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Diode Equivalent Circuits

An equivalent circuit uses circuit elements to represent the characteristics of a device. A diode is "on" if current flows in the direction of the arrow, with a voltage drop of 0.7V for silicon. In a series diode configuration, if the diode is on, the voltage across the resistor VR is the supply voltage minus the diode voltage drop. If the diode is reversed, it acts as an open circuit so the current and voltage across the resistor are both 0V. Solving circuit problems involves applying Kirchhoff's laws to determine voltages and currents.

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123 views3 pages

Diode Equivalent Circuits

An equivalent circuit uses circuit elements to represent the characteristics of a device. A diode is "on" if current flows in the direction of the arrow, with a voltage drop of 0.7V for silicon. In a series diode configuration, if the diode is on, the voltage across the resistor VR is the supply voltage minus the diode voltage drop. If the diode is reversed, it acts as an open circuit so the current and voltage across the resistor are both 0V. Solving circuit problems involves applying Kirchhoff's laws to determine voltages and currents.

Uploaded by

sean ballocanag
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Lesson 3P

Diode Equivalent Circuits

An equivalent circuit is a combination of elements properly chosen to best represent the actual
terminal characteristics of a device, system, or such in a particular operating region.

Series Diode Configurations with DC Inputs

Series Diode Configuration

In general, a diode is in the “on” state if the current established by the applied sources is such that
its direction matches that of the arrow in the diode symbol, and VD ≥ 0.7 V for silicon and VD ≥ 0.3 V for the
germanium.
VR = E - VT
𝑉
ID = IR = 𝑅
𝑅

Reversing the Diode

The diode has been reversed. The resulting current direction does not match the arrow in the diode
symbol. The diode is in the “off” state. Due to the open circuit, the diode current is 0 A and the voltage
across the resistor R is the following.
VR =IRR =IDR = (0A)R = 0 V

Supplementary Problem
1. For the series diode configuration, determine VD, VR, and ID.
Solution:
Since the applied voltage establishes a current in the clockwise direction to match the arrow of the
symbol and the diode is in the “on” state,

VD = 0.7 V
Applying KVL:
E - VD - VR = 0
VR = E – VD = 8V – 0.7 V = 7.3 V
𝑉 7.3 𝑉
ID = IR = 𝑅𝑅 = 2.2 𝑘𝛺 ≅ 3.32 mA
2. Repeat Problem 1 with the diode reversed.

Solution:

Removing the diode, we find that the direction of I is opposite to the arrow in the diode symbol and
the diode equivalent is the open circuit no matter which model is employed. I D = 0 A due to the open
circuit. Since VR =IRR, VR = (0)R = 0 V. Applying Kirchhoff’s voltage law around the closed loop yields

E – VD – VR = 0
VD = E – VR = E – 0 = E = 8 V

3. Determine VO and ID for the series circuit shown.

Solution: Applying KVL:


E - 𝑉𝑇1 - 𝑉𝑇2 - VO = 0
VO = E - 𝑉𝑇1 - 𝑉𝑇2 = 12 V – 0.7 V – 0.3 V = 11 V
𝑉𝑅 𝑉𝑜 11 𝑉
ID = IR = = = = 1.96 mA
𝑅 𝑅 5.6 𝑘𝛺

4. Determine I, V1, V2, and VO for the series dc configuration.

Applying KVL: 𝐸1 − 𝐼𝑅1 − 𝑉𝐷 − 𝐼𝑅2 + 𝐸2 = 0


𝐸1 − 𝐼(𝑅1 + 𝑅2 ) − 𝑉𝐷 + 𝐸2 = 0
𝐸1 − 𝑉𝐷 + 𝐸2 = 𝐼(𝑅1 + 𝑅2 )

The resulting current throgh the circuit is,

𝐸1 + 𝐸2 −𝑉𝐷 10 𝑉+5𝑉−0.7 𝑉 14.3


𝐼= = = = 2.072 𝑚𝐴
𝑅1 +𝑅2 4.7 𝑘𝛺 + 2.2 𝑘𝛺 6.9 𝑘𝛺
and the voltages are
V1 = IR1 = (2.072 mA) (4.7 kΩ) = 9.74 V
V2 = IR2 = (2.072 mA) (2.2 kΩ) = 4.56 V
Applying Kirchhoff’s voltage law to the output section in the clockwise direction will result in
-E2 + V2 – V0 = 0
and V0 = V2 – E2 = 4.56 V – 5 V = -0.44 V
The negative sign indicates that V0 has polarity opposite to that appearing in the figure.

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