Characteristic Curve Diodes and Leds

L.105.
2
PG. 1
2. WHAT IS A CHARACTERISTIC CURVE? DIODES AND LED'S, BASIC OPERATION,
TESTING, CURVES
I.
Characteristic Curves
1.
why study
2.
A.
electronic devices we will study can be described by means of special

graphs called characteristic curves (REMINDER: bring
graph paper to class in future)
B.
available in data manuals, catalogs, and on manufacturers' web sites

(SHOW example)
C.
can tell you what you need to know to use a device
D.
how it will perform in a circuit
definitiona graph of DC current through vs. voltage across the device

A.
current on y (vertical) axis, voltage on x (horizontal) axis
B.
I vs. V
C.
DRAW example, Fig. 1
I (ma) = current through the device
50
DEVICE
40
30
20
10
0
0
Fig. 1Example characteristic curve
10
V = voltage across the device
L.105.2
PG. 2
TESTING, CURVES
3.
uses
4.
A.
tells us how much current will flow through the device when a certain
voltage is placed across the device's terminals
B.
or how much voltage it would take to get a certain amount of current to

flow
C.
SHOW examples based on Fig. 1
examplea 1000- resistor

A.
make a table of I vs. Vhow? Ohm's Law

Current through resistor
0 mA
1 mA
5 mA
10 mA
Voltage across 1000-

resistor
0V
1V
5V
10 V
B.
make a graph of this data, Fig. 2
I (mA) = current through the device

V
10
8
6
A
4
2
0
0
10
V (V) = voltage across the device
Fig. 2Characteristic curve of a 1000-

resistor
C.
characteristic curve of a resistor is a straight line
L.105.2
PG. 3
TESTING, CURVES
5.
for an unknown device

A.
resistor was trivial example, because we already know relationship of I and

Vdirect proportion
B.
not all characteristic curves are straight lines
C.
must determine experimentally
D.
procedure (DRAW circuit of Fig. 3, piece by piece, and SHOW procedure

using unknown device no. 2A)
i)
connect ammeter in series with devicewhy do this?
ii)
connect separate voltmeter (where?) across device
iii)
now set up to measure voltage across and current through
iv)
next add voltage source, adjustable (why?)
v)
problemwhat if too much current flows and destroys device?

(a)
exampledevice is a 1.5-V lamp, and we apply 6 V to it?
L.105.2
PG. 4
TESTING, CURVES
(b)
vi)
vii)
happens a lot with semiconductor devicesexcess current

may flow
solutionadd series resistor to limit current

(a)
voltage across device will not equal supply voltage any

morewhy?
(b)
what size resistor?
if too large, you won't be able to get large enough

current to complete your graph
if too small, you may damage device, or find it too

difficult to adjust the current to the exact desired
value
prepare a table of I vs. V

(a)
indicate your units
(b)
fill in one column, ahead of time, with values covering the

range of interest
which column? if you're using a digital voltmeter

and an analog ammeter, fill in the I column with
round values (why?)
how many points should you measure? general

answer: enough to complete the curvetake more
points where changes are occurring, fewer points
where the curve is straightyou should never have
to guess where to draw the curve
viii)
adjust the voltage source until the desired current appears on the
ammeter
ix)
record the corresponding voltage reading alongside it in the table
x)
what meter ranges should you be using?
L.105.2
PG. 5
TESTING, CURVES
xi)
continue until the table is complete
xii)
problem: what happens if you can't reach the highest desired

current?
(a)
change to smaller R (why?)
(b)
(important concept) will you then have to re-measure the

entire curve?
(c)
should continually check device and resistor for excessive

heat buildup as you go
(d)
if excessive, may have to use water bath or other heat sink
(e)
could you use a single multimeter and simply move it

between series and parallel? why not?
xiii)
don't take apart apparatus yet
xiv)
draw graph (SHOW how, projecting Fig. 3A below on white

board)
(a)
I on y axis, V on x axisdraw the axes, label them
(b)
start both I and V scales at zero
(c)
indicate units of each scale
(d)
make uniform scale graduationsothers may seem more

