CVR COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

Chapter 1

DIODE APPLICATIONS

ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS - I 64201 ECE DEPARTMENT

 OBJECTIVES
 Explain and analyze the operation of both half
and full wave rectifiers
 Explain and analyze filters and regulators
and their characteristics
 Explain and analyze the operation of diode
limiting and clamping circuits
 Explain and analyze the operation of diode
voltage multipliers
 Interpret and use a diode data sheet
 Troubleshoot simple diode circuits
2
 CONTENT
2-1 Half-wave rectifier

2-2 Full-wave rectifier

2-3 Power supply filters and regulators

2-4 Diode limiting and clamping circuits

2-5 Voltage multipliers

2-6 Diode data sheet

2-7 Troubleshooting
3
 Diode Revisited

 ability to conduct current in one direction and block

current in other direction

 When it is forward biased, it will pass current

 When it is reverse biased, the current is blocked

 used in circuit called RECTIFIER (ac dc)

4
 The basic DC power supply
The basic function of a DC power supply is to
convert an AC voltage to a constant DC voltage (AC
 DC)
Either half or full-wave
rectifier convert ac input voltage
to a pulsating dc voltage.

Maintains a constant dc
voltage

Eliminates the fluctuations

- produce smooth dc voltage
 2-1 Half-Wave Rectifier
 A half wave rectifier(ideal)
allows conduction for only ac source load resistor
180° or half of a complete
cycle.
 During first one cycle:
 Vin goes positive – diode
FB – conduct current
 Vin goes negative – diode
RB – no current- 0V
 The output frequency is the
same as the input (same
shape).

Ideal diode model

6
Vp (peak voltage) :
Voltage value of a
waveform at its max
+ve or –ve points
Vpp (peak-to-peak
voltage) : 2Vp
Vrms : V root mean
square. Sine wave value
that indicates its heating Vp
Vp
effect / effective value VAVG  Vrms 
Vavg : Measure on dc  2
voltmeter = VDC. Equals
to the area under the 7
 Average value of the half-wave output voltage

Area 1
V AVG 
2
 
2 0
Vp sin d


Vp Vp
  sin d    cos   0


2 0 2
Vp
   cos   ( cos 0)
2
Vp
 [1  1]
2
Vp

 8
Example 1 (a):

What is the average value of the half-wave rectified voltage

in figure above?

Example 1 (b):

What is the average value of the half-wave rectified voltage

with a peak value of 200 V?

9
 Effect of the Barrier Potential on the Half-
Wave Rectifier Output
 Practical Diode  barrier potential of 0.7V (Si) taken
into account.
 During +ve half-cycle  Vin must overcome Vpotential
for forward bias.
V  V  0.7V
p ( out ) p ( in )

 Example 1: Calculate the peak o/p voltage, Vp(out)?

The peak o/p voltage:
V p ( out )  V p ( in)  0.7V
 5V  0.7V
 4.30V 10
Example 2:

Sketch the output V0 and determine the output level voltage for the
network in above figures.

11
 Peak Inverse Voltage (PIV)

 Peak inverse
voltage (PIV)
is the
maximum
voltage across
the diode when
it is in reverse
bias.
The diode must be
capable of
withstanding this
amount of voltage. PIV  V p (in)

12
 Transformer
A transformer is a device that changes ac electric
power at one voltage level to ac electric power at
another voltage level through the action of a
magnetic field. 

Transformer consist of:

(1) Primary winding (input winding)
(2) Secondary winding (output winding)
(3) Magnetic core
The general arrangement of
If the secondary has more turns than the primary,
a transformer
the output voltage across the secondary will be
higher and the current will be smaller. If the
secondary has fewer turns than the primary, the
output voltage across the secondary will be lower
and the current will be higher.
There are three types of transformers: step-up, step-down, and isolation. These
components are described as follows:
1. The step-up transformer provides a secondary voltage that is greater than the
primary voltage. Ex: a step-up transformer may provides a 240 Vac output with a
120 Vac input.
2. The step-down transformer provides a secondary voltage that is less than the
primary voltage. Ex: a step-down transformer may provides a 30 Vac output with
a 120 Vac input.
3. An isolation transformer provides an output voltage that is equal to the input
voltage. This type of transformer is used to isolate the power supply electrically
from the ac power line.

