Semiconductor

PN Junction Diode

Circuit Analysis
 A resistor is added for
protection
Current limiting
resistor is needed to
keep the current flow
in a safe level.
Diodes can be
destroyed by excess
current

Ohms law is used to find current in diode circuits

Ex. Batt 6V and R is 1k ohm

I=V/R = 6/1k = 6mA approx. since it ignores diodes resistance and voltage drop
= (6-.7)/1k = 5.45 ? mA
• Calculate the current in a forward biased ckt, for a 1-
V battery and a 1 kilo ohm resistor. Determine the
importance of correcting for the voltage drop of a
Silicon diode.
• Calculate the current in a forward biased ckt, for a
100-V battery and a 1 kilo ohm resistor. Determine
the importance of correcting for the voltage drop
of a Silicon diode.
Schottky diodes drop about 0.3 V when conducting.
Calculate the current in a forward biased circuit for a
schottky diode, a 1-V battery and a 1 kilo ohm
resistor.
 Majority and Minority Carriers
Two sets of currents flow in a diode:

Majority Carriers

• The majority carriers in n-type materials are electrons.

• The majority carriers in p-type materials are holes.

Minority Carriers

• The minority carriers in n-type materials are holes.

• The minority carriers in p-type materials are
electrons.
 Zener Region

The Zener region is in the diode’s

reverse-bias region.
At some point the reverse bias voltage
is so large the diode breaks down and
the reverse current increases
dramatically.

• This maximum voltage is called

avalanche breakdown voltage
• The current is called avalanche current.
 Temperature Effects

• As temperature increases it adds energy to the diode.

• It reduces the required forward bias voltage for forward-bias
conduction.
• It increases the amount of reverse current in the reverse-bias
condition.
• It increases maximum reverse bias avalanche voltage.
• Germanium diodes are more sensitive to temperature variations
than silicon diodes.
 Resistance Levels

Semiconductors act differently to DC and AC currents.

There are three types of resistances:

• DC, or static resistance

• AC, or dynamic resistance
• Average AC resistance
 DC, or Static, Resistance

For a specific applied DC voltage VD,

the diode has a specific current ID,
and a specific resistance RD.

VD
RD 
ID
 AC, or Dynamic, Resistance

In the forward bias region:

26 mV
rd   rB
ID

• The resistance depends on the amount of current (ID) in the diode.

• The voltage across the diode is fairly constant (26mV for 25C).
• rB ranges from a typical 0.1 for high power devices to 2 for low
power, general purpose diodes. In some cases rB can be ignored.

In the reverse bias region:

rd  
The resistance is essentially infinite. The diode acts like an open.
 Average AC Resistance

Vd
rav  (point to point)
I d

AC resistance can be
determined by selecting two
points on the characteristic
curve developed for a
particular circuit.
 Diode Capacitance

In reverse bias, the depletion layer is very large. The diode’s strong positive and
negative polarities create capacitance, CT. The amount of capacitance depends
on the reverse voltage applied.

In forward bias storage capacitance or diffusion capacitance (CD) exists as the

diode voltage increases.
 Reverse Recovery Time (trr)

Reverse recovery time is the amount of time it takes for the diode to stop
conducting once the diode is switched from forward bias to reverse bias.
 Diode Specification Sheets

Data about a diode is presented uniformly for many different diodes. This
makes cross-matching of diodes for replacement or design easier.

1. VF, forward voltage at a specific current and temperature

2. IF, maximum forward current at a specific temperature
3. IR, maximum reverse current at a specific temperature
4. PIV or PRV or V(BR), maximum reverse voltage at a specific
temperature
5. Power dissipation, maximum power dissipated at a specific
temperature
6. C, capacitance levels in reverse bias
7. trr, reverse recovery time
8. Temperatures, operating and storage temperature ranges
 Diode Testing

• Diode checker
• Ohmmeter
• Curve tracer
 Diode Checker

Many digital multimeters have a diode checking function.

The diode should be tested out of circuit.

A normal diode will exhibit its forward bias voltage:

• Silicon diode  0.7V
• Germanium diode  0.3V
 Ohmmeter

An ohmmeter set on a low Ohms scale can be used to test a diode.

The diode should be tested out of circuit.
 Curve Tracer
A curve tracer is a specialized type of test equipment. It displays the
characteristic curve of the diode in the test circuit. This curve can be
compared to the specifications of the diode from a data sheet.