convenient, but would distort the characteristic curve
(e)
purpose of graph is to represent the trend, not precisely

tabulate each data pointdon't worry if points appear on
graph to be equal in value
(f)
make each square count as a round value: 1, 2 or 5 only

no 3's, 2.5's, etc.
L.105.2
PG. 6
TESTING, CURVES
(g)
try to make the finished graph fill the entire paper, not
squeezed into one cornerplan ahead
(h)
avoid numbering every single square on the papermajor

divisions only, then tic marks for minor divisions
(i)
draw a smooth curve through the points, not dot-to-dot line

segments
(j)
if more than one curve, label each carefullye.g., 25

degrees, 50 degrees, etc.
(k)
finished graph should be clean and easy to read at a glance
I(mA)
V(V)
0
Fig. 3A
6.
what characteristic curve can tell you about a device in any circuit
A.
the current through it when a given voltage is applied across it
L.105.2
PG. 7
TESTING, CURVES
B.
C.
i)
example from data measured
ii)
from homework
the voltage across it when a given current is flowing through it in any

circuit
i)
example from data measured
ii)
from homework
the rate of change of current with voltage

i)
called dI/dV
ii)
tells how much the current will change for a given small change in
voltage
iii)
units are mA per V, typically
iv)
examples
(a)
(b)
for the 1000-Ohm resistor
look at curve
current always goes up 1 mA for every volt increase
dI/dV the same anywhere on curve = 1 mA/V
for the unknown device
how does given increase in voltage affect current

level?
depends where you are on curve
not much change at first, more as you go up on the

curve
L.105.2
PG. 8
TESTING, CURVES
(c)
D.
E.
dI/dV variessmall at first, higher for larger values

of V
dI/dV not constant, depends on V
for the charactertic curve on homework handout (discuss)
the device's power dissipation

i)
I x V in Watts
ii)
simply multiply x value by y value
iii)
examples
how much current and voltage the device will have when connected in a
series circuit with a resistor
i)
typical examplefind I and VA in the circuit of Fig. 4, for the

device whose characteristic curve you just measured
ii)
methods of solution
(a)
not possible to find "resistance" of device and add it to

value of series R (why not?)
L.105.2
PG. 9
TESTING, CURVES
(b)
(c)
trial and error
guess a voltage for VA
less than supply voltage (why?)
this is voltage across device
compute voltage across R = supply voltage estimated voltage across device
compute currentvoltage across R / R
this same current flows through device (why?)
look on characteristic curve and see if this current

agrees with the voltage assumed to be across the
device
if not refine your guess of the voltage across the

device and repeat above procedure
keep going until your assumed voltage agrees with

computed current
load line method
on the same graph as the characteristic curve, draw

a dot on the x axis at the power supply voltage (this
is the so-called open circuit conditionif the device
were an open circuit, there would be zero current
through and full supply voltage across the device)
draw another dot on the y axis at the short circuit

current = supply voltage / resistor value (if the
device were a short, there would be zero volts
across it and a current equal to the supply voltage
over R)
L.105.2
PG. 10
TESTING, CURVES
II.
connect the two dots with a straight line (equation

of this line is I = (VSUPPLY V) / R, which is the
equation of a line)
where this line crosses the characteristic curve is the

"operating point" of the device
read off the devices I and V from this point
test your answer in circuit
will use in the future
The Diode
1.
2.
3.
why study
A.
basis of all solid state (semiconducting) devices, e.g., transistors
B.
used in many application circuits

i)
power supplies
ii)
clippers, clampers, peak detectors, logic, to be studied later
definitiona device which conducts current in one direction but not the other
A.
SHOW with lamp
B.
like a one-way electronic valve
construction (DRAW Fig. 5)
L.105.2
PG. 11
TESTING, CURVES
4.
5.
A.
p type material
B.
n type material
C.
joined to form "junction"
D.
silicon or germanium used, silicon now most common
symbol and physical package (DRAW Fig. 6)
A.
bar on symbol called "cathode"
B.
other terminal "anode"
C.
bar on physical device marks cathode (same as on symbol)
part numbering system
L.105.2
PG. 12
TESTING, CURVES
6.
A.
1NXXXX commonly used in U.S.
B.
("2NXXXX" is used for transistors)
C.
e.g., 1N4001
D.
unfortunately, numbers are not in themselves significanthave to use data

