UNIT-I - JUNCTION DIODE CHARACTERISTICS AND SOME SPECIAL DIODES

1 MARK QUESTIONS
1. What is depletion region in PN junction?

The region around the junction from which the mobile charge carriers (electrons
and holes) are depleted is called as depletion region. Since this region has immobile ions,
which are electrically charged, the depletion region is also known as space charge region.

2. Give the other names of depletion region?

i. space charge region

ii. Transition region

3. What is barrier potential?

The oppositely charged ions present on both sides of PN junction an electric

potential is established across the junction even without any external voltage source
which is termed as barrier potential.

4. What is meant by biasing a PN junction?

Connecting a PN junction to an external voltage source is biasing a PN junction.

5. What are the types of biasing a PN junction?

1. Forward bias 2. Reverse bias.

6. What is forward bias and reverse bias in a PN junction?

When positive terminal of the external supply is connected to P region and

negative terminal to N region, the PN junction is said to be forward biased. Under
forward biased condition the PN region offers a very low resistance and a large amount
of current flows through it.

7. What is reverse bias in a PN junction?

When positive terminal of the external supply is connected to N type and negative
terminal to P type then the PN junction is said to be in reverse bias. Under reverse biased
condition the PN region offers a very high resistance and a small amount of current flows
through it.

8. What is Reverse saturation current?

The current due to the minority carriers in reverse bias is said to be reverse
saturation current. This current is independent of the value of the reverse bias voltage.
9. Why contact differences of potential exist in PN junction?

When a PN junction is formed by placing a p-type and n-type material in intimate

contact, the Fermi level throughout the newly formed specimen is not constant at
equilibrium. There will be transfer of electron and energy until Fermi levels in the two
sides did line up. But the valence and conduction band in p side cannot be at the same
level as in n side .this shift in energy level results in contact difference of potential.

10. What is the static resistance of a diode?

Static resistance R of a diode can be defined as the ratio of voltage V across the
diode to the current flowing through the diode.
R = V/ I
Where
R - Static resistance of a diode
V - Voltage across the diode
I - current across the diode

11. Define dynamic resistance.

Dynamic resistance of a diode can be defined as the ratio of change in voltage

across the diode to the change in current through the diode.
r=V/I
Where
r - Dynamic resistance of a diode
V - change in voltage across the diode
I - change in current through the diode

12. What is an amplifier?

An amplifier is a device which produces a large electrical output of similar

Characteristics to that of the input parameters.

13. Why do we choose q point at the center of the load line?

The operating point of a transistor is kept fixed usually at the center of the active
region in order that the input signal is well amplified. If the point is fixed in the saturation
region or the cut off region the positive and negative half cycle gets clipped off
respectively.

14. When does a transistor act as a switch?

The transistor acts as a switch when it is operated at either cutoff region or

saturation region.

15. What is biasing?

 To use the transistor in any application it is necessary to provide sufficient voltage
and current to operate the transistor. This is called biasing.

16. What is operating point?

For the proper operation of the transistor a fixed level of current and voltages are
required. This values of currents and voltages defined at a point at which the transistor
operate is called operating point.

12. Define luminescence

Light can be emitted by a solid when it is stimulated by the source of incident

energy. This phenomenon is called luminescence

13. What are the types of luminescence?

a) Photoluminescence b) Electroluminescence

14. Define photoluminescence

It is incident energy is in the form of photons, then it is called

photoluminescence

15. Define electroluminescence

If the radiation is produced by the application of an electric field, it is termed as

electroluminescence

16. Which colour of light is emitted by GaAs, Gp, GaAsp

GaAs - Infra red radiation (invisible) GaP - Red or Green

GaAsP - Red or Yellow

17. Define injection laser diode

When the emitted light is coherent, (ie) essentially monochromatic, then such a
diode is referred to as an injection laser diode

18. What are the limitations of LCD?

* It requires an external or internal light source

* Temperature range is limited to about 60oC
* Lime time is limited due to chemical degeneration

19.What are the two types of LCDs?

a) Dynamic scattering type LCD b) Field effect LCD

 20.Name the crystal materials used to LCD?

b) Nematic b) Cholesteric

UNIT-II-DIODE APPLICATIONS

Q1. What is a dc power supply?

The part of the equipment that converts ac into dc is called dc power supply.
Q2. What is a rectifier?
A rectifier is a device which converts alternating current (or voltage) into
unidirectional current (or voltage).

Q3. What is PIV of a diode in a rectifier circuit?

Peak Inverse Voltage (PIV) is the maximum possible voltage that occurs across a
diode when it is reverse biased.

Q4. What is the importance of peak inverse voltage?

