Lab 1 EE 2005 Electronic Devices and Circuits Week 6

Name: Lab Session: Score: / 10

Lab 2: Diode properties and application

INTRODUCTION:
The lab aims to (i) study the basic diode properties, (ii) measure its VI characteristic, and (iii) apply diodes to rectify
an AC signal into a DC signal. Besides, the lab provides the opportunities to use (i) signal generator, (ii) oscilloscope
(DSO), (iii) power supply, and (iv) digital multimeter (DMM) to analyses various signals in diode circuits.

Learning outcomes
 Identify the basic diode properties
 Measure the VI characteristic of a diode
 Apply diodes to rectify an ac signal into a dc signal.

REQUIRED MATERIALS:
Hardware:
1) Signal Generator 2) Digital multimeter (DMM) 3) Power supply 4) Oscilloscope

Components:
1) Pack of components (resistors, diodes and Light-emitting diode (LED)) 2) Breadboard

LAB TASK 1: Study the "ON" and "OFF" mode of a diode

In this part, we use a LED to visualize the "ON" and "OFF" modes of a diode. LED is one type of diode which shares
the same properties as an ordinary diode. When an LED is "ON," you observe the LED light up, implying it is forward-
biased. On the contrary, when an LED is "OFF," you watch the LED not light up, indicating it is reversed-biased.
Observing whether an LED lights up or not lets us know whether a diode is forward-biased "ON" or reversed-biased
"OFF."

(a) (b)

Fig. 1(a) Circuit for lab task 1 Fig. 1 (b) Pin identification of a LED
(R is an unknown resistor to be distributed in the lab.)

Measured the resistor value R: _____________________

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Lab 1 EE 2005 Electronic Devices and Circuits Week 6

Procedures:

1) Turn OFF the power supply and keep to voltage control knob fully counter-clockwise (minimum voltage output)
2) Connect the circuit as shown in Fig. 1(a) using a breadboard. Please note the pin identification of the RED LED as
shown in Fig. 1(b).
3) Connect the terminal "a" and "b" of Fig. 1(a) to the positive and negative output of a power supply, respectively.
4) Turn ON the power supply and gradually increase the power supply's output voltage from 0V to 5V (max).
5) Measure the supply voltage using a DMM at which the LED starts lighting up.
6) Measure the voltage across the resistor R using a DMM and then calculate the current through R using ohm's law.
7) After taking all the readings mentioned above, reverse the pin connection of the LED in the circuit
8) Observe the brightness of the LED.
9) Measure the voltage across the resistor R using a DMM and then calculate the current through R.
10) Records all the measured data in the table below and show them to your TA.
11) Discuss ALL your observation related to the property of a diode.

Results:
Table 1
Power supply output, (V), when Measured Voltage Calculated Current Is the LED "ON"
the LED starts to light up across R (V) through R (mA) or "OFF"?

LED is ON

Power supply output, (V), when

Measured Voltage Calculated Current Is the LED "ON"
the LED's pin is reversed in the
across R (V) through R (mA) or "OFF"?
circuit.

Check Points: Complete Table 1 and show it to your TA.

Observations and discussions

Hint: Items to be discussed in this session

• How the voltage across the LED and its current change when it is “ON” and “OFF”? Can you relate to the forward
and reverse biased on condition?
• Can you estimate the LED turn “ON” voltage?

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 Lab 1 EE 2005 Electronic Devices and Circuits Week 6
LAB TASK 2: MEASURING THE VI CHARACTERISTIC OF A DIODE
After observing the "ON" and "OFF" properties, we will measure the VI characteristic of an ordinary diode and show it
on the graph below. In this part, we follow similar procedures as mentioned in Task 1, but we use a standard diode this
time.

(a) (b)

Fig. 2(a) Circuit for lab task 2 Fig. 2 (b) Pin identification of a diode
(R is the same used in Task 1)

Procedures:
1) Turn OFF the power supply and keep to voltage control knob fully counter-clockwise (minimum voltage output)
2) Connect the circuit as shown in Fig. 2(a) using a breadboard. Please note the ordinary diode's pin identification as
shown in Fig. 1(b).
3) Then connect the terminal "a" and "b" of Fig. 2(a) to the positive and negative output of a power supply, respectively.
4) Turn On the power supply and gradually increase the power supply's output voltage from 0V to 5V (max) in a step
of 0.5V.
5) For each step, measure the power supply voltage and the across R using a DMM. Then calculate the corresponding
current through the resistor R using ohm's law.
6) Record the measured data in Table 2a below.
7) Then reverse the pins connection of the diode in the circuit and repeat steps (4) and (5).
8) Record the measured data in Table 2b below.
9) Combine the data obtained in both tables below, plot the diode current ID against diode voltage VD (-5V to 5V) on
the graph paper provided below. Show your graph to your demonstrator. You may use Excel to help you in plotting
the graph
10) Discuss your observation and write your conclusions

