EE304 Electronic Circuits

Diode Models and Circuits (1)

Kyeongha Kwon
School of Electrical Engineering, KAIST
 Diodes as Circuit Elements
 Outline
− Diodes as circuit elements, ultimately arriving at real-life applications

2
 Ideal Diodes
 Symbol of a diode
− Triangular head denoting the allowable direction of current flow

− Vertical bar representing the blocking behavior for currents in the opposite
direction

Short
(R=0) Open
(R=∞)

VD = Vanode – Vcathode VD > 0 : diode is on VD < 0 : diode is off

3
 I/V Characteristics
 An ideal diode: a short (VD > 0 ) or an open (VD < 0) circuit
Short Open Ideal diode
Short
(R=0) Open Short
Open
(ID=0) (VD=0)
(R=∞)

VD

ID
4
 Antiparallel Diodes
 I/V characteristics
If VA > 0 If VA < 0
=∞ = -∞

on off off on

- If VA > 0 → D1 is on and D2 is off → IA = ∞

- If VA < 0 → D1 is off and D2 is on → IA = -∞
- The antiparallel combination always operate as a short circuit for all voltages
5
Diode-Resistor Combination

If VA < 0 If VA > 0

D1 is off D1 is on
IA = 0 VA
IA =
R1

6
 Example: Circuit Using Diodes

Assume VA = 0V or 3V
VB = 0V or 3V

VA VB D1 D2 Vout
0 0 off off 0
0 3 off on 3
3 0 on off 3

Logical OR gate

7
 Resistor-Diode Combination (I)
Slide #6
 Input/output characteristics

ID=0 = Vin- IDR1= Vin

Vout = 0

ID=Vin/R1 =0 Vout = Vin

8
 Resistor-Diode Combination (II)
 Response to sinusoidal input, Vin = sin𝜔𝜔t

=0 = Vin

sin𝜔𝜔t =

Slide #8

Vout=0 Vout=0
Vout = 0 This circuit does not allow
the output to exceed 0V

Vout = Vin
Vout=Vin Vout=Vin
9
 Diode-Battery Combination (I)
 This circuit resembles the I/V characteristics of an ideal diode, but shifted by +1 V

If V1 < 0 → VD1 < 0 , D1 is off → I1 = 0

If V1 = 0.9 → VD1 < 0 , D1 is still off → I1 = 0

If V1 > 1 → D1 is on → I1 = ∞

10
 Diode-Battery Combination (II)
 Limiting circuit

If Vin < 1
The circuit “clips” or “limits” at +1V

D1 is off → Vout = Vin

1V
If V1 > 1

D1 is on → Vout = 1V
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 pn Junction as a Diode
 The pn junctions operate similarly to an ideal diode
Ideal diode model Exponential model Constant-voltage model

− Given a circuit topology, we may choose one of the above models for a diode.

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 Example: Diode Models
Circuit Ideal diode model

Voltage divider

Unity-gain
buffer

- If Vin < 0 → D1 off → IR1 = 0 → Vout = Vin ; unity-gain buffer

- If Vin > 0 → D1 on → Vout = Vin· R2/(R1+R2) ; voltage divider

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 Example: Diode Models
Circuit
If Vin < VD,on → D1 off → I = 0 → Vout = Vin
KCL
If Vin > VD,on → D1 on , →

𝑅𝑅2 𝑅𝑅1
𝑉𝑉𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 = 𝑉𝑉𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 + 𝑉𝑉
𝑅𝑅2 + 𝑅𝑅1 𝑅𝑅2 + 𝑅𝑅1 𝐷𝐷,𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜

Constant-voltage model
If VD < VD,on, If VD > VD,on
D1 off, ID=0 D1 on, VD=VD,on

Lecture 2-2, #24 14

 Example: Diode Models
Circuit Ideal diode model Constant-voltage model

The same shape but with a shift by the diode turn-on voltage.

