ESC201T : Introduction to

Electronics

Lecture 21: Diode Model For Circuit Analysis

B. Mazhari
Dept. of EE, IIT Kanpur
Diode Model: Forward Bias
Vd
I  IS {exp( )  1}
nVT

For dc and low frequency ac circuits, the effect of diode capacitance can
be neglected
Diode Model: Reverse Bias

IS

Because of capacitance, a diode even though reverse biased, can

carry significant current momentarily
Example
i i
2.5mA

5 1K t

0 VIN(t) 1K

1K
5mA

5
VIN(t) C 1K t
0
 1K
5mA

5
VIN(t) C 1K t
0

1K

5
0 VIN(t) t

Current in reverse direction

Transient Response

VO(t) IFR

VF t
VIN(t) R

-IRR
VR S F

Storage time Fall time

Diode does not switch off instantly but remains conducting for a period
called reverse recovery time which is sum of storage and fall delay times..
Analysis using non-linear diode model is not easy

R
VO = ?
VS  IR  VO (1)
VS D
VO
I  I S  {exp( )  1} (2 )
n VT

I
 VO  nVT  ln(  1) (3)
IS

I
 VS  IR  nVT  ln(  1) (4)
IS
Iterative Method:
VO
VS  IR  VO (1) I  I S  {exp( )  1} (2 )
n VT

Assume VO  0.6V

Calculate VS  VO
I 
R

Re-calculate VO  nVT  ln(I IS  1)

I
Convergence: 
I
 1K V
I  I S  {exp( )  1}
VO = ? VT
I S  2  10  15 A
2V D
V T  kT / q  26 mV at T  300K

VO = 0.707
Assume VO VO = 0.5 VO = 0.711

VS  VO
I  I = 1.293 x 10-3
R I = 1.5 x 10-3 I = 1.289 x 10-3

VO = 0.711 VO = 0.707 VO = 0.707

VO  nVT  ln(I IS  1)

CONVERGENCE
 1K V
I  I S  {exp( )  1}
VO = ? VT
I S  2  10  15 A
2V D
V T  kT / q  26 mV at T  300K

VO = 0.707
Assume VO VO = 1.0 VO = 0.7

VS  VO
I  I = 1.293 x 10-3
R I = 1.0 x 10-3 I = 1.3 x 10-3

VO = 0.7 VO = 0.707 VO = 0.707

VO  nVT  ln(I IS  1)

CONVERGENCE to the same Result

Graphical Method: Method of Load Line

R
VO
I
VS D VS/R

solution

V S  I  R  VO

V S  VO
I  VS VO
R

VO
I  I S  { ex p ( )  1}
n VT
 0.25
Diode : 1N4001

0.20 R = 10 
VS = 2V

0.15
Current (A)

V  VO
0.10 I S
R

0.05

0.00
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5
Voltage (V)

VO = 0.77V; I = 0.12A
For hand analysis of circuits, we need
simpler models!
What is a model?

“A model is a representation for a PURPOSE”

Depending on the purpose, an element can have several

different models

L R
In general, there is a tradeoff between
Accuracy and Complexity of model

Accuracy

Complexity
What is the use of a less accurate model?
R1
R

R2 C
VS

L R

C1

R1 R1 L1

VS VS R2
R2 C2

L2
 1. A simpler model makes analysis easier

R V2 R2

VS R1  R 2

L R
V2 R 2  j L 2

VS j C 2 R 2   2 L 2 C 2  1
R 2  j  L 2  ( R1  j  L1 )
j  C 1 R1   2 L1C 1  1

The results of analysis are easier to understand

3. The results of analysis can be used easily to carry
out the design

Design the circuit such that :

V2
C1

 0 .2 at 1kHz frequency
R1 R1 L1

VS VS R2
VS R2
C2

L2

R2 R1
 0 .2  4
R1  R 2 R2

Try doing the design with this expression:

V2 R 2  j L 2

VS j C 2 R 2   2 L 2 C 2  1
R 2  j  L 2  ( R1  j  L1 )
j  C 1 R1   2 L1C 1  1
Role of simple model in design cycle
Simple Models

Design meets Specs.

DESIGN Implement

SIMULATE

Accurate but complex

Models
•Analysis using a non-linear diode model is relatively difficult and
time consuming.

•It also does not give a symbolic expression that can provide
insight and help in the design of the circuit.

Need SIMPLER and LINEAR Device Models

V
FB

RB

open circuit
What should we take as diode drop?.....0.7V?

