ELECTRONICS DEVICES

AND CIRCUIT THEORY

CHAPTER 2
DIODE APPLICATIONS
 2.1 INTRODUCTION

2.2 LOAD - LINE ANALYSIS

2.3 SERIES DIODE CONFIGURATIONS

2.4 PARALLEL AND SERIES-PARALLEL CONFIGURATIONS

CONTENTS
2.5 AND/OR GATES

2.6 SINUSOIDAL INPUTS; HALFWAVE RECTIFICATION

2.7 FULL-WAVE RECTIFICATION

2.1 INTRODUCTION

•This chapter focuses on analyzing circuits containing diodes and

other components.
•Diodes are important components in electronic circuits, as they
allow current to flow in only one direction and can be used for tasks
such as voltage regulation and signal rectification.
•The chapter covers topics such as load line analysis, diode
configurations, and practical applications of diodes in circuits.
 2.2 LOAD - LINE ANALYSIS
•Load line analysis involves finding the operating
point of a circuit containing a diode, which is the point
where the load line intersects the diode characteristic
curve.
•The load line represents the relationship between
the voltage and current of the circuit and is determined
by the circuit components and their values.
•By finding the operating point, we can determine
the voltage and current values of the diode at that point.
2.2 LOAD - LINE ANALYSIS
The load line plots all possible combinations of

diode current (ID)and voltage (VD) for a given circuit. The

maximum ID equals E/R, and the maximum VD equals E.

The point where the load line and the characteristic

curve intersect is the Q-point, which identifies ID and VD

for a particular diode in a given circuit.

 2.3 SERIES DIODE CONFIGURATIONS

•In a series diode configuration, two or more diodes are connected in series.

•The configuration can be used for tasks such as voltage rectification, voltage

regulation, and signal limiting.

•The total voltage drop across the diodes is equal to the sum of the individual

voltage drops.
 2.3 SERIES DIODE CONFIGURATIONS

Forward Bias Reverse Bias

• Diodes ideally behave as open circuits
Silicon Diode: VD = 0.7 V
VD = E
Germanium Diode: VD = 0.3
VR = 0 V
Analysis (for silicon)
ID = 0 A
VD = 0.7 V (or VD = E if E<0.7 V

VR = E - VD

Id = IR= IT = VR/R
2.4 PARALLEL AND SERIES-PARALLEL CONFIGURATION
•In a parallel diode configuration, two or more diodes are connected in parallel.
•The configuration can be used for tasks such as voltage regulation and signal
limiting.

•In a series-parallel diode configuration, multiple parallel diode configurations

are connected in series.

2.4 PARALLEL AND SERIES-PARALLEL CONFIGURATION
2.5 AND/OR GATES
•In a parallel diode configuration, two or more diodes are connected in parallel.
•The configuration can be used for tasks such as voltage regulation and signal
limiting.

•In a series-parallel diode configuration, multiple parallel diode configurations

are connected in series.

2.5 AND/OR GATES
EXAMPLE 2.15 Determine the output level for the positive logic AND gate of Fig. 2.42 .
An AND gate is one where a 1 output is only obtained when a 1 input appears at each
and every input.
2.6 SINUSOIDAL INPUTS; HALFWAVE RECTIFICATION

•A half-wave rectifier is a circuit that converts an AC input signal into a DC output signal.

•The circuit uses a diode to allow only the positive half of the AC input signal to pass

through.

•The output waveform is a series of half-wave rectified sine waves.

2.6 SINUSOIDAL INPUTS; HALFWAVE RECTIFICATION
2.6 SINUSOIDAL INPUTS; HALFWAVE RECTIFICATION
2.6 SINUSOIDAL INPUTS; HALFWAVE RECTIFICATION
 2.7 FULL-WAVE RECTIFICATION

•In the previous section, we learned about half-wave rectifiers

which convert AC signals into pulsating DC signals.
•However, half-wave rectifiers have a significant disadvantage of
only utilizing half of the AC signal.
•Full-wave rectifiers are circuits that can convert both the
positive and negative portions of an AC signal into DC signals.
In this section, we will learn about full-wave rectifiers and their
types.
2.7 FULL-WAVE RECTIFICATION

Bridge Rectifier
• Four diodes are
connected in a
bridge
configuration
• VDC = 0.636 Vm
 2.7 FULL-WAVE RECTIFICATION
Center-Tapped Full-Wave Rectifier
•The center-tapped full-wave rectifier consists of a transformer,
two diodes, and a load resistor.
•The secondary winding of the transformer is center-tapped,
which provides two equal voltages across the two halves of the
winding.
•During the positive half-cycle of the AC signal, diode D1 is
forward-biased and diode D2 is reverse-biased, allowing current
to flow through the load resistor in one direction.
•During the negative half-cycle, diode D1 is reverse-biased and
diode D2 is forward-biased, allowing current to flow through the
load resistor in the opposite direction.
•The output of the center-tapped full-wave rectifier is a
pulsating DC signal that has a ripple voltage of 1/2 of the peak-
to-peak voltage of the AC signal.
2.7 FULL-WAVE RECTIFICATION
Summary of Rectifier Circuits