Lecture 2

Diodes

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 Diode
• It is made from small piece of semiconductor
material
• It allows current to pass in only one direction
• A pn junction diode is formed by joining together p
type and n type silicon
• The p region is called anode and n region is called
cathode
• Two types of biasing
- Forward bias
- Reverse bias
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 Forward bias
• Condition that allows the current through pn
junction
• Positive terminal of battery is connected to p-type
and negative terminal to n-type semiconductor
• Depletion layer is very thin

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 Reverse bias
• Condition that does not allow the current through
pn junction
• Positive terminal of battery is connected to n-type
and negative terminal to p-type semiconductor
• Depletion layer is very thick

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 Diode: How it works
• Diode one way gate does not work all the time
• When we talk about silicon diodes
- diode will not conduct unless voltage is 0.7V or greater

• Forward and Reverse bias diode

• I-V characteristic of Silicon and

Germinum diode
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 I-V Characteristic Curve
• 𝐼𝐹 = Forward current
• 𝑉𝐹 = Forward voltage
• 𝐼𝑅 = Reverse current
• 𝑉𝑅 = Reverse voltage
• 𝑉𝐵𝑅 = Breakdown value
• When voltage across diode reaches 0.7 v
- 𝐼𝐹 increases rapidly
• Knee
- Reverse voltage remains at 𝑉𝐵𝑅
- 𝐼𝑅 increases rapidly

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 Forward Bias Connections
• Bias voltage connection
- positive at anode (A) and negative at cathode (K)
• Bias voltage must be greater than barrier potential
- barrier potential = 0.7 V for silicon
• The depletion region narrows

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 Reverse Bias Connections
• Bias voltage connection
- positive at cathode (K) and negative at anode (A)
• Bias voltage must be less than breakdown voltage
• The depletion region widens

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 Ideal Diode Model
• Least accurate approximation and is represented by switch
• Forward biased – closed (on) switch
• Reverse biased – open (off) switch
• Ideal V-I characteristic curve

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 Practical Diode Model
• Includes the barrier potential
• Forward biased – closed (on) switch, 0.7 V
• Reverse biased – open (off) switch
• Practical V-I characteristic curve

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 Complete Diode Model
• Most accurate approximation and includes the barrier potential
• Forward biased – closed (on) switch, forward resistance 𝑟′𝑑
• Reverse biased – open (off) switch, reverse resistance 𝑟′𝑅
• Practical V-I characteristic curve

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 Ideal and practical diode
model formulas
• Forward current, ideal diode model
𝑉𝐹 = 0 𝑉
𝑉𝐵𝐼𝐴𝑆
𝐼𝐹 =
𝑅𝐿𝐼𝑀𝐼𝑇
• Forward current practical diode model
𝑉𝐹 = 0.7 𝑉
𝑉𝑅𝐿𝐼𝑀𝐼𝑇 = 𝐼𝐹 𝑅𝐿𝐼𝑀𝐼𝑇
𝑉𝐵𝐼𝐴𝑆 − 𝑉𝐹
𝐼𝐹 =
𝑅𝐿𝐼𝑀𝐼𝑇
• Forward current complete diode model
𝑉𝐹 = 0.7 𝑉 + 𝐼F 𝑟′d
𝑉𝐵𝐼𝐴𝑆 − 0.7V
𝐼𝐹 =
𝑅𝐿𝐼𝑀𝐼𝑇 + 𝑟′d
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 Example
• Calculate forward voltage and forward current for each
diode models in Fig (a). Also find voltage across limiting
resistor. Assume 𝑟′d = 10Ω value of forward current.
• Calculate reverse voltage and reverse current for each
diode models in Fig (a). Also find voltage across limiting
resistor. Assume IR = 1µA.

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