LABORATORY 4

EXAMINE APPLICATION OF DIODE

OBJECTIVES:
✓ Know how to use Analog Discovery Studio Kit and Software, Lab Instrument.
✓ Understand some application of diode: rectifier, clipper, ….

PREPARATION:
✓ Understand LAB0 and get the prelab done before coming to the LAB session.

EXPERIMENT 1:
OBJECTIVES:
In this lab assignment, we will examine a application - the half wave rectifier circuit
using diode. We will examine two types of load (with and without RC filter).

PROCEDURES:
✓ First, construct the circuit shown in Fig. 1, using R = 2155  (first, we DO NOT use
capacitor C). (As always, measure the actual resistance value).

✓ Use Analog Discovery Software to create a SINE wave with an amplitude of 2V and
an offset of 0V, use a frequency at 50Hz. Record an image of the oscilloscope
window, showing the resistor voltage vR(t) and input voltage vin(t).

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Fig. 1: Circuit for examining diode in forward bias.

✓ Second, add capacitor C = 50 µF to the circuit. Record an image of the oscilloscope

window, showing the resistor voltage vR(t) and input voltage vin(t).

CHECK:
✓ In first case, sketch to this worksheet an image of the oscilloscope window, showing
both input voltage and the resistor voltage waveform of the circuit (without using
capacitor C).

✓ Explain why we have this waveform?

The orange waveform is the input voltage Vin, and the blue waveform is the resistor
voltage VR
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During the positive half-cycle of the input waveform, the diode is forward-biased and
is conducting electricity. The output voltage across the load resistor is lesser than
the input voltage by 0.5 V because of the voltage drop from the diode. During the
negative half-cycle of the input waveform, the diode is reverse-biased and does not
conduct

✓ From image of oscilloscope window, read the amplitude of Vin and VR (the peak-peak
value)? Explain how to read this value?

VPP = Difference between the highest peak and the lowest peak of the waveform.

VPPin = 4 V

VPPR = 1.5 V

In second case, sketch to this worksheet an image of the oscilloscope window,

showing both input voltage and the resistor voltage waveform of the circuit.

✓ Explain why we have this waveform?

During the positive half-cycle of the input voltage, the diode conducts and allows
current to flow through the resistor and charges the capacitor.
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During the negative half-cycle, the diode is reverse-biased, and no current flows
through the circuit and the capacitor discharges slowly.

✓ Calculate Vripple of resistor voltage by using waveform observed from oscillocope?

Vripple = VRmax – VRmin = 1.378 – 1.252 = 0.124V

✓ Change R or C, how do resistor voltage change? Giving answer in two case: keep R
= const, change C and the opposite case.

Case 1: keep R, change C from 50 to 23 µF, Vripple = 0.37

Case 2: keep C, change R from 2155 to 3219 ohm, Vripple=0.139

Case 1

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Case 2:

EXPERIMENT 2:
OBJECTIVES:
In this lab assignment, we will examine the full wave rectifier circuit using diode. We
examine two types of load (with and without RC filter).

PROCEDURES:
✓ First, construct the circuit shown in Fig. 2, using R = 2155  (first, we DO NOT use
capacitor C). (As always, measure the actual resistance value; measure the
capacitance value if you have the appropriated instrument).

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Fig. 2: Models of physical approaches to reducing applied voltage.

✓ Use Analog Discovery Software to create a SINE wave with an amplitude of 2V and
an offset of 0V, use a frequency at 50Hz. Record an image of the oscilloscope
window, showing the resistor voltage vR(t) and input voltage vin(t).

✓ Second, add capacitor C = 22µF to the circuit and then record an image of the
oscilloscope window, showing the resistor voltage vR(t) and input voltage vin(t). (You
may need to observe one channel at each time).

CHECK:
✓ From observed image of the oscilloscope window, explain why we have this
waveform?

Because in both the positive and the negative half cycle, the currents flow through 2
out of 4 diodes to contribute to the DC voltage across the load resistor.

✓ In first case, sketch to this worksheet an image of the oscilloscope window, showing
both input voltage and the resistor voltage waveform of the circuit (without using
capacitor C).

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✓ From image of oscilloscope window, read the amplitude of V in and VR (the peak-peak
value)? Explain how to read this value?

Vin=4 V

VR=0.93V

✓ If we exchange two poles of Vin, does anything change in resistor voltage waveform?
Explain why?

Exchanging the two poles of the input AC voltage doesn't change the waveform of
the resistor voltage. Because when exchanging the poles, the positive and negative
half-cycles are simply reversed and in each half-cycle the current still only flows
through 2 diodes.

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✓ In second case, sketch to this worksheet an image of the oscilloscope window,
showing both input voltage and the resistor voltage waveform of the circuit (using
capacitor C).

