Views of the bridge (1):

The diode-quad bridge network is a familiar componentin power-supplydesign. However, the discusaion ofits operation in thetechnical literature generally, and in electronics textbooks in particular, is often superficial and a readercan easily get the feeling that'somethingis missing'from theexplanations. This feeling is intensified in attempting to explain oscilloscope traces of observed circuit waveforms. This article takes a fresh look at the bridge. Part 1 supplies a fuller account of its operation in power rectification than is normally given and Part 2 discusses the wider applieability ofthis versatile component assembly in the field of instrumentation.