Diode Applications

Topic 2 (Chapter 2)
 Agenda

• Techniques for solving diode circuits

• Load-line analysis
• Series, parallel, and series-parallel diode networks
• Rectification
• Clipper and clamper
 Summary Table

3rd Approximation

2nd Approximation or Constant

Voltage Drop Model

1st Approximation
 Solving Diode Circuits
RS = 1 kW

VS = 15 V

A circuit like this can be solved in several ways:

1. Use the first approximation or ideal equivalent circuit
2. Use the second approximation or simplified equivalent
circuit or constant voltage drop model
3. Use the third approximation or piecewise linear
equivalent circuit
4. Use a circuit simulator like Pspice or MultiSim
5. Use the diode’s characteristic curve (load line analysis)
 Load-Line Analysis

The load line plots all

possible combinations of
diode current (ID) and
voltage (VD) for a given
circuit. The maximum ID
equals E/R, and the
maximum VD equals E.
The point where the load line and the characteristic curve intersect is the
Q-point, which identifies ID and VD for a particular diode in a given circuit.
 Load-Line Analysis
• The solution found by load-line analysis is
similar to that obtained by a simultaneous
solution of

(assuming this theoretical diode curve is very close to

the actual curve.)
• The mathematics involved would require the use
of nonlinear techniques that are beyond the
needs and scope of this course.
 Demonstration of Load Line Analysis
20.0
1 kW
Forward current in mA
17.5
15.0 15 V
12.5
10.0 Q
7.5 . ISAT =
15 V
= 15 mA
1 kW
5.0
VCUTOFF = 15 V
2.5
0
0 5 10 15
Source voltage in volts
Q is the operating point or quiescent point
Series Diode Configurations
Reversing the diode
Assume 1.8V forward voltage drop for the red LED.
For an actual practical diode, when
ID = 0 A, VD = 0 V (and vice versa)
PARALLEL AND SERIES–PARALLEL
CONFIGURATIONS

• The methods applied for series diode

configurations can be extended to the analysis
of parallel and series–parallel configurations.
• For each area of application, simply match the
sequential series of steps applied to series diode
configurations.
Home Reading Assignment from the Textbook:
Understand the situation what happens if the
green LED is replaced with a blue LED and how to
remedy the situation.
AND/OR GATES
 Rectifier Circuits
• One important application of diode is the
rectifier
– Converts AC to DC
– Used to make dc power supplies

Figure: Block diagram of a dc power supply

Half-Wave Rectification

The process of removing one-half

the input signal to establish a dc
level is called half-wave rectification

Ideal Approximation
The effect of using a real diode
The Half-Wave Rectifier
which is a difference that can
certainly be ignored for most
applications.
 PIV (PRV)
The diode is only forward biased for one-half of the AC
cycle. It is also reverse biased for one-half cycle.
It is important that the reverse breakdown voltage rating of the
diode be high enough to withstand the peak, reverse-biasing AC
voltage.
PIV (or PRV) > Vm

Where PIV = Peak inverse voltage

PRV = Peak reverse voltage
Vm = Peak AC voltage
 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
Full-Wave Rectification
Bridge Rectifier
A full-wave rectifier
with four diodes that
are connected in a
bridge configuration
The effect of using a real diode
 Full-Wave Rectification

Center-Tapped Needs a
bigger
Transformer Rectifier transformer,
because the
Requires two diodes and a peak is only
center-tapped transformer half the
secondary
voltage.
VDC = 0.636Vm
PIV
Summary of Rectifier Waveforms

Half-Wave Rectifier

Full-Wave Rectifier

Bridge Rectifier
 Summary of Rectifier Circuits
In the center tapped transformer rectifier circuit, the peak AC
voltage is the transformer secondary voltage to the tap.
Rectifier Ideal VDC Realistic VDC

Half Wave Rectifier VDC= 0.318Vm VDC = 0.318Vm – 0.7

Bridge Rectifier VDC = 0.636Vm VDC = 0.636Vm – 2(0.7 V)

