Chapter 3: Diode and Application

Diode
A diode is a semiconductor device, made from a small piece of semiconductor material,
such as silicon, in which half is doped as a p region and half is doped as an n region with
a pn junction and depletion region in between. The p region is called the anode and n
region is called the cathode. It conducts current in one direction and offers high
resistance in other direction. The basic diode structure and symbol are shown in Fig.1.

Figure 1.

Forward Bias
Bias is the application of a dc voltage to a diode to make it either conduct or block
current. Forward bias is the condition that allows current through the pn junction. This
external bias voltage is designated as VBIAS. The resistor limits the forward current to a
value that will not damage the diode. In the forward bias, the negative side of V BIAS is
connected to the n region of the diode and the positive side is connected to the p region.
The bias voltage VBIAS, must be greater than the barrier potential; bias must be greater
than 0.3V for germanium or 0.7V for silicon diodes.

Figure 2: A diode connected for forward bias.

Negative side of bias voltage „pushes‟ free electrons towards pn junction. The negative
side of the source also provides a continuous flow of electrons through the external
connection (conductor) and into the n region as shown in Figure 3. The bias-voltage
source imparts sufficient energy to the free electrons for them to overcome the barrier
potential of the depletion region and move on through into the p region. Since unlike
charges attract, the positive side of the bias-voltage source attracts the valence electrons
toward the left end of the p region. The holes in the p region provide the medium for
these valence electrons to move through the p region. The holes, (majority in p region),
move to the right toward the junction.
As the electrons flow out of the p region through the external connection
(conductor), these electrons become conduction electrons in the metal conductor. As
more electrons move into the depletion region, the number of positive ions is reduced.
As more holes flow into the depletion region on the other side of the pn junction, the
number of negative ions is reduced. This reduction in positive and negative ions causes
the depletion region to narrow.

Figure 3: A forward-biased diode showing the flow of majority carriers and the
voltage due to the barrier potential across the depletion region.

Reverse Bias
Reverse bias is the condition that essentially prevents current through the diode. Figure 4
shows a dc voltage source connected across a diode in the direction to produce reverse
bias. The positive side of VBIAS is connected to the n region of the diode and the negative
side is connected to the p region. Also, note that the depletion region is shown much
wider than in forward bias or equilibrium. The positive side of the bias-voltage source
pulls the free electrons, (majority in n region), away from the pn junction. As electrons
move away from junction, more positive ions are created. This results in a widening of
the depletion region and a depletion of majority carriers.

Figure 4

In p region, electrons from negative side of battery enter as valence electrons. It

moves from hole to hole toward the depletion region, creating more negative ions. This
can be viewed as holes being pulled towards the negative side. The electric field
increases in strength until the potential across depletion region equals the bias voltage.
At this point, very small reverse current exist that can usually be neglected.
Reverse Breakdown
Normally, the reverse current is so small that it can be neglected. If the external reverse-
bias voltage is increased to a value called the breakdown voltage, the reverse current
will drastically increase.
The high reverse-bias voltage imparts energy to the free minority electrons so that
as they speed through the p region, they collide with atoms with enough energy to knock
valence electrons out of orbit and into the conduction band. The newly created
conduction electrons have high energy, and repeat the process, they quickly multiply.
They have high energy to move though pn junction, and not combine with holes. The
multiplication of conduction electrons just discussed is known as the avalanche effect.

Voltage-Current (V-I) Characteristic of A Diode

V-I Characteristic for Forward Bias
The current in forward biased called forward current and is designated If. At 0V (Vbias)
across the diode, there is no forward current. Figure 5 illustrates what happens as the
forward-bias voltage is increased positively from 0 V. The resistor is used to limit the
forward current to a value that will not overheat the diode and cause damage. With
gradual increase of Vbias, the forward voltage and forward current increases. A portion of
forward-bias voltage (Vf) drops across the limiting resistor. Continuing increase of Vf
causes rapid increase of forward current but the voltage across the diode increases only
gradually above 0.7V. The resistance of the forward-biased diode is not constant but it
changes over the entire curve. Therefore, it is called dynamic resistance.

