Fundamentals of Microelectronics

 CH1 Why Microelectronics?

 CH2 Basic Physics of Semiconductors
 CH3 Diode Circuits
 CH4 Physics of Bipolar Transistors
 CH5 Bipolar Amplifiers
 CH6 Physics of MOS Transistors
 CH7 CMOS Amplifiers
 CH8 Operational Amplifier As A Black Box

1
Chapter 3 Diode Circuits

 3.1 Ideal Diode

 3.2 PN Junction as a Diode

 3.3 Applications of Diodes

2
 Diode Circuits

 After we have studied in detail the physics of a diode, it is

time to study its behavior as a circuit element and its many
applications.
Diode Circuits 3
 3.1. Ideal Diode (1/13)
3.1.1. Diode’s Application: Cell Phone Charger

 An important application of diode is chargers.

 Diode acts as the black box (after transformer) that passes
only the positive half of the stepped-down sinusoid.
Diode Circuits 4
 3.1. Ideal Diode (2/13)
3.1.1. Diode’s Action in The Black Box (Ideal Diode)

 The diode behaves as a short circuit during the positive

half cycle (voltage across it tends to exceed zero), and an
open circuit during the negative half cycle (voltage across it
is less than zero).

Diode Circuits 5
 3.1. Ideal Diode (3/13)
3.1.2. Ideal Diode (1/9)

 VD= Vanode-Vcathode
 In an ideal diode, if the voltage across it VD tends to exceed zero,
current flows. VD > 0 Diode is Forward-biased.
 VD < 0 Diode is Reverse-biased
 It is analogous to a water pipe that allows water to flow in only one
direction.
Diode Circuits 6
 3.1. Ideal Diode (4/13)
3.1.2. Diodes in Series (2/9) Ex. 3.1.

 Diodes cannot be connected in series randomly. For the

circuits above, only a) can conduct current from A to C.

Diode Circuits 7
 3.1. Ideal Diode (5/13)
3.1.2. IV Characteristics of an Ideal Diode (3/9)

V V
R 0I   R I  0
R R

 If the voltage across anode and cathode is greater than zero, the
resistance of an ideal diode is zero and current becomes infinite
if not limited by the circuit. However, if the voltage is less than
zero, the resistance becomes infinite and current is zero.
Diode Circuits 8
 3.1. Ideal Diode (6/13)
3.1.2. Anti-Parallel Ideal Diodes (4/9) Ex. 3.2

Diode Circuits 9
 3.1. Ideal Diode (7/13)
3.1.2. Diode-Resistor Combination (5/9) Example 3.4

 Assumptions
 The IV characteristic of this diode-resistor combination is zero
for negative voltages and Ohm’s law for positive voltages.
Diode Circuits 10
 3.1. Ideal Diode (8/13)
Click to edit Master title style
3.1.2. Algorithm to check diode status (6/9)
Algorithm to check diode status
1. By inspection, make a set of assumptions (assume each diode ON or OFF)
2. Sketch the equivalent circuit:
* Replace ON diode with a closed switch
* Replace OFF diode with an open switch Current forward
3. Verification: direction
* for each diode assumed OFF, Calculate vD:
- If vD<0, go to the next diode assumed OFF and calculate its vD until you finish all diodes
assumed OFF. If for any diode assumed OFF, vD is positive, the set of assumptions is wrong.
Go back to 1 and make a new set of assumptions.
* for each diode assumed ON, find the direction of iD:
- If iD is > 0 in the forward direction, go to the next diode and calculate its iD until you finish all
diodes assumed ON. If for any diode assumed ON, iD is in the reverse direction (iD is < or = 0),
the set of assumptions is wrong. Go back to 1 and make a new set of assumptions.
4. If the set of assumptions is correct for all diodes, this set is the solution. No need to check another set of
assumptions since there is only one solution.
Notes:
- If you find any voltage conflict (same node has different voltages), the set of assumptions is wrong.
-Circuit with one diode: if you assume the diode ON (OFF) and then you find your assumption is wrong, then the
diode is OFF (ON).
- Circuit with more than one diode: you make a set of assumptions for all diodes. If you find the assumption is
wrong for one or more diode, this doesn’t mean that the status of this diode should be simply reversed. You have
to make another set of assumptions and go through verification.

