Diodes

by
Vishal Rathee
EN Dept.
RCOEM, Nagpur
 Diode-Models
1) Ideal Diode Model
2)The Exponential Model
3) Constant Voltage Drop Model
4) The Small-Signal Model

Some Important Points about PN Junction

1) Barrier voltage decreases by 2mV/degree Celsius for both Ge
and Si diodes.
2) Is (Reverse Saturation Current) of diode increases with increase
in the temperature and doubles for every 10 degree Celsius rise
in temperature
3) Reverse breakdown voltage (VR) also increases as we increase
the temperature.
4) V-I characteristics of diode in forward region shifts to the left at
a rate of 2.5mV per degree Celsius rise in temperature.
 The Exponential Model
• It gives the most accurate description of the diode operation in the forward region.
• However, its severely nonlinear nature makes this model the most difficult to use

Assuming that VDD is greater than 0.5 V or so, the diode current will be much greater
than Is
(4.6)

(4.7)
 Graphical Analysis Using the Exponential Model

To get two extreme ends of Load Line first put VD = 0 and find ID. Then put ID =0 and
find VD in the above equation.
 Iterative Analysis Using the Exponential Model

Above equations can be solved using a simple iterative procedure, as illustrated in the
following example.

Fig. 4.10
Iterative Analysis Using the Exponential Model
 The Constant-Voltage-Drop Model
• The simplest and most widely used diode model is the constant-voltage-drop model.
• The model assumes voltage drop across diode to be constant at a value, say, 0.7 V
The Constant-Voltage-Drop Model
Numericals
D4.11
 The Small-Signal Model
•There are applications in which a diode is biased to operate at a point on
the forward i–v characteristic and a small ac signal is superimposed on the
dc quantities.
•Then, for small-signal operation around the dc bias point, the diode is
modeled by a resistance equal to the inverse of the slope of the tangent
to the exponential i–v characteristic at the bias point
 The
Small-Signal
Model
The Small-Signal Model
The Small-Signal Model
 The Small-Signal Model

•It is easy to see that using the small-signal approximation is equivalent to assuming
that the signal amplitude is sufficiently small such that the excursion along the i–v
curve is limited to a short almost-linear segment.
•Dc Bias Point or Quiescent Point , same as defined earlier in small signal model as
well.
 The Small-Signal Model

Vout = Vin *R2/(R1 +R2)

* Note: To convert a DC model into an AC model , replace DC source with AC source and active
components like diode, transistor , MOSFET etc. with its equivalent small signal model. Passive
components are to be kept as it is.
The Small-Signal Model
Thank You