Figure 5: Relationship of voltage and current in a forward-biased diode.

V-I Characteristic for Reverse Bias

With 0V reverse voltage there is no reverse current. There is only a small current
through the junction as the reverse voltage increases. At a point, reverse current shoots
up with the breakdown of diode. The voltage called breakdown voltage. This is not
normal mode of operation. After this point the reverse voltage remains at approximately
VBR but IR increase very rapidly. Break down voltage depends on doping level, set by
manufacturer.
Combine the curves for both forward bias and reverse bias, and you have the
complete V-I characteristic curve for a diode, as shown in Figure 6.

Figure 6

Diode models
The Ideal Diode Mode
When the diode is forward-biased, it ideally acts like a closed (on) switch, as shown in
Figure 7. When the diode is reverse-biased, it ideally acts like an open (off) switch, as
shown in part (b). The barrier potential, the forward dynamic resistance, and the reverse
current are all neglected. In Figure 7c, the ideal V-I characteristic curve graphically
depicts the ideal diode operation.

Figure 7

The Practical Diode Model

The practical model includes the barrier potential. The characteristic curve for the
practical diode model is shown in Figure 8c. Since the barrier potential is included and
the dynamic resistance is neglected, the diode is assumed to have a voltage across it
when forward-biased, as indicated by the curve to the right of the origin. The practical
model is useful in lower-voltage circuits and in designing basic diode circuits. The
forward current is determined using first Kirchhoff‟s voltage law to Figure 8a:
 VBIAS − VF − VRLIMIT = 0
VRLIMIT = 𝐼𝐹𝑅𝐿𝐼𝑀𝐼𝑇
Substituting and solving for IF
VBIAS − VF
𝐼F =
𝑅𝐿𝐼𝑀𝐼𝑇
The diode is assumed to have zero reverse current,
VF=0.7V , VR=VBIAS , IR= 0A

Figure 8

The Complete Diode Model

The complete model of a diode includes the barrier potential, the small forward dynamic
resistance (𝑟 ) and the large internal reverse resistance (𝑟𝑅 ). The reverse resistance is
taken into account because it provides a path for the reverse current, which is included in
this diode model.

Figure 9

Example 1: (a) Determine the forward voltage and forward current for the diode in
Figure 10(a) for each of ideal and practical diode models. Also, find
the voltage across the limiting resistor in each case.
(b) Determine the reverse voltage and reverse current for the diode in
Figure 10(b) for each of the diode models. Also, find the voltage
across the limiting resistor in each case. Assume IR = 1μA. (H.W.)
 Figure 10

Solution:

The DC power supply

A power supply is an essential part of each electronic system from the simplest to the
most complex. A basic block diagram of the complete power supply is shown in Figure
11. The transformer changes ac voltages based on the turns ratio between the primary
and secondary. The rectifier converts the ac input voltage to dc voltage. The filter
eliminates the fluctuations in the rectified voltage and produces a relatively smooth dc
voltage. The regulator is a circuit that maintains a constant dc voltage for variations in
the input line voltage or in the load.

Figure 11

Half-Wave Rectifiers
Because of their ability to conduct current in one direction and block current in the other
direction, diodes are used in circuits called rectifiers that convert ac voltage into dc
voltage. Rectifiers are found in all dc power supplies that operate from an ac voltage
source. When connected with ac voltage, diode only allows half cycle passing through it
and hence convert ac into dc. As the half of the wave get rectified, the process called
half-wave rectification. The output frequency is the same as the input.