EENG350, P. 11 Diode Circuits Adnan Harb- LIU

 3.1. Ideal Diode (9/13)
Click to edit Master title style
3.1.2. Algorithm to check diode status (7/9) Example

How to know the diode is ON or OFF? How to know the diode is ON or OFF?
1. Assume diode is OFF  Vanode= 0V and 1. Assume diode is OFF  Vanode= +10V and
Vcathode= +10V diode is reverse-biased  Vcathode= 0V diode is forward biased  diode
diode is OFF. is ON.
2. Assume diode is ON  I = +10V/1k = 10 2. Assume diode is ON  I = +10V/1k = 10
mA in the reverse direction diode is reverse- mA in the forward direction diode is forward-
biased  diode is OFF. biased  diode is ON.

EENG350, P. 12 Diode Circuits Adnan Harb- LIU

 3.1. Ideal Diode (10/13)
3.1.2. Diode Implementation of OR Gate (8/9) Example 3.6

 Assumptions
 The circuit above shows an example of diode-implemented OR gate.
 Vout can only be either VA or VB, not both.

Diode Circuits 13
 3.1. Ideal Diode (11/13)
3.1.2. Input / Output Characteristics (9/9)

 Electronic Circuits process input and generate output.

 When Vin is less than zero, the diode opens, so Vout = Vin.
 When Vin is greater than zero, the diode shorts, so Vout = 0.
Diode Circuits 14
 3.1. Ideal Diode (12/13)
3.1.3. Diode’s Application: Rectifier (1/2)

 A rectifier is a device
that passes positive-half
cycle of a sinusoid and
blocks the negative half-
cycle or vice versa.

 When Vin is greater than

0, diode shorts, so Vout =
Vin; however, when Vin is
less than 0, diode opens,
no current flows thru R1,
Vout = IR1R1 = 0.

Diode Circuits 15
 3.1. Ideal Diode (13/13)
3.1.3. Signal Strength Indicator or DC value (2/2)

T T
V out  V p sin ω t 0 t  V out  0  t T
2 2
for
1 T
1 T /2
V out , avg  V
 out ( t ) dt   V p sin  tdt
T 0 T 0
1 Vp Vp T
  cos  t 0 
T /2
for  t  T
T   2

 The averaged value of a rectifier output can be used as a signal

strength indicator for the input, since Vout,avg is proportional to Vp,
the input signal’s amplitude.

Diode Circuits 16
 3.2. pn Junction as a Diode (1/7)
Different Models for Diode (1/2)

 So far we have studied the ideal

model of diode. However, there
are still the exponential and
constant voltage models.

 In this course we will not

consider exponential model.

 Same Algorithm
Diode Circuits 17
 3.2. pn Junction as a Diode (2/7)
3.2. In/Out Charac. with Ideal and Constant-Voltage Models (2/2)

 We begin with Vin = -.

 As Vin exceeds zero,

D1 turns on.

 The circuit above
shows the difference
between the ideal and
constant-voltage
model; the two models
yield two different
break points of slope.

Diode Circuits 18
 3.2. pn Junction as a Diode (3/7)
3.3. Input / Output Charac. with a Constant-Voltage Model (1/3)

 When using a constant-voltage model, the voltage drop

across the diode is no longer zero but Vd,on when it conducts.
Diode Circuits 19
 3.2. pn Junction as a Diode (4/7)
3.3. Another Constant-Voltage Model Example (2/3)

 In this example,
since Vin is
connected to the
cathode, the diode
conducts when Vin
is very negative.

