Diode circuits and its application

Introduction: Diode circuits

• The diode is the simplest and most fundamental non-linear circuit element

• Like a resistor, it has two terminals

• Unlike a resistor, it has a non-linear current- voltage characteristics.

• Its use in rectifiers is the most common application.

• Diodes are formed by joining P-Type and N- Type Semi Conductor. P-TYPE
Silicon N-TYPE Silicon.

• Diode is an electric device which allow current to flow only in one direction.

• The voltage applied to the semi conductor diode is referred to as bias voltage. There
are two types of bias voltage:

1. Forward biased

2. Reversed biased

[1]
Diode circuits and its application

1.Forward Biased

• +ve terminal of battery connected with p-type

• -ve terminal of battery connected with n-type.

• Maximum current flow through the diode during forward biasing.

• The D.R is small in forward biased p-n junction

2.Reversed biased

• +ve terminal of battery connected with n-type

• -ve terminal of battery connected with p-type.

• Extremely small current flow through the diode during reverse biasing.

• The D.R is large in forward biased p-n junction

• Zener & Avalanche break down occurs in it

[2]
Diode circuits and its application

Types of diode :

1. P-n junction diode

2. LED diode

3. Photo diode

4. Zener diode

1. A diode (one way valve) is a PN junction with p-type on one side and n-type on the
other. When a positive voltage is applied to the p-type side (forward bias), it shrinks
and overcomes the depletion zone, causing the current to flow from the p-type to the
n-type side.

2. A light-emitting diode (LED) are made of two-lead semiconductor light source.

(Gallium arsenide ,Gallium arsenide phosphide) It is a p–n junction diode, which
emits light when activate.

3. A photodiode is a semiconductor device that converts light into current. A small

amount of current is also produced when no light is present.

4. A Zener diode is a diode which allows current to flow in the forward direction in
the same manner as an ideal diode, but also permits it to flow in the reverse direction
when the voltage is above a certain value known as the breakdown voltage

[3]
Diode circuits and its application

Application of diode circuit:

1. Digital logic functions (gates)

2. Clipping circuits
3. Clamping circuits
4. Multiplier circuits (doubling)
5. Zener circuits (regulating)
6. Rectifier circuits.

1. Digital logic functions (gates):

-These functions can be represented by truth tables as shown below with A and B
as inputs and C as output.

and or not
ABC ABC AC
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
0 1 0 0 1 1 1 0
1 0 0 1 0 1
1 1 1 1 1 1
-These logic functions can be represented using a shorthand notation, and is
represented by . or &, or is represented by + or #, and not is represented by ~

or ! (there are also other conventions, the most common is to put a bar over the
variable). Thus the equation D equals A and B or not C can be represented as
1. D = A . B+ ˜C or by D = A & B # !C

[4]
Diode circuits and its application

-Obviously this equation has different meanings depending on whether the

and or the or function is performed first and parentheses can be used in the
normal way to get rid of the ambiguity
D = (A . B)+ ˜C
-Other functions that are common are nand and nor. The nand function is an
and function followed by a not, nor is an or function followed by not. The
symbols used in schematics for these functions are given below:

2. Clipping circuits:

The Diode Clipper, also known as a Diode Limiter, is a wave shaping circuit that
takes an input waveform and clips or cuts off its top half, bottom half or both halves
together.

-Positive Diode Clipping Circuits:

In this diode clipping circuit, the diode is forward biased (anode more positive
than cathode) during the positive half cycle of the sinusoidal input waveform. For
the diode to become forward biased, it must have the input voltage magnitude
greater than +0.7 volts (0.3 volts for a germanium diode).

-Negative Diode Clipping Circuits:

[5]
Diode circuits and its application

Here the reverse is true. The diode is forward biased during the negative half cycle of
the sinusoidal waveform and limits or clips it to –0.7 volts while allowing the positive
half cycle to pass unaltered
when reverse biased. As the
diode limits the negative half
cycle of the input voltage
it is therefore called a negative clipper circuit.

3. Clamping circuits:

For a clamping circuit at least three components — a diode, a capacitor and a resistor
are required. Sometimes an independent dc supply is also required to cause an
additional shift.

-Positive Clamper:

The circuit will be called a positive clamper, when the signal is pushed upward by the
circuit. When the signal moves upward, as shown in figure (a), the negative peak of
the signal coincides with the zero level.

-Negative Clamper:

The circuit will be called a negative clamper, when the signal is pushed downward by
the circuit. When the signal is pushed on the negative side, as shown in figure (b), the
positive peak of the input signal coincides with the zero level.