NP
1:2 NS NP 4:1 NS NP 1:1 NS
+ + + + + +
120 Vac 240 Vac 120 Vac 30 Vac 120 Vac 120 Vac

- - - - - -
Step-up Step-down Isolation
(a) (b) (c)

Fig.2.6
 The turns ratio of a transformer is equal to the voltage ratio of the
component and since, the voltage ratio is the inverse of the current ratio.
By formula:

N sec Vsec I pri

 
N pri V pri I sec
Where :NSec = the number of turns in the secondary
NPri = the number of turns in the primary
VSec = the secondary voltage
VPri = the primary voltage
ISec = the secondary current
IPri = the primary current
By the equation above can be stated that:
Step-down transformer secondary current is greater than its primary
current (ISec > IPri).
Step-up transformer secondary current is less than its primary current(IPri
>ISec).
 Half-Wave Rectifier with Transformer-
Coupled Input Voltage
Transformers are often used for voltage change and
 The turns ratio, n of the primary to secondary determines
isolation.
the output versus Vthe input.
sec  nV pri
The advantages of transformer coupling:
1) allows the source voltage to be stepped up or down
2) the ac source is electrically isolated from the
rectifier, thus
prevents shock hazards in the secondary circuit.
to couple ac input
to the rectifier

N sec If n>1, Vsec is greater than Vpri. V p ( out)  V p (sec)  0.7V

n If n<1, Vsec is less than Vpri.
N pri If n=1, Vsec= Vpri. PIV  V p (sec)
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 Example 3:
a) Determine the peak value of output voltage as shown in Figure
below.

b) A power-supply transformer has a turns ratio of 5:1. What is the

secondary voltage if the primary is connected to a 120 V rms
source?

c) Determine the peak value of the output voltage for half-wave

 2-2 Full-Wave Rectifiers

OBJECTIVE
 Explain & Analyze the operation of Full-Wave Rectifier.
 Discuss how full wave rectifier differs from half-wave
rectifier
 Determine the average value
 Describe the operation of center-tapped & bridge.
 Explain effects of the transformers turns ratio
 PIV
 Comparison between center-tapped & bridge.

18
 Introduction
 A full-wave rectifier allows current to flow during both the
positive and negative half cycles or the full 360º whereas
half-wave rectifier allows only during one-half of the cycle.
 The number of +ve alternations is twice the half wave for the
same time interval.
 The output frequency is twice the input frequency.
 The average value – the value measured on a DC voltmeter.

2V p Twice output
VAVG 


63.7% of Vp

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(i ) The Center-Tapped Full-Wave Rectifier
 This method of rectification employs two diodes
connected to a secondary center-tapped transformer.
 The i/p voltage is coupled through the transformer to the
center-tapped secondary.
Coupled input
voltage

20
 (i ) The Center-Tapped Full-Wave Rectifier
 +ve half-cycle input voltage (forward-bias D1 & reverse-
bias D2)-the current patch through the D1 and RL
 -ve half-cycle input voltage (reverse-bias D1 & forward-bias
D2)-the current patch through D2 and RL
 The output current on both portions of the input cycle –
same direction through the load.
 The o/p voltage across the load resistors – full-wave
rectifiers

21
 (i ) The Center-Tapped Full-Wave Rectifier
- Effect of the Turns Ratio on the Output Voltage -

If n=1, Vp(out)=Vp(pri) - 0.7V

Vsec  2V pri
2
 Vp(sec)=Vp(pri)

