Diodes

CO1: Differentiate the construction and principle of

operation for various semiconductors used in power
electronics
LO 1.2
Explain the principle of operation of a diode
and how it is used as a rectifier

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CMS 2.7.4.1
•Diodes

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Topic Outline:
• PN junction and its properties
• Semiconductor diode rectification
• Structure of diode
• Function principle
• Transistor amplification effect

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PN Junction
•If a piece of intrinsic silicon is doped so
that part is n-type and the other part is p-
type, a pn junction forms at the boundary
between the two regions and a diode is
created.

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PN Junction
• The p region has many holes (majority
carriers) from the impurity atoms and only a
few thermally generated free electrons
(minority carriers).
• The n region has many free electrons
(majority carriers) form the impurity atoms
and only a few thermally generated holes
(minority carriers).
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PN Junction

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 PN Junction
• The basic silicon structure at the
instant of junction formation
showing only the majority and
minority carriers.
• Free electrons in the n region near
the pn junction begin to diffuse
across the junction and fall into
holes near the junction in the p
region.

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Formation of the Depletion Region

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Barrier Potential
• Barrier Potential is the potential difference of the
electric field across the depletion region
• Potential difference is the amount of voltage required
to move electrons through the electric field.
• Potential difference is expressed in volts.
• The typical barrier potential is approximately 0.7 V for
o
silicon and 0.3 V for germanium at 25 C.

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Diode

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Typical Diode Packages

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Diode Operation

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Forward Bias
• To bias a diode, you apply a dc voltage across
it.
• Forward bias is the condition that allows
current through the pn junction.

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Forward Bias
FB Requirements:
1. the negative side of VBIAS is connected to the n
region of the diode and the positive side is
connected to the p region
2. bias voltage must be greater than the barrier
potential

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Forward Bias

A diode connected for forward bias

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Reverse Bias
• Reverse bias is the condition that essentially prevents
current through the diode. This external bias voltage is
designated as VBIAS just as it was for forward bias.
• The positive side of VBIAS is connected to the n region
of the diode and the negative side is connected to the
p region.
• The depletion region is much wider than in forward
bias or equilibrium.

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Reverse Bias

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DIODE Rectification
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Rectifiers
• Diodes have the ability to conduct current in one
direction and block current in the other direction. Diodes
are used in circuits called rectifiers that convert ac
voltage into dc voltage.
• Rectifiers are found in all dc power supplies that operate
from an ac voltage source.
• A power supply is an essential part of each electronic
system from the simplest to the most complex.

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 The Basic DC Power Supply
• All active electronic devices require a source of
constant DC that can be supplied by a battery or
a DC power supply.
• The DC power supply converts the standard 220
V, 60 Hz AC voltage available at wall outlets into
a constant DC voltage.

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 The Basic DC Power Supply
• The voltage produced is used to power all types of
electronic circuits including consumer electronics
(televisions, DVDs, etc.), computers, industrial
controllers, and most laboratory instrumentation
systems and equipment.
• The DC voltage level required depends on the
application, but most applications require relatively low
voltages.

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 The Basic DC Power Supply

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Half-Wave Rectifier

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Half-Wave Rectifier

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Full-Wave Rectifier
• A full-wave rectifier allows unidirectional (one-way) current
through the load during the entire 360o of the input cycle,
whereas a half-wave rectifier allows current through the load
only during one-half of the cycle.
• The result of full-wave rectification is an output voltage with a
frequency twice the input frequency and that pulsates every
half-cycle of the input.

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Bridge Full-Wave Rectifier Operation
• The bridge rectifier uses four diodes connected as shown in the Figure below.
• When the input cycle is positive as in part (a), diodes D1 and D2 are forward-biased and
conduct current in the direction shown.
• A voltage is developed across RL that looks like the positive half of the input cycle.
During this time, diodes D3 and D4 are reverse-biased.

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 • When the input cycle is negative as in Figure b, diodes D3 and D4 are
forward biased and conduct current in the same direction through RL
as during the positive half-cycle.
• During the negative half-cycle, D1 and D2 are reverse-biased.
• A full-wave rectified output voltage appears across RL as a result of
this action.

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Bridge Output Voltage

Bridge operation during a positive half-cycle of the primary and

secondary voltages.
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Bridge Output Voltage

Bridge operation during a positive half-cycle of the primary and

secondary voltages.
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Thank you and God
bless us all !!!