EE541/L INDUSTRIAL ELECTRONICS

Third Examination Coverage

 WHAT IS A DIODE?

• A diode is a two terminal electric component which conducts current

more easily in one direction than in the opposite direction.
• The most common usage of a diode is as an electronic valve which
allows current to flow in one direction but not the opposite direction.
 HISTORY

• Diodes were known as rectifiers until 1919, when a

physicist by the name of William Eccles coined the term
diode, which from its Greek roots means “through-path.”
• In 1873 Fredrick Guthrie discovered thermionic diodes
(vacuum tube diodes) . Heating the cathode in forward
bias permitted electrons to be transmitted into the
vacuum, but in reverse bias the electrons were not easily
release from the unheated anode.

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 Lam Duong

HISTORY

• In 1874 Karl Braun discovered the first

solid state diode (crystal diode). It consists
of using Galena crystals as the
semiconducting material.
• In 1939 Russell Ohl discovered the first P-
N junction at Bell Labs.
• Today, the majority of diodes are made of
semiconductor silicon P-N junctions.
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 P-N JUNCTION DIODE

Majority carriers
• A P-N junction diode consists of a p-type
semiconductor (silicon) joined with an n-type p n
semiconductor.
• P-type – A semiconductor doped with impurities to
create positive charge carriers (holes). Depletion Region

• N-type – A semiconductor doped with impurities to

create negative charged carriers.
• A depletion region is created when negative charge
carriers from the N-type region diffuse into the P-type
region, and vice versa.
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 P-N JUNCTION DIODE

• The behavior of a diode depends upon the

Depletion Region
polarity of the supply voltage.
• Under forward bias the depletion region is p n
if
reduced in size and less energy is required
for the charged majority carriers to cross the
depletion region.
Forward Biased
• This decrease in energy requirement results
in more charged majority carriers to cross
the depletion region which induces a current.
 P-N JUNCTION DIODE

Depletion Region

• Under reverse bias the depletion p n

region is greatly increased in size ir

and requires significantly more V

energy from the majority
carriers in order to cross. Reverse Biased

• Most majority carriers won’t be

able to cross the depletion
region and thus are unable to
induce a current.
 REAL VS. IDEAL

• Ideal P-N Diode – no resistance to current in I

forward bias and infinite resistance in reverse
bias. (Similar to a switch) conduction
region
• In reality there is resistance to current flow in
V
forward bias. It requires a certain voltage to be non-conduction
reached before the depletion region is eliminated region
and full current flow is permitted. Ideal Curve
• Likewise, in reverse bias there is a small reverse
(leakage) current induced by the flow of minority
carriers. At a certain voltage (break down
voltage) the reverse current will increase
significantly. This is called the Avalanche current.
 SCHOTTKY DIODE

• Unlike P-N junction diodes, Schottky diodes are based on a

metal and semiconductor junction.
• An advantage of Schottky diodes over P-N junction diodes
is that Schottky diodes have no recovery time when
switching from conducting to non-conducting state and vice
versa.
• The main disadvantage of Schottky diodes are that they
operate in low voltage compare to P-N junction diodes (up
to 50V).
• Another significant difference is that the “on-voltage” for a Metal N-Type
Schottky diode is around .3V while it is .7V for a P-N
junction diode.
 FLYBACK DIODE

• Schottky diodes are often used as Flyback diodes due

to their quick recovery and low forward voltage drop.
• A Flyback diode is a diode used to eliminate the
sudden voltage spike that occurs across an indicutive
load when voltage is abruptly reduced or removed.
• Lenz’s law - if the current through an inductance
changes, this inductance induces a voltage so the
current will go on flowing as long as there is energy in
the magnetic field.
• Flyback diodes are important in mechatronics
applications where one may want to vary the voltage
of an inductive load to control its operation.
 OTHER TYPES OF DIODES

• Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) - A diode formed from a

semiconductor such as gallium arsenide, carriers that
cross the junction emit photons when they recombine
with the majority carrier on the other side.
• Photodiode – Exploits the fact that all semiconductors
are subject to charged carrier generation when they are
exposed to light. Photodiodes are often used to sense
light such as in an Opto-isolator.
• Zener Diode – Allows current in forward bias like a
regular diode, but also in reverse bias if the voltage is
larger than designed voltage, called the Breakdown
voltage.
 WHAT IS DIAC?

