through the output terminal is less than an adjustable limit value;
• wherein a control circuit generates the first control signal based on the first voltage and the second voltage;
• wherein the second transistor comprises a control terminal to receive the first control signal;
• and
• wherein the control circuit is connected to voltage taps at the resistor in order to determine a voltage drop across the resistor, the voltage drop being used to determine a current through a parallel circuit comprising the series circuit and the first transistor.