Ele 225

Analog Electronics I
Lec. 2

Diodes
Dr. Abusabah I. A. Ahmed

[email protected]

1
Lecture Outline
 Introduction.
 Diode Types.
 Applications.
 Examples.
 Problems.

2
Introduction
 PN junction diode is nonlinear circuit elements and
many signal processing function need it e.g. signal
rectification .
 The diode is the simplest and most fundamental non-
linear circuit element.
 Like a resistor, it has two terminals.
 Unlike a resistor, it has a non-linear current-voltage
characteristics.

3
Types of diode

4
Optical Diodes
 There are two popular types of optoelectronic
devices:
 light-emitting diode (LED) and photodiode.
LED is diode that emits light when biased in the
forward direction of p-n junction.

Anode Cathode

5
Optical Diodes

LED characteristics:
characteristic curves are very similar to those for p-n
junction diodes
higher forward voltage (VF)
lower reverse breakdown voltage (VBR).
6
Optical Diodes
Application
The seven segment display is an example of LEDs use for
display of decimal digits.

7
The Schottky Diode
 The Schottky diode’s significant characteristic is its fast switching
speed.
 This is useful for high frequencies and digital applications.
 It is not a typical diode in that it does not have a p-n junction.
 Instead, it consists of a doped semiconductor (usually n-type) and
metal bound together.

8
Zener Diode
Zener diode is a p-n junction diode that is designed to
operate in the reverse breakdown region.
Two things happen when the reverse breakdown voltage
(VBR) is reached:
The diode current increases drastically.
The reverse voltage (VR) across the diode remains
relatively constant.
In other words, the voltage across a zener diode operated in
this region is relatively constant over a range of reverse
current and nearly equal to its zener voltage (VZ) rating.

9
Zener Diode

Cathode (K) K

VZ
IZ
−
Anode (A) A
VBR

10
 Zener Diode
Ideal Zener Equivalent Circuits
IF

VR
VZ VF

IR

Ideal model and characteristic curve of a zener diode in

reverse breakdown.
The constant voltage drop = the nominal zener
voltage.
11
 Zener Diode
Practical Zener Equivalent Circuits

Practical model and

characteristic curve
of a zener diode,
where the zener
impedance
(resistance), ZZ is
included.

12
Specifications
1. Line frequency diodes: For low frequency rectifications.
 On-state voltage very low (below 1V).
 Large reverse recovery time trr (about 25 μs).
 Very high current (up to 6 kA) and voltage (8 kV) ratings.
 Used in line-frequency (50/60 Hz) applications such as
rectifiers.
Slow recovery, as illustrated below.

13
Specifications
2. Fast and ultra-fast recovery diode: For high frequency rectifications.
 Very low trr (< 1 μs).
 Power levels at several hundred volts and several hundred
amperes.
Normally used in high frequency circuits.

3. Schottky diode: These are based on metal-semiconductor junctions.

 These junctions have a lower junction potential leading to a lower forward voltage
drop.
 Silicon-based Schottky power diodes have forward voltage drop ranging from 0.3
to 0.6 V,
 Can withstand reverse voltages up to 200 V. As opposed to PN junction diodes,
Schottkys are majority carrier devices, so they do not have any reverse recovery.
 They are used in low voltage, high current application such as switched-mode
power supplies.

14
Diode parameters
DC diode parameters
The most important parameters of a power diode are the following:
 Forward voltage VF is the voltage drop of a diode across A and K at
a defined current level when it is forward biased.
 Breakdown voltage VBR is the voltage drop across the diode at a defined current
level when it is beyond reverse-biased level. This is known as avalanche.
 Reverse current IR is the current at a particular voltage, and which is below the
breakdown voltage.

AC diode parameters
Forward recovery time tFR is the time required for the diode voltage to drop to a
particular value after the forward current starts to flow.
 Reverse recovery time trr is the time interval between the application of reverse
voltage and the reverse current dropped to 0.25 of Irm (reverse maximum current).

15
Applications of Diode circuit
 Rectifier circuit.
 Half-wave rectifier.
Full-wave rectifier.
 Clippers.

16
Applications of Diode circuit
Half Wave Rectifier

A rectifier is an device which converts alternative current

into direct current and this process is called rectification.

Half Wave Rectifier is the simplest type of rectifier, which is made

with just one diode.
 When the voltage of the alternating current is positive, the diode
becomes forward-biased and current flows through it.
 When the voltage is negative, the diode is reverse-biased and the
current stops.

