Chapter 2 - Diode Circuit

Analysis and Applications

Diode approximations

 1. Ideal Diode
 2. Second Approximation
 3. Third Approximation
Approximations?

First approximation:
21 years old
Second approximation:
21 year and 9 months old
Third approximation
21 year old and 9 months 3 days 30 mins and 40 sec
Ideal diode/First Approximation

 Works completely like a switch

 Forward bias – works likes close switch
 Reverse bias – works like an open switch
 Ideal diode characteristic
 1. Does not have a threshold voltage
 2. Does not have a resistance at all.
 3. Does not have a breakdown voltage.

 Thus work completely as a conductor when in Forward Bias and work completely as an insulator when
in Reverse Bias.

It is not used for real-life situations but just as general

approximations when preciseness isn't needed
 2nd Approximation

 1. Need voltage to turn on

 0.7v for Silicon
 0.3v for Germanium
 2. Ignores the bulk resistance
 It is the approximate resistance across the terminals of the diode when a
forward voltage and current are applied across the diode.
 It is the resistance of the p and n materials of the p-n junction of the diode.
Its value is dependent on the doping level and the size of the p and n
materials.
 Mostly Rb < 1 ohm .
3rd Approximation

 1. Need voltage to turn on

 0.7v for Silicon
 0.3v for Germanium
 2. Accounts the bulk resistance
 However, if the bulk resistance is less than 1 ohm, it can be ignored.
Examples #1

 Calculate the Total Current, Total

Resistance and the Power across on
each component using:
First Approximation,
Second Approximation and
Third Approximation.
Solution for the First Approximation

 V = IR ; I = V / R ; P = IV ; VR1 = IR1(R1)
 Itotal = 8 / 100 = 0.08 A
 Rtotal = 100 ohms
 Voltage across R1 = (0.08)(100) = 8 volts
 Power across R1 = (I1)(VR1) = (0.08)(8) = 0.64 Watts
 Power across RB = (I1)(VRB) = (0.08)(0) = 0 Watts
 Power across Diode = (I1)(VD1) = (0.08)(0) = 0 Watts
 Power across VS = (I1)(VS) = (0.08)(8) = 0.64 Watts
 Solution for the Second Approximation

 V = IR ; I = V / R ; P = IV ; VR1 = IR1(R1)
 Itotal = 8 – 0.7 / 100 = 0.073 A
 Rtotal = 100 ohms
 Voltage across R1 = (0.073)(100) = 7.3 volts
 Power across R1 = (I1)(VR1) = (0.073)(7.3) = 0.5329 Watts
 Power across RB = (I1)(VRB) = (0.073)(0) = 0 Watts
 Power across Diode = (I1)(VD1) = (0.073)(0.7) = 0.0511 Watts
 Power across VS = (I1)(VS) = (0.073)(8) = 0.584 Watts
 Checking: Ptotal = PR1 + PRB + PD
Solution for the Third Approximation

 V = IR ; I = V / R ; P = IV ; VR1 = IR1(R1)
 Itotal = 8 – 0.7 / 100 = 0.073 A
 Rtotal = 100 ohms
 Voltage across R1 = (0.073)(100) = 7.3 volts
 Power across R1 = (I1)(VR1) = (0.073)(7.3) = 0.5329 Watts
 Power across RB = (I1)(VRB) = (0.073)(0) = 0 Watts
 Power across Diode = (I1)(VD1) = (0.073)(0.7) = 0.0511 Watts
 Power across VS = (I1)(VS) = (0.073)(8) = 0.584 Watts
 Checking: Ptotal = PR1 + PRB + PD
Diode Circuit Problem in Series and Parallel Circuit

 Example #2:
Solve for Vo, Total Current, Total
Resistance and Total Power.
Solution of #2

 Vo = VS – VD1- VD2 = 10 – 0.7 – 0.3 = 9v

 I = V / R = 9 / 3k = 3 mA
 Rtotal = 3k ohms
 Ptotal = (I)(V) = (3 mA)(10) = 0.03 Watts
Example #3

 Solve for Vo, Total Current, Total

Resistance and Power across R1.
 Solution of #3

 Vo = VS – VD1= 7 – 0.3 = 6.7 v

 I = V / R = 6.7 / 5k = 1.34 mA
 Rtotal = 5k ohms
 PR1 = (IR1)(VR1) = (1.34 mA)(1.34 mA)(5k) = 8.978
mWatts
Example #4

 Solve for Vo, Total Current, Total

Resistance and Power across D1.
 Solution of #4

 Using ohms Law

 Vo = VS – VR1 – VD1= 10 – (1.33 mA)(3k) – 0.7
= 5.31 v
 I = V / R = 9.3 / 3k + 4k = 1.33 mA
 Using KVL
 10 – (3k)I – 0.7 – (4k)I = 0
 9.3 – (7k)I = 0
 9.3 = (7k)I
 I = 9.3 / 7k = 1.33 mA
 Rtotal = 7k ohms
 PD1 = (I)(VD1) = (1.33 mA)(0.7)= 0.0931 mWatts
Example #5

 Solve for Vo, Total Current, the

current on each Diode and Total
Resistance.
 Solution of #5

 Vo = 0.7 volts
 I = V / R = 7.3 / 3k = 2.43 mA
 2.43 mA / 2 = 1.215 mA on each Diode
 Rtotal = 3k ohms
Example #6

 Solve for Vo, Total Current and Total

Resistance.
 Solution of #6

 Using ohms Law

 Vo = V1– VD1 – VR1 = 12 – 0.3 – (2.57 mA)(2k)
= 6.56 v
 Vo = V2 + VR2 + VD2 = -7 +(2.57mA)(5k) + 0.7
= 6.55 v
 I = V / R = [12 – 0.3 – 0.7 –(-7)] / 2k + 5k = 2.57
mA
 Using KVL
 12 – 0.3 – (2k)I – 0.7 – (5k)I –(-7) = 0
 18 – (7k)I = 0
 18 = (7k)I
 I = 18 / 7k = 2.57 mA
 Rtotal = 7k ohms
Example #7

 Solve for Vo, Total Current and Total

Resistance.
 Solution of #7

 Vo = V2 – VD2 = 12 – 0.7 = 11.3 v

 I = V2 – VD2 – (V3) / R = 12 – 0.7 –(-3) / 5k =
2.86 mA
 Rtotal = 5k ohms
End of Presentation