EE203 Electronics I

Chapter 3: Diodes

PN junction, Ideal diode, Diode characteristics, and

Diode Models
Sections: 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6

Ideal Diode
The ideal diode may be considered the most
fundamental nonlinear circuit element. It is a
two-terminal device having the circuit symbol
shown in the next slide:

The ideal diode: (a) diode circuit symbol; (b) iv characteristic; (c)
equivalent circuit in the reverse direction; (d) equivalent circuit in the
forward direction.

The Two Modes of Operation Of

Ideal Diodes

The two modes of operation of ideal diodes and the use of an external
circuit to limit the forward current (a) and the reverse voltage (b).

A Simple Application: The

Rectifier

Rectifier: AC to DC
Thus the circuit shown in the previous slide rectifies the
signal and hence is called a rectifier. It can be used to
generate dc from ac.

Example 1
For the circuit shown sketch the waveform VD

Example 2
Figure below shows a circuit for charging a 12-V battery. If Vs is a
sinusoid with 24-V peak amplitude, find the fraction of each cycle
during which the diode conducts. Also, find the peak value of the
diode current and the maximum reverse-bias voltage that appears
across the diode. Assume ideal models for the diodes.

Example 2 Solution

Diode logic Gates

Diode logic gates: (a) OR gate; (b) AND gate (in a

positive-logic system).

Example 3
Assuming the diodes to be ideal, find the values of I and V in the circuits
shown below

Example 3 Solution 3(a)

In these circuits it might not be obvious at first sight whether none,
one, or both diodes are conducting. In such a case, we make a
plausible assumption, proceed with the analysis, and the check
whether we end up with a consistent solution. For the circuit in
example 3(a) we shall assume that both diodes are conducting. It
follows that VB = 0 and V = 0. The current through D2 can now be
determined from

Example 3 Solution 3(a)

Writing a node equation at B,

results in I= 1 mA. Thus, D1 is conducting as originally assumed,

and the final result is I = 1 mA and V=0V.
For figure 3(b) please try this as an exercise.

Example 4
Find the values of voltage and currents in the circuits shown below?

Diode Operating Regions

The diode iv relationship with some scales expanded and others

compressed in order to reveal details.

The Forward Bias Region

The forward-bias-or Simply forward-region of operation is entered
when the terminal voltage v is positive. In the forward region the
i-v relationship is closely approximated by:
The voltage VT is the thermal voltage and is given by:

At room temperature (20C) the value of VT is 25.2 mV. In rapid approximate

circuit analysis we shall use VT = 25 mV at room temperature.

The Reverse-Bias Region

The reverse-bias region of operation is entered when the diode
voltage v is made negative that if v is negative and a few times
larger than VT (25 mV) in magnitude, the exponential term
becomes negligibly small compared to unity, and the diode
current Becomes I = -Is
That is, the current in the reverse direction is constant and equal
to Is. This constancy is the reason behind the term saturation
current.
Real diodes exhibit reverse currents that, though quite small, are
much larger than Is. For instance, a small-signal diode whose Is
is on the order of 10-14A to 10-15A could show a reverse current
on the order of 1 nA.

MODELING THE DIODE

FORWARD CHARACTERISTIC
The Exponential Model

Assuming that the diode parameters Is and n are known, there are two
Equations in the two unknown quantities ID and VD. Two alternative ways for
obtaining the solution are graphical analysis and iterative analysis.

Exponential Models Holds for Many

Decades of Current
For appreciable current i in the forward bias region:

Let us consider the forward i-v and evaluate the current I1

corresponding to a diode voltage V1
Similarly, if the voltage is V2 the diode current I2 will be

2.3nVT 100mV

Graphical Analysis

v1

ID

ID

Graphical analysis of the circuit above

IS e

n VT

VDD VD
R

Iterative Analysis; Example 3.4

Determine ID and VD for this circuit with VDD = 5 V and R1 = 1 K ohm.
Assume diode current 1 mA at voltage 0.7 V, and that its voltage drop changes by 0.1 V for
every decade change in current.
VDD := 5
ID :=

