ECGR 3131: Fundamentals of Electronics & Semiconductors Homework #3

1. For the circuits shown in Figure 1 using ideal diodes, find the values of the voltages and currents
indicated.

+ 5V + 5V + 5V + 5V

I -
I
10 kΩ 10 kΩ

+
V V V
I I V
+
+

- - 10 kΩ 10 kΩ

- 5V - 5V
- 5V - 5V
Figure 1
2. For the circuits shown in Figure 2 using ideal diodes, find the values of the labeled voltages and
currents.

D1 + 5V
+1 V

+2 V V I 2 kΩ
D2 D1
+1 V V
I 2 kΩ

+2 V
- 5V D2
Figure 2:
3. In each of the ideal-diode circuits in Figure 3, 𝑣𝑣𝐼𝐼 is a 1-kHz, 10-V peak sine wave. Sketch the
waveform resulting at 𝑣𝑣𝑜𝑜 . What are its positive and negative peak values?
 D1 D1 D2 D1 D2 D1
vI vo vI vo vI vo vI vo
D2

1 kΩ 1 kΩ 1 kΩ 1 kΩ

D3
D2 D1 1 kΩ 1 kΩ
vI vo vI vo vI vo vI vo

D2
D1 1 kΩ 1 kΩ D1 D1 D2

D1
+ 15 V

1 kΩ
vI vI 1 mA
vo vo
1 kΩ vo

1 kΩ 1 kΩ 1 kΩ

D1 D1 D2

vI

Figure 3.

4. The circuits shown in Figure 4 can function as logic gates for input voltages that are either high
or low. Using “I” to denote the high value and “0” to denote the low value, prepare a table with
four columns including all possible input combinations and the resulting values of X and Y.
What logic function is X of A and B? What logic function is Y of A and B? For what values of
A and B do X and Y have the same value? For what values of A and B do X and Y have
opposite values?
 D3
A

I D4
D1 B Y
A X
D2 I
B

Figure 4

5. Assuming that the diodes in the circuits of Figure 5 are ideal. Find the values of the labeled
voltages and currents.
+3V +3V

5 kΩ 10 kΩ

I D1 D2 I D1 D2
V V

10 kΩ 5 kΩ

-3V -3V

Figure 5

6. Assuming that the diodes in the circuits of Figure 6 are ideal, utilize Thevenin’s theorem to
simplify the circuits and thus find the values of the labeled currents and voltages.
 +6V
+6V +5V

10 kΩ
10 kΩ 10 kΩ
I
I
V
- +
V
20 kΩ 20 kΩ
10 kΩ 10 kΩ

Figure 6

7. Partial specifications of a collection of Zener diodes are provided below. For each, identify the
missing parameter, and estimate its value. Note that 𝑉𝑉𝑍𝑍𝑍𝑍 = 𝑉𝑉𝑍𝑍𝑍𝑍 .
(a) 𝑉𝑉𝑍𝑍 = 10.0 𝑉𝑉, 𝑉𝑉𝑍𝑍𝑍𝑍 = 9.6 V, and 𝐼𝐼𝑍𝑍𝑍𝑍 = 50 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚
(b) 𝐼𝐼𝑍𝑍𝑍𝑍 = 10 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚, 𝑉𝑉𝑍𝑍 = 9.1 𝑉𝑉, and 𝑟𝑟𝑍𝑍 = 30𝛺𝛺
(c) 𝑟𝑟𝑍𝑍 = 2𝛺𝛺, 𝑉𝑉𝑍𝑍 = 6.8 𝑉𝑉,and 𝑉𝑉𝑍𝑍𝑍𝑍 = 6.6 V
(d) 𝑉𝑉𝑍𝑍 = 18 𝑉𝑉, 𝐼𝐼𝑍𝑍𝑍𝑍 = 5 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚, and 𝑉𝑉𝑍𝑍𝑍𝑍 = 17.6 V
(e) 𝐼𝐼𝑍𝑍𝑍𝑍 = 200 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚, 𝑉𝑉𝑍𝑍 = 7.5 𝑉𝑉, and 𝑟𝑟𝑍𝑍 = 1.5𝛺𝛺

8. A 9.1-V Zener diode exhibits its nominal voltage at a test current of 28 mA. At this current the
incremental resistance is specified as 5 Ω. Find 𝑉𝑉𝑍𝑍𝑍𝑍 of the Zener model. Find the Zener voltage at
a current of 10 mA and at 100 mA.
9. The op amp in the precision rectifier circuit of Figure 9 is ideal with output saturation levels of
±12 V. Assume that when conducting the diode exhibits a constant voltage drop of 0.7 V. Find
𝑣𝑣− , 𝑣𝑣𝑜𝑜 , and 𝑣𝑣𝐴𝐴 for
(a) 𝑣𝑣𝐼𝐼 = +1V
(b) 𝑣𝑣𝐼𝐼 = +2V
(c) 𝑣𝑣𝐼𝐼 = −1V
(d) 𝑣𝑣𝐼𝐼 = −2V
 vI +
D
vo
-
vA
RL
v-
R
R

Figure 7

10. The op-amp in the circuit of Figure 10 is ideal with output saturation levels of ±12 V. The
diodes exhibit a constant 0.7-V drop when conducting. Find 𝑣𝑣− , 𝑣𝑣𝑜𝑜 , and 𝑣𝑣𝐴𝐴 for
(a) 𝑣𝑣𝐼𝐼 = +1 V
(b) 𝑣𝑣𝐼𝐼 = +2 V
(c) 𝑣𝑣𝐼𝐼 = −1 V
(d) 𝑣𝑣𝐼𝐼 = −2 V

D1

R
vI -
D2
vo
v-
+
vA

Figure 8