Electronics Devices & Circuits

Unit I:Semiconductor Diodes

and Applications
Department of Electronics & Telecommunication
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Syllabus
Semiconductor Diode and Power Supplies: P-N
junction diode, open circuited junction
Forward and reverse bias ,V-I characteristics
photodiode, LEDs, Tunnel diode
Half Wave ,ripple factor
Half Wave ,ripple factor
Filters, Voltage doublers
Zener and emitter follower type series
regulators

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Outline
The p-n junction (forward bias and
reverse bias)
Ideal Diode
V-I Characteristics
Application of P-N jun.diode
Avalanche Breakdown
Zener Break Down
Dynamic Characteristics
Types of Diode

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I ntroduction to Semiconductor Devices

Semiconductor p-n junction diodes
p
n
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Ideal Diodes
Forward bias
(on)
Reverse bias
(off)
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The I-V characteristic of the
diode
I
S

(

|
.
|

\
|
= 1
kT
qV
I I
S
exp
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The experimental I-V
characteristic of a Si diode
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p- n diode circuit notation
p
n

|
.
|

\
|
= 1 exp
kT
qV
I I
S
I
S

|
.
|

\
|
= 1 exp
kT
qV
I I
S
I
S
When plus is applied to the p-side, the current is high.
This voltage polarity is called FORWARD.
When plus is applied to the n-side, the current is
nearly zero. This voltage polarity is called REVERSE.
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p- n diode applications: Light emitters
P-n junction can emit the
light when forward biased
p-type n-type
+
-
+
-
Electrons drift into p-material and find plenty of holes there. They
RECOMBINE by filling up the empty positions.
Holes drift into n-material and find plenty of electrons there. They also
RECOMBINE by filling up the empty positions.
The energy released in the process of annihilation produces
PHOTONS the particles of light
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+
-
p- n diode applications:Photodetectors
P-n junction can detect light
when reverse biased
p-type n-type
When the light illuminates the p-n junction, the photons energy RELEASES free
electrons and holes.
They are referred to as PHOTO-ELECTRONS and PHOTO-HOLES
The applied voltage separates the photo-carriers attracting electrons toward
plus and holes toward minus
As long as the light is ON, there is a current flowing through the p-n junction
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Avalanche Breakdown
11/34
Impact ionization mechanism
Predominant breakdown
mechanism
Total current during
avalanche multiplication
I
n
(w) = M * I
no
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Zener Breakdown
12/34
Zener effect
Doping level > 10
18
/Cm
3
In case of Ge, Si
E (field) > 10
6
V/m
Highly doped junction ( narrow W)
Mechanism is termed tunnelling or zener breakdown
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Dynamic Resistance
Kristin Ackerson, Virginia Tech EE
Spring 2002
Inverse of the slope of the transconductance curve
The equation for dynamic resistance is:
r
F
= qV
T

I
D
It is used in determining the voltage drop across the diode.
The ac component of the diode voltage is found using the
following equation:
v
F
= v
ac
r
F

r
F
+ R
S
The voltage drop through the diode is a combination of the ac
and dc components and is equal to:
V
D
= V
|
+ v
F
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Negative Resistance Device
It is a device which exhibits a negative
incremental resistance over a limited range of
V-I characteristic.
It is of two types :-
1. Current controllable type : V-I curve is a
multi valued function of voltage and single
valued function of current .eg:- UJT, p-n-p-n
diode
2. Voltage controllable type : V-I curve is a
multi valued function of current and single
valued function of voltage. eg:- SCS, Tunnel
diode -
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TUNNEL DIODE (Esaki Diode)
It was introduced by Leo Esaki in 1958.
Heavily-doped p-n junction
Impurity concentration is 1 part in 10^3 as compared to
1 part in 10^8 in p-n junction diode
Width of the depletion layer is very small
(about 100 A).
It is generally made up of Ge and GaAs.
It shows tunneling phenomenon.
Circuit symbol of tunnel diode is :



E
V

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- Ve Resistance
Region
Vf
Vp
Ip
Vv
Forward Voltage
Revers
e
voltage
Iv
R
e
v
e
r
s
e

C
u
r
r
e
n
t

F
o
r
w
a
r
d

C
u
r
r
e
n
t

Ip:- Peak Current
Iv :- Valley Current
Vp:- Peak Voltage
Vv:- Valley Voltage
Vf:- Peak Forward
Voltage
CHARACTERISTIC OF TUNNEL DIODE
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A Zener is a diode operated in reverse bias at the Peak
Inverse Voltage (PIV) called the Zener Voltage (V
Z
).
Common Zener Voltages: 1.8V to 200V
Zener Diode
17 17
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Types of Diodes and Their Uses
Schottky Diodes:
Very fast switching time
Great diode for digital circuit applications.
They are very common in computers because of their ability
to be switched on and off so quickly.
A K
Schematic Symbol for a
Schottky Diode
Shockley Diodes:
The Shockley diode is a four-layer diode while other diodes
are normally made with only two layers. These types of
diodes are generally used to control the average power
delivered to a load.
A K
Schematic Symbol for a four-
layer Shockley Diode
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It is designed with a very large band gap.
Lower band gap LEDs (Light-Emitting Diodes) emit infrared
radiation.
While LEDs with higher bandgap energy emit visible light.

LEDs are extremely bright and last longer than regular bulbs for a
relatively low cost.
A
K
Schematic Symbol for a Light-Emitting Diode
The arrows in the LED
representation indicate
emitted light.
Light-Emitting Diodes:
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Photodiodes:
Photodiodes are sensitive to received light. They are
constructed so their p n junction can be exposed to the outside
through a clear window or lens.
In Photoconductive mode the saturation current increases in
proportion to the intensity of the received light - used in CD
players.
In Photovoltaic mode, when the pn junction is exposed to a
certain wavelength of light, the diode generates voltage and can
be used as an energy source - used in the production of solar
power.
A K
A
K
Schematic Symbols for
Photodiodes

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Rectifier circuits
Block diagram of a dc power supply
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Half-wave rectifier
Simple
Wastes half the input

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Full-wave rectifier
VS > 0
VS < 0
Current goes through load in same direction for + VS.
VO is positive for + VS.
Requires center-tap transformer
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Contd
Entire input waveform is used
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Bridge rectifier
A type of full-wave rectifier
Center-tap not needed
Most popular rectifier
VS > 0 D1, D2 on; D3, D4 off

VS < 0 D3, D4 on; D1, D2 off
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Bridge rectifier
VO is 2VD less than VS
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Filter
Capacitor acts as a filter.
Vi charges capacitor as Vi increases.
As Vi decreases, capacitor supplies current to load.
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Filter
Diode on
Diode off
When the diode is off, the capacitor discharges.
Vo = Vpexp(-t/RC)
Assuming t ~ T, and T=1/f

VP - Vr = Vpexp(-1/fRC) half-wave rectifier (t ~ T)
VP - Vr = Vpexp(-1/2fRC) full-wave rectifier (t ~ T/2)
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Basic Zener Characteristics
Zener diodes are
operated in their
reverse breakdown
mode to provide
voltage regulation in a
circuit.
The point where the
reverse current begins
to increase is called
the knee voltage. The
current at this point is
the knee current.
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Zener Voltage Regulator
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Summary
The p-n junction (forward bias and reverse bias)
Ideal Diode
V-I Characteristics & applications
Avalanche Breakdown
Zener Break Down
Dynamic Characteristics
Types of Diode
Types of Rectifier
Voltage Regulator
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