EIE209 Basic Electronics

Diode circuits
Contents
Diode models Typical diode circuits & applications Load line concepts for nonlinear load analysis

Prof. C.K. Tse: Diode circuits

What is a diode?
Simplest view (no physics): a unidirectional device that allows current to flow in one direction but not the other.
Ideally, we regard a diode as short circuit when voltage applied to it in the forward manner is positive.

Prof. C.K. Tse: Diode circuits

Ideal characteristic
Bias conditions
Forward bias : vd > 0 current can flow and id > 0. Reverse bias : vd < 0 current cannot flow and id = 0.

id

id

Ideal diode

with finite forward drop (more realistic)

vd

0.7V

vd

Prof. C.K. Tse: Diode circuits

Real characteristic
Take a closer look at the characteristic around the turning point. The i-v characteristic is an exponential function. From physics, we have

id
/kT

id = I ss (e q vd

- 1)
VBD
breakdown 0.7V

Also, the diode can only stand the negative voltage up to a certain threshold VBD , beyond which the diode conducts reverse current (breakdown).

vd

Prof. C.K. Tse: Diode circuits

Which model to use?

The choice depends on the external voltage magnitudes.

Ideal model:

Ideal model:

Ideal model:

id = 100/100 = 1 A
With 0.7V drop:

id = 10/100 = 100 mA
With 0.7V drop:

id = 2/100 = 20 mA
With 0.7V drop:

id = (1000.7)/100 = 0.997 A

id = (100.7)/100 = 93 mA

id = (20.7)/100 = 13 mA

Prof. C.K. Tse: Diode circuits

Example: rectifier circuit

The ideal model is valid if the external voltages are well above 0.7V.

What is the magnitude of vr ? Crude 50 V Better 50 1.4 = 48.6 V

Prof. C.K. Tse: Diode circuits

Application examples

clamper

dc restorer

half-wave doubler
Prof. C.K. Tse: Diode circuits

full-wave doubler
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A nonlinear circuit problem

Suppose we wish to find vd , given that the external voltage Vs is not large enough to validate the use of the ideal diode model.

??

Prof. C.K. Tse: Diode circuits

Step 1 : locating the operating points

Recall: The characteristic curve/line for a device actually defines where the point (v, i) can lie.

We know
1
the operating point (vd, id) is somewhere on the diode characteristic curve

the operating point (vR, iR) is somewhere on the resistor characteristic curve

Prof. C.K. Tse: Diode circuits

Step 2 : KVL & KCL constraints

We also know
from KCL : id = iR AND = Vs from KVL : vd + vR = Vs

O
+

Prof. C.K. Tse: Diode circuits

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Step 3 : enforcing KVL & KCL

Method: flip the resistor curve horizontally; and push the two curves together horizontally until the y-axes are Vs apart.

push

push

add to Vs

Prof. C.K. Tse: Diode circuits

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Solution : load line

The flipped resistor line is called the LOAD LINE.

Prof. C.K. Tse: Diode circuits

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General problem
+ vR

iR id
+ vd

How to find vd and id ?

id

Vs

+ _

:)
nonlinear device

vd

Prof. C.K. Tse: Diode circuits

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Basic load line construction

+ vR

iR id
+ vd

i
slope = 1/R

Vs

+ _

:)
nonlinear device

id

device characteristic

vd

Vs

Prof. C.K. Tse: Diode circuits

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Alternative construction
+ vR

iR id
+ vd

i
id when device is short-circuit
device characteristic load line

Vs

+ _

:)
nonlinear device

v
vd when device is opencircuit

Prof. C.K. Tse: Diode circuits

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Tutorial problem
Find the operating point.

Prof. C.K. Tse: Diode circuits

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