8/22/2005 The Junction Diode Forward Bias Equation.

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The Junction Diode

Forward Bias Equation
In forward bias, we have learned that the diode current iD can
be related to the diode voltage vD using the following
approximation:

⎛ vD nVT ⎞ vD
iD = IS ⎜ e − 1 ⎟ ≈ IS e nVT ,
⎝ ⎠

provided that vD  25 mV .

We can invert this approximation to alternatively express vD in

terms of diode current iD:

vD

IS e nVT
= iD
vD
iD
e nVT
=
IS
vD ⎛i ⎞
= ln ⎜ D ⎟
nVT ⎝ IS ⎠
⎛ iD ⎞
vD = nVT ln ⎜ ⎟
⎝ IS ⎠

Jim Stiles The Univ. of Kansas Dept. of EECS

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Now, say a voltage v1 across some junction diode results in a

current i1. Likewise, different voltage v2 across this same diode
a diode of course results in a different current i2. We can
define the difference between these two voltages as
∆v = v2 − v1 , and then using the above equation can express this
voltage difference as:

∆v = v 2 − v 1
⎛i ⎞ ⎛ i ⎞
= nVT ln ⎜ 2 ⎟ − nVT ln ⎜ 1 ⎟
⎝ IS ⎠ ⎝ IS ⎠
⎛i I ⎞
= nVT ln ⎜ 2 S ⎟
⎝ IS i1 ⎠
⎛i ⎞
∆v = nVT ln ⎜ 2 ⎟
⎝ i1 ⎠

Yikes! Look at what this equation says:

* The difference in the two voltages is dependent on

the ratio of the two currents.

* This voltage difference is independent of scale

current Is.

We can likewise invert the above equation and express the ratio
of the two currents in terms of the difference of the two
voltages:

Jim Stiles The Univ. of Kansas Dept. of EECS

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⎡i ⎤
nVT ln ⎢ 2 ⎥ =v2 − v1
⎣ i1 ⎦
⎡i ⎤ (v − v )
ln ⎢ 2 ⎥ = 2 1
⎣ i1 ⎦ nVT
i2 ⎡ (v − v ) ⎤
= exp ⎢ 2 1 ⎥
i1 ⎣ nVT ⎦

Again, we find that this expression is independent of scale

current Is.

Q: Stop wasting my time with

these pointless derivations!
Are these expressions even
remotely useful !?!

A: These expressions are often very useful! Frequently,

instead of explicitly providing device parameters n and Is, a
junction diode is specified by stating n, and then a statement of
the specific diode current resulting from a specific diode
voltage.

For example, a junction diode might be specified as:

“A junction diode with n =1 pulls 2mA of current at a

voltage vD=0.6 V.”

Jim Stiles The Univ. of Kansas Dept. of EECS

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The above statement completely specifies the performance of

this particular junction diode—we can now determine the
current flowing through this diode for any other value of diode
voltage vD. Likewise, we can find the voltage across the diode
for any other diode current value iD.

For example, say we wish to find the current through the

junction diode specified above when a potential difference of
vD=0.7 V is placed across it. We have two options for finding
this current:

Option 1:

We know that n=1 and that iD=2mA when vD=0.6 V. Thus, we can
use this information to solve for scale current Is:

vD

IS e nVT
= iD
0.6
IS e 0.025
=2
−0.6
IS = 2 e 0.025

IS = 7.55 x10 −11 mA

Now, we use the forward-biased junction diode equation to

determine the current through this device at the new voltage of
vD=0.7 V:
vD

iD = IS e nVT

0.7
= ( 7.55 x10 −11
)e 0.025

= 109.2 mA

Jim Stiles The Univ. of Kansas Dept. of EECS

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Option 2

Here, we directly determine the current at vD = 0.7 using one of

the expressions derived earlier in this handout! Using i1=2 mA,
v1 =0.6, and v2 =0.7 V we can find current i2 as:

i2 ⎡ (v − v ) ⎤
= exp ⎢ 2 1 ⎥
i1 ⎣ nVT ⎦
⎡ (v2 − v1 ) ⎤
i2 = i1 exp ⎢ ⎥
⎣ nVT ⎦
⎡ (0.7 − 0.6) ⎤
= 2 exp ⎢ ⎥
⎣ 0.025 ⎦
= 109.2 mA

Option 2 (using the equations we derived in this handout) is

obviously quicker and easier (note in option 2 we did not have to
deal with annoying numbers like 7.55 x 10-11 !).

Finally, we should also note that junction diodes are often

specified simply as “ a 2mA diode” or “a 10 mA diode” or “a 100
mA diode”. These statement implicitly provide the diode
current at the standard diode test voltage of vD=0.7 V.

Q: But what about the

value of junction diode
idealty factor n ?

Jim Stiles The Univ. of Kansas Dept. of EECS

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A: If no value of n is provided (and there is not sufficient

information given to determine it), we typically just assume that
n =1.

For example, consider the following problem:

“Determine the voltage across a 100 mA junction

diode when there is 2 mA of current flowing through
it.”

A “100 mA junction diode” simply means a junction diode

that will have a current of 100 mA flowing through it
(iD=100 mA) if the voltage across it is vD=0.7 V. We will
assume that n=1, since no other information about that
parameter was given.

Thus, using v1 =0.7, i1 =100mA, and i2 =2 mA, we can

determine the value of v2:

⎛i ⎞
v2 − v1 = nVT ln ⎜ 2 ⎟
⎝ i1 ⎠
⎛ 2 ⎞
v2 − 0.7 = ( 0.025 ) ln ⎜ ⎟
⎝ 100 ⎠
v2 = 0.7 − 0.10
= 0.60 V

EXCELENT!

Jim Stiles The Univ. of Kansas Dept. of EECS