Figure 12

The average value (VAVG) of half-wave rectified voltage if its peak amplitude is 50 V is
VAVG = VP/π=50/3.14=15.9V , VAVG is approximately 31.8% of Vp

PIV= Vp(in)

PIV: Peak inverse voltage=is the maximum voltage occurs at the peak of each
half-cycle of the input voltage when the diode is reverse-biased. The diode must
be capable of withstanding this amount voltage.

Figure 13

Full wave rectifiers

Although half-wave rectifiers have some applications, the full-wave rectifier is the most
commonly used type in dc power supplies. A full-wave rectifier allows unidirectional
(one-way) current through the load during the entire of the input cycle, whereas a half-
wave rectifier allows current through the load only during one-half of the cycle. The
output voltage have twice the input frequency.
VAVG = 2VP/π= VAVG is approximately 63. 7% of Vp

Figure 14
Center-Tapped Full-Wave Rectifier Operation
A center-tapped rectifier is used two diodes that connected to the secondary of a center-
tapped transformer, as shown in Figure 14.

Figure 15

Figure 16: Basic operation of a center-tapped full-wave rectifier.

The Bridge Full-wave rectifiers

The Bridge Full-Wave rectifier uses four diodes connected across the entire secondary
as shown in Figure 16.

Figure 17: Operation of a Bridge rectifier

Diode Limiters
Diode circuits, called limiters or clippers, are used to clip off portions of signal voltages
above or below certain levels. Point A is limited to +0.7V when the input voltage
exceeds this value (Figure 18(a)). If the diode is turned around, as in Figure 18(b), the
negative part of the input voltage is clipped off. When the diode is forward-biased
during the negative part of the input voltage, point A is held at -0.7V by the diode drop.

Figure 18: Examples of diode limiters (clippers).

The desired amount of limitation can be attained by a power supply or voltage divider.
The amount clipped can be adjusted with different levels of VBIAS. The peak output
voltage across RL is determine by the following equation:
𝑅𝐿
𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡 = ( ) 𝑉𝑖𝑛
𝑅1 + 𝑅𝐿

Example 2: What would you expect to see displayed on an oscilloscope connected

across RL in the limiter shown in following Figure.

Solution: The diode is forward-biased and conducts when the input voltage goes below
-0.7V. So, for the negative limiter, determine the peak output voltage across RL by:
𝑅𝐿
𝑉 =( ) 𝑉 = (100kΩ 10V = 9.09V
𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑖𝑛 )
𝑅1 + 𝑅𝐿 110kΩ
The scope will display an output waveform as shown in following Figure

Diode Clampers
Another type of diode circuit, called a clamper, is used to add or restore a dc level to an
electrical signal. The capacitor charges to the peak of the supply minus the diode drop.
Once charged the capacitor acts like a battery in series with the input voltage. The AC
voltage will “ride” along with the DC voltage. The polarity arrangement of the diode
determines whether the DC voltage is negative or positive.

Figure 19: Positive clamper operation.

Voltage multiplier
Voltage multipliers use clamping action to increase peak rectified voltages without the
necessity of increasing the transformer‟s voltage rating. Multiplication factors of two,
three, and four are common. Voltage multipliers are used in high-voltage, low-current
applications such as cathode-ray tubes (CRTs) and particle accelerators. In the Figure 20
a half-wave voltage doubler, a voltage doubler is a voltage multiplier with a
multiplication factor of two. Once C1 and C2 charges to the peak voltage they act like
two batteries in series, effectively doubling the voltage output. The current capacity for
voltage multipliers is low.

Figure 20: Half-wave voltage doubler operation.

The full-wave voltage doubler arrangement of diodes and capacitors takes advantage of
both positive and negative peaks to charge the capacitors giving it more current
capacity. Voltage triplers and quadruplers utilize three and four diode-capacitor
arrangements, respectively.

Figure 21: Full-wave voltage doubler operation.

Typical diode packages with terminal identification. The letter K is used for cathode
to avoid confusion with certain electrical quantities that are represented by C. Case
type numbers are indicated for each diode.