If the applied voltage in reverse biased condition exceeds peak inverse voltage (PIV)
rating of the diode, then the diode may get damaged.

Q5. Why half-wave rectifiers are generally not used in dc power supply?
The type of supply available from half-wave rectifier is not satisfactory for general
power supply. That is why it is generally not used in dc power supply.

Q6. Why diodes are not operated in the breakdown region in rectifiers?
In breakdown region, a diode has a risk of getting damaged or burnt because the
magnitude of current flowing through it increases in an uncontrollable manner. That is
why didoes are not operated in the breakdown region in rectifiers.

Q7. Define ripple as referred to in a rectifier circuit.

The ac component contained in the pulsating output of a rectifier is known as ripple.

Q8. What is transformer utilization factor?

Transformer utilization factor is defined as the ratio of power delivered to the load
and ac rating of secondary of supply power transformer.

Q9. The output of a 60Hz full-wave bridge rectifier has a 60 Hz ripple. It this
circuit working properly?
A full-wave rectifier with 60Hz input must have lowest ripple frequency equal to
twice the input frequency i.e. 120Hz. If the ripple frequency is 60Hz, it means some
diodes in the circuit are not working.
Q10. What is meant by filter?
Filter is a device that converts pulsating output of rectifier into a steady dc level.

Q11. Why series inductor and L-section filters cannot be used with half-wave
rectifiers?
Series inductor and L-section filters cannot be used with half-wave rectifiers because
operation of series inductor depends upon the current through it and needs a minimum
current to flow at all times.

Q12. Why capacitor input filter is preferred to choke input filter?

In capacitor input filter, the dc output is much larger and ripples are less in
comparison to those in choke input filter. So, capacitor input filter is preferred to
choke input filter.

Q13. Why π-filters are not suitable for varying loads?

Voltage regulation in case of π-filters is very poor and, therefore, π-filters are not
suitable for varying loads.

Q14. Why R-C filters are suitable only for light loads?
R-C filters have poor voltage regulation and need adequate ventilation to dissipate the
heat developed in the resistor R. Thus R-C filters are suitable only for light loads.

Q15. Why is bleeder resistance employed in a filter circuit?

A resistance, called the bleeder resistance, is placed across the filter ouput, to provide
flow of necessary minimum current through the choke at all time.

Q16. What is the purpose of bleeder resistance in a rectifier circuit using L-C
filter?
Bleeder resistance RB is placed in parallel with the load so as to maintain a certain
minimum current through the choke, even the load resistor gets open-circuited, and
improves filtering action.

Q17. What is meant by voltage regulation of a dc power supply?

The change in voltage from no-load to full-load condition is known as voltage
regulation.

Q18. Why is it necessary to include voltage stabilizer in a power supply?

The magnitude of output dc voltage may vary with the variation of either the input ac
voltage or the magnitude of load current. So at the output of a rectifier-filter
combination a voltage stabilizer is required.
 UNIT – III - BJT AND ITS APPLICATIONS
1. Define Transistor

Transistor consists of two junctions formed by sandwiching either P-

type or N-type semiconductor between a pair of opposite types.

2. Write the current amplification factor for a CB transistor.

a = Change in Collector Current at constant VCB / Change in emitter current

3. Write the formula for input resistance in a CB transistor

Input resistance = Change in base - emitter voltage / Change in emitter

current atconstant VCB

4. Write the current amplification factor for a CE transistor.

b = Change in Collector Current / Change in base current at constant VCE

5 . Define transistor action.

A transistor consists of 2 coupled PN junctions. The base is a common

region to both junctions and makes a coupling between them. Since the base
regions are smaller, a significant interaction between junctions will be available.
This is called
transistor actions.

6. Define delay time

It is defined as the time required for the current to rise from 0 to

10% of itsmaximum value.

7. Define rise time

It is the time required for the current to rise from 0 to 90

percentage of themaximum value.

8. Define turn-on time

It is the time required for the current to rise from 0 to 90

percentage of themaximum value ton = td + tr

9. Define fall time

It is the time required for the Collector current to fall from 90 to 10

percentages of
Ics.

10. Define Storage time

 It is the time required to fall from 100 to 90 percent of Ics.

11. Define current amplification factor in CC transistor.

g =Change in emitter current /Change in base current at constant VCE

12. Which is the most commonly used transistor configuration?Why?

The CE Configuration is most commonly used.
The reasons are
* High Current gain
* High voltage gain
* High power
* Moderate input to output ratio.

13. What are the values of input resistance in CB, CE & CC Configuration

CB - Low about 75 CE - Medium About 750 CC - Very high about 750.