sheet to find out specifications
E.
data sheets found on the Internet (SHOW for 1N4001)
operationwhich way can electrons flow through the diode? (SHOW with circuits
of Fig. 7)
A.
in cathode, out anode
B.
opposite the "arrow"
L.105.2
PG. 13
TESTING, CURVES
C.
7.
ideal equivalent circuit (Fig. 8)
A.
B.
8.
arrow notation designed for conventional current
testing
"forward bias"
i)
diode is conducting current
ii)
equivalent to a closed switch
iii)
anode more positive in voltage than cathode
"reverse bias"
i)
diode is blocking current
ii)
equivalent to an open switch
iii)
cathode more positive than anode
L.105.2
PG. 14
TESTING, CURVES
A.
set ohmmeter to HI ohms if analog
B.
set to DIODE test if digital
C.
apply ohmmeter (with power off, as usual) and look for continuity one way
but not the other
D.
9.
i)
if no continuity, diode is open
ii)
if continuity both ways, shorted
iii)
don't worry about exact readingsimply look for continuity
to identify cathode lead, must test a known diode with the same ohmmeter
i)
red lead of ohmmeter usually, but not always, the positive
ii)
you should try it with your personal meter and see which ohmmeter
lead is positive
determining forward or reverse bias in a circuit

A.
method
i)
B.
check voltage at the diode's terminals: is cathode more negative

than anode?
(a)
yes? (remember: - sign next to bar on symbol) forward

biascurrent can flow
(b)
no? reverse biasno current can flow
examplestell if diode is forward or reverse biased

i)
Fig. 9
L.105.2
PG. 15
TESTING, CURVES
ii)
Fig. 10
iii)
Fig. 11
iv)
Fig. 12
L.105.2
PG. 16
TESTING, CURVES
10.
ideal characteristic curve

A.
forward bias
i)
first quadrant (positive voltage means forward bias on diode)
ii)
like closed switch
iii)
(a)
never any voltage across (V = 0)
(b)
no matter what current flows
vertical line (start to DRAW Fig. 13)
L.105.2
PG. 17
TESTING, CURVES
I (mA) = current through the diode

10
8
REVERSE BIAS
FORWARD BIAS
4
2
-6
-4
-2
Fig. 13Characteristic curve of an ideal diode
B.
11.
10
V (V) = voltage
across the diode
(a)
how compare with resistor?
(b)
more like a high valued or low valued resistor?
reverse bias
i)
3rd quadrant
ii)
like an open switch
iii)
(a)
never any current through (I = 0)
(b)
no matter what voltage across
horizontal line (add to Fig. 13)

(a)
compare with resistor
(b)
high or low value?
actual characteristic curve
L.105.2
PG. 18
TESTING, CURVES
12.
A.
different from ideal, both + and - parts
B.
exact shape depends on temperature and type of diode
C.
to be measured in lab
diode parameterswhat you pay for when buying a diode

A.
B.
maximum forward current

i)
how much current diode can carry before it blows out
ii)
e.g., for 1N4000, it's 1 A
iii)
show various samples of different ratings, if available
reverse voltage rating

i)
how much reverse bias voltage you can apply before diode starts
conducting (the wrong way)
ii)
like one-way valvewill blow when back pressure is excessive
iii)
may blow if exceededdepends on whether current flow is limited
iv)
e.g., for 1N4000, it's 50 V
v)
test circuit (DRAW circuit of Fig. 14)
L.105.2
PG. 19
TESTING, CURVES
III.
LED
1.
applications
A.
lamp replacement (SHOW online ads for LED lamps)

i)
draw less current for same amount of light as incandescent lamps
ii)
last a lot longerno filament to burn out
B.
digital displays (SHOW example of 7-segment displaylight up a segment

using DC supply and 330-Ohm resistor)
C.
fiber optic communications
D.
i)
LED used as light source
ii)
shines down fiber optic cable
iii)
invisible infrared light used
iv)
picked up at other end by photo detector and decoded
v)
SHOW basic operation of fiber optic cable using flashlight, and

fiber optic cable, observing other end of cable on CCD video
camera
TV remote controls
L.105.2
PG. 20
TESTING, CURVES
2.
E.
security alarms
F.
laser printers (use laser LED)
G.
CD players
H.
bar-code scanners
symbol and physical package (DRAW Fig. 15)