Results

Tabulate all your results of step (5) in Table 2a below (forward-biased case)

Table 2a
The voltage
Power supply Measured Voltage Calculated Current Current through
across the diode
output, VS (V) across R, VR (V) through R, IR (mA/uA) the diode ID (mA)
VD (V)

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 Lab 1 EE 2005 Electronic Devices and Circuits Week 6

Tabulate all your results of step (7) in Table 2b below (reversed biased case)

Table 2b
The voltage
Power supply Measured Voltage Calculated Current Current through
across the diode
output, VS (V) across R, VR (V) through R, IR (mA/uA) the diode ID (mA)
VD (V)

Plot the VI characteristic of the diode in the below graph paper according to the instruction in step (9)

Check Points:

1) Complete Table 2a and 2b

2) Plot a graph (ID vs VD) in steps (9) using Table 2 data. Label the diode forwarded biased and reversed biased
region in the graph. Show the graph to your TA.
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Lab 1 EE 2005 Electronic Devices and Circuits Week 6

Observations and discussions

Hint: Items to be discussed in this session

• Describe the VI characteristic of diode based on the result in table 2a and 2b, and the graph.
How it relates to the forward and reverse biased condition of a diode?
• What is the minimum voltage required to turn ON the diode?

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LAB TASK 3: APPLY DIODES TO RECTIFY AC SIGNAL INTO DC SIGNAL

In Task 3, we will have two sub-tasks (Task 3a and Task 3b) which study the rectify mechanism of a half-wave
(Fig.3a) and full-wave Bridge rectifier (Fig. 3b), respectively.

R
1 KHz
1 KHz

RL

g
gg

Fig. 3a – Half-wave Rectifier Fig. 3b – Full-wave (Bridge) Rectifier

Task 3a

Procedure.
1) Connect the circuit as shown in Fig. 3a. RL = 10KΩ.
2) Apply a 1KHz sinusoidal signal of 5.0Vp at Vs.
3) Display the waveform at Vag and Vbg using the both channels of the DSO.
4) Sketch the waveforms seen on the lab sheet.
5) Compare the waveform. (Show the waveforms to your TA)
6) Measure the DC voltage across the resistor RL using a DMM.
7) Connect a 10uF capacitor (the positive end should be connected to node d) across the resistor RL. Record any
change to DSO waveform across the resistor.
8) Under the situation in step (7), repeat step (6). Is there any change in the DC voltage readings?

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Lab 1 EE 2005 Electronic Devices and Circuits Week 6

Sketch the waveforms seen in step (4) Sketch the waveforms seen in step (7)

Measured DC voltage at step (6) ____________________________

Measured DC voltage at step (8) ____________________________

Check Points: Show the result in steps (3), (7), and (8) to TA.

Observations and discussions:

Hint: Items to be discussed in this session

• Explain the observations in step (4), and step (7) respectively
• Discuss the results in step (6) and step (8)
• What is the main function of the diode in the circuit?

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Lab 1 EE 2005 Electronic Devices and Circuits Week 6

Task 3b (bonus) – you can do this part if you still have time.

Procedure
1) Connect the circuit as shown in Fig. 3b. RL = 10KΩ.
2) Apply a 1KHz sinusoidal signal of 5.0Vp at Vs.
3) Display the waveform at Vcg and Vdg using channel 1 and channel 2 of the DSO, respectively.
4) Sketch the waveforms seen on the lab sheet.
5) Set the DSO function to subtract channels 1 and 2, record the waveform observed, and show it to TA. Explain your
observation by comparing the waveform of Vbg in Task 3a, step (3).

Sketch the waveforms seen in step (4) Sketch the waveforms seen in step (5)

Check Points: Show the waveforms in steps (3) and (5) to TA.

Observations and discussions

Hint: Items to be discussed in this session

• Compare and discuss the waveforms seen at step (3)

• Compare and discuss observation in step (5)

/ 2 (bonus)