Laboratory-1 Laboratory-1

2-Terminal Device Characteristics and Diode Characterization

Introduction The objectives of this experiment are to learn methods for characterizing 2terminal devices, such as diodes, observe some fundamental trends in the characteristics of various diode types, and to gain some familiarity with standard test bench instrumentation. None of the devices used in this set of procedures are particularly static sensitive; nevertheless, you should pay close attention to the circuit connections and to the polarity of the power supplies, diodes, and oscilloscope inputs. You may find that your lab kit may be missing the specific part number that is called out in the procedures. If this is the case, consult the parts list in the first section of this laboratory handbook for a possible substitution. If you are still confused as to which part to use, then consult the T.A.

Precautions

Part Numbers

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EE-331 Laboratory Handbook

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Laboratory-1

Procedure 1
Set-Up

Measurement of diode reverse leakage current

Configure a DC power supply to produce an output voltage of VSS = +10.0 Volts. Verify this voltage with the bench DMM. If the DC power supply has a current limiting ability, configure the power supply to limit the current to 100 mA. Route the output of the DC power supply to your breadboard using two squeeze hook test leads. For this next procedure you will measure the leakage current of four different diodes. Each diode should be connected as shown in Fig. E1.1. Use the following parts: R1 = 1.0 M 1% 1/4 W D1 = 1N34A, 1N4007, 1N4148, or 1N5819 Use the solderless breadboard to connect the components, noting that each set of 5 vertically oriented holes constitutes a tie point. The horizontal rows of holes are all internally connected into a single tie point; these are normally used for power supply distribution. To attach test leads to the breadboard, you can use either the exposed end of a component lead, or you can insert a small pin into the appropriate tie point and connect the squeeze hook or oscilloscope probe to the pin. Connect up only one diode at a time in the circuit of Fig. E1.1, noting that the banded end of each diode is the cathode, which corresponds to the bar on the circuit symbol. Connect the DC power supply across both R1 and D1 and then connect the DMM across only R1 using two pairs of squeeze hook test leads as shown above. The DMM should read less than +10.0 V.
D MM (+) R1 1.0 M

VSS D C SU PPLY D1 TEST D IOD E D MM (-)

Figure E1.1

BR EAD BOAR D

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EE-331 Laboratory Handbook

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Laboratory-1 Measurement-1 Measure the reverse leakage current for the 1N34A, 1N4007, 1N4148, and 1N5819 diodes. Do this by using the DMM to measure the voltage across R1 and divide this voltage by R1 = 1.0 M to obtain the current through R1, and therefore the current through D1. Record your measurements and calculations in a table in your notebook. Question-1 Order these four diodes in rank, from smallest to largest reverse leakage current. Which diode would be the most suitable for charging up a capacitor and allowing the capacitor to keep its charge for the longest period of time?

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EE-331 Laboratory Handbook

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Laboratory-1

Procedure 2
Set-Up

Measurement of diode forward turn-on voltage

In this procedure you will test each of the four diodes used in Procedure 1 at six different current levels. First note that the polarity of the diode is now reversed from that of the previous procedure. The current levels will be set by R1 which will be set to one of six possible values. To speed up this process, you may wish to insert all six resistors and all four diodes into the breadboard at once so that one end of each resistor connects to the anode of each diode. The long, horizontal tie point strips on the solderless breadboard are quite convenient for this. The proper resistor and diode can then be quickly selected by simply moving the power supply leads. Use the bench DMM to measure the DC voltage across either the resistor or diode, as shown in Fig. E1.2. Connect the circuit for each diode and resistor pair as shown in Fig. E1.2 using the following parts: R1 = 100 , 1.0 k, 10 k, 100 k, 1.0 M, or 10 M, 1% 1/4W D1 = 1N34A, 1N4007, 1N4148, or 1N5819
D MM1 (+) R1

VSS D C SU PPLY D1

D MM1 (-)

D MM2 (+)

TEST D IOD E

D MM2 (-)