A.
cathode and anode designated the same as a regular diode
B.
cathode of discrete LED slightly flattened
cathode
Fig. 15Light-emitting diode (LED) symbol and construction
3.
operation
A.
basically the same as regular diode

i)
electrons go in cathode, out anode (SHOW)
ii)
WARNING: always use series resistor to limit current
L.105.2
PG. 21
TESTING, CURVES
IV.
B.
but gives off light as electrons cross the junction and drop to a lower
energy level
C.
reversible effectshine light on LED and will put out voltagetry it
4.
characteristic curvesimilar to diode, but slight difference, to be measured in lab

(REMINDERbring graph paper to lab)
5.
testing
A.
same method as for diode
B.
most analog ohmmeters can't test due to higher voltage required
C.
some digitals will (try it)
MATERIALS
1.
silicon diode
2.
lamp
3.
DC power supply
4.
analog ammeter
5.
digital multimeter
6.
LED
7.
demonstration fiber optic cable
8.
7-segment LED display
9.
350-Ohm resistor
10.
sample diodes of different sizes and current ratings
11.
flashlight
L.105.2
PG. 22
TESTING, CURVES
12.
unknown two-terminal device #2A
13.
100-Ohm resistor

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L.105.

electronic devices we will study can be described by means of special

available in data manuals, catalogs, and on manufacturers' web sites

can tell you what you need to know to use a device

how it will perform in a circuit

definitiona graph of DC current through vs. voltage across the device

current on y (vertical) axis, voltage on x (horizontal) axis

DRAW example, Fig. 1

I (ma) = current through the device

Fig. 1Example characteristic curve

V = voltage across the device

or how much voltage it would take to get a certain amount of current to

SHOW examples based on Fig. 1

examplea 1000- resistor

make a table of I vs. Vhow? Ohm's Law

Voltage across 1000-

make a graph of this data, Fig. 2

I (mA) = current through the device

V (V) = voltage across the device

Fig. 2Characteristic curve of a 1000-

characteristic curve of a resistor is a straight line

for an unknown device

resistor was trivial example, because we already know relationship of I and

not all characteristic curves are straight lines

must determine experimentally

procedure (DRAW circuit of Fig. 3, piece by piece, and SHOW procedure

connect ammeter in series with devicewhy do this?

connect separate voltmeter (where?) across device

now set up to measure voltage across and current through

next add voltage source, adjustable (why?)

problemwhat if too much current flows and destroys device?

exampledevice is a 1.5-V lamp, and we apply 6 V to it?

happens a lot with semiconductor devicesexcess current

solutionadd series resistor to limit current

voltage across device will not equal supply voltage any

what size resistor?

if too large, you won't be able to get large enough

if too small, you may damage device, or find it too

prepare a table of I vs. V

indicate your units

fill in one column, ahead of time, with values covering the

which column? if you're using a digital voltmeter

how many points should you measure? general

record the corresponding voltage reading alongside it in the table

what meter ranges should you be using?

continue until the table is complete

problem: what happens if you can't reach the highest desired

change to smaller R (why?)

(important concept) will you then have to re-measure the

should continually check device and resistor for excessive

if excessive, may have to use water bath or other heat sink

could you use a single multimeter and simply move it

don't take apart apparatus yet

draw graph (SHOW how, projecting Fig. 3A below on white

I on y axis, V on x axisdraw the axes, label them

start both I and V scales at zero

indicate units of each scale

make uniform scale graduationsothers may seem more

purpose of graph is to represent the trend, not precisely