If n=2,Vsec  2V pri

V p ( out)  V p ( pri)  0.7

In any case, the o/p voltage is always
one-half of the total secondary voltage
minus the diode drop (barrier potential),
no matter what the turns ratio.
Vsec
Vout   0.7V
2 22
 (i ) The Center-Tapped Full-Wave Rectifier
-Peak Inverse Voltage (PIV)-
V p (sec) V p (sec)
Maximum anode voltage: 1
D   D2  
2 2
D1: forward-bias – its cathode is at the same voltage of its anode
minus diode drop; This is also the voltage on the cathode of D2.
PIV across D2 :
 V p (sec)    V p (sec) 
PIV    0.7V    
 2   2 
 V p (sec)  0.7V
 We know that
V p (sec)
V p ( out )   0.7V
2
 V p (sec)  2V p ( out)  1.4V
 Thus;

PIV  2V p ( out)  0.7V

 Example 4:

For Figure below, determine:

a) the voltage waveform for each half of secondary
winding
b) voltage across RL
2:1
c) PIV
+120V

Vin

-120V

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 Example 5:

120
Vrms

Consider the circuit in Figure above.

(a) What is the total peak secondary voltage?
(b) Find the peak voltage across each half of the
secondary.
(c) Sketch the voltage waveform across RL.
(e) What is the peak current through each diode?
(f) What is the PIV for each diode? 25
 (ii ) The Bridge Full-Wave Rectifier
 It employs four diodes arranged such that current flows in
the direction through the load during each half of the cycle.
 When Vin +ve, D1 and D2 FB and conduct current. A voltage
across RL looks like +ve half of the input cycle. During this
time, D3 and D4 are RB.
 When Vin –ve, D3 and D4 are FB and conduct current. D1
and D2 are RB. • Used 4 diode:
2 diode in forward
2 diode in reverse
Without diode drop (ideal
diode): V p ( out)  V p (sec)

• 2 diode always in series with load

resistor during +ve and –ve half
cycle . diode drop (practical diode):
With
V p ( out)  V p (sec)  1.4V
26
(ii ) The Bridge Full-Wave Rectifier
For ideal diode, PIV = Vp(out)
For each diode,PIV  V p ( out)  0.7V

0V (ideal diode)

PIV  V p ( out )  0.7V

Note that in most cases we take the diode drop into

27
account.
 Example 6:

100 V
10 kΩ

Figure above shows the full-wave rectifier (practical model) with

the transformer have a 10Vrms secondary voltage.
a) Sketch Vsec
b) Sketch Vp(out)
c) What PIV rating required for each diode?
Example 7:
a) What PIV rating is required for the diodes in a bridge rectifier
that produces an average output voltage of 50 V? (Ans : 78.53V
for ideal diodes)
b) The rms output voltage of a bridge rectifier is 20 V. What is the
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peak inverse voltage across the diodes? (Ans : 28.3 V for ideal
 Summary
HALF-WAVE RECTIFIER CENTER-TAPPED FULL BRIDGE FULL-WAVE
WAVE RECTIFIER RECTIFIER

V p (sec)
V p ( out ) V p (sec) 0.7V V p ( out )  0.7V V p ( out )  V p (sec) 1.4V
2
V p ( out ) 2V p ( out ) 2V p ( out)
VAVG  V AVG  VAVG 
  
PIV V p (sec) PIV  2V p ( out )  0.7V PIV V p ( out)  0.7V

29
 2-3 Power Supply Filters And
Regulators

OBJECTIVE
 Explain & analyze the operation & characteristic of
power supply filters & Regulators
 Explain the purpose of a filter
 Describe the capacitor-input filter
 Define ripple voltage & calculate the ripple voltage
 Discuss surge current in capacitor-input filter
 Discuss voltage regulation & integrated circuit regulator

30
 Introduction

Power Supply Filters

 To reduce the fluctuations in the output voltage of half / full-
wave rectifier – produces constant-level dc voltage.
 It is necessary – electronic circuits require a constant source
to provide power & biasing for proper operation.
 Filters are implemented with capacitors.

