Diodes

and
Applications
Prepared by:
Emily France M. Balce

Semiconductor Diode
An electronic device that results from the
fusion of P-type material and an N-type
material

Formation of the Depletion Region

a. Diffusion
movement of electrons from a region of high
concentration to lower concentration

b. At the junction, the electrons from the

n-type and holes from the p-type attract each
other, combine and cancel their net charges
C

Junction

c. Due to the cancellation of electrons and

holes at the junction, the junction will have no
more carriers so it is called a depleted region
or depletion region.
Depletion region

Practical diode is a nonlinear device with a

current versus voltage

Barrier potential (0.7 for Si and 0.3 for Ge )

To simplify the analysis of diode circuits,

diodes are assumed to be Ideal.

Short circuit when forward biased

Open circuit when reverse biased

Biasing the PN Junction

a. Forward Biased
P-type is more positive than the N-type
A condition that allows current to flow
through the pn junction
The pn junction narrows

b. Reverse Biased
P-type is more negative than the N-type
A condition that prevents current to flow
through the pn junction
The pn junction widens

I. Applications
1. Diode Rectifier
Type of diode that converts alternating
current into unidirectional current (DC)

Typically seen in power supplies

AC

Regulator
Rectifier

Filter

Power Supply

Half Wave Rectifier

A rectifier circuit with a single diode that
conducts current during positive or
negative half cycles of input AC signal at a
rate determined by the input frequency.
Input

Output

Conversion factor = 40.6%

Freqoutput = Freqinput

Full Wave Rectifier

A rectifier circuit that conducts current
during positive and negative half cycles of
input AC signal.
Center Tapped
Input

Output

Bridge Type

Input

Output

Conversion factor = 81.2%

Freqoutput = 2 x Freqinput

Comparison of Rectifiers
Half Wave

Center tapped

Bridge Type

Vrms

Vpk / 2

Vpk / 2

Vpk / 2

Vave

Vpk /

2Vpk /

2Vpk /

Irms

Ipk / 2

Ipk / 2

Ipk / 2

Iave

Ipk /

2Ipk /

2Ipk /

PIV

Vpk

2Vpk

Vpk

EXAMPLES
1. The average value of a half wave rectified
voltage with a peak value of 200 v is
2. When a 60 Hz sinusoidal voltage is applied
to the input of a half wave rectifier, the
output frequency is
3. The average value of a full wave rectified
voltage with a peak value of 75 v is

EXAMPLES
4. When the peak output voltage is 100v, the
PIV for each diode in a center tapped full
wave rectifier is
5. If the input voltage to a voltage tripler has
an rms value of 12 v, the DC output voltage
is approximately
6. When a 60 Hz sinusoidal voltage is applied
to the input of a full wave rectifier, the
output frequency is

Filter
Smoothens the output waveform

Ripple Factor of a Rectifier

Ratio of the rms value of the AC
component of the signal to the average
value of the signal

r = Vr(rms) / Vdc
Vr(rms) = (Vrms exp 2 Vdc exp 2)exp 1/2
Vr(rms) = 0.385Vpeak for Half wave Rectifier
Vr(rms) = 0.308Vpeak for Full Rectifier

EXAMPLES
1. A certain power supply filter produces an
output with a ripple of 100mV peak to
peak and a DC value of 20 v. The ripple
factor is
2. Find the ripple factor of sinusoidal signal
with peak ripple of 4 volts on an average
value of 30 v.

Voltage Regulation
Means maintaining the output voltage at
any load
The type of diode used for regulation is
Zener diode
ID

Zener
Regulation

Iz min
Avalanche
region

Iz max

Voltage Regulation
VR = V no load V full load / V full load x 100%
Current Regulation

CR = I no load I full load / I full load x 100%

EXAMPLES
1. A DC voltage supply is measured at 50
volts and drops to 45 volts when the load
is connected. What is the value of voltage
regulation?
2. What is the voltage regulation when the full
load voltage is the same as the no load
voltage assuming a perfect voltage source?