Figure E1.2

BR EAD BOAR D

Measurement-2 For each of the four diodes (1N34A, 1N4007, 1N4148, and 1N5819), follow this procedure. Adjust the DC power supply VSS to produce +10.0 Volts across R1 by monitoring with the DMM1. Measure the forward turn-on voltage of the diode with DMM2. If two DMMs are not available at your lab bench, you may have to switch back and forth between the two terminals at DMM1 and DMM2. Record the diode's current and voltage in a table in your notebook. The diode current is equal to 10.0 V/R1. Change the resistor to the next value and repeat. After measuring six different different (I,V) pairs for the diode, change the diode to the next one and repeat each of the six measurements again. Trade off between lab group members, so that everyone gets to do at least one diode.

R. B. Darling/TC Chen

EE-331 Laboratory Handbook

Page E1.4

Laboratory-1 Question-2 (a) Using some graph paper, plot the common (base 10) logarithm of the current versus the voltage for each diode; that is, create a semi-log plot of I versus V, where I is on a log scale and V is on a linear scale. (b) For each decade of increase in diode current, how much does the diode voltage increase by? (c) Identify current ranges on your graph that correspond to diode ideality factors of 1 and 2. Identify any other obvious trends. (d) Rank the four diodes from smallest to largest turn-on voltage. How does this ranking compare to that for reverse leakage current?

R. B. Darling/TC Chen

EE-331 Laboratory Handbook

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Laboratory-1

Procedure 3
Comment

Measurement of diode I-V characteristics using the oscilloscope

In this procedure, you will use an oscilloscope and the laboratory transformer to display the current-voltage (I-V) characteristics of a diode. Connect the circuit shown in Fig. E1.3 using the following components: R1 = 1.0 k 1% 1/4 W D1 = 1N34A, 1N4007, 1N4148, or 1N5819
RE D1 1N4148 V SCOPE CHANNEL-2 Signal Generator R1 1.0 k SCOPE CHANNEL-1

Set-Up

BLAC

SCOPE

Figure E1.3

BREADBOAR

Set-Up

Set the signal generator to 10 V amplitude, and 1000 Hz frequency. Connect the positive lead from the signal generator and the 10x probe from Ch-1 of the oscilloscope to the anode of the diode. Connet the 10x probe from Ch-2 of the oscilloscope to the junction between D1 and R1. Connect the ground lead from the signal generator and the two oscilloscope probe grounds to the other side of R1, as shown in Figure E1.3. Next, configure an oscilloscope to display the I-V characteristics as follows: Configure the oscilloscope to produce an X-Y display, using Ch-1 as the X-axis and Ch-2 as the Y-axis. Set Ch-2 to invert the incoming signal. Set the Ch-1 range to 0.1 V/div which establishes the x-axis scale of the display as 1.0 V/div, since a 10 probe is being used. Set the Ch-2 range to 0.5 V/div which establishes the y-axis of the display to 0.5 mA/div, as a result of the value of R1 = 1.0 k and the 10 probe. Turn ON the power switch to energize the circuit. At this point you should have something on the screen which resembles the I-V characteristics of a diode. Adjust the position controls to center and calibrate the curve to the

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EE-331 Laboratory Handbook

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Laboratory-1 center point of the screen as follows: Switch both Ch-1 and Ch-2 input couplings to GND. Adjust the vertical position control for Ch-2 and the horizontal position control to move the dot to the exact center of the oscilloscope screen. After having done so, return both the Ch-1 and Ch-2 input couplings to DC. You may need to decrease the intensity of the trace to remove any halo from around the dot. Comment The oscilloscope should now be displaying a graph of the current-voltage (IV) characteristics of the device. The vertical axis or y-input is proportional to the current through the diode, since it measures the voltage across R1. The voltage across R1 is proportional to the current flowing through it, and this same current flows through the diode. The horizontal axis or x-input is proportional to the voltage across the diode. Thus, this circuit produces a simple, but effective and accurate curve tracer. Note that the Ch-2 input to the oscilloscope must be inverted in order to account for the polarity of the voltage drop produced across R1. This then keeps the I-V characteristics of a passive device within quadrants 1 and 3 of the I and V axes, as they are normally drawn.

