ece lab report 2 DC Diode Characteristics
ece lab report 2 DC Diode Characteristics
Experiment #2
I. INTRODUCTION
a. THEORY Figure 1. CR2 characteristic curve.
Check valves allow fluid or gas flow in only one The figure above is called a characteristic curve, which
direction, similar to how semiconductor diodes permit the is a diode operating curve that describes the current flow
flow of electrons in one direction. When N type through the diode for a complete range of applied
semiconductor material is joined to P type material in a voltages. The part of the graph to the right of the vertical
diode, a depletion region forms near the junction, creating axis describes diode operation when the diode is forward
a barrier voltage that opposes current flow, akin to the biased (cathode negative with respect to anode), while the
spring tension in a check valve. The barrier voltage is part of the curve to the left of the vertical axis shows the
determined by the basic semiconductor material. When reverse bias characteristics (cathode positive with respect
the applied voltage is sufficient to overcome the barrier to anode).
voltage, barrier width is reduced resulting in forward bias
and current flow (in its on state), while reversing the
voltage widens the depletion region, causing reverse bias II. PROCEDURE
and almost no current flow (off state). Diodes come in
The procedure involves testing semiconductor devices
various types and sizes depending on their intended
and diodes within a circuit board. Initially, the power
application, with manufacturers providing application
sources are set to +15 Vdc and -15 Vdc, then turned off
information for circuit designers to select the appropriate
before inserting the SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
type. Diode types are standardized and typically identified
circuit board into the base unit. Without powering the
with codes like 1N, and their polarity is indicated by
sources, the TRANSISTOR JUNCTION circuit block is
markings such as color dots or bands. Proper selection and
located, and an ohmmeter is used to test the junction of
usage are crucial to prevent diode destruction.
the diode, determining whether it conducts or not and
b. EQUATION whether it's forward or reverse biased when the meter
∆𝑉 probes are connected appropriately. This process is
𝐼𝑅2 =
𝑅2 repeated with reversed meter probes. Based on these
Equation 1. Ohm’s law. measurements, the condition of the bias of the diode is
determined. Moving to the DIODES AND WAVE
The equation above is the current form of Ohm’s law RECTIFICATION circuit block, the circuit is connected,
used to calculate the current through R2. power sources are turned on, and negative voltage is
adjusted to -10 Vdc. Analysis is conducted to identify
c. FIGURES/DIAGRAM
forward and reverse biased diodes and to determine the
circuit allowing current flow. The procedure further
involves connecting another circuit to measure voltages
across resistors, determining forward and reverse biased Applied
Resistor Calculated
diodes, and calculating current through them using Ohm's Voltage Circuit Calculated
Voltage
law. Finally, the positive variable supply voltage is Drop Current Diode (V)
(VA)
adjusted, measurements are taken, and values are (VR2) (I)
recorded in the table, including diode voltage drops and VD=VA
calculated circuit currents. The goal of this process is to for
Reverse Leakage
be able to utilize a diode operating curve to test a diode Reverse Reversed
Bias 0 Current
by using a typical diode circuit and verify the results with Bias Bias
Voltage (0.0 A)
a multimeter. Diode
(-10)
+0.25
0.002 6.06×10-4 0.248
Vdc
III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION +0.5
0.1 0.0303 0.4
The experiment investigates the fundamental Vdc
Forward +0.75
characteristics of a diode. The obtained results outline a Bias 0.305 0.0924 0.445
Vdc
systematic process for testing semiconductor devices,
+5 vdc 4.438 1.52 0.562
focusing primarily on diodes, within different circuit
+10 Vdc 9.4 2.8 0.6
configurations.
VD = VA -
I = VR2/R2
First, the power sources are adjusted, and the VR2
semiconductor devices circuit board is prepared for Table 1. Data gathered.
testing. Using an ohmmeter, the diode in TRANSISTOR
The table above shows the measured and calculated
JUNCTION circuit block is carefully examined to
values of the circuit current and the diode voltage. The
determine how it behaves when biased both forward and
resistor voltage drop across R2 was measured using a
backward. Connecting the black lead to the CR1 anode
range of applied voltages. The findings demonstrate that
and red lead to the CR1 cathode showed an off-
when greater voltage VA is supplied, the resistor voltage
scale(overload) reading, which indicates no conduction.
drop records higher values. With the use of the formulas
Thus, the diode is concluded to be reverse biased. After
provided in the laboratory manual, the students were able
reversing the connection, the reading showed a number
to calculate both the circuit current and the diode voltage
(reading), which indicates conduction, thus the diode is
drop VD shown above.
concluded to be forward biased. Based on the conduction
properties that were observed, diode CR1 is a good diode. The dc characteristics curve shown in Figure 1 is
comparable to the results listed in Table 1. There is a
At the negative variable supply, the bias states of
direct correlation between the applied voltage and the
diodes CR1 and CR2 are then determined by voltage
current flowing through the diode; an increase in one
measurements across resistors R1 (9.4V) and R2 (0V),
causes an increase in the other. The point at 0.445V on the
with CR1 being forward biased and CR2 reverse biased.
VD showed that the diode is forward biased. After the
Since diode CR1 is forward biased, this means that this
diode achieves complete conduction, the diode forward
diode circuit allows the current to flow. At the positive
voltage likewise essentially stays constant.
variable supply, the voltage across R1 is 0V which makes
the diode reverse biased and the voltage across R2 is Through various observations and collected data from
9.38V which makes this diode forward biased. In the the experiment, the students learned that when the
circuit used above, the component that determines the ohmmeter reading indicate that the particular diode is not
amount of current through the forward biased diode is the conducting reading or when the voltage across the
resistor. The current through R2 was calculated using the connected resistor is 0V., it indicates that the diode is in
current form of Ohm's law, and the result was 2.81mA. reverse bias condition. Inversely, if the meter reading
indicates that the diode is conducting or it has a specific
voltage across the connected resistor and it allows current
to flow, therefore the diode is forward biased.
Furthermore, based on the data collected at this point, the
diode's forward voltage remains relatively constant after
it reaches full conduction.