2. Clippers
Electronic circuits that have the ability to
clip off a portion of the input signal
without distorting the remaining part of
the alternating waveform
Other names are limiters, amplitude
selectors and slicers

Example of Clipper Circuit

Input

Output

Example of Clipper Circuit

Input
DC signal

Output

Analysis of Clippers - Short Cut Method

1. Determine the output waveform without the effect of
the diode by
a. shorting the diode for series limiter
b. opening the diode for parallel limiter.
2. Determine the Clipping Line
a. For Series Limiter, the clipping line is at the abscissa.
b. For Parallel Limiter, the clipping line is the output
reflection of the voltage source; if there is no voltage
source present, the clipping line is at the abscissa.

Analysis of Clippers - Short Cut Method

3. Inspect the position of the diode
a. For series limiters, if the arrowhead of the diode is
i. pointing to the right, the output waveform is above
the clipping line.
ii. Pointing to the left, the output waveform is below
the clipping line
b. For parallel limiters, if the arrowhead of the diode is
i. pointing upward, the output waveform is above the
clipping line.
ii. Pointing downward, the output waveform is below
the clipping line.

Analysis of Clippers - Short Cut Method

4. For Double Diode Clippers, same procedure for 1 and 2.
The resulting waveforem is between the 2 clipping
lines.

3. Clampers
Circuits that shift the waveform of the
input signal either all above or below the
reference voltage
Add or restore a DC level to an electrical
signal
Also known as DC restorer

 Clamping circuit is often used in television

receivers as dc restorer. Incoming
composite video signal is normally
processed through capacitively coupled
amplifiers that eliminate the dc
component losing the reference levels
which must be restored using clamping
circuits before applying to the picture tube.

Example of Clamper Circuit

Input
Vpk

Output

2Vpk

Positive Clamper

Analysis of Clampers - Short Cut Method

1. Determine the Clamping Line as given by the output
reflection of the voltage source. If there is no voltage
source present, the clamping line is at the abscissa.
Note: There should be no part of the waveform to be
either above or below the clamping line.
2. Determine where the arrowhead of the diode is
pointing
a. upward, the waveform is above the clamping line.
b. downward, the waveform is below the clamping
line.

4. Voltage Multiplier
Circuit which produces a greater DC output
voltage than AC input voltage to the
rectifiers
Uses clamping action to increase peak
rectified voltages without the necessity of
increasing the inputs transformers voltage
rating
Used in high voltage, low current
applications such as TV receivers

Voltage Doubler
A voltage multiplier with a multiplication
factor of 2
C1

Vp

At the first negative half cylcle

D1 = forward bias
D2 = reverse bias
VC1 = Vp
VC2 = 2Vp

D2

D1

C2

Vo

At the first positivehalf cylcle

D1 = reverse bias
D2 = forward bias
VC1 = Vp
Vo = VC2 = 2Vp

Voltage Tripler
Addition of another diode capacitor
section to the half wave voltage doubler
creates voltage tripler
The PIV of each diode is 2Vp

+
C1
Vp

3Vp

C3
D2

D2

C2

D3

Voltage Quadrupler
The addition of still another diode
capacitor section in a voltage tripler circuit
The PIV of each diode is 2Vp

C1
Vp

C3
D1

D2
C2

D3

D4

C4

4Vp

II. Special Purpose Diodes

1. Zener Diode
Symbol

2. Zener Diode
Diode designed to operate in the reverse
breakdown region
a. Zener breakdown
When the breakdown voltage is
below 5V
b. Avalanche breakdown

When the breakdown voltage is

above 5V

 Typical breakdown voltages of 1.8V to

200V with specified tolerances from 1% to
20%
With very stable voltage drop
Useful as voltage regulator

2. Point Contact Diode

2. Point Contact Diode

Semiconductor diode having fine wire
whose point is permanent contact with the
surface of a wafer of a semiconductor
material such as silicon, germanium or
gallium arsenide
The fine wire is called cat - whisker

