Johaira M.

Maute
Section: S234
EE 171 Lab Activity No. 1
Title: Diode Characteristic (DC Biasing)
CONCLUSION
The process of applying an external voltage is called biasing. There are two
ways in which we can bias a pn junction diode. First is the forward bias and the second is
the reverse bias.
To study the characteristics of the diode in forward biasing, we connected the
positive terminal of an external voltage source to the p-side of pn junction diode and
connected its negative terminal to the n-side where we connected the external voltage
source, the diode and resistor in series. We acquired different values of voltage drop
readings across the resistor (VR). Out of it, we can solve for the current passing through
the resistor (IR) and it has the same value of current that passed through the diode (I D).
The voltage across the diode (VD) is also acquired by subtracting the values of the voltage
supplied by the external voltage source (VS) and VR. A graphical representation is made
with the diode voltage values (VD) on x-axis and corresponding current that passed
through the diode (ID) on y-axis in forward bias. It is called the characteristics of a pn
junction diode under forward bias. We can observe from the data acquired and in the
graph that as the voltage applied increases, the current flowing in the circuit also
increases. Therefore, in forward biasing, if we apply an external voltage higher than the
barrier potential of pn junction diode, it will start conducting and the pn junction diode
conducts current linearly with increase in voltage applied across the 2 terminals.
In reverse biasing, we connected the positive terminal of the battery to the n-side
of the diode and the negative terminal to the p-side. In the experiment, all V R acquired is
zero, therefore IR and ID is also zero. The resulting VD is just the same with VS since VR is
zero .The graph made out of the data acquired is called the characteristics of a pn
junction diode under reverse bias. We can conclude from the data and in the graph that
in reverse bias, the diode does not conduct with change in applied voltage and the current
remains constant at a negligibly small value (in the range of micro amps) for a long range
of change in applied voltage.