DC Analysis

Representation of diode into three models

Ideal case model 1 with V = 0
Piecewise linear model 2 with V has a given value
Piecewise linear model 3 with V and forward resistance, r
f
Recall-Lecture 4
Diode AC equivalent model
During analysis, must perform DC analysis first to
calculate I
D
in order to obtain r
d


DC ANALYSIS
DIODE = MODEL 1 ,2
OR 3
CALCULATE DC
CURRENT, I
D
CALCULATE
r
d
AC ANALYSIS
DIODE = RESISTOR,
r
d
CALCULATE AC
CURRENT, i
d
Electronics ECE 1231
BREAKDOWN VOLTAGE
The breakdown voltage is a function of the doping concentrations
in the n- and p-region of the pn junction.
Large doping concentrations result in smaller break-down voltage.
Reverse biased voltage E
T

The electric field may become large enough for the covalent bond
to break, causing electron-hole pairs to be created.
So, electrons from p-type are swept to n-region by the electric
field and holes from the n-type are swept to the p-region
The movement will create reverse biased current known as the
Zener Effect.


Electronics ECE 1231
Zener Effect and Zener Diode
The applied reverse biased voltage cannot increase without limit since at
some point breakdown occurs causing current to increase rapidly.
The voltage at that point is known as the breakdown voltage, V
Z
Diodes are fabricated with a specifically design breakdown voltage and are
designed to operate in the breakdown region are called Zener diodes. Circuit
symbol of the Zener diode:
Such a diode can be used as a constant-voltage
reference in a circuit.
The large current that may exist at breakdown
can cause heating effects and catastrophic failure
of the diode due to the large power dissipated in
the device.
Diodes can be operated in the breakdown region
by limiting the current to a value within the
capacities of the device.

NOTE: When a Zener diode is reverse-
biased, it acts at the breakdown region,
when it is forward biased, it acts like a
normal PN junction diode
Electronics ECE 1231
Avalanche Effect
While these carriers crossing the space-charge
region, they also gain enough kinetic energy.
Hence, during collision with other atoms, covalent
bond is broken and more electron-holes pairs are
created, and they contribute to the collision process
as well. Refer to figure below

e
h
e
atom
e
h atom
Electron with
high kinetic
energy
e
h atom
Chapter 3
Diode Circuits
Voltage Regulator
A voltage regulator supplies constant voltage to a load.
Voltage Regulator - Zener Diode
The breakdown voltage of a Zener
diode is nearly constant over a wide
range of reverse-bias currents.
This make the Zener diode useful in
a voltage regulator, or a constant-
voltage reference circuit.
1. The zener diode holds
the voltage constant
regardless of the current

2. The load
resistor
sees a
constant
voltage
regardless
of the
current

3. The remainder
of V
PS
drops
across R
i
A Zener diode is connected in a voltage regulator circuit. It is given that V
PS
= 20V, the Zener
voltage, V
Z
= 10V, R
i
= 222 and P
Z(max)
= 400 mW.

a. Determine the values of I
L
, I
Z
and I
I
if R
L
= 380 .
b. Determine the value of R
L
that will establish P
Z(max)
= 400 mW in the diode.
Example
For proper function the circuit the following conditions must be satisfied the following
conditions.
1. The power dissipation in the Zener diode is less than the rated value
2. When the power supply is a minimum, V
PS
(min), there must be minimum current in
the zener diode I
Z
(min), hence the load current is a maximum, I
L
(max),
3. When the power supply is a maximum, V
PS
(max), the current in the diode is a
maximum, I
Z
(max), hence the load current is a minimum, I
L
(min)
AND
Or, we can write
For general thumb of rule for design this circuit is, so from the last Equation
Maximum power dispassion in the Zener diode is
EXAMPLE 1 (Example 3.3 from textbook)

Design a Zener diode voltage regulator circuit as shown
in Figure . Consider voltage regulator is used to power
the cell phone at 2.5 V from the lithium ion battery,
which voltage may vary between 3 and 3.6 V. The
current in the phone will vary 0 (off) to 100 mA(when
talking).

simple Zener diode voltage
regulator circuit
Solution:
The stabilized voltage V
L
= 2.5 V, so the Zener diode voltage must be VZ = 2.5

V. The
maximum Zener diode current is
The maximum power dispassion in the Zener diode is
The value of the current limiting resistance is
Example 2

Range of V
PS
: 10V 14V
R
L
= 20 100
V
Z
= 5.6V
Find value of R
i
and calculate the maximum power rating of the diode

Rectifier
Rectifier Circuits
A dc power supply is required to bias all electronic circuits.
A diode rectifier forms the first stage of a dc power supply.





Diagram of an Electronic Power Supply
Rectification is the process of converting an alternating (ac)
voltage into one that is limited to one polarity.
Rectification is classified as half-wave or full-wave rectifier.
Rectifier Parameters
Relationship between the number of turns of a
step-down transformer and the input/output
voltages
The peak inverse voltage (PIV) of the diode is the peak value of the voltage
that a diode can withstand when it is reversed biased
Duty Cycle: The fraction of the wave cycle over which the diode is conducting.
i
v
D
V
V
Equation of V
O
and current when diode is conducting

Vs< V, diode off, open circuit, no
current flow,Vo = 0V
Vs> V, diode conducts, current flows,
Vo = Vs V
V
p
Vs< V, diode off, open circuit, no current flow,Vo = 0V
Vs> V, diode conducts,current flows and Vo = Vs V
Vs = Vpsin t
Notice that the
peak voltage of Vo
is lower
Vs >V
V
V
p