For signal mixing and detection

3. Schottky Diode

Symbol

3. Schottky Diode
Also known as Surface Barrier Diode
Also known as Hot - Carrier Diode

This type of diode has no depletion layer

which eliminates the stored charges in the
junction
A rectifying metal semiconductor junction
such as gold, silver and platinum

 Typical forward voltage drop is typically

around 0.25V to 0.3V
Can rectify frequencies up to 300 MHz
ESBAR (Epitaxial Schottky Barrier)
Construction of Schottky Diode

cathode

anode

Metal Silicon Junction

4. Varactor (varicap)

 Voltage-variable capacitor
When this diode is reverse bias, the width
of the depletion layer increases with the
reverse voltage
Used for electronic tuning, harmonic
generator and parametric amplifier
Symbol

where

f = frequency
Rs = series resistance
Ct = total diode
capacitance

5. Tunnel Diode

Symbol

5. Tunnel Diode
Also known as Esaki diode
Type of diode that exhibits the
phenomenon
known
as
negative
resistance

 Negative resistance implies that an

increase in forward voltage produces a
decrease in forward current for a certain
part
Utilizes a heavily doped material and
therefore have so many electrons
Has a very thin depletion layer

The extremely narrow depletion region

emits electrons to tunnel through the pn
junction at very low forward bias voltage
Used for oscillators and amplifiers

6. Backward Diode

Symbol

6. Backward Diode
Conducts better in the reverse (-0.1V) than
in the forward (+0.7V) direction
Designed such that its high current flow
takes place when the junction is reverse
bias

7. PIN Diode

Positive intrinsic Negative Diode

The intrinsic material between the P and N

layer offers impedance at microwave
frequencies being controlled by low
frequency signals
Used in microwave switches

8. Light Emitting Diode (LED)

Symbol

8. Light Emitting Diode (LED)

In a forward biased LED, free electrons
cross the junction and fall into holes. As
these electrons fall from higher to a lower
energy level, they radiate energy which
goes off in the form of heat. But in an LED,
the energy is being radiated as light.

 Commonly used Gallium Arsenide,

Gallium Arsenide Phosphide, and Gallium
Phosphide

GaAs LEDs emit infrared (IR) radiation

which is non visible, GaAsP produces
either red or yellow visible light and GaP
emits red or green visible light
Red is the most common color of LEDs

 Electroluminescence is the process

involved when large surface area on one
layer of one semiconductive material
permits the photons to be emitted as
visible light
Emitted Visible Light

()
(+)
Metal contact

Metal contact

 Irradiance is the power per unit area at a

given distance from an LED source
expressed in mW/cm2.
Typical voltage drop: 1.5V to 2.5V for
currents between 10mA and 50mA
Nominal Voltage drop: 2V
Reverse Breakdown: 3V 10V

9. LASER Diode

9. LASER Diode
The term LASER stands for Light
Amplification by Stimulated Emission of
Radiation
LASER light is monochromatic meaning it
consists of a single color and not a mixture
of colors
LASER light is also a coherent light
meaning a single wavelength

LASER Light (coherent and monochromatic)

 LASER diode pn junction is formed by two

layers of doped gallium arsenide
It is forward biased
LASER diodes and photodiodes are used in
the pick up system of compact disk (CD)
layers. Audio information is digitally
recorded in stereo on the surface of a
compact disk in the microscopic pits and
flats

10. Photodiode

Symbol

10. Photodiode
Operated in reverse bias condition
Is one that is optimized for its sensitivity to
light
A window let light to pass through the
package of the junction. The incoming light
produces free electrons and holes
producing larger reverse current.
Dark current is the reverse current flowing
through the photodiode when there is no
incident light.