 The break point

where the slope
changes is when
the current across
R1 is equal to the
current across R2.
Diode Circuits 20
 3.2. pn Junction as a Diode (5/7)
Problem 3.8

Diode Circuits 21
 3.2. pn Junction as a Diode (6/7)
Problems 3.12 & 3.13

Diode Circuits 22
 3.2. pn Junction as a Diode (7/7)
Problem 3.18

Diode Circuits 23
 3.5. Applications of Diode

Diode Circuits 24
 3.5.1. Half-Wave Rectifier (1/14)

 A very common application of diodes is half-wave rectification,

where either the positive or negative half of the input is blocked.
 But, how do we generate a constant output?
Diode Circuits 25
 3.5.1. Half-Wave Rectifier (2/14)
Diode-Capacitor Circuit: Constant Voltage Model

 If the resistor in half-wave rectifier is replaced by a

capacitor, a fixed voltage output is obtained since the
capacitor (assumed ideal) has no path to discharge.
Diode Circuits 26
 3.5.1. Half-Wave Rectifier (3/14)
Diode-Capacitor With Load Resistor

 A path is available for capacitor to discharge. Therefore,

Vout will not be constant and a ripple exists.
Diode Circuits 27
 3.5.1. Half-Wave Rectifier (4/14)
Behavior for Different Capacitor Values

 For large C1, Vout has small ripple.

Diode Circuits 28
 3.5.1. Half-Wave Rectifier (5/14)
Peak to Peak amplitude of Ripple

t
Vout (t )  (Vp  VD,on ) exp 0  t  Tin
RLC1
t Vp  VD,on t
Vout (t )  (Vp  VD,on )(1  )  (Vp  VD,on ) 
RLC1 RL C1
Vp  VD,on Tin Vp  VD,on
VR   
RL C1 RLC1 f in

 The ripple amplitude is the decaying part of the exponential.

 Ripple voltage becomes a problem if it goes above 5 to 10%
of the output voltage.

Diode Circuits 29
 3.5.1. Half-Wave Rectifier (6/14)
Ex. 3.27

t
Vout (t )  (Vp  VD,on ) exp 0  t  Tin
RLC1
t Vp  VD,on t
Vout (t )  (Vp  VD,on )(1  )  (Vp  VD,on ) 
RLC1 RL C1
Vp  VD,on Tin Vp  VD,on
VR   
RL C1 RLC1 f in

Diode Circuits 30
 3.5.1. Half-Wave Rectifier (7/14)
Maximum Diode Current

2VR V p V p 2VR
I p  C1inV p   ( RLC1in  1)
Vp RL RL Vp
 The diode has its maximum current at t1, since that’s when
the slope of Vout is the greatest.
 This current has to be carefully controlled so it does not
damage the device.
 PIV= Vp; PIV= Peak Inverse Voltage.
Diode Circuits 31
 3.5.1. Half-Wave Rectifier (8/14)
Full-Wave Rectifier

 A full-wave rectifier passes both the negative and positive

half cycles of the input, while inverting the negative half of
the input.
 As proved later, a full-wave rectifier reduces the ripple by a
factor of two.
Diode Circuits 32
 3.5.1. Half-Wave Rectifier (9/14)
The Evolution of Full-Wave Rectifier

 Figures (e) and (f) show the topology that inverts the negative
half cycle of the input.
Diode Circuits 33
 3.5.1. Half-Wave Rectifier (10/14)
Full-Wave Rectifier: Bridge Rectifier

 The figure above shows a full-wave rectifier, where D1 and

D2 pass/invert the negative half cycle of input and D3 and D4
pass the positive half cycle.
Diode Circuits 34
 3.5.1. Half-Wave Rectifier (11/14)
In/Out Characteristics of a FWR (Constant-Voltage Model)

 The dead-zone around Vin arises because Vin must exceed 2

VD,ON to turn on the bridge.
Diode Circuits 35
 3.5.1. Half-Wave Rectifier (12/14)
Complete Full-Wave Rectifier

1 Vp  2VD,on
VR  
2 RLC1 f in
B

 Since C1 only gets ½ of period to discharge, ripple voltage

is decreased by a factor of 2.
 Also (b) shows that PIV= Vp- VD,on; PIV= Peak Inverse
Voltage.
Diode Circuits 36
 3.5.1. Half-Wave Rectifier (13/14)
Example: 3.31

Diode Circuits 37
 3.5.1. Half-Wave Rectifier (14/14)
Summary of Half and Full-Wave Rectifiers

PIV= Vp PIV= Vp- VD,on

 Full-wave rectifier is more suited to adapter and charger

applications.
Diode Circuits 38
 3.5. Applications of Diodes (1/2)
Problem 3.37

Diode Circuits 39
 3.5. Applications of Diodes (2/2)
Problem 3.41

Diode Circuits 40