R1 := 1000

VDD VD

VD := 0.7
ID = 4.3 10

1000

We then use the diode equation to obtain a better estimate for VD

V2 V1

2.3 n VT log

I1
I2

V1 := 0.7 V

I2 := 4.3

mA

I1 := 1

mA

For our case 2.3.n.VT = 0.1 V (This results from the condition of 0.1 V change for every
decade change in current
V2 := V1 + 0.1 log

I1

ID2 :=

I2

5 0.763

V2 = 0.763

ID2 = 4.237 10

1000

V2 := 0.763 + 0.1 log

ID
ID2

V2 = 0.762

The Piecewise-Linear Model

Example Using Piece-Wise Linear

Model
For the particular example shown,
VDO= 0.65 V and rD = 20

The Constant-Voltage-Drop Model

The Small-Signal Model

Development of the diode small-signal model. Note that the numerical values shown are for
a diode with n = 2.

The Small-Signal Model

Consider the conceptual shown in the previous slide. A dc voltage
VD represented by a battery, is applied to the diode, and
a time-varying signal vd(t) assumed (arbitrarily) to have a
triangular waveform, is superimposed on the dc voltage VD
In the absence of the signal vd(t) the diode voltage is equal to
VD, and correspondingly, the diode will conduct a dc current ID
given by:

This is the small-signal approximation. It is valid for signals

whose amplitudes are smaller than about 10 mV

The Small-Signal Model

The Small-Signal Model

The analysis of the circuit in (a), which contains both dc and signal quantities, can
be performed by replacing the diode with the model of previous figure, as shown
in (b). This allows separating the dc analysis [the circuit in (c)] from the signal
analysis [the circuit in (d)].

Example

Figure 3.18 (a) Circuit for Example 3.6. (b) Circuit for calculating the dc operating point. (c) Small-signal equivalent
circuit.

Example Solution

Exponential

Piecewise-linear

Constant -voltage-drop

Table 3.1 Modeling the Diode Forward Characteristic

31

Ideal-diode

Small-signal

Table 3.1 (Continued)

32

Zener Diode - Characteristics

Vz = Vzo + rZIZ
Vz > Vzo

Circuit symbol for a

zener diode.

The diode i-v characteristic with the breakdown region

shown in some detail.

Model for the zener

diode.

Zener Diode

Zener Diode

Zener Diode Example

Figure 3.23 (a) Circuit for Example 3.8. (b) The circuit with the zener diode
replaced with its equivalent circuit model.

Zener Diode Example Continued

Zener Diode Example Continued

Zener Diode Example Continued

Zener Diode Example Continued

Zener Diode Example Continued

Zener Diode Example Continued

RECTIFIER CIRCUITS

Block diagram of a dc power

supply.

The Half-Wave Rectifier

The Half-Wave Rectifier

PIV

The Full-Wave Rectifier

Figure 3.26 Full-wave rectifier utilizing a transformer with a center-tapped secondary winding:
(a) circuit; (b) transfer characteristic assuming a constant-voltage-drop model for the diodes; (c)
input and output waveforms.

The Full-Wave Rectifier

The Full-Wave Rectifier

The Bridge Rectifier

Figure 3.27 The bridge rectifier: (a) circuit; (b) input and output waveforms.

The Bridge Rectifier

The Bridge Rectifier

Peak Rectifier

Rectifier Circuits
With A Filter Capacitor

iL

iD

vo
R
iC + IL

d
C v I + iL
dt

Vp

IL

CR >> T

vo

Vp e

C R

at the end of the discharge intervall

T

Vp Vr

Vp e

C R
T

SInce CR >> T
Vr

Vp

and

T
CR

Vr

Vp
f C R

CR

T
CR

Vr << Vp

Observations for Peak Rectifier

Limiting and Clamping Circuits

Figure 3.32 General transfer characteristic for a limiter circuit.

Variety of Limiting Circuits

Figure 3.35 A variety of

basic limiting circuits.

End of First Topic

Lectures

Home work: 3.3, 3.5, 3.33, 3.37, 3.72, 3.92