8/22/2005 Example A Junction Diode Circuit.
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Example: A Junction
Diode Circuit
Consider the following circuit with two junction diodes:
vD 1
iD 1 iD 2
+
VS 100 vR vD 2
-
6.5 mA
The diodes are identical, with n = 1 and IS = 10-14 A.
Q: If the current through the resistor is 6.5 mA, what is the
voltage of source VS ??
Jim Stiles The Univ. of Kansas Dept. of EECS
8/22/2005 Example A Junction Diode [Link] 2/3
vD 1
iD 1 iD 2
+
VS 100 vR vD 2
-
6.5 mA
1) If 6.5 mA flows through a 0.1 K resistor, the voltage
across that resistor is:
vR 0.1 6.5 0.65V
2)If the voltage across the resistor is 0.65 V, then the voltage
across the diode D2 , which is parallel to the resistor, is the
same value:
vD 2 vR 0.65V
3)If we know the voltage across a p-n junction diode, then we
also know its current !
vD 2 0.650
iD 2 IS exp 10 14 exp 1.96 mA
nVT 0.025
4) If we know iD2 and the current through the resistor, we
know (using KCL) the current through D1 :
iD1 6.5 iD2
6.5 1.96
8.46mA
Jim Stiles The Univ. of Kansas Dept. of EECS
8/22/2005 Example A Junction Diode [Link] 3/3
vD 1
iD 1 8.46mA iD2 1.96mA
+
VS 100 vR 0.65V vD 2 0.65V
-
6.5 mA
5) If we know the current through a junction diode, then we
can find the voltage across it:
iD 1 0.00846
vD 1 nVT ln 0.025 ln 0.69V
IS 10 14
6) Finally, if we know vD1 and vD2, we can find VS using KVL:
VS vD1 vD 2 0.69 0.65 1.34V
v 0.69V
D1
iD 1 8.46mA iD 2 1.96mA
+ 100
vR 0.65V vD 2 0.65V
-
VS=1.34V
6.5 mA
Jim Stiles The Univ. of Kansas Dept. of EECS
8/30/2005 Example Junction Diode Models [Link] 1/7
Example: Junction
Diode Models
Consider the junction diode circuit, where the junction diode
has device parameters IS = 10-12 A, and n =1:
+5 V
I numerically solved the resulting
transcendental equation, and
iD vD determined the exact solution:
iD 87.40 mA
50 vD 0.630 V
Now, let’s determine approximate values using diode models !
First, let’s try the ideal diode model.
+5 V +5 V
iD vD iDi vDi
50 50
Jim Stiles The Univ. of Kansas Dept. of EECS
8/30/2005 Example Junction Diode Models [Link] 2/7
+5 V Assume IDEAL diode is “on”.
iDi Enforce v Di 0 .
v 0i
D
Analyze the IDEAL diode circuit.
From KVL:
50
We therefore can approximate the junction diode current as
the current through the ideal diode model:
iD iDi = 100 mA
And approximate the junction diode voltage as the voltage
across the ideal diode model:
vD vDi = 0
Compare these approximations to the exact solutions:
iD 87.4 mA and vD 0.630 V Close, but we can
do better! Let’s use the 'Modified diode model’.
Jim Stiles The Univ. of Kansas Dept. of EECS
8/30/2005 Example Junction Diode Models [Link] 3/7
+5 V +5 V
iD vD iDi vDi
0.7 V
50
50
+5 V
Assume IDEAL diode is “on”.
Enforce vDi 0 .
i
i
D
v i
D
=0
Analyze the IDEAL diode circuit.
0.7 V From KVL:
50
Jim Stiles The Univ. of Kansas Dept. of EECS
8/30/2005 Example Junction Diode Models [Link] 4/7
We therefore can approximate the junction diode current as
the current through the 'Modified diode model model:
iD iDi 86.0 mA
And approximate the junction diode voltage as the voltage
across the 'Modified diode model model:
vD vDi 0.7
0.0 0.7
0.7 V
Compare these approximations to the exact solutions:
iD = 87.4 mA and vD 0.630 V
8/30/2005 Example Small Signal [Link] 1/6
Example: Diode Small-
Signal Analysis
Consider the circuit:
1K
vs (t) n=1
2K iD(t) = ID + id (t)
VS = 5V n=1
Q: If vs (t)= 0.01 sint, what is id (t) ?
A: Follow the small-signal analysis steps!
Step 1: Complete a D.C. Analysis
Turn off the small-signal source and replace the junction diodes
with the ‘modified diode model' model.
Jim Stiles The Univ. of Kansas Dept. of EECS
8/30/2005 Example Small Signal [Link] 2/6
1K
IDi
2K 0.7 V
VS = 5V
0.7 V
Assume the ideal diodes are “on”, enforce with short circuits.
I1 1K
+ VR1 -
IDi
+
2K VR2 0.7 V
-
VS = 5V
I2
0.7 V
Now analyze the D.C. circuit:
From KVL VR 2 0.7 0.7 1.4 V
VR2
I2 0.7mA
2
From KVL: VR1 5.0 VR 2 5.0 1.4 3.6 V
Jim Stiles The Univ. of Kansas Dept. of EECS
8/30/2005 Example Small Signal [Link] 3/6
V
Thus from Ohm’s Law: I1 R 1 3.6 mA
1
IDi I1 I2
And finally from KCL: 3.6 0.7
2.9 mA
Now checking our result:
IDi 2.9 mA 0
Therefore our estimate of the D.C. diode current is:
ID IDi 2.9 mA
Step 2: Calculate the diode small-signal resistance rd:
nV 0.025
rD T 8.6
ID 0.0029
Note since the junction diodes are identical, and since each has
the same current ID =2.9 mA flowing through it, the small-signal
resistance of each junction diode is the same (rD=8.6
Jim Stiles The Univ. of Kansas Dept. of EECS
8/30/2005 Example Small Signal [Link] 4/6
Step 3: Replace junction diodes with small-signal model
1K
+ VR1 -
vs (t) +
VD0
2K VR2
- 8.6
VS = 5V VD0
8.6
Step 4: Determine the small-signal circuit.
This means turn off the 5V source and the VD0 sources in the
‘modified diode model' !
Jim Stiles The Univ. of Kansas Dept. of EECS
8/30/2005 Example Small Signal [Link] 5/6
After turning off all DC sources, we are left with our small-
signal circuit:
id
is 1K
+
8.6 vd
2K
vs (t) _
+
8.6 vd
_
Step 5: Analyze the small-signal circuit.
Combining the parallel resistors, we get:
is 1K
2K (8.6 8.6) 16.9
vs (t)
Therefore is is:
vs t
is t
1.0 0.0169
…
Jim Stiles The Univ. of Kansas Dept. of EECS
8/30/2005 Example Small Signal [Link] 6/6
We can now find id using current division:
id
is 1K
+
8.6 vd
2K
vs (t) _
+
8.6 vd
_