Tripoli University

Faculty of Engineering
Electrical & Electronic Engineering Department

Tutorial (5) - Wednesday, December 26, 2012

EE219 - Basic Electronic Circuits Fall 2012

Eng. Taissir Y. Elganimi

1. For the circuit shown, 𝑉𝑍𝑂 = 6.7 𝑉, 𝑟𝑍 = 20 Ω,

and 𝑉𝐷 = 0.7 𝑉 when forward bias, calculate the
output voltage ∶
a) When 𝑉𝐼𝑁 = +5 𝑉
b) When 𝑉𝐼𝑁 = −10 𝑉

[𝑀𝑎𝑦 2008]
Solution:
a) For 𝑉𝐼𝑁 = +5 𝑉, if we assume the zener diode is in breakdown with 𝑉𝑍𝑂 = 6.7 𝑉, the
current can be found as
𝑉𝐼𝑁 + 𝑉𝑍𝑂 5 + 6.7
𝐼= = = +11.4705 𝑚𝐴 (𝑃𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 ‼)
𝑟𝑧 + 𝑅𝐿 20 Ω + 1 𝐾Ω
So, the diode is in forward bias with VD = 0.7 V. And the output voltage is

∴ 𝑉𝑂 = 𝑉𝐼𝑁 − 𝑉𝐷 = +5 − 0.7 = 4.3 𝑉

b) For 𝑉1 = −10 𝑉, the zener diode is in breakdown with 𝑉𝑍𝑂 = 6.7 𝑉, and the current will be
negative as shown

𝑉𝐼𝑁 + 𝑉𝑍𝑂 −10 + 6.7

∴ 𝐼= = = −3.2352 𝑚𝐴
𝑟𝑧 + 𝑅𝐿 20 Ω + 1 𝐾Ω
∴ The output voltage is
𝑉𝑂 = 𝐼𝑅𝐿 = −3.2352 𝑉

2. In the voltage regulator circuit shown, let 𝑉𝐴𝐴 = 6.3 𝑉, 𝑅𝐴 = 12 Ω and 𝑉𝑍 = 4.8 𝑉. The
Zener diode current is to be limited to the range (5 ≤ 𝐼𝑍 ≤ 100)𝑚𝐴.

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Tutorial Lectures on Basic Electronic Circuits [EE219] - Prepared by Eng. Taissir Y. Elganimi - in Fall 2012

a) Determine the range of possible load currents and load resistances for 𝑟𝑍 = 0 Ω.
b) Determine the range of possible output voltage for the range Zener current assume in this
case that 𝑟𝑍 = 10 Ω

[𝑁𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 2010]
Solution:
a) The total current is

6.3 − 4.8
𝐼𝑅𝐴 = = 125 𝑚𝐴
12 Ω

And the output voltage is equal to 4.8 𝑉, and the range of possible load currents is

