DIODE THEORY

Lecturer: Noman Al Hassan

Email: noman44m@hotmail.com
 Objective of Lecture
After studing this chapter, you should be able to know

• Basic Diode.
• Symbol and labeling.
• Diode Curve and its labeling.
• Ideal Diode
 Second Approximation.
 Third Approximation.
• Bulk Resistance.
• DC Resistance of a Diode.

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 Basic Ideas
• Semiconductor device with two terminals, allowing the
flow of current in one direction only.
• Nonlinear Device.
• Schematic Symbol.
• Anode / Cathode.

Basic Diode Circuit

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 Diode Curve
• Forward Region.
• Reverse Region.
• Knee Voltage.

• Bulk Resistance.

• Maximum Forward Current.

• Power Dissipation.

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Example: Forward Bias or Reverse Bias?

Fig- 1 Fig- 2

Example: A diode has a power rating of 2 W. If diode

voltage is 1.2 V and current is 1.75 A, what is the power
dissipation? Will the diode be destroyed?

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 Ideal Diode
• Most of the time we need exact solution. That’s why we use approximations.
– Perfect Conductor (Zero Resistance).
– Perfect Insulator (Infinite Resistance).
1st Approximation.

• The first approximation ignores leakage current, barrier potential and bulk
resistance.

• When an ideal diode is forward biased, the model is a closed switch.

• When an ideal diode is reverse biased, the model is an open switch.

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 Example:
• Calculate the load voltage and load current by using ideal
diode.

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 Example:
• Calculate the load voltage and load current by using ideal
diode.

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 Diode 2nd Approximation
• This model assumes that no diode current flows until the
forward bias across the diode reaches 0.7 volts.
• Vd is 0.7 for any current.
• Vd < 0.7 no current.

• This model ignores the exact shape of the knee.

• This model ignores the diode’s bulk resistance.

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 Example:
• Calculate the load voltage and load current by using
diode 2nd approximation.

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 Diode 3rd Approximation
• This model assumes that no diode current flows until the forward
bias across the diode reaches 0.7 volts.

• This model ignores the exact shape of the knee.

• This model does account for the diode’s bulk resistance.

• However, bulk resistance that is less than 1 Ω can be ignored.

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 Example:
• Use the third approximation of given circuit having bulk
resistance of 0.23 ohm to calculate the load voltage, load
current and diode power.

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 Diode Approximations

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 Bulk Resistance
• To analyze diode accurately

• V1 and I1 are voltage and current at some point near knee voltage.

• V2 and I2 are voltage and current at some higher point.

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 DC Resistance of a Diode

• It is the ratio of total diode voltage to total diode current.

-Forward Resistance RF. -Reverse Resistance RR.

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 THANKS

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