• the DIAC, Diode AC bi-directional switch is widely used with TRIACs to improve
operation of alternating current power switching systems.
• The DIAC is a full-wave or bi-directional semiconductor switch that can be
turned on in both forward and reverse polarities.
• The DIAC gains its name from the contraction of the words DIode Alternating
Current.
• The DIAC is widely used to assist even triggering of a TRIAC when used in AC
switches. DIACs are mainly used in dimmer applications and also in starter
circuits for florescent lamps
 DIACS OPERATION

• The DIAC is essentially a diode that conducts after a 'break-over'

voltage, designated VBO, is exceeded.
• When the device exceeds this break-over voltage, it enters the region
of negative dynamic resistance. This results in a decrease in the voltage
drop across the diode with increasing voltage. Accordingly there is a
sharp increase in the level of current that is conducted by the device.
• The diode remains in its conduction state until the current through it
drops below what is termed the holding current, which is normally
designated by the letters IH.
• Below the holding current, the DIAC reverts to its high-resistance
(non-conducting) state.
• Its behaviour is bi-directional and therefore its operation occurs on
both halves of an alternating cycle.
 DIAC APPLICATIONS

• Typically the DIAC is placed in series with the gate

of a TRIAC. DIACs are often used in conjunction
with TRIACs because these devices do not fire
symmetrically as a result of slight differences
between the two halves of the device. This results
in harmonics being generated, and the less
symmetrical the device fires, the greater the level of
harmonics produced. It is generally undesirable to
have high levels of harmonics in a power system.
 DIAC APPLICATIONS

• To help in overcoming this problem, a DIAC

is often placed in series with the gate. This
device helps make the switching more even
for both halves of the cycle. This results
from the fact that its switching
characteristic is far more even than that of
the TRIAC. Since the DIAC prevents any
gate current flowing until the trigger voltage
has reached a certain voltage in either
direction, this makes the firing point of the
TRIAC more even in both directions.
 WHAT ARE TRIACS?

 A TRIAC (TRIode for Alternating Current) is a 3-

terminal AC semiconductor switch.
 Composed of 2 thyristors facing opposite
directions such that it can conduct current in
either direction.
 MT1 and MT2 are current carrying terminals
while the Gate terminal is used for triggering by
applying a small voltage signal.
 Once triggered, it continues to conduct current
until the current falls below a threshold value.
 TRIAC OPERATION

•5 layer device
•Region between MT1
and MT2 are parallel
switches (PNPN and
NPNP)
•Allows for positive or
negative gate triggering
TRIAC CHARACTERISTIC CURVE
 TRIACS

 Pros:
 Better than a transistor as it has much better current surge rating –
it can handle more current as it simply turns on more
 Inexpensive compared to relays
 Cons:
 Can't manually control turn-off with the gate; must turn off by
stopping current through the device via the terminals.
 Specs to buy one:
 Gate signal requirements
 Voltage drop
 Steady-state/holding current (continuously handle)
 Peak current (maximum amount to handle surge)
 TRIAC APPLICATIONS

High Power TRIACS

• Switching for AC circuits, allowing the control of very large power flows with
milliampere-scale control currents
• Can eliminate mechanical wear in a relay

Low Power TRIACS

• Light bulb dimmers (done by applying power later in the AC cycle aka PWM
of AC wave)
• Motor speed controls for electric fans and other AC motors, and heaters
• Modern computerized control circuits in household appliances 20
 TRIAC APPLICATIONS

Simple Triac Switch

•Small control
current/voltage
•Eliminates Mechanical wear
in a Relay
•Much Cheaper
 REAL WORLD TRIACS

• Come in various shapes

and sizes
• Essentially all the same
operationally
• Different mounting
schemes
 SAMPLE

• In the phase control circuit shown in

Fig. E 5.1, obtain the maximum
permissible value of resistor R1 and
the corresponding firing angle. Diac
and triac ratings are: