Diodes

Diodes

Rectifier
Zener diode
LED
Photodetector
Laser diode
Solar cell
Varator
Schottky barrier
diode

2
 The two modes of operation of ideal diodes

-10V?
Forward Reverse

3.

short 2. open
1.

Figure 3.2 The two modes of operation of ideal diodes and the use of an external circuit to limit the
forward current (a) and the reverse voltage (b).

Rectifier circuit

Figure 3.3 (a) Rectifier circuit. (b) Input waveform. (c) Equivalent circuit when vI 0. (d) Equivalent circuit when vI 0.
(e) Output waveform. 6
Transfer Characteristics (Vo vs. Vi)

vI<0 vo=0 vI>0 vo=iDXR

Waveforms of diode
Waveform of vO

Waveform of vI
Waveform of vD

Figure E3.2

8
3.2 Terminal characteristics of junction diode

Forward

IS: saturation current or scaled current,

Reverse ~10-15A, doubles for every 5oC
n: ideality factor, ~ 1 or 2 (depend on
material)
VT = kT/q thermal voltage
Real diode VT ~ 25.86mV 25mV at 300K
-5 eV/K
Figure 3.7 The i v characteristic of a silicon junction diode.

T: absolute temperature
q: magnitude of electronic charge
15

Terminal characteristics of junction diode

Ex. i >> IS
if IS=10-15A v=0.7V VT=25mV Region 1: v > 0

10-15(e 0.7/0.025-1) 1 mA

Region 3: v < -VZK turn on

cut in

Region 2: v < 0

i=-IS

Reverse current doubles

for every 10oC

16
Figure 3.8 The diode i v relationship with some scales expanded and
others compressed in order to reveal details.
Example:
n=2 VT=25mV
I=1mA V=0.6V I=75mA V=?

Example 3.3 I=1mA, v=0.7V, find IS=?

and I=1A, v=0.7V, find IS=?
(Assume forward region)
Temperature dependence of the diode forward characteristic

At a constant current, the voltage drop decreases by

approximately 2 mV for every 1 C increase in temperature.

v2 v1

Figure 3.9 Illustrating the temperature dependence of the diode forward characteristic. At a constant current, the
voltage drop decreases by approximately 2 mV for every 1 C increase in temperature.
19

Exercises 3.9 If V=1V at 20oC, Find V at 40oC and 0oC,

Reverse current doubles for every 10oC

IS

22

2-2
3.3 Exponential Model at Forward Bias

iterative

1.5mA

0.7V

Figure 3.10 A simple circuit used Figure 3.11 Graphical analysis of the circuit in Fig. 3.10 using
to illustrate the analysis of circuits the exponential diode model.
in which the diode is forward
conducting.

Example 3.4 Using iterative( ) analysis 21

Example 3.4

( 10 0.1V)
1.

( V)

V=

(1)
1 2
2. (2)
4 3
(3)

(4)

(5)
(6)
 Iteration ( )

23

1. Piecewise-Linear Model (battery + resistance model)

The exp. characteristic straight line A + straight line B

battery + resistance model

Figure 3.12 Approximating the diode forward characteristic with two Figure 3.13 Piecewise-linear model of the diode forward
straight lines: the piecewise-linear model. characteristic and its equivalent circuit representation.
24
 Example

5V
0.65V
example 3.4

Figure 3.14 The circuit of Fig. 3.10 with the diode replaced with
its piecewise-linear model of Fig. 3.13.

25

2. Constant-Voltage-Drop Model ( model)

without rD
Figure 3.15 Development of the constant-voltage-drop model
of the diode forward characteristics. A vertical straight line (B)
is used to approximate the fast-rising exponential. Observe
that this simple model predicts VD to within 0.1 V over the
Figure 3.16 The constant-voltage-drop model of
current range of 0.1 mA to 10 mA. 26
the diode forward characteristics and its equivalent-
circuit representation.
2. Constant-Voltage-Drop Model ( model)

1K

5V

cut off, off turn on, on

27

3. Ideal Model ( )

1K

5V
v<0 v>0

cut off, off turn on, on

28
 Example 3.6

(a)

(b)

I 2.1V/1K
( 0.88%)
=2.1 mA

DC short to ground
Figure 3.19 Circuit for Example 3.7. AC input signal
Small signal p. 27

(-1.89%)

33

Modeling the Diode Forward Characteristic

ideal model const-voltage-drop model

Table 3.1 Modeling the Diode Forward Characteristic 34
piecewise-linear model
 exponential small signal model 35
Table 3.1 Modeling the Diode Forward Characteristic

3.4 Reverse breakdown region operation - Zener diode

fixed voltage

dynamic resistance

6.8V@10mA
dynamic resistance

Figure 3.20 Circuit

symbol for a zener diode. Figure 3.22 Model for the zener
diode.

VZ = VZ0 + rzIz

Figure 3.21 The diode i v characteristic with the

breakdown region shown in some detail. E 3.3 36
Design of the Zener Shunt Regulator

Consider a zener shunt regulator circuit.

37

Example 3.7

(-

VZ = VZ0 + rzIz

IZ=IZK=0.2mA
VZ=VZK=6.7V
6.7V

-IL 10 1

(4.6mA-0.2mA)

38
Figure 3.23 (a) Circuit for Example 3.8. (b) The circuit with
the zener diode replaced with its equivalent circuit model. 38
Full-wave rectifier Consider a full wave rectifier consists of a center-tapped transformer (
) with two diodes and a resistor

Figure 3.26 Full-wave rectifier utilizing a transformer with a center-tapped secondary winding: (a) circuit; (b) transfer
characteristic assuming a constant-voltage-drop model for the diodes; (c) input and output waveforms. 41

Bridge Rectifier (Full wave rectifier)

42
3.6 Limiter (Clipper) and Clamper ( )

A clipper circuit is used to eliminate portions of a signal that are above or below a
specified level. Limiters find applications in a variety of signal-processing systems,
such as in limiting the voltage between the two input terminals of an op amplifier to
a value lower than the breakdown voltage of the transistors that make up the input
stage of the op circuit. The general transfer characteristic for a limiter circuit is
shown

(1)

( )
(1) (2)

(3)

(2)

(3)

Figure 3.33 Applying a sine wave to a limiter can result in clipping off its
Figure 3.32 General transfer characteristic for a limiter circuit.
two peaks.

Diodes can be combined with resistors to provide simple realizations of the limiter function.
Consider the following circuits, based on the constant-voltage model with VD0 = 0.7 V.

ON

OFF

OFF

(e)
ON

ON
D1: ON
0.7V 0.7V

VZ2
D2: ON
OFF
vs. (a)

Figure 3.35 A variety of basic limiting circuits.

A clamper circuit is used to shift the entire signal by a dc level.

Consider the circuit:

According to the KVL: vI + vC = vo
If vI = -6 V, D is ON , the capacitor is charging and vc =+6V, vo = 0.
If vI = -6 V +4 V, D is reverse-biased (OFF). vo = vI + vc =+10 V, (vo shifts from vI by +6V)

+6V
0V
+10V
- +
- +
off +4V
-6V

on

dc level shift
Figure 3.36 The clamped capacitor or dc restorer with a square-wave input and no load.

The circuit clamps the lowest peak voltage at 0V.

Voltage doubler ( ): a clamp formed by C1 and D1, and a peak rectifier formed by D2 and C2.

+ -
Vi + - Vo=-2Vp

Vo1 2Vp
+Vp
(i)

0 sin (270o)=-1
(ii) Vo1=Vi-Vp
-Vp
Figure 3.38 Voltage doubler: (a) circuit; (b) waveform of the voltage across D1.