Regulators
 Voltage regulation in power supply done using integrated
circuit voltage regulators.
 To prevent changes in the filtered dc voltage/ to fix output
dc voltage due to variations in input voltage or load.
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 Introduction
 In most power supply – 60 Hz ac power line voltage is
converted to constant dc voltage.
 60Hz pulsating dc output must be filtered to reduce the large
voltage variation.
 Small amount of fluctuation in the filter o/p voltage - ripple

ripple

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 Capacitor-Input Filter
For half-wave rectifier:
 +ve first quarter cycle –diode is load
FB-capacitor is charging within
0.7V of i/p peak
 I/p decreased below its peak- capacitor
capacitor retains its charge-diode
become RB (cathode is more +ve
than the anode)
 Capacitor can discharge through
load resistance – at rate by the RLC
time constant (>> time constant, <<
capacitor will discharge)
 Next cycle-diode is FB when i/p
voltage exceeds the Vc by 0.7V
 A capacitor-input filter will charge
and discharge such that it fills in
the “gaps” between each peak. This
reduces variations of voltage. This
voltage variation is called ripple
voltage. 33
 Capacitor-Input Filter
Ripple Voltage: the variation in capacitor voltage due to the
charging and discharging.
The advantage of a full-wave rectifier over a half-wave is quite
clear. The capacitor can more effectively reduce the ripple when
the time between peaks is shorter.

Easier to filter
-shorted time between
peaks.
-smaller ripple.

34
 Capacitor-Input Filter
Ripple factor: indication of the effectiveness of the filter
Vr ( pp )
r  [half-wave rectifier]
VDC
Vr(pp) = peak to peak ripple voltage; VDC = VAVG = average value of filter’s
output voltage.

Lower ripple factor  better filter

[can be lowered by increasing the
value of filter capacitor or
increasing
the load resistance]

 1 
For the full-wave rectifier: Vr ( pp )   V p ( rect ) Vp(rect) = unfiltered
 fRLC 
peak.
 1 
VDC  V AVG   1  V p ( rect )
 2 fRLC  35
 Example 8:

(a) Determine the ripple factor for the filtered bridge rectifier
with a load as indicated in figure above

(b) A certain full wave rectifier has a peak output voltage of

50V with capacitor filter input = 70µF. Calculate the peak
to peak ripple and DC output voltage across 700Ω load
resistance. 36
 Capacitor-Input Filter
Surge Current in the Capacitor-Input Filter:
Being that the capacitor appears as a short during the initial
charging, the current through the diodes can momentarily be
quite high. To reduce risk of damaging the diodes, a surge current
limiting resistor is placed in series with the filter and load.

The min. surge

Resistor values:

V p (sec)  1.4V IFSM = forward surge

Rsurge 
I FSM current rating
specified on
diode data sheet.

37
 IC Regulators
 Connected to the output of a filtered & maintains a constant
output voltage (or current) despite changes in the input, load
current or temperature.
 Combination of a large capacitor & an IC regulator –
inexpensive & produce excellent small power supply
 Popular IC regulators have 3 terminals:
(i) input terminal
(ii) output terminal
(iii) reference (or adjust) terminal
 Type number: 78xx (xx –refer to output voltage)
i.e 7805 (output voltage +5.0V); 7824 (output voltage +24V)

38
 IC Regulators
Regulation is the last step in eliminating the remaining ripple and
maintaining the output voltage to a specific value. Typically this
regulation is performed by an integrated circuit regulator. There are
many different types used based on the voltage and current
requirements. Connected to the output
of filtered rectifier

output

Bridge-full wave Gnd

rectifier filter regulators

FIGURE 2-23 A basic +5.0V regulated power supply

39
 Percent Regulations

How well the regulation is performed by a regulator is

measured by it’s regulation percentage. There are two types of
regulation, line and load. Line and load regulation percentage
is simply a ratio of change in voltage (line) or current (load)
stated as a percentage.
 Vout 
Line Regulation   100%
 V in 
 VNL  VFL 
Load Regulation   100%
 VFL 

VNL :out put voltage with no load

VFL :output voltage with full load

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