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ECE20L - 2 - Expt2
ECE20L - 2 - Expt2
ECE20L - 2 - Expt2
Semiconductor Diodes
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ELECTRONICS LABORATORY
ACTIVITY 2 - SEMICONDUCTOR DIODES
Introduction:
A diode is a di-electrode device that behaves as a one-directional switch. It allows current from its anode to cathode
terminal when it has forward bias. On the other hand, it has almost zero current when it is in reverse bias. There
are different types of semiconductor diodes, such as: rectifier diode, Zener diode, light-emitting diode, Schottky
diode, varactor diode, and other kinds. In this activity, we are going to use the rectifier diode. Let us utilize the
LTSPICE to run simulations and determine the characteristics of rectifier diodes and their circuits.
1.1 Fill-up the Table 1. Write the application/s and attach a sample photo for each type of semiconductor diode. Do not forget to
indicate the source or website where we got the photos.
Light Emitting Diode • LED is used as a bulb in the Light Emitting Diode :
homes and industries Construction, Circuit,
• The light-emitting diodes are Working & Its
used in motorcycles and cars Applications
(elprocus.com)
• These are used in mobile phones
to display the message
• At the traffic light signals led’s
are used
2.1 Connect the circuit diagram, as shown in Figure 1, in LTSPICE tool. The student or group may use
another kind of rectifier diode for diode D1, another value of resistance for resistor R1, and another
voltage level for dc voltage source V1. Take the photo of your own circuit diagram drawn in LTSPICE
tool, and place it in Figure 2. (One way to capture the screen in LTSPICE is: View > Paste Bitmap.)
2.2 Include a SPICE directive in your schematic diagram. In Figure 1, the directive is .DC V1 -100 100 1.
This directive describes the dc simulation, wherein the voltage of V1 will start from -100 V to +100 V
with an increment of +1 V. For your simulation, set the dc simulation from +200 V to -200 V with 1 V
increment. Run your simulation and show the waveform of current along diode D1. Figure 3 shows
the example of the simulation waveform for the diode circuit in Figure 1. In Figure 3, the current of
diode D1, I(D1), is in y-axis and the voltage of V1 is in x-axis. Now, take a photo of your own waveform,
you may use snipping tool, and place it in Figure 4.
2.3 Modify your simulation waveform. Display in the x-axis the voltage across the diode D1. In y-axis,
display the current along the diode D1. Take a snapshot of this waveform, and place it in Figure 5.
Complete the caption of Figure 5 by writing the part number of your diode D1. (Example: The part
number of diode D1 in Figure 1 is 1N914.)
2.4 Based on the simulation results in Figure 4 and Figure 5, indicate in Table 2 the voltage and current
of diode D1.
Table 2. Current and Voltage of Diode 1N914.
Voltage of Bias V1 Voltage across Diode D1 Current along Diode D1
- 10 V -22.9977 µV -2.5300 nA
-5V -22.9523 µV -2.5250 nA
0V 0 0
0.25 V 136.0463 mV 14.9649 µA
0.50 V 272.0926 mV 29.9299 µA
0.75 V 408.1390 mV 44.8948 µA
1V 544.1853 mV 59.8597 µA
5V 4.4481 V 489.3839 µA
10 V 9.4146 V 1.0356 mA
2.5 Based on the simulation results, briefly explain how to turn on the diode?
To turn on the diode on or in forward bias by allowing a positive voltage across it.
2.6 Based on the simulation results, briefly explain how to turn off the diode?
To turn on the diode off or in reverse bias by allowing a negative voltage across it.
ELECTRONICS LABORATORY
ACTIVITY 2 - SEMICONDUCTOR DIODES
3.1 Connect in LTSPICE the circuit diagram of Half-Wave Rectifier in Figure 6. The student or group may
use another kind of rectifier diode for diode D1, another value of resistance for resistor R1, and
another voltage level for ac sine-wave voltage source V1. Take the photo of your own circuit diagram
drawn in LTSPICE, and place it in Figure 7.
