ECE 204L

DIODE CHARACTERISTICS
Lab Assignment # 1
----------------------------------------PURPOSE:
To determine the characteristics of junction diodes, LEDs, and Zener diodes.
PROCEDURE:
1. Construct the circuit shown below (Figure 1) to obtain the forward characteristics of a junction
diode. Vary V1 and take readings of V D (XMM1) and I D (XMM2) for values of I D up to
approximately 10mA (i.e. start at V1

0V and stop when you get I D

10mA ). Make sure that

enough data is taken in the neighborhood of the threshold voltage so that a good curve can be
plotted.
XMM1
XMM2

D1
1N4148
R1
10

V1

Figure 1: Circuit Used to determine the forward bias

IV characteristic of a p-n junction diode

To be added to your report:

a) Tabulate and Plot the forward current-voltage characteristic curve of the junction diode.
b) Calculate the incremental resistance of the junction diode for a diode current of 5 mA. The
incremental resistance is given by =

where = 25 is the thermal voltage.

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Dayton, Spring 2016

c) Determine (from your plot and/or recorded data points) the threshold voltage of the junction
diode.
2. Adjust your circuit as shown in Figure 2 by letting the input V1 be saw-tooth wave at 1khz or higher.
Set the peak-to-peak voltage to be 2V and set the DC offset to +0.5V (essentially illustrating a DCsweep analysis/ramp-input.) Display the input V1 on Channel A(X). Display the output V2 , on
Channel Y. Set the oscilloscope for XY-mode (use the Horiz button) the output should look similar
to Figure 3. Set the scales for approximately 200mV/division on each input. Center the curve and
save a screen capture. Identify and make note of the range of input voltages for which there is a
nearly quadratic response (around the knee of the curve).
D1
1N4148
XSC1

XFG1

V2
Ext T rig
+

V1

_
B

A
+

R1
1k

Figure 2: Nonlinear circuit

Figure 3: Input-Output relationship for the nonlinear circuit

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Dayton, Spring 2016

3. Repeat part 1 using a Light Emitting Diode (LED) as shown in Figure 4 and take readings of V D
(XMM1) and I D (XMM2) for values of I D up to approximately 20 mA.

XMM1
XMM2

LED1
V1

R1
10

Figure 4: Circuit used to determine the forward bias

IV characteristic of an LED

To be added to your report:

a) Tabulate and Plot the forward current-voltage characteristic curve of the LED diode.
b) Calculate the incremental resistance of the LED diode for a diode current of 10 mA.
c) Determine the threshold voltage of the LED diode.

4. Obtain the reverse characteristics of a zener diode using the circuit of Figure 5. Take readings of V D
(XMM1) and I D (XMM2) for values of I D up to approximately 30 mA so that a good curve can be
plotted. In accordance with how the Zener diode characteristic plot is presented in your textbook,
you should plot the values of voltage and current as negative values (you will get positive values of

V D and I D but plot

I D versus VD ).

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Dayton, Spring 2016

XMM2

R1
1k

XMM1
D1

V1

Vz

Figure 5: Circuit used to determine the reverse IV characteristic

of a zener diode

To be added to your report:

a) Tabulate and plot the reverse-bias current voltage characteristic curve of the Zener diode.
b) Compute the dynamic resistance of the Zener diode at 25mA. The dynamic resistance is given
by =

V
,

where and are, respectively, changes in voltage and current around or

about the specified Zener diode current above, i.e., 25mA.

Hint: Let us say at 1 = 25mA you got a certain diode voltage 1 . Use a second data point pair
(2 , 2 ) past 1 = 25mA. That is, find some 2 for 2 > 1 = 25mA. You can now
compute both the change in voltage as = 2 1 and the change in current as
= 2 1 .

General notes:
A formal write up is required. Refer to the Guidelines for Writing a Formal Report and the
template provided on Isidore.
Prepare a typed up report. Submit a pdf of your report electronically on Isidore.

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Dayton, Spring 2016