INTRODUCTION TO DIODES

The diode
• Diode – an electronic component that
allows current to pass through in a
single direction only as denoted by the
arrow in the symbol, and blocks any
attempt to pass through current at the
opposite direction

- +
 The diode
• Formation of the Depletion Region
– pn junction – the boundary between two
different types of semi-conductive materials
– depletion region – the area near a pn junction on
both sides that has no majority carriers
 The diode
• Barrier Potential – the potential difference of
the electric field across the depletion region
– the amount of voltage required to move electrons
through the electric field
– expressed in volts
– a certain amount of voltage equal to the barrier
potential and with proper polarity must be
applied across a pn junction before electrons will
begin to flow across the junction
– 0.7V and 0.3V at 25C
 The diode
• Energy Diagrams of the PN Junction and
Depletion Region
 The diode
• Biasing a Diode
– Bias – the use of a dc voltage to establish certain
operating condition for an electronic device
– forward and reverse
 The diode
• Forward Bias
– the condition that allows current through the pn
junction
 The diode
• Forward Bias – electron current
 The diode
• The effect of Forward Bias on the Depletion
Region
 The diode
• The Effect of the Barrier Potential During
Forward Bias
– dynamic resistance – the non-linear internal
resistance of a semi-conductive material
 The diode
• Reverse Bias – the condition that essentially
prevents current through the diode
 The diode
• Reverse Bias
 The diode
• Reverse Current (Reverse Breakdown/
Avalanche Effect)
 The diode
• Voltage-Current Characteristic of a Diode
– V-I Characteristic for Forward Bias
 The Diode
• Graphing the V-I Curve
• dynamic or ac resistance
– r’d = VF / IF
 The diode
• V-I Characteristic for Reverse Bias
 The diode
• The Complete V-I Curve
 The diode
• Temperature Effects
 The diode
• Diode Models
– Forward-Bias and Reverse-Bias Connection
 The diode
• The Ideal Diode Model
 The diode
• Practical Diode Model
 The diode
• The Complete Diode Model
 The diode
• Typical Diode Packages
 The diode
• Testing Diode
 The diode
• Testing a Diode