3.2 Include a SPICE directive in your schematic diagram. In Figure 6, the directive is .TRAN 0.1. This
directive describes the transient simulation with a time stop of 0.1 second or 100 millisecond. The
resulting waveform in transient simulation is similar with the display of oscilloscope instrument,
wherein the x-axis is also time. In Figure 6, the input V1 is a sine-wave voltage source with 0 V dc level,
10 V amplitude, and 60 Hertz frequency. With a time stop of 100 ms and with 60 Hz sine wave input
(16.67 ms period), the simulation results displayed 6 cycles as shown in Figure 8. For your simulation,
set the transient simulation to display 3 complete cycles. Run your simulation, and show the
waveforms of input voltage V1 and output voltage across R1. Figure 8 shows the example of
simulation waveforms for the half-wave rectifier circuit in Figure 6. Now, take a photo of your own
waveforms, and place it in Figure 9.
ELECTRONICS LABORATORY
ACTIVITY 2 - SEMICONDUCTOR DIODES
Fig. 8. Signals in HW Rectifier (sample). Fig. 9. Input and Output Voltages in HW Rectifier.
3.3 Based on the simulation results in Figure 9, determine the peak voltages of input voltage V1 and of
output voltage across resistor R1.
Briefly explain the discrepancy between the input voltage and output voltage.
The diode has 0.97V across, the peak voltage in the output voltage is approximately 1V less than the input voltage.
3.4 Based on the simulation results in Figure 9, determine the frequency of input voltage V1 and of output
voltage across resistor R1.
frequency(input) = 3 . frequency(output) = 3 .
The input and output voltage across R1 have the same frequency. But the frequency is clipped or in other words the
diode is in reverse bias during the negative cycle for the output voltage across R1.
4.1 Connect in LTSPICE the circuit of Full-Wave Rectifier in Figure 10. The student or group may use
another kind of rectifier diode for diodes D1, D2, D3, and D4, another value of resistance for resistor
R1, and another voltage level for ac sine-wave voltage source V1. Take the photo of your own circuit
diagram drawn in LTSPICE, and place it in Figure 11.
ELECTRONICS LABORATORY
ACTIVITY 2 - SEMICONDUCTOR DIODES
Fig. 10. Full-Wave Rectifier (sample). Fig. 11. Connection of Full-Wave Rectifier.
4.2 Include a SPICE directive in your schematic diagram. For your simulation, set the transient simulation
to display 4 complete cycles. Run your simulation, and show the following waveforms: current along
diode D1; current along current D2; current along diode D3; current along diode D4; input voltage V1;
and output voltage across resistor R1. Take a photo of your waveforms, and place it in Figure 12.
4.3 Based on the simulation results in Figure 12, briefly describe which diodes turn on during the positive
half cycle of the input voltage and during the negative half-cycle of the input voltage.
During the positive half cycle of the input voltage, D1 and D4 will activate since the have the same
polarity and they are forward bias. During the negative half cycle of the input voltage, D2 and D3
will turn on because they both now have the same polarity with the input voltage in a negative half
cycle.
ELECTRONICS LABORATORY
ACTIVITY 2 - SEMICONDUCTOR DIODES
4.4 Based on the simulation results in Figure 12, determine the peak voltages of input voltage V1 and of
output voltage across resistor R1.
Briefly explain the discrepancy between the input voltage and output voltage.
Since the resistor will consume a percentage of the input voltage, the output voltage across R1 will be less than the input V.
4.6 Based on the simulation results in Figure 12, determine the frequency of input voltage V1 and of
output voltage across resistor R1.
frequency(input) = 60 Hz . frequency(output) = 60 Hz .
***
ELECTRONICS LABORATORY
ACTIVITY 2 - SEMICONDUCTOR DIODES