Diode characteristics and Diode applications
(Hardware)
INTRODUCTION
A diode is a two-terminal nonlinear device that performs differently under
forward and reverse bias. The following figure shows a diode with typical
current direct and voltage polarity. Its behavior approximates a short circuit for
positive voltages and an open circuit for negative voltages. For forward bias
(positive V and positive I), the diode can conduct a large current with a
relatively small turn-on voltage. For reverse bias (negative V and negative I), the
diode supports a relatively-constant small current regardless of voltage. This is
the characteristic of all types of diodes. There is another type of diode which is
called Zener diode. In this type the current increases abruptly at a specific
negative voltage as a result of breakdown effects.
OBJECTIVES
▪ Getting familiar with diodes.
▪ Determining V-I characteristics of diode.
▪ Identifying the different regions of operation of diode.
▪ Using diodes in some useful applications.
COMPONENTS AND EQUIPMENTS USED
▪ Bread board.
▪ 1 multimeter, 1 function generator, 1 oscilloscope.
▪ Resistors: 100Ω, 300Ω, 680Ω, 1KΩ, 10KΩ, 100KΩ
▪ Potentiometer: 1M Ω, 5KΩ
▪ Capacitors: 1µF
▪ Diodes: 4 Diode, 1 Zener Diode (6.8V or 5.1V)
▪ Transistors: 1 NPN transistor
Diode in action:
Diodes are mostly used in practice for emitting light (as Light Emitting Diodes,
LEDs) or controlling voltages in various circuits. The best way to think about
diodes is to first understand what happens with an ideal diode and then to extend
it to the practical case.
An ideal diode has an infinite resistance when the voltage
across it is less than its threshold voltage (Vthreshold) and
zero resistance when the voltage is greater than the
threshold. The threshold voltage is just a characteristic of
each individual diode, for ideal diode the threshold voltage
(i.e. the voltage when the slope of the line changes from 0 to
∞) is at 0. This will not be the case for the real diodes we use in lab. For the
diodes we will use in this lab, all threshold voltages will be positive (Zener
diodes have a low reverse threshold. you will deal with them later). We will see
shortly that the behavior of diodes is actually somewhat like a switch, and so
there are some easy ways to analyze circuits with diodes in them.
Diode I-V Characteristics:
The I-V graph for a non-ideal diode is shown in the following figure, along with
an ideal approximation to accommodate the non-zero threshold voltage. The
diode will be easier to understand if we compare the diode to another two
terminal device we know the resistor.
Diode applications:
Diodes are used in many applications like rectification, limiting and clamping.
Among which the most common is rectification. Rectification is the process of
changing AC voltage to DC voltage. A diode rectifier circuit changes AC
voltage to a unipolar voltage. This should be followed by a filter, which
produces a rippled DC voltage. A constant DC voltage can be obtained by using
a regulator, which tends to remove the ripples and produces a constant DC
voltage. In this part we will first experiment with a number of very important
and widely used diode circuits then we will see how to use the oscilloscope to
view the voltage transfer characteristic of a circuit.
Half-Wave Rectifier:
1. Connect the circuit shown in the above figure. Use R=l0 kΩ and input a
sinusoidal with f = 1 kHz and 6V peak-to-peak (with zero voltage offset).
Use the dual mode of the oscilloscope to display the input on channel 1 and
the load voltage on channel 2. Set the AC/GND/DC control to DC and use
the same vertical scale (Volt/Div) for both channels.
Q1: Sketch both waveforms; input and output, on the supplied graph.
Comment on the output waveform.
Devices like the diode usually have a limitation on their maximum operating
frequency. This is the maximum frequency at which the diode can function
properly. You can know its value by increasing the input frequency until the
output becomes distorted. Record its value in the answer sheet.
Q2: What happens if the AC/GND/DC control is set to AC? Explain any
changes in the oscilloscope's display. Return the AC/GND/DC control to
DC mode. Try adding positive and negative voltage offsets using the
waveform generator, and notice the input and outputs changing.
Q3: Remove any offset and connect a 1μF capacitor in parallel with the
resistor and notice the changes in the output waveform. This circuit is
called a peak rectifier circuit. What happens to the ripples in the output if
you increase/decrease input frequency? Draw the output signal and
comment.
Peak Detector Circuit:
1. Connect the shown circuit, which functions as a peak detector. This means
that the output will stay at the maximum voltage of the input [Link] the
input as a sinusoidal with f = 1 kHz and 10V peak-to-peak.
Q4: View both channels together on the oscilloscope, and sketch them in the
answer sheet. Explain briefly how the circuit works.
Clamping Circuit:
1. Connect the shown circuit by switching the diode and capacitor. Notice the
polarity of the diode. This clamping circuit results in an output signal that has
its lowest peak clamped to [Link] the input as a sinusoidal with f = 1 kHz and
5V peak-to-peak
Q5: View both channels together on the oscilloscope, and sketch them in the
answer sheet. Explain briefly how the circuit works.
5
Answer Sheet
Name: Sec. B.N.
Answer of Q1:
Comments on the output signal:
..……………………………….
..……………………………….
..……………………………….
Answer of Q2:
When AC/GND/DC control is set to AC:
………………………………………………………………………………….....
Answer of Q3:
Your comments on the frequency's
effect on output ripples:
..……………………………….
..……………………………….
..……………………………….
Answer of Q4:
Brief explanation of how the
circuit works:
..……………………………….
..……………………………….
..……………………………….
..……………………………….
..……………………………….
Answer of Q5:
Brief explanation of how the
circuit works:
..……………………………….
..……………………………….
..……………………………….
..……………………………….
..……………………………….