R
V
VO I  I S  {exp( )  1}
VT

1.7V D I S  2  10  15 A
V T  kT / q  26 mV at T  300K

R : 10  1M 

1
Simple 0.7V model would predict: I
R
 R
VO

0.90
1.7V D
0.85

0.80
Diode drop(V)

0.75

0.70

0.65

0.60

0.55

0.50
0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000
Resistor(K)

(0.5 – 0.8 V)
 15

Error in current (%) 10

-5

-10

-15
0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000
Resistor(K)

(100mA - 1A)
Different Diode: ~1N4148

R
VO

1.7V D

V
I  I S  {exp( )  1}
nV T
I S  5 . 9  10  9 A ; n  1 . 91
 0.9

0.8

0.7
Diode drop(V)

0.6

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2
0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000
Resistor(K)
 30
Error in current (%)

20

10

-10

0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000

Resistor(K)
Constant diode voltage approximation becomes worse as
applied voltage approaches the diode drop !

1K
VO

VS D

 I 
As V s approaches VD    increases
 I 

Error was ~9% with 1.7 V but 63% with 0.8V supply
A better Diode Model

V rf
V > V

V < V
open circuit
Piece-Wise Linear Model
I

Slope = 1/rf

Vγ V
V rf
V > V

V < V
open circuit

Vγ is called cut-in or turn-on voltage and depends on nature of diode and range
of current considered
 V
I  I S  {exp( )  1}
VT
I S  2  10  15 A
0.05 V T  kT / q  26 mV at T  300K

0.04

0.03
Current

0.02 Rf ~ 1.4Ω

0.01

0.00

0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0

Voltage

Vγ = 0.75V
Current ~ 25mA
 V
I  I S  {exp( )  1}
VT
Current ~ 0.25mA
I S  2  10  15 A
0.0005
V T  kT / q  26 mV at T  300K

0.0004

0.0003
Current

Rf ~ 150Ω
0.0002

0.0001

0.0000

0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0

Voltage

Vγ = 0.63V

For most of our analysis, we will take Vγ = 0.7V and rf ~10Ω

Even Simpler Diode Models

V
V > V

V < V
open circuit

Ideal diode model

V>0

V<0
open circuit
Diode Models I  IS {exp(
vd
)  1}
VT

V rf
V > V

V < V
Simplicity
open circuit

V
Accuracy
V > V

V < V
open circuit

V>0

V<0
open circuit
Use the simplest model that will yield results with desired accuracy

1K
V>0

V<0
open circuit
10V D
I  10 /103  10m A 8.2%

0.7V
V > 0.7 I  (1 0  0 . 7 ) / 1 0 3  9 . 3 m A
V < 0.7 0.65%
open circuit

0.7V 10
V > 0.7 I  (1 0  0 . 7 ) / (1 0 3  1 0 )  9 . 2 0 8 m A
V < 0.7
open circuit
-0.34%

I  9 .2 4 m A
Use the simplest model that will yield results with desired accuracy

1K
V>0

V<0
open circuit
1V D
I  1 / 1 0 3  1m A ~200%

0.7V
V > 0.7 I  (1  0 . 7 ) / 1 0 3  0 . 3 m A
V < 0.7 -8.8%
open circuit

0.7V 10
V > 0.7 I  (1  0 . 7 ) / (1 0 3  1 0 )  0 . 2 9 7 m A
V < 0.7
open circuit
-9.7%

I  0 .3 2 9 m A
Example
Find the current through the diode using ideal diode model
10V If it is not evident whether diode is forward or
reverse biased then we can assume that it is
forward biased, carry out analysis and then
check if current through the diode is in
2mA 5K D 5K appropriate direction. If not, diode is reverse
biased and we carry out analysis again.

10
2m A   iD  0
5K
Current is positive, so our
Assume forward bias iD  4 m A assumption is correct

10V 10V

2mA 5K D 5K
2mA 5K iD
Example
Find the current through the 5K resistor using ideal diode model

10V

4K D 5K
2mA 10
2m A   iD  0
4.5mA 4K

iD  4 .5 m A
Assume forward bias But this cannot be, so our assumption
is incorrect
10V 10V

2mA 4K D 5K 2mA 4K iD
 10V

2mA 4K D 5K

Assume reverse bias

10V

2mA 4K 5K
Design Cycle
Simple Models

Design meets Specs.

DESIGN Implement

SIMULATE

Accurate but complex

Models
Design the following circuit

Assuming ideal diode model

R1 = R2 = 1K

Carry out simulations to fine tune the design

Initial design

Final Design