Modeling of Semiconductor

Diode
Modeling the Semiconductor Diode Forward
Characteristic

The representation of any device with equivalent electric elements

such as resistors, capacitors, inductors, voltage/current sources, etc. is
called modeling and the circuit representation of any device with
equivalent electric elements without the loss of its exact functional
behavior is called model of the device.

1). Large Signal Models (DC Models)

Large-signal model (DC model) shows how a diode behaves when a DC
signal is acting on it. Consider the circuit shown below:
 R ID
+
VDD VD
–

Figure: A simple circuit used to illustrate the analysis of

circuits in which the diode is forward conducting
The Exponential Model
The most accurate description of the diode operation in the forward
region is provided by the exponential model. However, its severe
nonlinear nature makes this model the most difficult to use.

Fig: Exponential model of the diode forward characteristic

and its equivalent circuit representation
Graphical analysis of diode circuit using the exponential model:
Let us consider the circuit consists of a DC source VDD, a resistor R, the
diode voltage VD, and current ID.

R ID
+
VDD VD
–
Representing the diode I-V characteristic by the exponential relation, we
have,
𝑉 𝑉
𝐼 = 𝐼𝑠 𝑒 𝑛𝑉𝑇 − 1 ≅ 𝐼𝑠 𝑒 𝑛𝑉𝑇
𝑉
Or, 𝐼𝐷 = 𝐼𝑠 ∗ 𝑒 𝑛𝑉𝑇 ……..(i)
Also, we can write as,

𝑉𝐷𝐷 −𝑉𝐷
𝐼𝐷 = 𝑅
………(ii)

Assuming, n, and IS ,VT are known, equations (i) and (ii) can be solved for VD
and ID
To determine value of ID and VD graphical method is used.

Figure :Graphical analysis of the circuit using the exponential diode model
Graphical analysis is performed by plotting the relationships of equations (i)
and (ii).
The solution is the coordinates of the point of intersection of the two graphs.
The curve represents equation (i), and the straight line represents equation (ii).
Such a straight line is known as the load line.
The load line intersects the diode curve at point Q, which represents the
operating point of the circuit. Its coordinates give the values of ID and VD.
Graphical analysis aids in the visualization of circuit operation.

Iterative analysis using the exponential model

The two equations, namely
𝑉𝐷
𝑉𝐷𝐷 −𝑉𝐷
𝐼𝐷 = 𝐼𝑠 𝑒 𝑛𝑉𝑇 and 𝐼𝐷 =
𝑅
can be solved using simple iterative procedure.
Determine the current ID and the diode voltage VD for the circuit with VDD = 5 V
and R = 1 k.. Assume that the diode has a current of 1 mA at a voltage of 0.7
V and that its voltage drop changes by 0.1 V for every decade change in
current.
Solution,
𝑉𝐷𝐷 −𝑉𝐷 5−0.7
𝐼𝐷 = = = 4.3 mA
𝑅 1𝑋103
For better estimation of VD, we use
𝐼2
V2 – V1 = 2.3 n Vtlog( )…..(i)
𝐼1
𝐼2
Given, V2 –V1 = 0.1 V for = 10
𝐼1
Therefore,
2.3 n VT = 0.1
Using equation (i),
𝐼2
V2 = V1 + 2.3 nVT log( )
𝐼1
Taking V1 = 0.7 V, I1 = 1 mA, and I2 = 4.3 mA, we get
V2 = 0.7 + 0.1 log(4.3/1)= 0.763V
Thus, the results of the first iteration are
ID = 4.3 mA and V D = 0.763 V
𝑉𝐷𝐷 −𝑉𝐷
The second iteration yields, 𝐼𝐷 =
𝑅
5−0.763
= =4.237 mA
1∗1000
𝐼2
V2 =V1 + 2.3 n VT log( )
𝐼1
= 0.763 + 0.1 log(4.237/4.3)=0.762V
Thus, the second iteration yields ID = 4.23 mA and VD = 0.762 V. Since
these values are not much different from the values obtained after the
first iteration, no further iterations are necessary, and the solution is
ID=4.237 mA and VD = 0.762 V.

ii. The Piecewise-Linear Model

One technique for obtaining an equivalent circuit for a diode is to
approximate the diode forward characteristics by straight-line
segments. The resulting equivalent circuit is called a piecewise-linear
equivalent circuit.
It is obvious from the figure that the straight-line segments do not
result in an exact duplication of the actual characteristics, especially
in the knee region.
However, the resulting segments are sufficiently close to the actual
curve to establish an equivalent circuit that will provide an excellent
approximation to the actual behavior of the device.
The straight-lines (or piecewise-linear) model can be described by
ID = 0, VD  VDO …….. (i)
ID = (VD – VDO)/RD, VD  VDO …… (ii)
where VDO is the intercept of line B on the voltage axis and RD is the inverse of the slope of line
B. The piecewise-linear model is depicted in the graph shown below.

