School Of Engineering Technology and Applied Science (SETAS)

Advanced Manufacturing and Automation Technology (AMAT)

ROBO234 – Electronic Devices Revised: Summer 2015

Problem Set # 3: Special Diodes - SOLUTIONS Ali Soleymani

1. Determine the current for each of the circuits by using practical equivalent model of diode.

a. Zener diode is in reverse bias so it would be replaced by a voltage source of 6.8 ( + Cathode and –
anode)
330 W
VS  VZ 10  6.8
I    9.7mA
R 330
10V
Vz= 6.8V

b. Silicon diode and LED are in forward bias and Zener is in reverse bias. The equivalent of the circuit
shown below:
R1 100 Si R2 330
KVL (Left Loop): VS  IRR1  Vsi  VZ  0

12  0.7  5.2 +
IZ
12  IR  100  0.7  5.2  0  IR   61mA VS VZ VF
100
-
12 V 5.2V 1.8 V
KVL (Right Loop): VZ  IRR2  VLED 0
5.2  1.8 0.7V R2 330
5.2  IL  330  1.8  0  IR   10.3mA
R1 100

330 +
IZ
+ IR +
VS VZ + IL VF
IR  IZ  IL  IZ  IR  IL  61  10.3  50.7mA
-
KCL : 12 V 5.2V 1.8 V

2. Draw the output voltage of the circuits shown below?

a)
v
10

6.2V
8

220W
4

10 Vp 6.2 V 10 kW V -0.7V
t

60 Hz out -2

-4

-6

-8

-10

Positive Cycle Zener Diode is reverse biased.

Assume it is ideal Zener diode of 6.2 V. Vin  6.2V  Vout  VZ  6.2V
Positive Cycle Zener Diode is forward biased.
 Vout  0.7 0.7  Vin  6.2V  Vout  Vin

ROBO234- Problem Set # 3 Centennial College – AMAT Page 1

b)

LED1
10 V(peak) 8.6V
6V
1KHz

LED2 R1
VOUT
1K

Assume the voltage drop of each LED is 2.0 V.

Vin  0  LED1 and LED2 are forward biased.  Vout ( p )  Vin ( p )  VLED1  VLED2  10  2  2  6V

Vin  0  Diodes are forward biased.  Vout ( p )  Vin ( p )  0.7  0.7  10  0.7  0.7  8.6V

c)

R1 220
v
14

12

10

5.8V
8

9.1 V Z1
4

R2 t

Vin VOUT -2

-4

14 V(peak)
-6

5.1 V Z2 1K
-9.8V
-8

-10

-12

-14

Vin  5.1  Z1 is forward and Z2 is reverse biased.  Vout  VZ 2  0.7  5.8V

Vin  9.1  Z2 is forward and Z1 is reverse biased.  Vout  VZ 1  0.7  9.8V

3. Determine the minimum and maximum value of RL so that the Zener diode maintains the regulated voltage.

For Zener to maintain voltage regulation: 100 W

Vz= 5.1 V
IZK  IZ  IZM  1mA  IZ  78.43mA 15 V P =400mW R V
zmax L L
PZ max 400m
IZM    78.43mA I = 1 mA
zk
VZ 5.1

VS  VZ 15  5.1
IR    99mA
R1 100

IR  IZ  IL  IL  IR  IZ  IL(Max )  IR  IZ ( Min )  IL( Max )  99  1  98mA

 IL(Min )  IR  IZ (Max )  IL(Min )  99  78.43  20.57mA

VZ 5.1 VZ 5.1
RMin    52W RMax    248W
IL( Max ) 98m IL( Min ) 20.57m

ROBO234- Problem Set # 3 Centennial College – AMAT Page 2

 4. For the circuit below, determine the range of input voltage Vin, that will maintain VL at 8 V. ( Assume the
Izk = 1mA )
100 W

For Zener to maintain voltage regulation:

Vz= 8 V
Vin P =400mW 330 W V
IZK  IZ  IZM  1mA  IZ  50mA zmax L

PZ max 400m
IZM    50mA
VZ 8

VZ 8
IL    24.24mA
RL 330

IR  IZ  IL  IR (Max )  IL  IZ ( Max )  IR( Max )  24.24  50  74.24mA

 IR (Min )  IL  IZ (Min )  IR (Max )  24.24  1  25.24mA

Vin (Max )  VZ  R1IR ( Max )  8  100  74.24  15.42V

Vin (Min )  VZ  R1IR (Min )  8  100  25.24  10.52V

5. The LED used in the circuit below has forward voltage of 2.0 V and forward current of 10 mA. What values
of resistors are required so that the LED has a good brightness? (Zener Knee current is 1 mA.)

R1 R2
For LED to have a good brightness, the current passing through the LED is
equal to forward current: IL=10mA. Zener diode will generate 5.1V if
+ IR IZ IL
at least 1mA passes through the Zener: IZ=1mA. Vs -
20 V VZ=5.1 V
VZ  VLED VZ  VLED 5.1  2
IL   R2    310W
R2 IL 10m

If R2 becomes bigger than 310Ω LED would be dimmer.

IR  IZ  IL  IR  1  10  11mA

VS  VZ VS  VZ 20  5.1
IR   R1    1354W
R1 IR 11m

If R2 becomes bigger than 1354Ω Zener would stop working. We can chose R2=1KΩ.

ROBO234- Problem Set # 3 Centennial College – AMAT Page 3