The pn-Junction Diode

Dr. Arbab Waheed Ahmad

Extrinsic Semiconductors
• The elements having four electrons in valence shell
are called as semiconductor elements, e-g, Si, Ge.
• Impurities (substitutes the semiconductor atom)
• To increase concentration (Group III and V elements)
• Donor Impurity:
• Donates an electron (e.g. Phosphorus)
• Acceptor Impurity:
• Accepts an electron (e.g., Boron)
• Doping: Process of adding impurities to control
concentration of free electrons in semiconductor
Extrinsic Semiconductors
• N-type: A semiconductor that contains
donor impurity atoms is called N-type
semiconductor
• P-type: A semiconductor that contains
acceptor impurity atoms is called P-type
semiconductor
• Extrinsic semiconductors: The materials
containing impurity atoms are called
extrinsic semiconductors
Reverse-Biased pn-junction
Forward-Biased pn-junction
pn Junction diode
• Switch
• ON state  Forward Biased
• OFF state  Reverse Biased
DC Analysis and Models
Rectifier Circuits
AC into DC voltage conversion
Rectifier Circuits
Diode as Rectifier
Half-wave rectification

• Case1:
• Diode is reverse biased

• Case 2:
• Diode is non-conducting

• Case 3:
Half-wave rectification
Half-wave rectification (Example)
Half-wave rectification (Example)
Full-wave rectification (center-tapped)
Full-wave rectification (Bridge)
Full-wave rectification (Example)
Full-wave rectification (Example)
Zener Diode Circuits
Ideal Voltage Reference Circuit (Voltage
Regulator)

the variables are the input voltage source VPS and the load current
I L.

For proper operation of this circuit, the diode must remain in the
breakdown region and the power dissipation in the diode must
not exceed its rated value.
 Clippers
Clipper circuits are used to eliminate portions of a signal that are above or
below a specified level
Clippers (Limiter Circuits)
• Eliminate portions of signal
• Case 1:
•  is OFF

• Case 2:
•  is conducting
Parallel based clipper
• Designed with two diodes and
two voltage sources oriented in
opposite direction
Example (Clippers)
Example (Clippers)
Series-based Clipper
• DC power supply is in series with
the input source
• Input signal superimposed on
the DC power supply
 Clampers
Clamping shifts the entire signal voltage by a dc level
Clampers
Clampers
Clampers