15
 More Examples

If Vout>VD,on, D1 turns on, Vout = VD,on

+
𝑉𝑉𝐷𝐷 Input/output characteristics
−

Break point
If Vin = -∞ Voltage divider

D1 turns on when Vout = VD,on

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 More Examples

𝑅𝑅1
If D1 turns off, Vout = Vin
𝑅𝑅1 +𝑅𝑅2

If D1 turns on, Vout = Vin + VD,on

(At what point does D1 turn on?)
𝑅𝑅1
At the break point, Vin + VD,on = Vin
𝑅𝑅1 +𝑅𝑅2

𝑅𝑅2
- VD,on = - Vin
𝑅𝑅1 +𝑅𝑅2

𝑅𝑅1
Break point Vin = -(1+ ) VD,on
𝑅𝑅2

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 Large-Signal and Small-Signal Operation
 Large-signal operation
− Our analysis so far has allowed large voltage and current changes

− It often complicates the analysis

− As the number of nonlinear devices in the circuit increases, “manual” analysis becomes
impractical
𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿
𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁
 Small-signal operation
− Circuit with small changes in voltages and currents
− Such models are linear → simplicity Small
Large
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 Example: Adaptor for Cellphone (I)
 Suppose that we have a 3V adaptor, but need 2.4V charger to feed a cellphone.
We then decides to construct the circuit below.

(a) Determine IS so that Vout = 2.4V

+
𝑉𝑉𝑅𝑅𝑅 0.6
− The current flowing through R1, 𝐼𝐼𝑋𝑋 = = = 6mA
VR1 = 0.6V 𝑅𝑅1 100
+
𝑉𝑉𝐷𝐷 Noting that each diode carries Ix, Lecture 2-2,
−
#20

=2.4V 𝑉𝑉𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 2.4

(𝑉𝑉𝐷𝐷 = = = 800mV)
3 3

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 Example: Adaptor for Cellphone (II)
 Suppose that we have a 3V adaptor, but need 2.4V charger to feed a cellphone.
We then decides to construct the circuit below.

(b) What if Vad is in fact 3.1V?

− Suppose Vout = 2.4V, then VR1 = 3.1 - 2.4 = 0.7V
+

− Ix = 0.7/100 = 7mA
VR1 = 0.7V
+ − Iterate…
𝑉𝑉𝐷𝐷
=3.1V
− New value for Vout :
=2.4V
New value for Ix :

New value for Vout :

Vout increased by an 11mV

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 Small-signal operation
 Small Perturbations in Circuits
− The change in Vad (3V → 3.1V) results in a small change in the circuit’s
voltage (2.4V → 2.411V).
− Circuit analysis can be simplified by using a small-signal model to replace
the nonlinear devices and the inevitable iterative calculation

 Small-signal operation
− Circuit with small changes in voltages and currents
− Such models are linear → simplicity

21
 Small Perturbations in Circuits
 Consider diode, D1, which sustains a voltage VD1 and carries a current ID1

 Suppose a perturbation changes the diode voltage by small ∆𝑉𝑉𝐷𝐷

→ the change in the diode current, ∆𝐼𝐼𝐷𝐷 ??

Diode, D1 Operating point (A) ∆ID as a result of ∆VD

∆ID

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 Diode Current Change
 Nonlinear characteristic
𝑉𝑉𝐷𝐷2 𝐼𝐼𝐷𝐷1
𝐷𝐷 𝐷𝐷 𝐷𝐷
∆ID 𝐼𝐼𝐷𝐷1

* If ∆𝑉𝑉 ≪ 𝑉𝑉 , exp(∆𝑉𝑉 /𝑉𝑉 ) ≈ 1 + ∆𝑉𝑉 /𝑉𝑉

𝐷𝐷 𝑇𝑇 𝐷𝐷 𝑇𝑇 𝐷𝐷 𝑇𝑇

𝐼𝐼𝐷𝐷2 = 𝐼𝐼𝐷𝐷1 (1 + ∆𝑉𝑉𝐷𝐷 /𝑉𝑉𝑇𝑇 ) = 𝐼𝐼𝐷𝐷𝐷 + (∆𝑉𝑉𝐷𝐷 /𝑉𝑉𝑇𝑇 ) � 𝐼𝐼𝐷𝐷𝐷

𝐼𝐼𝐷𝐷𝐷 - 𝐼𝐼𝐷𝐷𝐷 = (∆𝑉𝑉𝐷𝐷 /𝑉𝑉𝑇𝑇 ) � 𝐼𝐼𝐷𝐷𝐷

𝐼𝐼𝐷𝐷𝐷
*Taylor series : exponential function
∆𝐼𝐼𝐷𝐷 = ∆𝑉𝑉𝐷𝐷
𝑉𝑉𝑇𝑇

∆𝐼𝐼𝐷𝐷 is a linear function of ∆𝑉𝑉𝐷𝐷

≈ 0 If x<<1
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 Linear Approximation of Characteristic
 The section btw points A and B can be approximated by a straight line
− The linear approximation yields the same result, only when ∆𝑽𝑽𝑫𝑫 ≪ 𝑽𝑽𝑻𝑻 (26𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚)
− Point ‘A’ is called the “bias” / “operating” point

