Lecture 2 – Diodes: Large and Small Signal Models

ELEC201- Circuit Analysis I

Lecture 2 – Diodes: Large and Small Signal Models
Copyright © 2005-2017 Jesús Calviño-Fraga. Not to be copied, used, or revised without explicit written permission from the
copyright owner.

In the last lecture we studied and/or introduced four different diode models used in circuit
analysis. These are:

1) Ideal model
2) Exponential model
3) Constant voltage drop
4) Piecewise linear
5) Small signal model (to be covered later on)

In this lecture we will start with the piecewise linear model of the diode, and solve some
diode circuit examples using that model as well as the other different models. The
piecewise model is illustrated in the three figures below: 1

1
Microelectronic Circuits by Sedra & Smith, 5th edition.

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Lecture 2 – Diodes: Large and Small Signal Models

Example 1: A diode has a voltage drop of 0.7V @ 1mA. Also, this diode has an
n=1.5, and it is operating at ambient temperature (VT=25mV). Find its piecewise
model such that the model is exact at both 1mA and 20mA.

Solution: What we want here is to obtain the information needed to complete the
piecewise diode model from the diode equation. The plot below shows how both models
represent the diode i-v characteristic. The requirements for the problem are that the
piecewise model should coincide exactly with the exponential model at 1mA and 20mA.

24.00

22.00

20.00

18.00

16.00

14.00

Id 12.00

10.00

8.00

6.00

4.00

2.00

0.00
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
Vd

We need to compute two things to complete our piecewise model:

1) The slope of the straight line which gives the value of the series resistance of the
piecewise model.
2) The intersection of the straight line with the Vd axis (i.e. Id=0) which gives the
value of the voltage source in the piecewise model.

To find the slope we need two points on the straight line. One of the points is given:
Vd=0.7V @ Id=1mA. The other can be found from the diode equation

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Lecture 2 – Diodes: Large and Small Signal Models

Vd

Id  Ise nVT

For which we don’t know Is, but it can be computed with the data provided as:

Id 1mA
Is  Vd
 0.7V
 7.8193pA
1.50.25V
e nVT
e

Now, with Is we can compute Vd for Id=20mA:

Id 20 10-3A
Vd  nVT  ln( )  1.5  0.025  ln( )  0.8123V
IS 7.8193 10-12 A

And with the two points the slope can be computed as:

1 20mA  1mA
  0.1693  rD  5.9105
rD 0.8123V-0.7V

Finally, we can compute the series voltage source required by the piecewise model VD0
as:
1 1mA  0mA

rD 0.7V  VD0
0.7V  VD0  5.9105 1mA
VD0  0.7V  0.00591V  0.6941V

The diode is then represented by the piecewise model shown below:

Ideal Diode 5.9105 0.6941

+
-

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Lecture 2 – Diodes: Large and Small Signal Models

Example 2: In the circuit below, the diode is the same as of the previous example.
Find the forward diode current using the ideal, exponential, constant voltage drop
(0.7V), and piecewise linear models (as computed in the previous example) for the
diode. Compare the results.
R

470
+ VDD
- 5V

Using the ideal diode model:

5V
I  10.638mA
470

Using the exponential diode model:

 5V  VD
 I
 470
VD

 I  7.8193  10 -12
A  e 1.50.025V

First iteration (initial voltage value=0.7V):

5V  0.7V
I  9.1489mA
470
9.1489mA
VD  0.0375V  ln  0.783V
7.8193 10-9 mA
Second iteration:
5V  0.783V
I  8.9723mA
470
8.9723mA
VD  0.0375V  ln  0.7823V
7.8193 10-9 mA
Third iteration:
5V  0.7823V
I  8.9738mA
470
8.9738mA
VD  0.0375V  ln  0.7823V
7.8193 10-9 mA

VD did not change from the last iteration (at least the first four decimal digits) so
we stop iterating here!

