Chapter 2

Diodes and
Applications

1
Learning Objectives

 Use a diode in common applications

 Analyse the voltage-current (V-I) characteristic of a diode
 Explain how the three diode models differ
 Explain and analyse the operation of half-wave rectifiers
 Explain and analyse the operation of full-wave rectifiers
 Explain and analyse power supply filters and regulators
 Explain and analyse the operation of diode limiters and clampers

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Diode
 A diode is made from a small piece of semiconductor
material, usually 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.

3
Diode Packages
4
Bias Voltage

 When a voltage is applied to a diode it is referred to as a

bias voltage

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Forward Bias

 Forward bias is the

condition that
allows current
through the pn
junction.

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Forward Bias
 Requirements
 Negative side of VBIAS is connected to the n region of the diode
and the positive side is connected to the p region.

 VBIAS >>> Barrier Potential

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Effect of Forward Bias on the
Depletion Region
 As more electrons flow into the
depletion region, the number of
positive ions is reduced.

 As more holes effectively 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 during forward bias
causes the depletion region to
narrow 8
Barrier Potential
 When forward bias is applied, the free electrons are provided
with enough energy from the bias-voltage source to overcome
the barrier potential and cross the depletion region.

 The energy that the electrons require in order to pass

through the depletion region is equal to the barrier potential.

 This energy loss results in a voltage drop across the pn

junction equal to the barrier potential (0.7 V)

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Reverse Bias

 Reverse bias is
the condition
that essentially
prevents current
through the
diode.

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Reverse Current

 The extremely small current

that exists in reverse bias
after the transition current
dies out is caused by the
minority carriers in the n and
p regions that are produced
by thermally generated
electron-hole pairs.

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Voltage – Current Characteristic of a
Diode
 Reading Assignment from book. Section 2.2
 Will help you in Lab Assignment.
 Read Avalanche breakdown.

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Diode Models
 Ideal diode model

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The Ideal Diode Model
 Since the barrier potential and the
forward dynamic resistance are
neglected, the diode is assumed to
have a zero voltage across it when
forward-biased

 VF = 0 V

 Forward Current

 Reverse Current Neglected

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The Practical Diode Model

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The Practical Diode Model
 Practical Diode Model

 Applying KVL

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Complete Diode Model

17
Complete Diode Model

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Example

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Solution

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21
Rectification

 The conversion of an alternating current to pulsating direct

current

 Diodes have ability to conduct current in one direction and

block current in the other direction

 Rectifiers  convert ac voltage into dc voltage

 Rectifiers are found in all dc power supplies that operate

from an ac voltage source 22
Half Wave Rectifier

 The rectifier converts the ac input voltage to a pulsating dc voltage

 A half-wave rectifier is a circuit that allows only one half-cycle of
the AC voltage waveform to be applied to the load, resulting in one
non-alternating polarity across it.

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Half-Wave Rectifier Operation
 A diode is connected to an ac source and to a load resistor, RL, forming a
half-wave rectifier. When the sinusoidal input voltage (Vin) goes positive, the
diode is forward-biased and conducts current through the load resistor
 The current produces an output voltage across the load RL, which has the
same shape as the positive half-cycle of the input voltage.

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Half-Wave Rectifier Operation
 When the input voltage goes negative during the second half of its cycle, the
diode is reverse-biased. There is no current, so the voltage across the load
resistor is 0 V
 The net result is that only the positive half-cycles of the ac input voltage
appear across the load

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Dc power supply with a load and a
rectifier.
 Transformer steps down high voltage AC mains to low voltage AC.
 The rectifier converts the ac input voltage to a pulsating dc voltage, called a
half-wave rectified 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
 The load is a circuit or device connected to the output of the power supply
and operates from the power supply voltage and current

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Full wave rectifier

 Current flows through the load in the same direction for both the cycles of
input ac voltage
 A full-wave rectifier allows unidirectional (one-way) current through the load
during the entire of the input cycle

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Center-Tapped Full-Wave Rectifier
Operation
 A center-tapped rectifier is a type of full-wave rectifier that uses two diodes
connected to the secondary of a center-tapped transformer.
 The secondary winding is dividing into two halves and each half contains the
equal number of turns. There for it provides voltages Va and Vb which are
equal in magnitude but opposite in sign

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 For a positive half-cycle of the input voltage, the polarities of the secondary
voltages are as shown in Figure 2–32(a). This condition forward-biases diode
D1 and reverse-biases diode D2. The current path is through D1 and the load
resistor RL, as indicated.

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 For a negative half-cycle of the input voltage, the voltage polarities on the
secondary are as shown in Figure 2–32(b). This condition reverse-biases D1
and forward-biases D2. The current path is through D2 and RL, as indicated.
Because the output current during both the positive and negative portions of
the input cycle is in the same direction through the load, the output voltage
developed across the load resistor is a full-wave rectified dc voltage, as
shown.

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Bridge Full-Wave Rectifier Operation
 The bridge rectifier uses four diodes
 When the input cycle is positive as in part (a), diodes D1 and D2 are forward-
biased and conduct current in the direction shown. A voltage is developed
across RL that looks like the positive half of the input cycle. During this time,
diodes D3 and D4 are reverse-biased.

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 When the input cycle is negative, diodes D3 and D4 are forward biased and
conduct current in the same direction through RL as during the positive half-
cycle. During the negative half-cycle, D1 and D2 are reverse-biased. A full-
wave rectified output voltage appears across RL as a result of this action.

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