Figure: Approximating the diode forward characteristic with two straight lines:
the piecewise-linear model
The piecewise-linear model described by equations (i) and (ii) can be
represented by the equivalent circuit shown in figure below. below.
An ideal diode is included in this model to constrain ID to flow in the forward
direction only.
This model is also known as the battery-plus-resistance model.

Figure: Piecewise-linear model of the diode forward characteristic

and its equivalent circuit representation
iii. The Constant-Voltage-Drop Model
In this model, a vertical straight line is used to approximate the fast-rising
part of the exponential curve, as shown in figure below.
This model simply says that a forward-conducting diode exhibits a constant
voltage drop VD. The value of VD is usually taken to be 0.7 V.
Figure (a) Development of the constant-voltage-drop model (b & c) The constant-voltage-drop model
of the diode forward characteristics and its equivalent circuit representation.
iv. The Ideal-Diode Model
In this model, we neglect the diode voltage drop altogether while calculating
the diode current. This model is suited for applications that involve voltages
much greater than the diode voltage drop (0.6-0.8V).

Figure: The ideal-diode model of the diode forward characteristics

and its equivalent circuit representation.
2. The Small-Signal Model
There are applications in which a diode is biased to operate at a point
on the forward I-V characteristic and a small AC signal is superimposed
on the DC quantities.
For this,
Determine the DC operating point (VD and ID) of the diode.
Then, for small-signal operation around the DC bias point, the diode
is best modeled by a resistance equal to the inverse of the slope of
the tangent to the exponential I-V characteristic at the bias point.
The notations used here are:
VD  DC voltage, ID  DC current
d  AC voltage, id  AC current
D  (AC + DC ) voltage, id  (AC + DC) current
 iD (t)

+
d (t) +
– D(t)
+ –
VD
–

Fig: (a)

Figures: (a) Circuit for developing the small-signal model

of a diode
(b) iD–D characteristics curve

Fig: (b)
Let us consider the conceptual circuit as shown in figure “a” and the
corresponding graphical representation as shown in figure “b”.
A DC voltage VD, represented by a battery, is applied to the diode,
and a time-varying signal d(t), assumed (arbitrarily) to have a
triangular waveform, is superimposed on the DC voltage VD.
 In the absence of the signal d (t), the diode voltage is equal to VD,
and correspondingly, the diode will conduct a DC current ID given by
𝑉𝐷
𝐼𝐷 = 𝐼𝑠 𝑒 ………(i)
𝑛𝑉𝑇

When the signal d (t) is applied, the total instantaneous diode voltage
D(t) is given by
D(t) = VD + d(t)
Correspondingly, the total instantaneous diode current iD (t) will be
𝑉𝐷
𝑖𝐷 𝑡 = 𝐼𝑠 𝑒 𝑛𝑉𝑇

VD + d(t)
or, 𝑖𝐷 (𝑡) = 𝐼𝑠 𝑒 𝑛𝑉𝑇

𝑉𝐷 d(t)
or, 𝑖𝐷 (𝑡)= 𝐼𝑠 𝑒
𝑛𝑉𝑇 *𝑒 𝑛𝑉𝑇
Using equation (i), we get
d(t)
𝑖𝐷 = 𝐼𝑠 𝑒 𝑛𝑉𝑇 ……(ii)
Now, if the amplitude of the signal d (t) is kept sufficiently small such
that
d(t)
<<1
𝑛𝑉𝑇
then, on expanding equation (ii) in a series and truncate the series after the first
two terms to get
d(t)
𝑖𝐷 𝑡 ≅ 𝐼𝐷 (1+ )
𝑛𝑉𝑇
This is the ''small-signal approximation''. It is valid for signals whose amplitudes
are smaller than about 10 mV for n =2 and 5 mV for n =1.
ID
or, ID + id = ID + d
𝑛𝑉𝑇
Comparing like terms, we get
ID
i d= d
𝑛𝑉𝑇
The quantity relating the signal current id to the signal voltage d has the
dimensions of conductance “℧”, and is called the ''diode small-signal
conductance''. The inverse of this parameter is the ''diode small-signal
resistance'', or ''incremental resistance'', or ''AC resistance'', or ''dynamic
resistance'' denoted by rd.
 𝑛𝑉𝑇
rd =
𝐼𝑑

Figure 2.21 Small signal model of the diode forward characteristics

and its equivalent circuit representation