Abstract

In order to produce direct voltages with greater flexibility, a rectifier (1) according to the invention comprises an alternating voltage measuring sensor (25), a comparator (22), controllable switches (160 to 183) and a switch control (20), through which the switching states of the switches are alterable in dependence on the output signal of the comparator, in order so to connect at least one of the direct voltage outputs (11, 12, 13) for certain time spans during each alternating voltage phase one after the other with the alternating voltage inputs of the rectifier that a pulsating direct voltage drops at it relative to a fixed or variable direct voltage potential. The switching instants are determined through constant measurement of the instantaneous alternating voltage values and their comparison with predeterminable direct voltage levels or alternating voltages, which serves as reference values. The rectifier can additionally take over the function of a direct voltage regulator through measurement and monitoring of a direct output voltage and changing of the switching instants on the occurrence of deviations of this direct voltage from a predeterminable target value.