[6]
Diode circuits and its application

4. Multiplier circuits (doubling) :

The Voltage Multiplier is a type of diode rectifier circuit which can produce an
output voltage many times greater than of the applied input voltage.

A. Half – Wave Voltage Doubler:

The half wave voltage doubler consists of two diodes D1 and D2 and two capacitors
C1 and C2. When the positive cycle of AC approaches the circuit the top of the
secondary winding of the transformer is positive while the bottom of the secondary
winding is negative. This makes the diode D1 to operate in forward biased mode.

When the diode D1 is forward biased, it behaves as a short circuit, and thus capacitor
C1 starts charging. Let the AC voltage be Vsmax then the capacitor C1 also gets
charged to its peak value, i.e. Vsmax. The polarity of the voltage across capacitor C1 is
shown in the diagram below.

[7]
Diode circuits and its application

B. Full – Wave Voltage Doubler:

In full wave rectifier when the positive cycle of AC signal is applied to the secondary
winding of the transformer, the diode D1 gets forward biased, and capacitor C1 starts
charging. The capacitor C1 gets charged to its peak voltage, i.e. Vsmax. And the diode
D2 will be reversed biased during the first half of AC signal. And thus, diode D2 will
be an open circuit, so capacitor C2 will not charge during this phase of AC input.

When the negative half cycle of AC is applied to the full wave voltage doubler
circuit, the diode D2 will be forward biased. Due to this, the capacitor C2 starts
charging. It will charge to its peak value, and the polarity will be same as the
represented in the diagram.

Now, both the capacitors C1 and C2 are charged to its peak value Vsmax. When the
load is connected to the output terminal, the capacitor will get discharged through the
load. Thus, the total voltage will be given as: –

Total Voltage = Voltage across C1 (Vc1) + Voltage across C2 (Vc2)

Voltage across load (VL) = Vsmax + Vsmax

VL = 2Vsmax

5. Zener circuits (regulating) :

A Zener diode is a silicon semiconductor device that permits current to flow in

either a forward or reverse direction. The diode consists of a special, heavily doped
p-n junction, designed to conduct in the reverse direction when a certain specified
voltage is reached.
[8]
Diode circuits and its application

Zener diode operation :

The Zener diode operates just like the normal diode when in the forward-bias
mode, and has a turn-on voltage of between 0.3 and 0.7 V. However, when
connected in the reverse mode, which is usual in most of its applications, a s mall
leakage current may flow. As the reverse voltage increases to the predetermined
breakdown voltage (Vz), a current starts flowing through the diode. The current
increases to a maximum, which is determined by the series resistor, after which it
stabilizes and remains constant over a wide range of applied voltage.

Zener breakdown:

The breakdown is either due to the Zener breakdown effect that occurs below 5.5
V, or impact ionization that occurs above 5.5 V. Both mechanisms result in the
same behavior and do not require different circuitry; however, each mechanism
has a different temperature coefficient.

Zener diode applications :

Zener diodes are used for voltage regulation, as reference elements, surge
suppressors, and in switching applications and clipper circuits.

[9]
Diode circuits and its application

6. Rectifier circuits:

• A rectifier is an device which converts alternative current into direct current and
this process is called rectification.

A. Half wave rectifier:

It is the simplest type of rectifier, which is made with just one diode.

- When the voltage of the alternating current is positive, the diode becomes forward-
biased and current flows through it.

-When the voltage is negative, the diode is

reverse-biased and the current stops.

B. Full wave rectifier:

This rectifier is essentially made of two half-wave rectifiers, and can be made with
two diodes.

- When the voltage of the alternating current is positive, one of the diodes become
forward biased whereas the other gets reverse biased. Hence, current flows through
the forward biased diode.

[10]
Diode circuits and its application

- When the voltage of the alternating current is negative, the previous reverse biased
diode becomes forward biased whereas the other gets reverse biased. Hence, current
flows through the forward biased diode

-Thus, current flows at least through one of the diodes at a time.

C. Center- Tapped full wave

rectifier (CT_FWR):

A center tapped full wave rectifier is a type of rectifier which uses a center tapped
transformer and two diodes to convert the complete AC signal into DC signal.

The center tapped full wave rectifier is made up of an AC source, a center tapped
transformer, two diodes, and a load resistor.

[11]
Diode circuits and its application

(How center tapped full wave rectifier works)

[12]
Diode circuits and its application

References:
1. Tooley, Mike(2013).Electronic Circuits: Fundamental and applications

2. Turner,L.W.(2013).Elecrtonics Engineers Reference Book

3. Robert L.boylestad ,Louis Nashelsky

[13]