If ∆𝑉𝑉𝐷𝐷 is small, slope btw A and B ≈ Derivative at A

𝐼𝐼𝑆𝑆 𝑉𝑉𝐷𝐷𝐷 𝐼𝐼𝐷𝐷𝐷

= exp =
𝑉𝑉𝑇𝑇 𝑉𝑉𝑇𝑇 𝑉𝑉𝑇𝑇

𝑉𝑉𝐷𝐷 𝑉𝑉𝐷𝐷𝐷
𝐼𝐼𝐷𝐷 = 𝐼𝐼𝑆𝑆 exp 𝐼𝐼𝐷𝐷1 = 𝐼𝐼𝑆𝑆 exp
𝑉𝑉𝑇𝑇 𝑉𝑉𝑇𝑇
𝐼𝐼𝑆𝑆 𝑉𝑉
(𝐼𝐼𝐷𝐷 )’ = exp 𝐷𝐷
𝑉𝑉𝑇𝑇 𝑉𝑉𝑇𝑇

𝐼𝐼𝐷𝐷𝐷
∆𝐼𝐼𝐷𝐷 = ∆𝑉𝑉𝐷𝐷
𝑉𝑉𝑇𝑇 24
 Example: Small-Signal Operation
 Suppose 𝐼𝐼𝐷𝐷 = 1 mA

 Determine ∆𝐼𝐼𝐷𝐷 if ∆𝑉𝑉𝐷𝐷 = 1mV.

Noting that ∆𝑉𝑉𝐷𝐷 (1mV) << 𝑉𝑉𝑇𝑇 (26mV)

𝐼𝐼𝐷𝐷 1𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚
∆𝐼𝐼𝐷𝐷 = ∆𝑉𝑉𝐷𝐷 =(1𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚)
𝑉𝑉𝑇𝑇 26𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚
= 38.4 uA

25
 Incremental Resistance
 The device behaves as a linear resistor; as far as small changes are concerned
𝐼𝐼𝐷𝐷 ∆𝑉𝑉𝐷𝐷 𝑉𝑉𝑇𝑇
∆𝐼𝐼𝐷𝐷 = ∆𝑉𝑉𝐷𝐷
𝑉𝑉𝑇𝑇
= = 𝑟𝑟𝑑𝑑
∆𝐼𝐼𝐷𝐷 𝐼𝐼𝐷𝐷
𝑉𝑉𝑇𝑇
− “small-signal resistance” of the diode: 𝑟𝑟𝑑𝑑 = “incremental resistance”
𝐼𝐼𝐷𝐷

Diode model Circuit example Small-signal model

If only small changes

are of interest 26
Example: Small-Signal Model

For a small sinusoidal signal (Vp),

𝑉𝑉𝑇𝑇
∴ 𝑟𝑟𝑑𝑑 =
𝐼𝐼𝐷𝐷
For a dc signal,

Thus,

27
Example: Small-Signal Model

If Vp were large,
we need to solve

28
 Example: Small-Signal Model
Operating point (bias)

DC Bias current, I0 ip

t1

vp For a DC bias point (V0 which is large), Exponential model; nonlinear

(Lecture 2-2, #20)

Slope = 1/rd
For a AC signal (vp which is small), Linear approximation
where rd= VT/I0
(Lecture 3-1, ip= vp/rd (Ohm’s law)
#24-26)
e.g. At t= t1, ID (t1) = I0 + ip = Is exp(V0/VT) + vp/rd
= Is exp(V0/VT) + vp*I0/VT
DC Bias voltage, V0 Ext. of lecture 3-1, slide number 27, 28
 Example: Adaptor for Cellphone

ID = 6mA, Vad = 3V, VD1 = 800mV

Small-signal model:
𝑟𝑟𝑑𝑑 = 𝑉𝑉𝑇𝑇 / 𝐼𝐼𝐷𝐷

The solution of nonlinear diode equations:

A 100mV increase in Vad (3V → 3.1V)
would increase Vout by 11mV.

30
 Applications of Diodes
 Circuit applications of diodes

31