Diode Circuits

Practical Aspects of pn Junction

anode
Reversed bias

+
-

+
-

Forward bias

cathode
The left hand diagram shows reverse bias, with positive on the
cathode and negative on the anode (via the lamp). No current flows.
The other diagram shows forward bias, with positive on the anode
and negative on the cathode. A current flows.

Polarization of the pn Junction

(1)

(3)

(2)
Forward bias
examples

(4)

Polarization of the pn Junction

(1)

(2)
Reversed bias
examples

(3)

(4)

Diode Ohms Check:

Check
Checks preformed on Si diode, by reversing the leads on the
Digital Voltage Mutimeter (DMM).

DMM

1.

DMM = 0

2.

DMM =

Diode Voltages
To forward bias a
diode, the anode must
be more positive than
the cathode or LESS
NEGATIVE.
To reverse bias a
diode, the anode must
be less positive than
the cathode or MORE
NEGATIVE.

A conducting diode has about 0.6 volts across if silicon, 0.3 volts if germanium.

A Diode Puzzle
Which lamps are alight? Some may not be full brightness.

+
-

+
-

A Diode Puzzle
Which lamps are alight? Some may not be full brightness.

+
-

+
-

Exercise - a Diode Puzzle

Which lamps are alight? Some may not be full brightness.

+
-

+
-

Exercise - a Diode Puzzle

Which lamps are alight? Some may not be full brightness.

+
-

+
-

Diode Characteristic
circuit
Rp
Ev

A reading
R

V reading

A diode is a nonlinear device and typical linear circuit

analysis methods do not apply!

Diode Characteristic for Small-Signal Diodes

vd
1
i D I s exp
nVT

kT
VT
n ~ 1-2
q
VT ~ 26 mV

Vknee

less than 1mA at 300K

When the temperature is increasing the knee voltage Vknee

decreases by about 2mV/K

Analysis of Diode Circuits

Nodal analysis
Mesh analysis
Kirchhoffs voltage law
Thevenin & Norton theorems

Vss Ri D v D
Vth/RTh

Slope=-1/RTh
Example 10.1

Vth

Analysis of Diode Circuits

+
Thevenin
equivalent

KCL

Vo

KVL

io

vD
iD

Vo vD
io iD

Their characteristics
intersect

Analysis of Diode Circuits

Nodal analysis
Mesh analysis
Kirchhoffs voltage law
Thevenin & Norton theorems

Vss Ri D v D
Vth/RTh

Slope=-1/RTh
Example 10.1

Vth

Load-Line Analysis
Problem
If the circuit shown below has Vss=2V and R=1kand a diode with ch-tic
shown, find the diode voltage and current at the operating point

Vss Ri D v D
Repeat for:
Vss=10V and R=10k
VDQ=0.68V and iDQ=0.93mA

Zener Diode - Voltage Regulator (reverse biased)

A Zener diode is a type of diode that permits current not only in the forward
direction like a normal diode, but also in the reverse direction if the voltage is
larger than the breakdown voltage known as "Zener knee voltage" or "Zener
voltage".

Zener Diode - Voltage Regulator (reverse biased)

Problem
Find the output voltage for Vss=15V
and Vss=20V if R=1k and a Zener
diode has the ch-tic shown below.

Load Line analysis

Kirchhoffs voltage law

Vss+ RiD+vD=0
Slope of the load is -1/R
Reverse bias region

Load Line Analysis of Complex Circuits

Thevenin Equivalent

Problem
Consider the Zener diode regulator shown in figure (a). Find the load voltage
vL and the source current iS if Vss=24V, R=1.2k and RL=6k

Problem
Consider the Zener diode regulator shown in figure (a). Find the load voltage
vL and the source current iS if Vss=24V, R=1.2k and RL=6k

Exercise find Thevenin equivalent

Problem
Consider the Zener diode regulator shown in figure (a). Find the load voltage
vL and the source current iS if Vss=24V, R=1.2k and RL=6k

Thevenin equivalent

VT=Vss*(RL/(R+RL))=20V
RT=(RRL)/(R+RL)=1k

Load line equation

VT + RTiD + VD = 0
VL=-VD=10V
iD=-10mA

Finally iS=(VSS-VL)/R=11.67 mA (from circuit a)

Exercise 10.4 & 10.5

Ideal diode Model

Useful for circuits with more than one diode

(1) Assume a state for each diode,
either on or off -2n combinations
(2) Assume a short circuit for diode
on and an open circuit for diode
off
(3) Check to see if the result is
consistent with the assumed state
for each diode (current must flow in
the forward direction for diode on
and the voltage across the diodes
assumed to be off must be positive
at the cathode reverse bias)
(4) If the results are consistent with
the assumed states, the analysis is
finished. Otherwise return to step
(1) and choose a different
combination of diode states.

Problem
Analyze the circuit shown below using the ideal diode model. Start by
assuming the D1 is off and D2 is on.
7V

-3V
Not consistent with
the assumption that
D2 if off

Exercise 10.6 & 10.7 & 10.8

Problem
Analyze the circuit shown below using the ideal diode model. Start by
assuming the D1 is off and D2 is on.
7V

-3V
Not consistent with
the assumption that
D1 is off

Problem
Analyze the circuit shown below using the ideal diode model. Start by
assuming the D1 is off and D2 is on.
7V

-3V
This is OK

Piecewise Linear Diode Models

More accurate that the ideal diode model and do not relies on nonlinear
equation or graphical techniques.
(1) Diode V-I ch-tic approximated by
straight line segments
(2) We model each section of the diode
I-V ch-tic with R in series with a fixed
voltage source

v = Rai + Va

Problem
Find circuit models for the Zener-diode volt-ampere ch-tic shown in figure
below using the piecewise-linear diode model.

Draw a line
Look for intercept (0.6V)
& the reciprocal of the
slope (1/R)
(1.6V-0.6V)/100mA=10
Open circuit approximation
Repeat for the reverse bias

Exercise 10.7