Measurement-3 Sketch the I-V characteristics of each diode in your notebook (they should look like the oscilloscope trace) on the same set of axes. Using the scaling factors from the oscilloscope, scale the x and y axes of your sketch with tick marks for current and voltage. Graph paper is handy for this and makes the following analysis easier. Question-3 From your sketch, extract the forward-bias turn-on voltage (Von) for each diode. Compare your answers to the results of the previous DMM readings.

R. B. Darling/TC Chen

EE-331 Laboratory Handbook

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Laboratory-1

Procedure 4
Comment

Effect of series and parallel resistances

The set-up from Procedure 3 can be kept as-is, aside from changing the diode back to the 1N4148 type. Use the following parts to construct the circuit of Fig. E1.4 below: R1 = 1.0 k 1% 1/4 W D1 = 1N4148
RE D1 1N4148 V SCOPE CHANNEL-2 Signal Generator R1 1.0 k SCOPE CHANNEL-1

Set-Up

BLAC

SCOPE

Figure E1.4

BREADBOAR

Measurement-4 Sketch the I-V characteristics of the 1N4148 diode in your notebook and label the current and voltage axes with tick marks matching to the scale factors on the oscilloscope. Now, add another 1.0 k 1/4W resistor in parallel with D1 and observe the effect on the I-V characteristics, as displayed on the oscilloscope screen. Sketch these new characteristics in your notebook on the same set of axes as the first I-V curve. This new I-V curve represents how the diode is affected by a parallel leakage path. Next, replace the D1 and 1.0 k parallel combination with D1 and a 100 resistor in series and observe the effect on the I-V characteristics. Sketch these new characteristics in your notebook on the same set of axes as the other two I-V curves. This new I-V curve represents how the diode is affected by additional series resistance which might arise from a poor contact or a faulty connection in a circuit.

R. B. Darling/TC Chen

EE-331 Laboratory Handbook

Page E1.8

Laboratory-1 Question-4 Using only a few well-chosen sentences, discuss the effects of series and parallel resistance on the observed I-V characteristics of a diode. Refer to your sketch of the characteristics as needed.

R. B. Darling/TC Chen

EE-331 Laboratory Handbook

Page E1.9

Laboratory-1

Procedure 5
Set-Up

Measurement of a zener diode

Connect the circuit shown in Fig. E1.5 using the following components: R1 = 1.0 k 1% 1/4 W D1 = 1N4732
RE D1 1N4732 V SCOPE CHANNEL-2 Signal Generator R1 1.0 k SCOPE CHANNEL-1

BLAC

SCOPE

Figure E1.5

BREADBOAR

Set-Up

Set the signal generator to 5 V amplitude, and 1000 Hz frequency. Connect the positive lead from the signal generator and the 10x probe from Ch-1 of the oscilloscope to the anode of the diode. Connet the 10x probe from Ch-2 of the oscilloscope to the junction between D1 and R1. Connect the ground lead from the signal generator and the two oscilloscope probe grounds to the other side of R1, as shown in Figure E1.5. Next, configure an oscilloscope to display the I-V characteristics as follows: Configure the oscilloscope to produce an X-Y display, using Ch-1 as the X-axis and Ch-2 as the Y-axis. Set Ch-2 to invert the incoming signal. Set the Ch-1 range to 0.1 V/div which establishes the x-axis scale of the display as 1.0 V/div, since a 10 probe is being used. Set the Ch-2 range to 0.5 V/div which establishes the y-axis of the display to 5 mA/div, as a result of the value of R1 = 1.0 k and the 10 probe. Turn ON the power switch to energize the circuit. At this point you should have something on the screen which resembles the I-V characteristics of a diode. Adjust the position controls to center and calibrate the curve to the center point of the screen as follows: Switch both Ch-1 and Ch-2 input couplings to GND. Adjust the vertical position control for Ch-2 and the horizontal position control to move the dot to the exact center of the

R. B. Darling/TC Chen

EE-331 Laboratory Handbook

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Laboratory-1 oscilloscope screen. After having done so, return both the Ch-1 and Ch-2 input couplings to DC. You may need to decrease the intensity of the trace to remove any halo from around the dot.