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Lecture 2 – Diodes: Large and Small Signal Models

Using the constant voltage drop model:

470
Ideal Diode
+ VDD
- 5V
+ 0.7V
-

5V  0.7V
I  9.1489mA
470

Using the piecewise linear model:

470
Ideal Diode

+ 5.9105
VDD
- 5V

+ 0.6941V
-

5V  0.6941V
I  9.0477mA
470  5.9105

Comparing:

Model I (mA) % error

Ideal 10.638 18.55%

Exponential 8.9738 0%
Constant voltage drop 9.1489 1.95%
Piecewise lineal 9.0477 0.82%

As you can see, the quality of the result depends on the amount of computations we are
willing to do. For this example, the exponential model is the most accurate, followed by
the piecewise model, then the constant voltage drop model, and finally the ideal diode
model.

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Lecture 2 – Diodes: Large and Small Signal Models

Example 3: For the circuit below both diodes are ideal. Find the current through
them and the voltage Vo. (Notice that V1 is upside down!)

D1 D2

Vo

R1 1k R2 2k

V1
- 8V V2
+ 8V
+ -

The tip to solve this kind of problem is to determine which diodes are on/off. Once we
know that, the circuit can be easily solved. Since there are two diodes, there are up to
22=4 possible combinations. Let us analyze each one of them and see if they hold on or
not:

D1 D2 Comment
Off Off D2 can not be off because its anode would
be at 8V and its cathode would be at -8V,
therefore this possibility is discarded as D2
would be forward bias.
Off On D1 can not be off because the anode is at
0V and the cathode, assuming D2 is on,
would be at

8V  (8V )
Vo   1k  8V  2.67V
3k

Therefore D1 would be forward bias (since

the anode voltage is larger than the cathode
voltage: 0V>-2.67V). This possibility is
then discarded.
On Off The anode of D2 would be at 8V and the
cathode would be at 0V, then this diode
would be forward bias. This possibility is
then discarded.
On On D2 is forward bias as the current flows
from anode to cathode. D1 is forward bias
because the current flows also from anode
to cathode. This possibility holds on!

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Lecture 2 – Diodes: Large and Small Signal Models

The circuit when both diodes are on looks like:

I1 I2

Vo

R1 1k R2 2k

V1
- 8V V2
+ 8V
+ -

From which we can calculate our answers as:

Vo  0V
8V  0V
I2   4mA
2k
0  (8V ) 8V
I1   I2   4mA  4mA
1k 1k

The Small Signal Model

In the previous examples we studied these four diode models used in circuit analysis:

1) Ideal model
2) Exponential model
3) Constant voltage drop
4) Piecewise linear

Now we should consider the small signal or incremental model of a forward biased diode.
This model is necessary when the diode circuit we are solving operates both with AC and
DC voltages. The small signal model is practically identical to the piecewise linear
model, but the slope of the forward diode characteristic is developed only around one
operating point Q. The steps to solve a mixed AC/DC diode circuit are:

1) Obtain the DC only circuit and compute the operating point Q of the diode using
the exponential model. To obtain the DC circuit we need to:

a. Short circuit all AC voltage sources

b. Open all AC current sources.
c. Replace all inductors with short circuits.
d. Replace all capacitors with open circuits.

Example: Find the DC equivalent circuit for:

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Lecture 2 – Diodes: Large and Small Signal Models

Vcc

+
-
10V
L1
0.1H
I1
10mA

R1
C1 1k
1F
R2
50

C2 C3
1F 1F R3
Vac
D1 10k
1Vp @ 1kHz
1N4148

+ V1
3V
-

Solution:
Vcc
+
-

10V

I1
10mA

R1
1k

R2
50

R3
D1 10k
1N4148

+ V1
3V
-

2) Using the operating point Q of the diode compute the values for the small signal
model of the diode.

3) Replace the diode with its small signal equivalent circuit and obtain the AC only
circuit. To obtain the AC circuit we need to:

a. Short circuit all DC voltage sources

b. Open all DC current sources.
c. Replace all inductors with open circuits.
d. Replace all capacitors with short circuits.

