Introduction to

Electronics

An introduction to electronic components and a study of circuits

containing such devices.

School of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Week 4:
Diodes Part 1

School of Electrical and Computer Engineering

 Introduction to
Electronics
Dr. Bonnie H. Ferri
Professor and Associate Chair
School of Electrical and
Computer Engineering

An introduction to electronic components and a study of circuits

containing such devices.

School of Electrical and Computer Engineering

 Introduction To
PN Junctions

Dr. Bonnie H. Ferri

Professor and Associate Chair
School of Electrical and
Computer Engineering

Introduce PN junctions and explain their physical behavior.

School of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Lesson Objectives
Demonstrate the physics of semiconductors
Introduce PN Junctions

3
Cu Si

4
SiSi SiSi

5
 Doping - Add impurities such as
Si Si Si Si Boron or Phosphorus

Number of electrons in outer shell:

Si B
Si Si Si Boron has 3 electrons
Phosphorus has 5 electrons

Si Si Si B
Si

Si Si Si Si

6
P-Type and N-Type Semiconductors

Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si

Si B Si Si Si Si P Si

Si Si Si B Si Si Si Si

Si Si Si Si P Si Si Si

P-Type: extra holes N-Type: extra free electrons

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PN Junction Energy heat or light
makes electrons at
the junction diffuse
to fill nearest holes
Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si
Si B Si Si Si Si P Si
Si Si Si B Si Si Si Si
Si Si Si Si P Si Si Si
P-Type N-Type
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PN Junction
E
- +
- +
- +
- +
+
-
- +

Depletion Region
9
PN Junction: Conducting

E
- +
- + cathode
anode
P -Type - + N -Type
- +
+ -
+
-
+
-
E

+ -
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PN Junction: Conducting
Positive charge
i
E
- +
- + cathode
anode
- + N -Type
- +
P -Type
+ -
+
-
+
-
E

+ -
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PN Junction: Not Conducting

E
- -- ++ +
- - + +
cathode
anode
- +
++ N -Type
- - --
P -Type
+
- - - + +
- - +
- +
- - -- + + +

E Region
Depletion

- +

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Summary of Behavior
Conducting Not Conducting
i>0 i0
anode cathode anode cathode
p n p n

+ - - +
V V

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Diode

iD iD
anode cathode
p n

VD
+-
VD

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Summary
Semiconductors become better conductors when
Doped
Exposed to heat or light
PN Junctions (Diodes)

iD iD
anode cathode
p n
VD

+-
VD

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Remainder of Module 3: Diodes

Circuit analysis with simple diode

models
Applications: rectifiers, AM detector,
LEDs, voltage limiters, voltage
regulators, AC to DC conversion

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 Diode Behavior and
Models

Dr. Bonnie H. Ferri

Professor and Associate Chair
School of Electrical and
Computer Engineering

Introduce ideal and non-ideal diode I-V curves

School of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Previous Lesson

The physics of PN junctions

18
Lesson Objectives
Analyze diode behavior
Introduce diode applications
Describe different operating regions
Introduce simple diode models that approximate the
actual device

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Background Circuit Symbol:
iD
D
p n
anode cathode
+ VD - anode cathode
Uses:
in a specific direction
(AC to DC conversion)
and (protection)
(LEDs)

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 I-V Characteristics
iD iR 1
Breakdown
region R

VD VR

Reverse Forward
bias region bias region

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Simple Diode Models
iD iD iD

VD VD VD
Vf Vf

Ideal Diode Model Ideal Diode + Voltage Ideal Diode + Voltage

Source Model Source + Resistor Model

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Ideal Diode
iD iD

VD VD

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Summary
Diodes have three operating regions
Forward bias, iD > 0
Reverse bias, VD< 0
Breakdown
Ideal diodes only allow current to flow in one
direction
Three models: ideal, ideal + voltage source,
ideal + voltage source + resistor

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 Ideal Diode Model

Dr. Bonnie H. Ferri

Professor and Associate Chair
School of Electrical and
Computer Engineering

Introduce ideal diodes in circuits

School of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Lesson Objectives

Introduce ideal diode operation

Describe how to analyze DC diode circuits

26
Ideal Diode Model
Ideal
Ideal ON
Ideal
ON iD iR
OFF 1
Actual R

VD VR
Reverse Forward
bias bias

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Ideal Diode Model
iD
D
Two possible states: ON and OFF

VD
ON (conducting): if iD > 0

(short)

OFF (blocking): if VD < 0, iD = 0

(open)

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Example

29
Summary
Diodes act as a short or an open, depending on the bias

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 Assumed States
Method
Dr. Bonnie H. Ferri
Professor and Associate Chair
School of Electrical and
Computer Engineering

Introduce ideal diode circuits with multiple diodes

School of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Lesson Objective

Describe the procedure for handling multiple diodes in a

single circuit

32
Assumed States Procedure
1) Identify all possible diode state combinations
1 diode 2 states
2 diodes 4 states
3 diodes 23 = 8 states
2) Analyze each state by replacing the diodes with the corresponding
open or short.
3) Determine which state is consistent:
ON: iD > 0
OFF: VD < 0

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 Example States D1 Consistent?

R A OFF
10 V 2V B ON

R -10 + VD + 2 = 0, VD > 0
A) OFF: 10 V 2V (not consistent)

B) ON: R -10 + iD1k + 2 = 0, iD = 0.008A >0

2V (consistent)
10 V

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 Two Diode Example States D1 D2 Consistent?
A OFF OFF
Find V1
B OFF ON
C ON OFF
D ON ON

A)
KVL: -5 + VD2 = 0 VD1 = 5 > 0
(Not consistent)

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Example continued States D1 D2 Consistent?
A OFF OFF No
B OFF ON
C ON OFF
B) D ON ON
KVL: -10 + VD1 + 5 = 0, VD1 = 5V > 0
(Not consistent)

C)
VD2 = 5V > 0
(Not consistent)

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Example continued States D1 D2 Consistent?
A OFF OFF No
B OFF ON No
C ON OFF No
D) D ON ON

KVL: -10 + 1000iD1 + 5 = 0 Operating state:

iD1 = 0.005A > 0 D1 and D2 are ON
iD2 = 5/2000 > 0 V1 = 1000(0.005) = 5V
(Consistent)

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Summary
Diodes act as a short or an open, depending on the bias
When solving a circuit, assume each possible state, and
check to see if the behavior is consistent with that state

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 Ideal Diode +
Voltage Source
Model
Dr. Bonnie H. Ferri
Professor and Associate Chair
School of Electrical and
Computer Engineering

Introduce another diode model for circuit analysis

School of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Lesson Objective

Examine the ideal diode + voltage source model

40
Ideal Diode with a Voltage Source
iD

iD
Vf VD
+ VD -

Reverse bias Forward bias

iD V f iD

+ VD - + VID -
41
 Example
1k D1

D2
10 V 5V

2k

States D1 D2 Consistent?
A OFF OFF
B OFF ON
C ON OFF
D ON ON

42
 Example
+
Vs(t) VR R
-

Vs(t)

t (sec)

43
Summary
Ideal diode + voltage source model has
threshold voltage that must be surpassed
before the diode is turned on.
0.7 V Silicon
0.3-0.4 V Germanium
1- 4 V LED
Replace diode with ideal diode + voltage
source and analyze using ideal diode
methods.

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