American University of Sharjah

Department of Electrical Engineering

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ELE 225R Electric Circuits and Devices Laboratory FALL 2013

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Experiment No: 9 Experiment Title: Diodes

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Section : 1

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Names & ID: 1. Murtaza Ali Khan (47019) 2. Mohammad Usamah Shaikh (44970) 3. Shafayet Amer Siddique (43217)

Table of Contents

Abstract Background Procedure & Results Discussion & Conclusion References

Page 2 Page 3 Page 6 Page 13 Page 14

Abstract
The main objective of this lab experiment was to analyze and study the characteristics of different diodes and explore the half-wave rectifier circuit. In the first part of the experiment, we understood the common characteristics of the diode, noting that the diode demonstrated its conducting properties at 0.6 V. In the second part of the experiment, the rectifier circuit was analyzed, where the output was obtained on an oscilloscope. It was seen that the output came to zero for the negative part of the input signal, meaning the input voltage had been rectified to a half positive output. With further addition of a capacitor to the rectifier circuit, the AC voltage was converted to DC voltage at the output. Finally, the last part concerned with the analysis of the Zener diode, where the reverse breakdown voltage came to be around 0.75 V.

Background
In this lab we were introduced to a new circuit element the diode. We were accountable for performing experiments using two different diodes the PN diode and the Zener diode. A diode is a two terminal electronic component that conducts electric current in only one direction. The term usually refers to two semiconductors, p-type and n-type semiconductors,, joined together in very close contact. A p-n junction is shown below:

Figure 1: p-n junction

The most frequent use of the diode is to make sure the current in the circuit flows in one direction, i.e. through the diode in the forward direction. This diode helps block the current in the opposite direction (reverse direction). The forward direction or forward bias is when the anode has greater voltage than the cathode and hence current flow is permitted. A reverser direction or reverse bias is when is the cathode has a higher voltage than the anode. A diode symbol in a circuit is shown below:

Figure 2: circuit symbol diode 3

Shown above is the equation to calculate ID through a diode. The equation is known as the Shockley Equation. The various constants and variables in the equation is explained below: Where, Is = Saturation Current Q = Electron Charge (1.6x10-19 C) ID = Diode Current VD = Diode Voltage n = constant (between 1 and 2) k = Boltzmanns Constant (1.38x10-23) T = Absolute Temperature

A typical graph for a p-n diode looks like the graph enclosed

Figure 3: p-n diode graph 4

Zener diodes: Zener diodes are special diodes which typically allow forward bias current to flow through while also allowing reverse bias current through provided the voltage is above the threshold voltage known as the Zener voltage. By contrast to conventional devices a reverse biased Zener diode will exhibit a controlled breakdown and allow the current to keep the voltage across the Zener diode at the Zener voltage. The following figures show a typical Zener diode and how it works:

Figure 4: Zener diode graph

Figure 5: A Zener diode circuit symbol

Procedure & Results

This lab was divided into three parts: Part A: Forward-biased Characteristics of a PN Diode

Figure 6: Part A circuit The circuit was connected as shown in figure above. A dc voltage was used in this circuit with a 1K ohm resistor in series with an ammeter. The voltmeter was then connected parallel to the diode. It was important to note the direction in which the diode is connected. The voltage for the dc supply was changed from 0V to 0.65 volts in an increment of 0.1 volts. For every 0.1V the reading for the ammeter were taken and recorded in the table below.
Diode Voltage VD Volts Diode Current ID mA 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.65 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 5.0

A plot was obtained for the following values:

Forward characteristics of P-N diode

6 5 4 Diode Current ID mA 3 2 1 0 0 -1 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7

Diode Voltage, VD (volts)

Figure 7: Characteristics of P-N diode in forward bias Question: At what voltage does the diode becomes a conductor? Is it possible to raise the voltage drop across a diode by more than 0.7 volts? The diode becomes a conductor at 0.6 volts. It is not possible to raise the voltage drop across a diode by more than 0.7 volts.

Part B: Half wave rectifier

Figure 8: Part B circuit The circuit was connected as shown in figure above. This time an AC voltage was applied using a function generator and the diode was connected in series while the 1K ohm resistor was connected in parallel with the oscilloscope and voltmeter. A peak to peak voltage of 10V was set on the function generator with a frequency of 100 Hz. The voltmeter was first connected across the resistor and the voltage across it was recorded. The voltmeter was then removed and replaced with an oscilloscope to record the waveform produced. In order to measure the voltage from the oscilloscope it was necessary to set the reference of the wave to zero by switching to ground mode. Once the wave was set in the middle the mode was switched to DC and the waveform was recorded.

Figure 9: Vs 10pp @ 100 Hz From the sketch: VRMS (DMM on AC mode) = 0.733 V VRMS (Oscilloscope) = 0.707*(2.7*0.5)*0.5 = 0.95445 V Vavg Oscilloscope = 0.637*(2.7*0.5)*0.5 = 0.85995 V

After this, a 100 microfarad capacitor was placed parallel to the resistor and a new waveform was obtained.

Figure 10: Half-wave rectifier output

From the sketch: VDC (DMM on DC mode) = 1.239 V VDC Oscilloscope = 1.2 V

Question: What is the function of the capacitor? The capacitor converts the AC current input to a DC current output.

Part C: Zener Diode (Voltage Regulator)

Figure 11: Part C circuit In this part the voltage and current across the diode was measured. The circuit was connected as shown in figure above. This time a DC voltage was applied which is represented by Vs in the figure. The diode was connected in its reverse bias position. The voltage was then changed from 0-20 V and readings for the diode voltage and current were taken for each increment of voltage.

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Vs (Volts) Diode Voltage VD Volts Diode Current ID mA 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 1.015 2.077 3.071 3.979 5.051 6.037 7.02 7.52 7.53 7.54 7.55 7.55 7.56 7.57 7.57 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

A plot was obtained for the following values:

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Zener-diode characteristics
9 8 7 Diode Current ID (mA) 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 -1 0 1 2 3 4 Diode Voltage VD (V) 5 6 7 8

Figure 11: Reverse bias characteristics of zener diode Question: Comment on the zener diode functionality. What is the breakdown voltage of the zener diode? The zener diode regulates the voltage across a circuit. The breakdown voltage of a zener diode is the minimum reverse voltage to make about a reverse conduction in the diode. In our experiment, it is around 7.5 V.

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Discussion & Conclusion

The results of the experiment bring to light the following important points: For diodes, there exists a certain minimum voltage after which the diode becomes a conductor which was found to be 0.6 V in our case. A half wave rectifier circuit converts the negative part of the input voltage to zero. For the positive cycle of the input voltage, the output is the same as the input. Thus, the circuit is named half wave rectifier circuit. The RMS value of the output using DMM was found to be 0.733 V, whereas using an oscilloscope, it was 0.95445 V. Also, the average voltage was found to be 0.85995 V. Adding a capacitor to the half wave rectifier circuit turns the AC sinusoidal input voltage to a DC output voltage. The RMS value of the output voltage using DMM was found to be 1.239 V, whereas using the oscilloscope it was 1.2 V. Zener diodes are usually used to operate in the reverse break down region. They are used to regulate voltage across a circuit. In our case, the reverse break down voltage was found to be 0.75 V.

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References
Diodes. Lab handout 9. Fall 2013 Diodes. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diode on December 18, 2013 Zener Diodes. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zener_diode on December 18, 2013

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