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Lecture 2 – Diodes: Large and Small Signal Models

Example: Find the AC equivalent circuit for the circuit of point 1)

R1
1k
R2
R2 50
50

R3
Vac 10k
R3 D1
Vac 1Vp @ 1kHz
D1 10k 1N4148
1Vp @ 1kHz
1N4148

4) Solve the small signal AC circuit for the voltages or currents required and apply
superposition (if needed) to compute instantaneous values (AC+DC).

Notation

In these lectures I will be using the same notation used in many textbooks on the subject
to represent AC, DC, and total voltages and currents:

1) AC only quantities are represented by a lower case letter with a lower case
subscript. For example the AC voltage across a diode will be represented as vd(t).

2) DC only quantities are represented by an upper case letter with an upper case
subscript. For example, the DC voltage across a diode will be represented as VD.

3) Total instantaneous quantities (AC+DC) are represented by a lower case letter

with an upper case subscript. For example, the total voltage across a diode will be
represented as vD= VD+ vd(t).

Developing an small signal model for the diode

Consider the diode i-v curve below where the piecewise model of the diode was
developed around the operating point Q=1.7mA @ 0.72V:

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Lecture 2 – Diodes: Large and Small Signal Models

1.40E-02

1.20E-02

1.00E-02

8.00E-03

Id

6.00E-03

4.00E-03

2.00E-03

0.00E+00
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
Vd

Notice from the figure above that the straight line matches very well the exponential
characteristic of a diode in the narrow range just below 2 mA. So, if we were to use the
line for that small range instead of the exponential, we will not incur into to much error.
Why do we do that? Because it is a lot easier to work with linear equations! The idea is
to find the slope of the straight line at exactly the operating point Q. The slope can be
found with the derivative of the diode equation, and evaluating it at the operating point:
VD

I D  Ise nVT

Now get the derivative at Q to obtain the slope:

V
1 I D 1 D
I nV
  I s e  D  rd  T
nVT

rd VD nVT nVT ID

As a bonus, but not needed in many problems, we can also calculate the series DC
voltage source we use with the piecewise model as:

1 I 0 I
 D  D  VD 0  VD  nVT
rd VD  VD 0 nVT

The small signal model for the diode looks then as:

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Lecture 2 – Diodes: Large and Small Signal Models

Ideal Diode

rd

+ VD0
-

In AC, assuming the diode remains forward bias, is further simplified to:

rd

Example 4: The diode in the circuit below exhibits a VD=0.7 @ 1mA, n=2,
VT=0.025V. Sketch the instantaneous (AC+DC) diode voltage vD.

R
+
10k

1Vp @ 60Hz
vD

+ 10V
-
_

Solution:

The instantaneous diode voltage is defined as:

vD  VD  vd (t )

Since we will need Is, that is the first thing to compute from the diode equation:
VD VD 0.7V
 
I D  Ise nVT
 Is  I De nVT
 1mA  e 20.025V
 8.3153 10-7 mA

Now get the DC circuit:

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Lecture 2 – Diodes: Large and Small Signal Models

10k

+ 10V
-

From which we can obtain the operating point (VD, ID) using the simplified
exponential model:

 10V  VD
 ID 
10k
 VD

I
 D  8.3153  10 -7
mA  e 20.025V

This is the same example we solved in lecture 2, for which the answer is:

I D  0.9304mA, VD  0.6964V

With the operating point, the small signal model components can be computed:

nVT 2  0.025V
rd    53.8
ID 0.9304 mA
VD 0  VD  nVT  0.6964V  (2  0.025V )  0.6914V

This looks like:

Ideal Diode

53.8

+ 0.6914V
-

The small circuit model is then replaced into the original circuit:

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Lecture 2 – Diodes: Large and Small Signal Models

10k
Ideal Diode

1Vp @ 60Hz
53.8

+ 10V
+ 0.6914V
- -

Now, we get the AC circuit and solve for vd(t):

R
+
10k

1Vp @ 60Hz

vd(t)
53.8

1V p
vd (t )   53.8  5.35mV p
10k  53.8

Finally, the instantaneous voltage is:

vD  VD  vd (t )  (0.6964  5.35 10 3 cos(2 60t   ))V

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Lecture 2 – Diodes: Large and Small Signal Models

Which when plotted looks like:

0.8

0.7

0.6

0.5

vD 0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0.0
0

2
+0

-0

-0

-0

-0

-0

-0

-0

-0

-0

-0
0E

0E

5E

0E

5E

0E

5E

0E

5E

0E
E0

5.

