Chapter 2 Diode

Dr.
Siti Marhainis Othman

School of Mechatronic Engineering
Universiti Malaysia Perlis
Chapter 2
Semiconductor and Diodes
Electronic Devices and Circuit Theory
Boylestad
Semiconductor Diodes
Ch.1 Summary
Diodes
The diode is a 2-terminal device.
A diode ideally conducts

in only one direction.
Electronic Devices and Circuit Theory © 2013 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc
Boylestad Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 • All Rights Reserved
Ch.1 Summary
Diode Characteristics
Conduction Region Non-Conduction Region
The voltage across the diode is 0 V All of the voltage is across the diode
The current is infinite The current is 0 A
The forward resistance is defined as The reverse resistance is defined as
RF = VF / IF RR = VR / IR
The diode acts like a short The diode acts like open
Ch.1 Summary
Semiconductor Materials
Materials commonly used in the development of

semiconductor devices:
Silicon (Si)
Germanium (Ge)
Gallium Arsenide (GaAs)
Ch.1 Summary
Doping
The electrical characteristics of silicon and germanium are
improved by adding materials in a process called doping.
There are just two types of doped semiconductor materials:
n-type p-type
n-type materials contain p-type materials contain an
an excess of conduction excess of valence band holes.
band electrons.
Ch.1 Summary
p-n Junctions
One end of a silicon or germanium crystal can be
doped as a p-type material and the other end as an
n-type material.
The result is a p-n junction
Ch.1 Summary
p-n Junctions
At the p-n junction, the excess conduction-band electrons
on the n-type side are attracted to the valence-band holes
on the p-type side.
The electrons in the n-type

material migrate across the
junction to the p-type material
(electron flow).
Electron migration results in a

negative charge on the p-type The result is the formation of a
side of the junction and a depletion region around the
positive charge on the n-type junction.
side of the junction.
Ch.1 Summary
Diode Operating Conditions
A diode has three operating conditions:
No bias
Reverse bias
Forward bias
Ch.1 Summary
No Bias
No external voltage is applied: VD = 0 V
There is no diode current: ID = 0 A
Only a modest depletion region exists
Ch.1 Summary

Reverse Bias
External voltage is applied

across the p-n junction in
the opposite polarity of the
p- and n-type materials.
Ch.1 Summary

Reverse Bias
The reverse voltage

causes the depletion
region to widen.
The electrons in the n-type

material are attracted
toward the positive terminal
of the voltage source.
The holes in the p-type material are attracted toward the negative
terminal of the voltage source.
Ch.1 Summary
Forward Bias
External voltage is
applied across the p-n
junction in the same
polarity as the p- and n-
type materials.
Ch.1 Summary

Forward Bias
The forward voltage

causes the depletion
region to narrow.
The electrons and holes

are pushed toward the
p-n junction.
The electrons and holes have sufficient energy to cross the p-n junction.
Ch.1 Summary
Actual Diode Characteristics
Note the regions for no

bias, reverse bias, and
forward bias
conditions.
Carefully note the scale
for each of these
conditions.
Ch.1 Summary
Zener Region
The Zener region is in the diode’s reverse-bias region.
At some point the reverse bias voltage
is so large the diode breaks down and
the reverse current increases
dramatically.
The maximum reverse voltage that
won’t take a diode into the zener
region is called the peak inverse
voltage or peak reverse voltage.
The voltage that causes a diode to

enter the zener region of operation is
called the zener voltage (VZ).
Ch.1 Summary
Forward Bias Voltage

The point at which the diode changes from no-bias condition
to forward-bias condition occurs when the electrons and
holes are given sufficient energy to cross the p-n junction.
This energy comes from the external voltage applied across
the diode.
The forward bias voltage required for a:
gallium arsenide diode  1.2 V
silicon diode  0.7 V
germanium diode  0.3 V
Ch.1 Summary
Temperature Effects
As temperature increases it adds energy to the diode.
It reduces the required forward bias voltage for forward-

bias conduction.
It increases the amount of reverse current in the reverse-
bias condition.
It increases maximum reverse bias avalanche voltage.
Germanium diodes are more sensitive to temperature variations

than silicon or gallium arsenide diodes.
Ch.1 Summary
Diode Symbol and Packaging
The anode is abbreviated A

The cathode is abbreviated K
Ch.1 Summary
Diode Checker
Many digital multimeters have a diode checking function.
The diode should be tested out of circuit.
A normal diode exhibits its forward voltage:
Gallium arsenide  1.2 V