Review Questions

Diodes and Applications

1. The arrow in the schematic symbol for a diode

points which way
a. towards the cathode
b. intowards
the direction
of the
current flow
a.
the
cathode
c. towards the anode
d. towards magnetic north

Review Questions

Diodes and Applications

2. The anode of a semiconductor diode indicates

a __________ charge during conduction
a. positive
b. either, depending on the design
a.
positive
c. neutral
d. negative

Review Questions

Diodes and Applications

3. A point in the characteristic curve of a diode

where the current suddenly rises
a. peak voltage
b.
voltage
b.knee
knee
voltage
c. valley voltage
d. trigger voltage

Review Questions

Diodes and Applications

4. The small value of direct current that flows

when a semiconductor device has a reverse
bias
a. surge current
b.
current current
c.bias
reverse
c. reverse current
d. current limit

Review Questions

Diodes and Applications

5. In order to simplify a circuit, in analysis and

computation, the diode is normally assumed
as __________.
a. zero
b.
ideal
b. ideal
c. imaginary
d. infinite

Review Questions

Diodes and Applications

6.An external voltage applied to a junction

reduces its barrier and aid current to flow
through the junction
a. reverse bias
b.
bias bias
d.external
forward
c. junction bias
d. forward bias

Review Questions

Diodes and Applications

7. How does an ohmmeter behave if its positive

lead is connected to the cathode of a diode
while negative to anode?
a. has infinite high resistance
b. has
unstable
resistance
a.
has
infinite
high resistance
c. has very low resistance
d. has decreasing resistance

Review Questions

Diodes and Applications

8. It is the maximum permissible reverse voltage

for the diode
a. peak reverse voltage
b.
a.barrier
peakvoltage
reverse voltage
c. maximum voltage
d. tolerable voltage

Review Questions

Diodes and Applications

9. Circuit that is used to eliminate or portions of

the input waveform above or below a
specified level
a. clamper
b.
b.clipper
clipper
c. DC restorer
d. multiplier

Review Questions

Diodes and Applications

10. Which is not an application of clipper?

a. circuit transient protection
b.
the shape of the waveform
d.changing
oscillation
c. detection
d. oscillation

Review Questions

Diodes and Applications

11. What is another name for clamper?

a. slicer
b.
d.limiter
DC restorer
c. clipper
d. DC restorer

Review Questions

Diodes and Applications

12. Circuit that is used to produce a DC output

voltage that is some integral multiple of the
peak of the AC input voltage
a. integrator
b.
d.restorer
multiplier
c. differentiator
d. multiplier

Review Questions

Diodes and Applications

13. What is the process by which AC is converted

to pulsating DC?
a. charging
b.
b.rectification
rectification
c. filtering
d. clipping

Review Questions

Diodes and Applications

14. _________ is the output of a half wave

rectifier
a. half wave rectified signal
b. square
signalrectified
a.
half wave
wave
c. 100% AC signal
d. sinusoidal signal

signal

Review Questions

Diodes and Applications

15. How many diodes will you use to have a

basic half wave rectifier?
a. three
b.
d.four
one
c. two
d. one

Review Questions

Diodes and Applications

16. The four basic circuit blocks that make up a

power supply are
a. transformer, clipper, filter, regulator
b.
clamper, filter,
regulator filter, regulator
d.rectifier,
transformer,
rectifier,
c. transformer, rectifier, inverter, regulator
d. transformer, rectifier, filter, regulator

Review Questions

Diodes and Applications

17. What is the ideal voltage regulation of a

power supply?
a. 0%
b.
a.50%
0%
c. 100%
d. 1%

Review Questions

Diodes and Applications

18. It is a type of transformer whose secondary

voltage is equal to the primary voltage and
used to isolate electrically the power supply
from the AC power line thus protecting the
power supply and the technician who is
working on it
a. autotransformer
b.
down transformer
d.step
isolation
transformer
c. step up transformer
d. isolation transformer

Review Questions

Diodes and Applications

19. Find the direct current voltage from a full

wave rectifier with 120V peak rectified
voltage
a. 60V
b. 7.639V
c.
76.39V
c. 76.39V
d. 6.0V