𝐼𝐿(𝑚𝑎𝑥) = 𝐼𝑅𝐴 − 𝐼𝑍(𝑚𝑖𝑛) = 125 𝑚𝐴 − 5 𝑚𝐴 = 120 𝑚𝐴

& 𝐼𝐿(𝑚𝑖𝑛) = 𝐼𝑅𝐴 − 𝐼𝑍(𝑚𝑎𝑥) = 125 𝑚𝐴 − 100 𝑚𝐴 = 25 𝑚𝐴

∴ 25 𝑚𝐴 ≤ 𝐼𝐿 ≤ 120 𝑚𝐴
Then, the range of possible load resistances is

𝑉𝐿 4.8 𝑉
𝑅𝐿(𝑚𝑖𝑛) = = = 40 Ω
𝐼𝐿(𝑚𝑎𝑥) 120 𝑚𝐴

𝑉𝐿 4.8 𝑉
& 𝑅𝐿(𝑚𝑎𝑥) = = = 192 Ω
𝐼𝐿(𝑚𝑖𝑛) 25 𝑚𝐴

∴ 40 Ω ≤ 𝑅𝐿 ≤ 192 Ω
b) The range of possible output voltage is

𝑉𝐿(𝑚𝑖𝑛) = 𝑉𝑍 + 𝐼𝑍(𝑚𝑖𝑛) 𝑟𝑍 = 4.8 + (10 Ω)(5 𝑚𝐴) = 4.85 𝑉

& 𝑉𝐿(𝑚𝑎𝑥) = 𝑉𝑍 + 𝐼𝑍(𝑚𝑎𝑥) 𝑟𝑍 = 4.8 + (10 Ω)(100 𝑚𝐴) = 5.8 𝑉

∴ 4.85 𝑉 ≤ 𝑉𝐿 ≤ 5.8 𝑉

3. Determine 𝑣𝑜 (𝑡) for the following circuit for the input shown

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Tutorial Lectures on Basic Electronic Circuits [EE219] - Prepared by Eng. Taissir Y. Elganimi - in Fall 2012

𝑣𝑖𝑛 (𝑡)
+10 𝑉

−10 𝑉
Solution:
• During the positive half cycle, the current through the diode is positive, and writing KVL
expression, we get,

10 − 0.7 − 2.2 𝐼 − 1.2 𝐼 = 0 → ∴ 𝐼 = 2.735 𝑚𝐴

∴ The output voltage is
𝑣𝑂 = 1.2 𝐼 = 3.282 𝑉
• During the negative half cycle, no current is flowing in the circuit. So the output voltage is
equal to 0 𝑉.
The output waveform ∶
𝑣𝑖𝑛 (𝑡)
+10 𝑉

−10 𝑉
𝑣𝑜 (𝑡)
+3.282 𝑉

0 𝑡

4. Determine 𝑣𝑜 (𝑡) for the following circuit for the input shown
𝑣𝑖𝑛 (𝑡)
+10 𝑉

−10 𝑉

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Tutorial Lectures on Basic Electronic Circuits [EE219] - Prepared by Eng. Taissir Y. Elganimi - in Fall 2012

Solution:
• During the positive half cycle, the current through the diode is positive, and writing KVL
expression, we get,

10 − 0.7 + 5 − 𝑣𝑂 = 0 → ∴ 𝑣𝑂 = 14.3 𝑉
• During the negative half cycle, no current is flowing in the circuit. So the output voltage is
equal to 0 𝑉.

The output waveform ∶

𝑣𝑖𝑛 (𝑡)
+10 𝑉

−10 𝑉
𝑣𝑜 (𝑡)
+14.3 𝑉

0 𝑡

5. Determine 𝑣𝑜 (𝑡) for each circuit for the input shown

𝑣𝑖𝑛 (𝑡)
+8 𝑉

−8 𝑉
Solution:
• The voltage across the diodes in forward bias is 0.7 𝑉
• During the positive half cycle,
For 𝑣𝑖𝑛 < 4.7 𝑉 , 𝐷 is OFF , and 𝑣𝑂 = 𝑣𝑖𝑛 − 4
For 𝑣𝑖𝑛 ≥ 4.7 𝑉 , 𝐷1 is ON , and 𝑣𝑂 = 0.7 𝑉

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Tutorial Lectures on Basic Electronic Circuits [EE219] - Prepared by Eng. Taissir Y. Elganimi - in Fall 2012

• During the negative half cycle, diode 𝐷 is OFF, and 𝑣𝑂 = 𝑣𝑖𝑛 − 4

The output waveform ∶

𝑣𝑖𝑛 (𝑡)
+8 𝑉
+4.7 𝑉
𝑡

−8 𝑉
𝑣𝑜 (𝑡)
+0.7 𝑉
𝑡
−4 𝑉

−12 𝑉

6. (∗) Consider the circuit shown where the

diodes are characterized by a constant
voltage drop 𝑉𝐷 = 0.7 𝑉 when forward
biased and Zener diode is described by 𝑉𝑍 =
6.8 𝑉 and 𝑟𝑍 = 20 Ω.
a) Find the output voltage (𝑉2 ) when
(i) 𝑉1 = +4 𝑉 (ii) 𝑉1 = −10 𝑉.
b) Sketch the transfer characteristic.