✓ Calculate Vripple of resistor voltage by using waveform observed from oscillocope?

With the same value of R and C, which Vripple is smaller than between two types of
rectifier circuit?

Vripple=0.106V

Vripple of the full-wave rectifier circuit is smaller than that of the half-wave rectifier
circuit.

✓ In practical, where do we need rectifier circuit?

Using a rectifier in the power supply helps in converting AC to DC power supply. It is

used on electronic devices like laptops, smartphones, and many household
appliances. EXPERIMENT 3
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OBJECTIVES:
In this lab assignment, we continue to examine the clipper circuit using diode. We use
sine wave voltage source and observe output voltage waveform. We examine the
relationship between input voltage and output voltage.

PROCEDURES:

Fig. 3: Clipper circuit using two diode.

✓ Construct the circuit shown in Fig. 3, using R = 470. (As always, measure the
actual resistance value).

✓ Use power supplies on Analog Discovery Software and Kit to supply Vi (SINE wave
with an amplitude of 5V and an offset of 0V, use a frequency at 50Hz) and DC
voltage V1 and V2 for the circuit.

✓ First, set V1 = V2 = 0V. Record an image of the oscilloscope window, showing the
output voltage vout(t) and input voltage vin(t).

✓ Second, set V1 = 1V and V2 = 0,5V. Record an image of the oscilloscope window,

showing the output voltage vout(t) and input voltage vin(t).

CHECK:
✓ In first case, sketch to this worksheet an image of the oscilloscope window, showing
both input and output voltage waveform for the circuit of Fig. 3.
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✓ Explain why we have this output voltage waveform?

The input voltage is the blue line and output voltage is the orange line.

• During the positive half-cycle of the input waveform:

- Diode D1 becomes forward-biased and conducts.

- Diode D2 is reverse-biased and does not conduct. In second case, sketch to this
worksheet an image of the oscilloscope window, showing both input and output
voltage waveform.

- The output voltage is limited to approximately +1.7 volts.

• During the negative half-cycle of the input waveform:

- Diode D2 becomes forward-biased and conducts.

- Diode D1 is reverse-biased and does not conduct.

- The output voltage is limited to approximately -0.7 volts

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✓ From image in second case, give comment about the affect of V 1 and V2 to the
waveform?

The voltage across V1 determines the positive clipping level.

The voltage across V2 determines the negative clipping level.

✓ Try to increase and decrease V1 and V2, how this voltage waveform change?

V1=1.5

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V2=1v

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- Increase V1: the positive clipping level will rise (The positive peaks of the output
waveform will increase).

- Decrease V1: the positive clipping level will fall (The positive peaks of theoutput
waveform will decrease).

- Increase V2: the negative clipping level will rise (The negative peaks of the output
waveform will decrease).

- Decrease V2: the negative clipping level will fall (The negative peaks of the output
waveform will increase).

EXPERIMENT 4
OBJECTIVES:
In this lab assignment, we continue to examine the voltage regulator circuit using
zenner. We examine the operation of zenner in circuit.
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PROCEDURES:

Fig. 4: Voltage regulator circuit using zenner.

✓ Construct the circuit shown in Fig. 4, using zenner, resistor Rs = 100 and
potentialmeter RL = 1K. (As always, measure the actual resistance value).

✓ Use power supplies on Analog Discovery Software and Kit to supply DC voltage Vs
for the circuit.

✓ First, set RL = 100. Change VS and put the value of voltmeter VL in Table 1.

✓ Second, set VS = 8V. Change RL and put the value of voltmeter VL in Table 2.

CHECK:
✓ In first case, change Vsoure (VS) and fill Table 1.
Table 1: Value table when setting RL = 100Ω.
Vs (V) 0 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5
VL
(mV)
0 45m 62m 82 97 114 133 156 170 192
Vs (V) 5.5 6 6.5 7 7.5 8 8.5 9 9.5 10
VL
(mV)
211 232 251 270 289 303 320 330 353 370

✓ From collected data, find the minimum VS given that VL almost unchange ?

VL is almost unchanged when Vs hits 3V, from that point onwards the changes were
almost less than 20mV. The minimum is Vs=3V.

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✓ In second case, change RL and fill Table 2.

Table 2: Value table when setting VS = 8V.
RL (Ω) 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 550 600
VL (V) 0 0.192 0.373 0.5 0.654 0.83 0.98 1.1 1.16 1.63 1.7
RL (Ω) 650 700 750 800 850 900 950 1000
VL (V) 1.85 1.88 2 2.15 2.19 2.25 2.38 2.6
✓ From collected data, find the maximum RL given that VL almost unchange ?

VL is almost unchanged when RL hits 300Ω, from that point onwards the changes
were almost less than 0.2V. The minimum is RL = 300Ω.

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