Chapter 3 Diode Circuits

 3.1 Ideal Diode

 3.2 PN Junction as a Diode

 3.3 Applications of Diodes

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 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.
CH3 Diode Circuits 2
 Three Diode Models

ideal model exponential model

 

constant voltage model 

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 Ideal Diode

 In an ideal diode, if the voltage across it tends to exceed

zero, current flows.
 It is analogous to a water pipe that allows water to flow in
only one direction.
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 IV Characteristics of an Ideal Diode

V V
R =0⇒ I = =∞ R=∞⇒I = =0
R R

R=∞ R=0
Ideal diode model

 If the voltage across anode and cathode is greater than

zero, the resistance of an ideal diode is zero and current
becomes infinite.
 However, if the voltage is less than zero, the resistance
becomes infinite and current is zero.
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 Input/Output Characteristics of an Ideal Diode

 When Vin is less than zero (b), the diode opens, so Vout = Vin.
 When Vin is greater than zero (c), the diode shorts, so Vout = 0.

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 Diode Implementation of OR Gate

 The circuit above shows an example of diode-implemented

OR gate.
 Vout can only be either VA or VB, not both.

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 Three Diode Models

ideal model exponential model

 

constant voltage model 

 So far, we have studied the ideal model of diode. However,

there are still the exponential and constant voltage models.
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 Constant-Voltage Diode Model

reverse forward
region region

open circuit Ideal voltage

source

 Diode operates as an open circuit if VD< VD,on and a

constant voltage source of VD,on if VD tends to exceed VD,on.
– VD,on ~ 800 mV
 Ignore the leakage current in reverse bias
 VD is relatively week function of the ID
CH2 Basic Physics of Semiconductors 18
 Example: Diode Calculations

KVL
IX
VX = I X R1 + VD = I X R1 + VT ln
IS
I X = 2.2mA for VX = 3V
I X = 0.2mA for VX = 1V

VD,on ~ 800 mV

 This example shows the simplicity provided by a constant-

voltage model over an exponential model.
 For an exponential model, iterative method is needed to
solve for current, whereas constant-voltage model requires
only linear equations. 

CH2 Basic Physics of Semiconductors 19

 I/O Characteristics with Ideal and Constant-Voltage Models
𝑅𝑅2
𝑉𝑉𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 = 𝑉𝑉
𝑅𝑅1 + 𝑅𝑅2 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖

Ideal model

𝑅𝑅2
𝑅𝑅 𝑉𝑉𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 + 𝑉𝑉𝐷𝐷,𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜
𝑉𝑉𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 = 1
𝑅𝑅
1 + 𝑅𝑅2
1

constant voltage
model

Vin − Vout Vout − VD ,on

=
R1 R2

 The circuit above shows the difference between the

ideal and constant-voltage model; the two models
yield two different break points of slope.
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 Exponential Model
VD
I D = I S (exp − 1)
VT I in
Dn Dp I D1 =
2
I s = Aqni ( + ) Is2
N A Ln N D L p 1+
I s1
I in
I D2 =
I s1
1+
Is2

 In this example, since the two diodes have different cross-

section areas, only exponential model can be used.
 The two currents are solved by summing them with Iin, and
equating their voltages.

CH3 Diode Circuits 23

Large-Signal and Small-Signal Operation of Diodes

• Large-Signal Model (= General Model)

 Valid for any (large or small) input signal swing
 Non-linear equations for general 

• Small-Signal Model
 Valid for small input signal swing (e.g., << VT)
 Linear equations 

• Linear  If it is homogeneous and additive.

(ex: straight line through the origin)

• Apply non-linear equation for general (large-signal).

• Apply linear equation for small-signal.

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 Small-Signal Analysis

 Small-signal analysis is performed around a bias point by

perturbing the voltage by a small amount and observing the
resulting linear current perturbation. 
 𝜟𝜟ID is a linear function of 𝜟𝜟V, with a proportionality factor =
ID1/VT
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 Small-Signal Analysis in Detail

VD Approach I
I D = I S (exp − 1)
VT

 If two points on the IV curve of a diode are close enough,

the trajectory connecting the first to the second point is like
a line, with the slope being the proportionality factor
between change in voltage and change in current (R?).
CH3 Diode Circuits 27
 Small-Signal Incremental Resistance

𝑉𝑉1, 𝑉𝑉out vs. 𝑣𝑣1 , 𝑣𝑣out

VT
V = IR rd = Incremental R
ID

 Since there’s a linear relationship between the small signal

current and voltage of a diode, the diode can be viewed as
a linear resistor when only small changes are of interest.

CH3 Diode Circuits 28

 Small Sinusoidal Analysis

V0 I 0
V (t ) = V0 + V p cos ωt I 0 + I p cos ωt =
I D (t ) = I s exp + V p cos ωt
VT VT

 If a sinusoidal voltage with small amplitude is applied, the

resulting current is also a small sinusoid around a DC value (bias).

CH3 Diode Circuits 29

 Cause and Effect

 In (a), voltage is the cause and current is the effect.

 In (b), the other way around.
CH3 Diode Circuits 30
 Cell Phone Adapter

Vad = 3.0 V  3.1 V

Vout = 3VD
Vad IX IX
= 3VT ln
Is

~ 2.4 V

 Vout = 3 VD,on is used to charge cell phones.

 However, if IX changes, iterative method is often needed to
obtain a solution, thus motivating a simpler technique.

CH3 Diode Circuits 31

 Adapter Example Revisited

Vad = 3.0 V  3.1 V

VT
rd =
Vad=3.0 V ID
vad = 100 mV
ID1 = 6 mA 3rd
VD1 = 800 mV rd vout = vad
R1 + 3rd
rd = 11.5mV
rd

 With our understanding of small-signal analysis, we

can revisit our cell phone charger example and easily
solve it with just algebra instead of iterations. 
CH3 Diode Circuits 32
 Simple is Beautiful

∆Vout =∆I D ⋅ (3rd )

= 0.5 mA (3 × 4.33Ω)
= 6.5 mV

 In this example we study the effect of cell phone pulling

some current from the diodes.
 Using small signal analysis, this is easily done. 
 However, imagine the nightmare, if we were to solve it
using non-linear equations. 
CH3 Diode Circuits 33
 Applications of Diode – Skip but Read!

 Cell phone Charger

 Half-Wave Rectifiers
 Full-Wave Rectifiers
 Limiting Circuits
 Clamping Circuits
 Regulators
 Voltage Doublers

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