Center-Tapped Transformer
VDC = 0.636Vm VDC = 0.636Vm – 0.7 V
Rectifier

Vm = the peak AC voltage

 Diode Clippers
• Clippers are networks that employ diodes to “clip”
away a portion of an input signal without distorting the
remaining part of the applied waveform.
• The half-wave rectifier is an example of the simplest
form of diode clipper—one resistor and a diode.
• Depending on the orientation of the diode, the positive
or negative region of the applied signal is “clipped” off.
• Two general categories of clippers: series and
parallel.
– Series clippers: The diode in series with the load
– Parallel clippers: The diode in parallel to the load
 Diode Series Clippers

The diode in a series clipper

“clips” any voltage that does
not forward bias it:

• A reverse-biasing polarity
• A forward-biasing polarity less
than 0.7 V (for a silicon diode)
 Biased Clippers
Adding a DC source
in series with the
clipping diode
changes the
effective forward
bias of the diode.
 Parallel Clippers

The diode in a parallel

clipper circuit “clips”
any voltage that
forward biases it.

DC biasing can be added in

series with the diode to
change the clipping level.
Summary of Clipper Circuits
Summary of Clipper Circuits
 Clampers
• A clamper is a network constructed of a diode, a resistor, and a
capacitor that shifts a waveform to a different dc level without
changing the appearance of the applied signal.
• Clamping networks have a capacitor connected directly from input to
output with a resistive element in parallel with the output signal.
• The diode is also in parallel with the output signal but may or
may not have a series dc supply as an added element.
 Biased Clamper Circuits

The input signal can be any type

of waveform such as a sine,
square, or triangle wave.

The DC source lets you

adjust the DC camping level.
Summary of Clamper Circuits
DC Power Supply Block Diagram
The Rectifier with a Filter Capacitor
- The Peak Rectifier
k Rectifier with a Load Resistor – A More Practic
 The full-wave peak rectifier

• The ripple is smaller

• The ripple frequency will be twice that of the input
Zener Diode Characteristics
 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
 Approximate equivalent circuits for
the Zener diode in the three possible
regions of application
 Zener Resistor Values
If R is too large, the Zener diode cannot conduct
because IZ < IZK. The minimum current is given
by:
ILmin  IR  IZK

The maximum value of VZ

RLm ax 
resistance is: ILm in

If R is too small, IZ > IZM . The maximum VL V

IL max   Z
allowable current for the circuit is given by: RL RL min

RVZ
The minimum value of resistance is: RL min 
Vi  VZ
 Zener application
• Producing nonstandard output voltages

• Each silicon diode is forward biased and zener diodes are

operating in the breakdown region
• With other combinations of zener and silicon diodes, a
circuit like this can produce different dc output voltages
 Zener application
• Using a 6-V relay in a 12-V system

• If you try to connect a 6-V relay to a 12-V system, you will

probably damage the relay.
• With the zener in series, only 6.4 V appears across the relay,
which is usually within the tolerance of the relay's voltage
rating.
 Voltage-Multiplier Circuits

Voltage multiplier circuits use a combination of diodes

and capacitors to step up the output voltage of rectifier
circuits. Three common voltage multipliers are the:

Voltage Doubler
Voltage Tripler
Voltage Quadrupler
 Voltage Doubler

This half-wave voltage doubler’s output can be calculated

using:
Vout = VC2 = 2Vm

where Vm = peak secondary voltage of the transformer

 Voltage Doubler
Positive Half-Cycle D1 conducts
D2 is switched off
Capacitor C1 charges to Vm

Negative Half-Cycle D1 is switched off

D2 conducts
Capacitor C2 charges to Vm

Vout = VC2 = 2Vm

Full-Wave Voltage Doubler
Voltage Tripler and Quadrupler
 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
An Application: AC Regulator and
Square-Wave Generator
Figure: Sinusoidal ac
regulation: (a) 40-V
peak-to-peak sinusoidal
ac regulator;
(b) circuit operation at v
i = 10 V.

Figure: Simple
square-wave
generator.