ECE-3132 Electric Circuit Design Laboratory

Experiment#1: Diode Characterization and Parameter Extraction

1/28/2016

Catherine Honigfort
Duona Pan
Yeunhye Kim

Procedure 1: Rectifying Diode Characterization (IN4004)

V (mv) V1(MV) I1(mA) V2(mv) I2(mA) V (mV) I (mA) Rf ()

480 660 6.84 644 4.88 16 1.96 8.163265

Q: How are the measured characteristics different from the diodes manufacturer spec. values?

The maximum forward voltage listed on the data sheet was 1.1 V, whereas the V we measured was 480
mv, which is less than 1.1V. The reversed region current was very small, measuring at 5.0 uA, therefore
the figure was not able to show this result, and was thus not included in the report. The maximum DC
block voltage was listed as 400 V and 280 RMS, which means that the voltage should not be used for over
400 V, or it will cause damage to the diode.

Procedure 2: Zener diode characteristics. (1N4739)

Forward V (mv) V1(mV) I1(mA) V2(mv) I2(mA) V (mV) I (mA) Rf ()

660 764 5.96 772 7.68 8 1.72 4.651163

Reversed Vb (mv) V1(mV) I1(mA) V2(mv) I2(mA) V (mV) I (mA) Rb()

9.2 9.2 5.28 9.28 10 0.08 4.72 0.016949

Q: How are the measured characteristics different from the diodes manufacturer spec. values?
The maximum forward voltage listed on the data sheet for the Zener diode was 1.2 V, with a voltage range
is 9.1 V. The maximum reverse leakage current was extremely close to zero, measured at 10UA, and the
breakdown voltage was measured at 7V. The maximum current found in the reversed region was 28 mA,
and the minimum current was 10uA. When comparing this to the measured results, the reverse breakdown
voltage was found to be 13 V, which our group considered reasonable. The maximum regulator current is
100mA.

- Zener diode characteristics (1N4743)

Forward V (mv) V1(mV) I1(mA) V2(mv) I2(mA) V (mV) I (mA) Rf ()

708 804 5.64 812 7.52 8 1.88 4.255319

Reversed Vb (v) V1(V) I1(mA) V2(v) I2(mA) V (V) I (mA) Rb ()

13 13 3.92 13 8.12 0 4.2 0

Q: How are the measured characteristics different from the diodes manufacturer spec. values?

The max forward voltage is 1.2v and the Zener voltage range is 13v. The max reverse leakage current is 5
uA and the voltage at max leakage current is 9.9v. Therefore, the breakdown voltage will be greater than
9.9v. Compared to the measured breakdown voltage, 13 volts is greater than 9.9v which is reasonable. In
addition, the max regulator current is 69 mA which will affect the min RLs value.

Procedure 3: Switching diode characteristics (1N914)

V (mv) V1(mV) I1(mA) V2(mv) I2(mA) V (mV) I (mA) Rf ()

516 676 3.96 696 5.8 20 1.84 10.86957

Q: How are the measured characteristics different from the diodes manufacturer spec. values?

According to the forward current v.s. forward voltage graph, when the temperature is 25, the starting
voltage is starting at 0.5v and the current under this condition is 0.1v. After this point, the slope increases
rapidly. In addition, calculated resistor value is reasonable depending on this graph.
Procedure 4: Light Emitting Diode (LED)

V (v) V1(V) I1(mA) V2(v) I2(mA) V (V) I (mA) Rf ()

1.7 1.92 2.96 1.96 4.56 0.04 1.6 25

Q: How are the measured characteristics different from the diodes manufacturer spec. values?

In the datasheet, it showed that the max forward voltage is 2v. Depending on the graph of forward current
vs. forward voltage, the starting voltage is 1.8v and the current is 0.1mA. Compared with the measured
voltage V, 1.7V is less than max voltage 2v which is reasonable.
Conclusion:

This lab can be considered a success. All components were found to be within a
reasonable range of error from the expected values, meaning that the components
were made satisfactorily, and that our group measured and documented these
readings correctly. This lab was also successful in demonstrating the principles and
characteristics of frequently used diodes, in addition to exposing us to new
equipment that I had not previously encountered. One of these pieces of equipment
was the Tektronix curve tracer; the exposure to this machine was extremely
informative and will no doubt be utilized in other classes and possibly also in
industry.

Our group did not experience many setbacks, as this lab was fairly straightforward,
and was presented with plenty of direction. Once, our group put the diode in going
the wrong direction, but this was quickly rectified by simply reversing the direction
of the diode. There was also one small issue on correcting the range of voltages, but
this, too, was easily fixed.

In conclusion, this lab can be considered a success, because the measurements

taken correctly, and the concepts were learned