Measurement-5 Sketch the I-V characteristics of each diode in your notebook (they should look like the oscilloscope trace) on the same set of axes. Using the scaling factors from the oscilloscope, scale the x and y axes of your sketch with tick marks for current and voltage. Graph paper is handy for this and makes the following analysis easier. Question-5 (a) Using the data that was collected, compute a value for the zener resistance rz of the diode in its breakdown region. Similarly, compute a value for the forward (on) resistance rf of the diode in its forward region. The easiest way to do this for both regions is to identify two strategic (I,V) points which define the best fit lines in these regions and then compute the inverse slopes of these lines. (b) The power rating of the 1N4732 zener diode is quoted at 1.0 Watt. Calculate the maximum current that the diode can handle in the forward (on) direction and then in the reverse (zener) direction and not exceed the 1.0 Watt limit.

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EE-331 Laboratory Handbook

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Laboratory-1

Procedure 6
Comment

Characterization of a light-emitting diode (LED)

Circular LED's, as well as other small panel lamps, come in several standard sizes. A T-1 size is 3 mm in diameter, and a T-1 3/4 size is 5 mm dia. There are several ways of identifying which terminal is which on an LED. If the leads have not been cut, the anode or (+) lead will be the longer of the two. (This also holds true for parallel lead electrolytic capacitors.) If the leads have been cut, you will have to use the next method. Look straight down on the hemispherical dome of the LED (so that the LED would be shining toward you) and you should notice that the small lip at the bottom of the plastic has a flat side on it. The lead that is closest to this flat side is the cathode or () lead. Replace the 1N4732 diode of Procedure 5 with a T-1 3/4 red LED, keeping the banded end (the cathode) connected to ground.

Set-Up

Measurement-6 Sketch the I-V characteristics of each diode in your notebook (they should look like the oscilloscope trace) on the same set of axes. Using the scaling factors from the oscilloscope, scale the x and y axes of your sketch with tick marks for current and voltage. Graph paper is handy for this and makes the following analysis easier. Question-6 Discuss in your notebook why the turn-on voltage of the LED is significantly higher than that of a typical silicon switching or rectifier diode. Hint: LEDs are not made of silicon!

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EE-331 Laboratory Handbook

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Laboratory-1

Procedure 7
Comment

Characterization of a photoconductive cell

Photoconductive cells are two terminal devices whose resistance is lowered by illumination. They are commonly used to sense light levels and as light sensors in various industrial control systems. One of the most common applications is to turn on yard lights at sunset, or to adjust the intensity of the dashboard lights in an automobile as the passenger compartment conditions grow darker. Photoconductive cells are quite robust, and they are electrically linear which makes them useful in certain applications where a nonlinear photodiode would not perform as well. Replace the LED of Procedure 6 with photoconductive cell, keeping the banded end (the cathode) connected to ground.

Set-Up

Measurement-7 Sketch the I-V characteristics of each diode in your notebook (they should look like the oscilloscope trace) on the same set of axes. Using the scaling factors from the oscilloscope, scale the x and y axes of your sketch with tick marks for current and voltage. Graph paper is handy for this and makes the following analysis easier. For each of the following four conditions, adjust the illumination on the photoconductive cell, (a) First cover the photoconductive cell with a completely opaque object, like a small piece of metal or some thick cardboard. This will give the reference level of dark conditions and the highest value of resistance. Run the test and record the data. (b) Cover the photoconductive cell with just your fingertip and record a new set of I-V characteristics. (c) Cover the photoconductive cell with a single sheet of notebook paper and record a new set of I-V characteristics. (d) Uncover the photoconductive cell completely to the room light and record a new set of I-V characteristics. Question-7 (a) Describe qualitatively the I-V curves for each of the four conditions recorded above. Explain how the photoconductive cell is or is not linear. (b) For each of the four conditions, compute an average resistance of the photoconductive cell from the recorded data.

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EE-331 Laboratory Handbook

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