17
Applications of Diode circuit
Half-Wave Rectifier

For this configuration, the diode will conducts

(becomes forward biased) whenever the supply
voltage vS is positive. This means that, during
the positive half cycle, (0 < ωt < π), The diode
conducts and behaves like a closed switch
connecting the supply to the load. Current

io will flow through the load with value io= vo / R and since the load is
resistive, the load current waveform will be replica of the voltage waveform.
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Applications of Diode circuit
Half-Wave Rectifier

Since the load is resistive, therefore the load voltage and current are in phase and
they are related by io = vo / R. Consequently, the average value of the load current Idc
is:

The output d.c. power is given by:

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Applications of Diode circuit
Half-Wave Rectifier
Example-1
An ideal single-phase source, 240 V, 50 Hz, supplies power to a load resistor R = 100 Ω
via a single ideal diode.
(a) Calculate the output values of the load current and the power.
(b) What must be the rating of the diode?

Solution 𝑉
∗
=108V

The output power is given by :

𝑃 𝑉 *𝐼 =108*1.08=116.64 W
The diode must be rated in terms of a peak reverse voltage and a mean forward current.

Diode PRV =
20

20
Applications of Diode circuit
Full Wave Rectifier
Bridge Rectifier,

21

21
Applications of Diode circuit
Full Wave Rectifier

Example-2
For the single-phase, full-wave, uncontrolled rectifier, the supply voltage is 110 V,
50 Hz. The load resistor is 25 Ω, calculate:
(a) The values of the output voltage and current.
(b) The DC. power consumed by the load (Pdc) .
(c) Sketch the appropriate load voltage and diode voltage waveforms.

Solution

22

22
Applications of Diode circuit
Full Wave Rectifier

23

23
Applications of Diode circuit
Clippers Circuits
The clipper circuits are generally categorized into three types: series
clippers, shunt clippers and dual (combination) clippers. In series
clippers, the diode is connected in series with the output load
resistance. In shunt clippers, the diode is connected in parallel with the
output load resistance.

The Diode Clipper, also known as a Diode Limiter, is a wave

shaping circuit that takes an input waveform and clips or cuts off
its top half, bottom half or both halves together.

24
Applications of Diode circuit
Positive Diode Clipping Circuits
In this diode clipping circuit, the diode is forward biased (anode more positive than
cathode) during the positive half cycle of the sinusoidal input waveform. For the
diode to become forward biased, it must have the input voltage magnitude greater
than +0.7 volts (0.3 volts for a germanium diode).

When this happens the diodes begins to conduct and holds the voltage across itself
constant at 0.7V until the sinusoidal waveform falls below this value. Thus the
output voltage which is taken across the diode can never exceed 0.7 volts during
the positive half cycle.

25
Applications of Diode circuit
Negative Diode Clipping Circuits
Here the reverse is true. The diode is forward biased during the negative half cycle
of the sinusoidal waveform and limits or clips it to –0.7 volts while allowing the
positive half cycle to pass unaltered when reverse biased. As the diode limits the
negative half cycle of the input voltage it is therefore called a negative clipper
circuit.

26
Applications of Diode circuit
Clipping of Both Half Cycles
If we connected two diodes in inverse parallel as shown, then both the positive and
negative half cycles would be clipped as diode D1 clips the positive half cycle of
the sinusoidal input waveform while diode D2 clips the negative half cycle. Then
diode clipping circuits can be used to clip the positive half cycle, the negative half
cycle or both.

27
Applications of Diode circuit
Biased Diode Clipping Circuits
To produce diode clipping circuits for voltage waveforms at different levels, a bias
voltage, VBIAS is added in series with the diode to produce a combination clipper as
shown. The voltage across the series combination must be greater
than VBIAS + 0.7V before the diode becomes sufficiently forward biased to conduct.
For example, if the VBIAS level is set at 4.0 volts, then the sinusoidal voltage at the
diode’s anode terminal must be greater than 4.0 + 0.7 = 4.7 volts for it to become
forward biased. Any anode voltage levels above this bias point are clipped off.

28
Applications of Diode circuit
Biased Diode Clipping Circuits
Positive Bias Diode Clipping

Negative Bias Diode Clipping

29
Problems
1. An ideal single-phase source, 240 V, 50 Hz, supplies power to a load resistor
R = 50 Ω via a single ideal diode.
(a) Calculate the output values of the load current and the power dissipation.
(b) What must be the rating of the diode?
2. For the single-phase, full-wave, uncontrolled rectifier, the supply voltage is 130
V, 50 Hz. The load resistor is 18 Ω, calculate:
(a) The values of the output voltage and current.
(b) The DC. power consumed by the load (Pdc) .
(c) Sketch the appropriate load voltage and diode voltage waveforms.

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