Diodes

1 Junction diode (p-n junction)

Fabrication

By making a region of a semiconductor

p-type and an adjacent region of n-type

p n

Circuit symbol

Anode Cathode
 I-V Characteristics
Depends on how the diode is biased

Forward Bias If (mA) Si

• • I
If
R

0 V (V)
~ 0.5 ~ 0.7
Knee voltage
Knee Voltage: Voltage drop across a conducting diode
Forward resistance ~ 1 – 10 Ω
Reverse Bias

PIV 0
V V (V)
IS
• • I
Ir
R

Ir (µA)

PIV – peak inverse voltage

Reverse voltage cannot exceed PIV (= Breakdown voltage VB)

Reverse resistance ~ MΩ
Ebers – Moll Equation
  qV  
I = IS exp  − 1
  kT  

Valid for both forward and reverse currents

IS – Saturation current

Depends on

Geometrical characteristics (size, cross section etc.)

Physical characteristics (doping, temperature etc.)

If >> Ir for the same V (magnitude)

Diode conducts only in the forward direction (p → n)

A non-linear device
 Diode Applications
1. Rectification
Vin
Half-wave rectifier
VP
D +
+
• ° Vout 0
- -
t
I R
Vin ~ L Vout

VP'
Vin = VP sin ωt 0 t

Vout = Voltage across RL = IRL VP’ = VP – 0.7 V

During (+) half cycle, diode forward biased; current flows

During (–) half cycle, diode reverse biased; no current flows
Mean Vout = VP’ / π
 Full-wave rectifier
D1
• When Vin (+), D1 conducts;
D2 reverse biased
RL Vout
Vin ~ • When Vin (-), D2 conducts;
D1 reverse biased

D2

Both cases, current through RL in the same direction

Vout = IRL always (+)

Only half of the secondary is used at any given time

Vin Input/Output waveforms
VP
+ +
0 t
- -
Vout
D1 D2 D1 D2
VP’
+ VP’ = VP – 0.7 V
+ + +
0 t

Vout Observed waveform

VP' Mean Vout = 2VP’ / π

+ + + +
0 t
How do you explain this?
What is the maximum reverse voltage at diodes?
Bridge Rectifier
•
D1
D4

Vin ~ •
•

D3 D2 RL
•

When Vin (+), D1 & D3 conduct; D2 & D4 reverse biased

When Vin (-), D2 & D4 conduct; D1 & D3 reverse biased

Current through RL always in the same direction

 Input/Output waveforms
Vin

VP
+ +
0 t
- -
Vout D1,D3 D2,D4 D1D3 D2D4

VP”
+ + + +
0 t

What is the value of VP” ?

What is the maximum reverse voltage at diodes?

 Rectifier Outputs
Vin Input
VP
+ +
t
- -
Vout
Half-wave Outputs always (+)
VP’
+ +
But not constant
t
Full-wave Varies from 0 to VP’/VP”
Vout
Not good as dc sources
VP”
+ + + + Smoothing is required
t
 Smoothing
Done by connecting a capacitor across the load

Half-wave rectifier
During the first half of the
• • ° Vout
(+) half cycle, capacitor gets
Vin ~ RL C charged to VP’ = VP – 0.7 V

During the next half cycle,

it discharges through RL
Vin
VP During the next (+) half
+ + cycle it charges again
0 t
- - Charging/discharging
cycle repeats
Vin Smoothed waveform
T Discharging
VP
+ + V capacitor
0 t V0
Vout - -

VP’ Vrip
0 t 0 t
t − t / RC
V = V0e
Vout ≈ VP’ (1 – t/RLC)
≈ V0(1 – t/RC)
Vrip = VP’ – Vout = VPt/RLC

≈ VP’T/RLC (t = discharge time ~ T = 1/f)

= VP’/fCRL
Ripple can be reduced by using a larger capacitor
Full-wave rectifier

Vout

VP” Vrip

0 t
t

Vrip = VP” – Vout = VP”t/RLC

≈ VP” T/2RLC (t = discharge time ~ T/2 = 1/2f)

= VP”/2fCRL ≈ VP/2fCRL

= ½ Vrep of half-wave rectifier

Mean dc voltage = VP” - ½Vrep = VP - ½Vrep