L-6, 23.07.

2014
Modeling a Diode: Forward Bias Characteristics
A FORWARD BIASED DIODE
A forward biased diode as shown in the
circuit (Fig. 2.10) will be analyzed now.
The simplified diode equation is
I
D
= I
S
e
(V
D
/ nV
T
)

V
DD
= I
D
R + V
D
or I
D
= (V
DD
- V
D
)/R
If I
S
and n are known, the equation
can be solved graphically or
iteratively.
Load Line: Let I
D
= 0 and find V
D
= ?
and let V
D
= 0 and find I
D
= ? The line
joining the two points will be the
load line.
The next slide shows the graphical
analysis and the following slide we
see the iterative analysis.
2.33/156: Use iterative-analysis procedure to determine the diode
current and voltage in the figure for V
DD
= 1 V, R = 1 k and
diode having I
S
= 10
-15
A and n = 1.
Given the equation V
DD
= I
D
R + V
D
;
Substituting V
DD
= 1 V, I
S
= 10
-15
A and R = 1
k
The equation becomes
110
3
I
D
+ V
D
= 1
Use numerical methods to arrive at the
solution. i.e. find the values of V
D
and I
D
that
will satisfy the equation.
For a trial solution, let V
D
= 0.7 V as the
diode is forward biased
V
DD
= I
D
R + V
D
;
10
3
10
-15

e
(0.7/ 0.025)
+ 0.7 = 2.146 V (high)
Try 0.65 etc.
PIECEWISE-LINEAR MODEL
We had mentioned earlier that the
diode characteristics is piecewise-
linear.
The exponential curve is replaced by
two straight lines, one with zero slope
and the other with a slope of 1/r
d
.
This will give a different model as
shown in the next slide. The
equivalent circuit arrived at by this
model is also shown.
i
D
= 0 for v
D
V
D0
i
D
= (v
D
V
D0
)/r
d
, for v
D
V
D0
r
d
is the inverse of the slope of line B.
Exercise
For the figure shown V
D0
= 0.65 V
and r
d
= 20 . V
DD
= 5 V, R = 1 k,
find I
D
& V
D
. [Assume I
D
= 1 mA for
V
D
= 0.7 V and the voltage changes
by 0.1 V, for every decade change in
current]
Given V
D0
= 0.65 V
find I
D
= (V
DD
-V
D0
)/(R + r
d
)= ?
V
D
= V
D0
+ I
D
r
d


The constant-Voltage Drop Model