Solution:

(a) -(i)- When 𝑉1 = +4 𝑉, 𝐷1 is ON and 𝐷𝑍 is in forward bias,

∴ 𝑉𝐷1 = 𝑉𝐷𝑍 = 0.7 𝑉

And the current 𝐼 is

4 − 0.7
𝐼= = 3 𝑚𝐴
500 + 600
∴ The output voltage is

𝑉2 = (3 𝑚𝐴)(600 Ω) = 𝟏. 𝟖 𝑽

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Tutorial Lectures on Basic Electronic Circuits [EE219] - Prepared by Eng. Taissir Y. Elganimi - in Fall 2012

-(ii)- When 𝑉1 = −10 𝑉, 𝐷1 is OFF and 𝐷𝑍 is in breakdown,

∴ 𝑉𝐷𝑍 = 6.8 𝑉
The current through the Zener diode is
−10 + 6.8
𝐼= = −2.857 𝑚𝐴
500 + 20 + 600
And the output voltage is

𝑉2 = (−2.857 𝑚𝐴)(600 Ω) = −𝟏. 𝟕𝟏𝟒 𝑽

(b) The transfer characteristic for the circuit shown above may be draw based on the following:

• For (𝑉1 ≤ −6.8 𝑉) , 𝐷1 is OFF , 𝐷2 is Breakdown , and

𝑉1 + 6.8
𝑉2 = ( ) (600) = 0.5357 𝑉1 + 3.6428
500 + 20 + 600
• For (𝑉1 ≥ 0.7 𝑉 ) , 𝐷1 is ON , 𝐷2 is Forward , and

𝑉1 − 0.7
𝑉2 = ( ) (600) = 0.5454 𝑉1 − 0.3818
500 + 600

• For (−6.8 𝑉 < 𝑉1 < 0.7 𝑉) , 𝐷1 is OFF , 𝐷2 is Open , and 𝑉2 = 0

𝑉2

−6.8 𝑉 𝑺𝒍𝒐𝒑 = 𝟎. 𝟓𝟒𝟓𝟒

𝑉1
+0.7 𝑉

𝑺𝒍𝒐𝒑 = 𝟎. 𝟓𝟑𝟓𝟕

𝐷1 = 𝑂𝐹𝐹 𝐷1 = 𝑂𝐹𝐹 𝐷1 = 𝑂𝑁
𝐷𝑍 = 𝐵𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑘𝑑𝑜𝑤𝑛 𝐷𝑍 = 𝑂𝑝𝑒𝑛 𝐷𝑍 = 𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑑

7. Consider the circuit shown where the diodes are

characterized by a constant voltage drop 𝑉𝐷 = 0.7 𝑉
when forward biased and Zener diode is described
by 𝑉𝑍 = 7.5 𝑉 and 𝑟𝑍 = 0.
a) Sketch the transfer characteristic.
b) Sketch the output waveform𝑣2 (𝑡) if
𝑣1 (𝑡) = 10 sin(2𝜋1000𝑡) 𝑉.

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Tutorial Lectures on Basic Electronic Circuits [EE219] - Prepared by Eng. Taissir Y. Elganimi - in Fall 2012

Solution:
The transfer characteristic for the circuit shown above may be draw based on the following:
• For (𝑉1 ≤ −7.5 𝑉) , 𝐷1 is OFF , 𝐷𝑍 is Breakdown , and 𝑉2 = 𝑉1 + 7.5
• For (𝑉1 ≥ 0.7 𝑉 ) , 𝐷1 is ON , 𝐷𝑍 is Farward , and 𝑉2 = 𝑉1 − 0.7
• For (−7.5 𝑉 < 𝑉1 < 0.7 𝑉) , 𝐷1 is OFF , 𝐷𝑍 is Open , and 𝑉𝑂 = 0

𝑉2

−7.5 𝑉 𝑺𝒍𝒐𝒑 = 𝟏
𝑉1
+0.7 𝑉

𝑆𝑙𝑜𝑝 = 1

𝐷1 = 𝑂𝐹𝐹 𝐷1 = 𝑂𝐹𝐹 𝐷1 = 𝑂𝑁
𝐷𝑍 = 𝐵𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑘𝑑𝑜𝑤𝑛 𝐷𝑍 = 𝑂𝑝𝑒𝑛 𝐷𝑍 = 𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑑

And the output waveform for a sinusoidal input as shown below ∶

𝑣1 (𝑡)

+10 𝑉

0 𝑡

−10 𝑉

𝑣2 (𝑡)

+9.3 𝑉

0 𝑡
−2.5 𝑉

Good Luck…

Tutorial (5) 7