Review Questions

Diodes and Applications

20. What is the maximum efficiency of a half

wave rectifier?
a. 50%
b.
b.40.6%
40.6%
c. 81.2%
d. 100%

Review Questions

Diodes and Applications

21. A half wave rectifier circuit utilizing one

half of an AC input cycle have a ripple
frequency in its output equivalent to
a. 60 cps
b. 120
a.
60cps
cps
c. 110 cps
d. 240 cps

Review Questions

Diodes and Applications

22. Find the ripple factor (kr) of sinusoidal signal

with peak ripple of 4V on an average of 30
a. 0.094
b.
a.0.013
0.094
c. 0.130
d. 0.940

Review Questions

Diodes and Applications

23. It the remaining variation in the output of a

power supply filter
a. residual voltage
b.
b.ripple
ripple
c. offset voltage
d. persistent voltage

Review Questions

Diodes and Applications

24. A DC voltage supply is measured at 50V and

drops to 45V when the load is connected.
What is the value of voltage regulation?
a. 5%
b.
d.50%
11.11%
c. 60%
d. 11.11%

Review Questions

Diodes and Applications

25.

How much voltage regulation

commercial power supply have?
a. 10%
b.
and above
d.10%
within
1%
c. 15% and above
d. within 1%

does

Review Questions

Diodes and Applications

26. What is the voltage regulation when the full

load voltage is the same as no load voltage
assuming a perfect voltage source?
a. 100%
b.
b.0%
0%
c. 1%
d. 10%

Review Questions

Diodes and Applications

27. _________ is a type of linear voltage used in

application where the load on the
unregulated voltage source must be kept
constant
a. a series regulator
b.
source
d.aaconstant
shuntcurrent
regulator
c. a shunt current source
d. a shunt regulator

Review Questions

Diodes and Applications

28. __________ is a type of linear regulator used

in applications requiring efficient utilization
of the primary power source
a. a series regulator
b.
regulator
a.aashunt
series
regulator
c. a constant current source
d. a shunt current source

Review Questions

Diodes and Applications

29. It is the sudden current and voltage spike

that has a small duration
a. transient
b.
a.Vtransient
rms
c. peak voltage
d. VDC

Review Questions

Diodes and Applications

30. It is the component that is used to provide a

discharge path for the capacitor in a voltage
multiplier if the load opens
a. discharging path
b.
circuit resistor
d.tuned
bleeder
c. inductive path
d. bleeder resistor

Review Questions

Diodes and Applications

31. How do you determine if a diode is

defective?
a. diode resistance is very low or very high on either
direction
a. diode
resistance is very low or
b. high current
very high on either direction
c. very low current
d. high voltage

Review Questions

Diodes and Applications

32. The term used to describe sudden reverse

conduction of an electronic component
cause by excess reverse voltage across the
device
a. cut off
b.
c.saturation
avalanche
c. avalanche
d. reversion

Review Questions

Diodes and Applications

33. How do zener diodes widely used?

a. current limiter
b.
resistors
c.variable
voltage
regulators
c. voltage regulators
d. power collectors

Review Questions

Diodes and Applications

34. __________ is a PN junction semiconductor

device that emits non coherent optical
radiation when biased in the forward
direction, as a result of a recombination
effect.
a. LASER
b. JUGPET
c.
LED
c. LED
d. optical cavity

Review Questions

Diodes and Applications

35. What type of bias is required for an LED to

produce luminescence?
a. reverse bias
b.
bias
c.zero
forward
bias
c. forward bias
d. inductive bias

Review Questions

Diodes and Applications

36. What special type of diode is capable of both

amplification and oscillation?
a. point contact diode
b.
diode
d.junction
tunnel
diode
c. zener diode
d. tunnel diode

Review Questions

Diodes and Applications

37. Which is the principal characteristic of a

tunnel diode?
a. a very high PIV
b.
forward current
rating
d.aahigh
negative
resistance
region
c. a high forward resistance
d. a negative resistance region

