Diodes and Diode Circuits

Lecture 2

Modelling Diode Characteristics

Diode Circuit Symbol
Current Flow

Anode Cathode

+ Forward Biased -

- Reverse Biased +

A one-way valve
 Today’s problem

Given a circuit with a diode in it, calculate

● the voltage VD across the diode and

● the current ID through it

Three stages:
● Observe how it behaves
● Describe this mathematically

● Use the maths to calculate VD and ID

 Stage 1

Observe how it behaves

Imagine diodes have just been invented
and we have the first one to test
(In practice, look it up in a book!)
Vary VD, see how ID changes
 Diode I-V Characteristics –
NonLinear (approximate graph)
Forward Biased
I

Breakdown Voltage
V b> -100v

V ~ 0.7v V
on
Threshold Voltage

Reverse
Biased
 Is it linear?

Can we view it as a linear component,

e.g. a resistor?
 DC Resistance.
DC resistance from ohms law V=RI
0.8

I
0.7

A
0.6
D io d e C u rre n t (A )

0.5

I I
0.4

1
0.3
V R
R
0.2
B
0.1

C
0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2 V
V o lt a g e a c ro s s d io d e (V )
 Is it linear?

Can we view it as a linear component, e.g. a

resistor? “Hmm...” (sounds of disbelief)

Yes, for any fixed voltage it has an effective

resistance
That resistance varies with voltage
“A fudge”? Yes, but can be made to work
and useful sometimes
 Two modes of operation
(A) (B)
+10v +10v

1K 1K

V ? V ?
d d

0v 0v
Which diode is forward biased and which is reverse biased ?
What is the approximate voltage across each diode?
 +0.2v

1K

V ?
d

0v

Is this diode forward biased and conducting (turn-on) ?

 Stage 2

Describe it mathematically

(Why?
At the end of the day we will need
numbers, and maths is what gives
these)
 Device Model - Forward Bias
Simplified Device Equation I D = IS ( e VD / nVT
− 1)
0.8
I
D 0.7

IS, n and VT are

0.6

constants
D io d e C u rre n t (A )

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2
V o lta g e a c ro s s d io d e (V )
VD
 That equation ...
I D = IS ( e VD / nVT
− 1)
How do you read this? What does it tell you?
● What is the approximate shape of the curve?
● Does the -1 matter? (Minor detail? Dominate?)
● What is ID when VD = 0?

Equations are part of our life

If you can sketch one as a curve,
you make it visual
 Device Model - Forward Bias
Simplified Device Equation I D = IS ( e VD / nVT
− 1)
0.8
I
D 0.7
Thermal Voltage
0.6 V = 25 mV
T
D io d e C u rre n t (A )

0.5

0.4 ‘Fudge Factor’

0.3
n=2: discrete diodes
0.2

Reverse Bias
0.1
Saturation Current
0
-8 -12
I = 10 to 10 A
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2
V o lta g e a c ro s s d io d e (V )
VD s
 That equation (reprise)
I D = IS ( eVD / nVT − 1)
VT = q / kT (about 25 mV at room temperature)
q is charge on electron
k is Boltzmann’s constant
T is absolute (i.e. Kelvin) temperature
A ‘constant’ that depends on temperature
so

ID = IS e( qVD / nkT
−1 )
 Stage 3

Use our mathematical description

(i.e. model*)
to predict what a circuit will do

*
If it doesn’t have predictive value,
it gets the sack!
 Analysis of Simple Diode Circuit.

How to analyse circuits containing nonlinear

elements.
Consider the circuit:
rs Vd

+
Vs ID RL
-

VS = I D (rS + RL ) + VD
 Can we solve it?

We have 2 unknowns, VD and ID

To solve for them, we need 2 equations
● The exponential equation gives us one
(from several slides ago)
● The other comes from adding up the
voltages round the circuit (previous
slide)
 Technique 1: with equations
● Circuit Equation, Load Line.
Rearranging VS = I D (rS + RL ) + VD
1 VS
Load Line :- ID = − VD +
rs + RL rS + RL
● Device Equation.
I D = IS ( eVD / nVT − 1)
 Technique 2: with a graph
ID 0.8

0.7
Device Eqn
0.6

Vs Solution: ‘operating point’

D io d e C u rre n t (A )

0.5

R +r 0.4

L s 0.3 Circuit Eqn

0.2
‘Load Line’
0.1
V =V
0
D S
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2
V o lta g e a c ro s s d io d e (V )

V
D
 Is this always necessary?

● Sometimes exact solutions are needed

● Often an approximate one will suffice
● In such cases, a simpler view (=model)
of the diode is enough
 Ideal Diode - Approximation
Fictitious Circuit Element called an
Ideal Diode.
● Reverse Bias: No current flow through the diode,
open circuit.

When VD ≤ 0 then I D = 0
● Forward Bias: No voltage drop across the diode,
short circuit.
When I D > 0 then VD = 0
 The ideal diode

Short Circuit Open Circuit

rs rs

+ +
Vs ID RL Vs RL
- -

Vs
I = V = Vs
D R +r D
L s
 Example using the Ideal Diode

Reverse Biased Diode Forward Biased Diode

+10v +10v +10v +10v

1K 1K 1K 1K

0v 0v 0v 0v
Voltage across the diode Voltage across the diode
V = 10v V =0
D D
 The Ideal Diode in circuit analysis.

Disadvantages
● Gross approximation of the I-V
characteristics

Advantages
● Simple to apply.
● Yields a quick approximation
 Summary
● Diodes have nonlinear I-V characteristics.
● The slope from any point on the diode I-V
curve to the origin defines the DC resistance.
● The operational point of a simple diode
circuit can be obtained graphically by the
construction of a load line on the diode I-V.
● In the Ideal Diode approximation, the diode is
modelled as:
– An open circuit for the diode reverse biased.
– A short circuit for the diode forward biased.