GATE-BOOSTING RECTIFIER AND METHOD OF PERMITTING CURRENT TO FLOW IN FAVOR OF ONE DIRECTION WHEN DRIVEN BY AC INPUT VOLTAGE

Abstract

A current-rectifying device includes a switching component and an impedance transformer. A conductance between first and second nodes of the switching component is controlled based on a voltage between high-impedance control and control-reference nodes of the switching component to determine an amount of current that is permitted to flow between the first and second nodes. The impedance transformer includes a positive input node electrically connected to one of the first and second nodes based on AC voltage swings, a negative input node, a positive output node electrically connected to the high-impedance control node, and a negative output node, and which senses an AC voltage swing derived from the AC input voltage with the positive input node and the negative input node, and provides an AC voltage swing between the high-impedance control and control-reference nodes that is greater than the AC voltage swing derived from the AC input voltage.