Silicon diode  0.7 V
Germanium diode  0.3 V
Ch.1 Summary
Other Types of Diodes
There are several types of diodes besides the standard

p-n junction diode. Three of the more common are:
Zener diodes
Light-emitting diodes (LED)
Diode arrays
Ch.1 Summary
Zener Diode
A Zener diode is one that

is designed to safely
operate in its zener
region; i.e., biased at the
Zener voltage (VZ).
Common zener diode voltage ratings

are between 1.8 V and 200 V
Ch.1 Summary
Light-Emitting Diode (LED)
An LED emits light when it is forward biased,

which can be in the infrared or visible spectrum.
The forward bias voltage is usually

in the range of 2 V to 3 V.
Electronic Devices and Circuit Theory
Boylestad
Diode Applications
Ch.2 Summary
Series Diode Configurations

Forward Bias
Constants
Silicon Diode: VD = 0.7 V
Germanium Diode: VD = 0.3 V
Analysis (for silicon)

VD = 0.7 V
VR = E – VD
ID = IR = IT = VR / R
Ch.2 Summary
Series Diode Configurations

Reverse Bias
Diodes ideally behave as
open circuits
Analysis
VD = ? Is this circuit
correct?
VR = ?
ID = ?
Ch.2 Summary
Parallel Diode Configurations
VD = 0.7 V
VD1 = VD2 = Vo = 0.7 V
VR = 9.3 V
E − VD 10 V − 0.7 V
I1 = = = 28 mA
R 0.33 kΩ
28 mA *Assuming D1 = D2
I D1 = I D2 = = 14 mA
2
Ch.2 Summary
Half-Wave Rectification
The diode
conducts only
when it is
forward
biased,
therefore only
half of the AC
cycle passes
through the
diode to the
output.
Ch.2 Summary
Full-Wave Rectification
The rectification process can be

improved by using a full-wave
rectifier circuit.
Full-wave rectification produces a

greater DC output:
Half-wave: Vdc = 0.318Vm

Full-wave: Vdc = 0.636Vm
Ch.2 Summary
Full-Wave Rectification
Bridge Rectifier
A full-wave rectifier with four
diodes that are connected in a
bridge configuration
VDC = 0.636Vm
Ch.2 Summary
Zener Diodes
The Zener is a diode that is
operated in reverse bias at
the Zener Voltage (Vz).
When Vi  VZ
• The Zener is on
• Voltage across the Zener is VZ
• Zener current: IZ = IR – IRL
• The Zener Power: PZ = VZIZ
When Vi < VZ
• The Zener is off
• The Zener acts as an open circuit
Ch.2 Summary
Practical Applications
Rectifier Circuits
Conversions of AC to DC for DC operated circuits
Battery Charging Circuits
Simple Diode Circuits

Protective Circuits against
Overcurrent
Polarity Reversal
Currents caused by an inductive kick in a relay circuit
Zener Circuits
Overvoltage Protection
Setting Reference Voltages
Ch.2 Summary
Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs)
IF
Electronics Fundamentals: A Systems Approach, Copyright © 2014 by Pearson Education, Inc.

First Edition, Thomas L. Floyd | David M. Buchla All Rights Reserved
Ch.2 Summary
Photodiodes
A photodiode is one whose reverse current is controlled
by light intensity at the exposed pn junction.
• An increase in light intensity results in an increase in diode
reverse current.
• A decrease in light intensity results in a decrease in diode
reverse current.

Ch.2 Summary
A Photodiode Counter Circuit (1)


Chapter 2 Diode

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Chapter 2 Diode

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Dr.

Siti Marhainis Othman

A diode ideally conducts

Materials commonly used in the development of

There are just two types of doped semiconductor materials:

The result is a p-n junction

The electrons in the n-type

Electron migration results in a

Diode Operating Conditions

A diode has three operating conditions:

Diode Operating Conditions

No external voltage is applied: VD = 0 V

There is no diode current: ID = 0 A

Only a modest depletion region exists

Diode Operating Conditions

External voltage is applied

Diode Operating Conditions

The reverse voltage

The electrons in the n-type

Diode Operating Conditions

Diode Operating Conditions

The forward voltage

The electrons and holes

Actual Diode Characteristics

Note the regions for no

The voltage that causes a diode to

Forward Bias Voltage

It reduces the required forward bias voltage for forward-

Germanium diodes are more sensitive to temperature variations

Diode Symbol and Packaging

The anode is abbreviated A

A normal diode exhibits its forward voltage:

Gallium arsenide  1.2 V

Other Types of Diodes

There are several types of diodes besides the standard

A Zener diode is one that

Common zener diode voltage ratings

Light-Emitting Diode (LED)

An LED emits light when it is forward biased,

The forward bias voltage is usually

Series Diode Configurations

Analysis (for silicon)

Series Diode Configurations

Parallel Diode Configurations

The rectification process can be

Full-wave rectification produces a

Half-wave: Vdc = 0.318Vm

Simple Diode Circuits

Electronics Fundamentals: A Systems Approach, Copyright © 2014 by Pearson Education, Inc.

Electronics Fundamentals: A Systems Approach, Copyright © 2014 by Pearson Education, Inc.

Electronics Fundamentals: A Systems Approach, Copyright © 2014 by Pearson Education, Inc.

You might also like