1.

1.

2.

2.

3.

3.

4.

4.

5.
0.

If we zoom-in the wave, we can clearly see what is going on:

0.710

0.705

0.700

0.695

vD 0.690

0.685

0.680

0.675

0.670
00

03

02

02

02

02

2
-0

-0

-0

-0
-0
-

-
+

0E

0E

5E

0E

5E

0E

5E

0E

5E

0E
0E

5.

1.

1.

2.

2.

3.

3.

4.

4.

5.
0.

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Lecture 2 – Diodes: Large and Small Signal Models

Example 5: The circuit below shows a voltage controlled attenuator. The diode in
the circuit exhibits a VD=0.7 @ 1mA, n=2, VT=0.025V. The capacitors are very
large, and behave as perfect short circuits at the operating frequency. Calculate the
direct current ID and the output voltage vo(t) for Vcc=10V and Vcc=1V.

+
-
Vcc
R2
10k

R1 vo(t)

10k
C1 C2
R3
vi(t)=0.2sin(wt) 10M

Solution:

As before, the first thing we compute is IS:

VD VD 0.7V
 
I D  Ise nVT
 Is  I De nVT
 1mA  e 20.025V
 8.3153 10-7 mA

Now, let us compute the operating point when Vcc is 10V. First find the DC
circuit (all capacitors are open circuits at DC):
+
-

Vcc
R2
10k

VD

Using the simplified exponential diode model:

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Lecture 2 – Diodes: Large and Small Signal Models

 10V  VD
 ID 
10k
 VD

 I D  8.3153 10 mA  e
-7 20.025V

This is the same example we solved in the previous lecture and in the previous
example, for which the answer is:

I D  0.9304mA, VD  0.6964V

With the operating point, the small signal model values can be computed:

nVT 2  0.025V
rd    53.74
ID 0.9304 mA
VD 0  VD  nVT  0.6964V  (2  0.025V )  0.6914V

From which we can easily draw the AC circuit. Remember: short circuit all DC
voltage sources; also, large capacitors are short circuits:

R1 vo(t)

10k

vi(t)=0.2sin(wt) R2 R3
rd
10k 10M

0.2sin(t )
vo (t )  (53.74 10k 10M )  0.107 sin(t )
10k  (53.74 10k 10 M )

NOTE: Remember from your circuit analysis course how to compute resistors in
parallel?

1
(53.74 10k 10 M )   53.74
1 1 1
 
53.74 10k 10 M

For Vcc=1V we repeat the whole thing. First, find the operating point:

 1V  VD
 ID 
10k
 VD

 I D  8.3153 10 mA  e
-7 20.025V

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Lecture 2 – Diodes: Large and Small Signal Models

For the first iteration I luckily guessed 0.5V for V D:

1V  0.5
ID   0.05mA
10k
0.05mA
VD  0.05V  ln  0.550V
8.3110 7 mA

Second iteration:

1V  0.55
ID   0.045mA
10k
0.045mA
VD  0.05V  ln  0.545V
8.3110 7 mA

Third iteration:

1V  0.545
ID   0.0455mA
10k
0.0455mA
VD  0.05V  ln  0.545V STOP!!!
8.3110 7 mA

Then, the operating point for Vcc=1V is

I D  0.0455mA, VD  0.545V

With the operating point, the incremental resistance can be computed as:

nVT 2  0.025V
rd    1099
ID 0.0455mA
And the output voltage is:

0.2sin(t ) 0.2sin(t )
vo (t )  (1099 10k 10M )  990  0.018sin(t )
10k  (1099 10k 10 M ) 10k  990

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