Review Questions

Diodes and Applications

38. A high speed diode with very small junction

capacitance
a. silicon diode
b.
b.schottky
schottky
c. germanium diode
d. tunnel

Review Questions

Diodes and Applications

39. Which is the principal characteristic of a

varactor diode?
a. it has a very high PIV
b. itits
hasinternal
a negative region
c.
capacitance varies with
c. its internal capacitance varies with the applied
the
applied voltage
voltage
d. it has a constant voltage under conditions of
varying current

Review Questions

Diodes and Applications

40. It is the factor by which the capacitance of

the varactor changes from one special value
of reverse voltage to another
a. capacitance factor
b. variance
factor
c.
capacitance
ratio
c. capacitance ratio
d. reactance factor

Review Questions

Diodes and Applications

41. A varactor diode with a high capacitance

ratio can be used in
a. tuning fork
b.
tuning
b.coarse
coarse
tuning
c. phase tuning
d. fine tuning

Review Questions

Diodes and Applications

42. It is a kind of a tuning circuit that is used to

vary the value of the resonant frequency
over a wide range of frequencies
a. resonant circuit
b.
wide circuit
d.band
coarse
tuning circuit
c. fine tuning circuit
d. coarse tuning circuit

Review Questions

Diodes and Applications

43. It is a diode whose central material is made

up of intrinsic silicon sandwiched by p and n
type materials
a. PIN
b. zener
a.
PIN
c. schottky
d. tunnel

Review Questions

Diodes and Applications

44. Type of diode that is made of metal whisker

touching a very small semiconductor die
a. a junction diode
c.
point diode
contact diode
b. varactor
c. point contact diode
d. zener diode

Review Questions

Diodes and Applications

45. It is a circuit that uses two diodes to provide

DC output voltage equal to twice the AC
voltage
a. voltage doubler
b. voltage
regulator
a.
voltage
doubler
c. voltage multiplier
d. all of these

Review Questions

Diodes and Applications

46. Without a DC source, a clipper acts like a

a. rectifier
b.
a.clamper
rectifier
c. demodulator
d. chopper

Review Questions

Diodes and Applications

47. The main job of a voltage regulator is to

provide a nearly __________ output voltage
a. sinusoidal
b.
b.constant
constant
c. smooth
d. fluctuating

Review Questions

Diodes and Applications

48. The average value of a half wave rectified

voltage with a peak value of 200V is
a. 63.7V
b.
a.127.3V
63.7V
c. 141V
d. 0V

Review Questions

Diodes and Applications

49. When the peak output voltage is 100V the

PIV for each diode in the center tapped full
wave rectifier is (neglecting the diode drop)
a. 100V
b.
b.200V
200V
c. 141V
d. 50V

Review Questions

Diodes and Applications

50. When the rms output voltage of a full wave

bridge rectifier is 20V, the peak inverse
voltage across the diodes is (neglecting the
diode drop)
a. 20V
b.
c.40V
28.3V
c. 28.3V
d. 56.6V

Review Questions

Diodes and Applications

51. If the input voltage to a voltage tripler has an

rms value of 12V, the DC output voltage is
approximately
a. 36V
b.
b.50.9V
50.9V
c. 33.9V
d. 32.4V

Review Questions

Diodes and Applications

52. A transformer giving secondary voltage of 9V

rms is used in a half wave rectifier circuit.
The peak inverse voltage across the diodes is
a. 9V
b. 13V
b.
13V
c. 18V
d. 26V

Review Questions

Diodes and Applications

53. A certain power supply filter produces an

output with a ripple of 100mV peak to
peak and a DC value of 20V. The ripple factor
is
a. 0.05
b.
b.0.005
0.005
c. 0.00005
d. 0.02

Review Questions

Diodes and Applications

54. The ripple of a filter output voltage with the

following output signal measurement of
VDC = 30V and Vrms = 1.5V is
a. 9.5%
b. 95%
c.
5%
c. 5%
d. 50%

Review Questions

Diodes and Applications

55. Find the voltage regulation giving a DC

voltage of 67V without load and with full
load current drawn the output voltage drops
to 42V.
a. 59.5%
a.
59.5%
b. 62.7%
c. 15.9%
d. 32.5%