ECE 4300: Electronic Circuits I

Module 2: Diodes

Adapted from the notes of

Drs. John Quaicoe and Thumeera Wanasinghe

ECE 4300 ‐ Electronic Circuit I Diode 1

 Module 2.4 Modeling the Diode
Forward Characteristics

Adapted from the notes of

Drs. John Quaicoe and Thumeera Wanasinghe

ECE 4300 ‐ Electronic Circuit I Diode 2

Graphical Analysis Using the Exponential Model
• This is the model used for DC analysis
• Assume 𝑉 is greater than 0.5 V, i.e., cut‐in voltage for silicon
diodes

Figure 4.10 A simple circuit used to illustrate

the analysis of circuits in which the diode is
forward conducting.

Copyright © 2015 by Oxford University Press, Sendra/Smith, Microelectronic Circuits, Seventh Edition

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Graphical Analysis (Cont.)
• Plot the two equations to calculate diode current, 𝐼 on the 𝑖
𝑣 plane.

Figure 4.10 A simple circuit used to illustrate

the analysis of circuits in which the diode is
forward conducting.

𝐼 𝐼𝑒 /

𝑉 𝑉
𝐼
𝑅
• The intersection of the load line and the diode characteristic gives
the operating point (Q) and the value for 𝐼 and 𝑉 .
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Iterative Analysis Using the Exponential Model
𝑉 𝑉 𝐼 𝐼𝑒 /
𝐼 1 2
𝑅

Step 1: Start with an assumed value of 𝑉 ( 0.7 V).

Step 2: Calculate 𝐼 using the first equation.
Step 3: Substitute 𝐼 in the second equation and calculate new value
of 𝑉 .
Step 4: Substitute the new value of 𝑉 into the first equation and
calculate new value of 𝐼 .
Step 5: Repeat step 3 and step 4 until 𝑉 does not change.

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The Constant‐Voltage‐Drop Model
• This is the simplest and most widely used forward‐bias diode
model.
• Also known as approximated DC model for the forward
characteristic

Figure 4.12 Development of the diode constant-voltage-drop model: (a) the exponential characteristic; (b)
approximating the exponential characteristic by a constant voltage, usually about 0.7 Vi; (c) the resulting model of
the forward-conducting diodes.

Copyright © 2015 by Oxford University Press, Sendra/Smith, Microelectronic Circuits, Seventh Edition

ECE 4300 ‐ Electronic Circuit I Diode 6

Example 2.6
(Problem 4.36, pg. 235) A “1‐mA diode” (i.e. one that has 𝑣𝐷
0.7 𝑉 at 𝑖𝐷 1 𝑚𝐴) is connected in series with a 500 Ω resistor to a
1.0 𝑉 supply.
a) Provide a rough estimate of the diode current you would expect
b) Estimate the diode current more closely using iterative analysis.

ECE 4300 ‐ Electronic Circuit I Diode 7

Example 2.6 (Cont’d)

ECE 4300 ‐ Electronic Circuit I Diode 8

Example 2.6 (Cont’d)

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The Small‐Signal Model

Figure 4.13 (a) A simple diode circuit;

Figure 4.11 Graphical analysis of the

circuit using the exponential diode model.

Copyright © 2015 by Oxford University Press, Sendra/Smith, Microelectronic Circuits, Seventh Edition

ECE 4300 ‐ Electronic Circuit I Diode 10

The Small‐Signal Model (Cont’d)

Figure 4.13 (a) A simple diode circuit; (b) the situation when 𝑉𝐷𝐷 changes by ∆ 𝑉𝐷𝐷.

Copyright © 2015 by Oxford University Press, Sendra/Smith, Microelectronic Circuits, Seventh Edition

ECE 4300 ‐ Electronic Circuit I Diode 11

The Small‐Signal Model (Cont’d)

Figure 4.14 Development of the diode small-signal model.

Copyright © 2015 by Oxford University Press, Sendra/Smith, Microelectronic Circuits, Seventh Edition

ECE 4300 ‐ Electronic Circuit I Diode 12

The Small‐Signal Model (Cont’d)
• Determining the incremental resistance of a diode

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Example 2.6 (Cont’d)
(Problem 4.36, pg. 235) A “1‐mA diode” (i.e. one that has 𝑣𝐷
0.7 𝑉 at 𝑖𝐷 1 𝑚𝐴) is connected in series with a 500 Ω resistor to a
1.0 𝑉 supply.
a) Provide a rough estimate of the diode current you would expect
b) Estimate the diode current more closely using iterative analysis.
c) If the dc voltage varies by 10%, find the percentage change in
the output

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Use of Diode Forward Drop in Voltage Regulation
• A voltage regulator circuit provides a constant dc voltage for its
output terminal in spite of
• changes in the load current drawn from the regulator output terminal
and
• changes in the dc power‐supply voltage that feeds the regulator
circuit.
• As the forward‐voltage drop of the diode remains almost constant
(at approximately 0.7 V for silicon diode) while the current through
it varies by relatively large amounts, it can be employed to
construct a simple voltage regulator.

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Example 2.7
A series string of three identical diodes is connected through a
resistor 𝑅 to a nominal 5𝑉 supply (𝑉𝑠). The diodes have 𝑛 2 and
𝐼𝑠 0.5 𝑛𝐴.
a) Design the circuit (i.e. find the value of R to the nearest ohm) to
provide an open circuit load voltage of 2.7 𝑉.
b) Find the percentage change in output voltage for a
1 𝑉 Δ𝑉𝑠 change in the supply voltage.

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Example 2.7 (Cont’d)

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