Diodes Applications
The basic application of junction diodes is to
convert ac signal to dc signal (ac-to-dc
converter) or Rectifier
Half-wave rectifier: The input is ac signal and
the output is a half-wave dc signal
The diode conducts in the +ve half cycle of the
input signal (forward bias) and is off (reverse
bias) in the –ve half cycle of the input signal
Ideal and second diode approximations can be
used
ES110 ETE Department 1
Half-wave Rectification
Uin
+5V
Uin 0 t
Uout T
-5V
Uout
+5V
Half-wave
0 t
dc voltage
S ON S OFF S ON
ES110 ETE Department 2
Full-wave Rectification
Uin
D1 D3 +5V
Uin
D2 0 t
D4
T
-5V
Uout
Uout
Bridge
+5V
Rectifier Full-wave dc
voltage 0 t
D3, D4 D1, D2
ES110 ETE Department 3
Clipper Circuits
A clipper circuit has the ability to CLIP off a
portion of the input signal without distorting the
remaining part
A half-wave rectifier is the simplest form of a
diode clipper
There are two general categories of clippers
Series: Diode is in series with the load
Parallel: The diode is a branch parallel with the load
ES110 ETE Department 4
Series Clipper Circuits
Uin
Uout Uout
Uin
t t
Uin Uout
t t
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Parallel Clipper Circuits
Uin
Uout Uout
Uin
t t
Uin Uout
t t
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Voltage Multipliers
Several requirements occur in electronics for
voltages which are greater than that normally
available
Voltage multipliers can be used to produce
higher voltages and eliminate the need for a
transformer
Multiplication factors of two, three, and four are
commonly used
ES110 ETE Department 7
Voltage Doubler
C1 D2
C2
U D1
U
+Vp
0 t
T
-Vp
ES110 ETE Department 8
Voltage Doubler
During +ve half cycle
C1 D2 Reverse
+ - Biased
Vp
U +
C2
D1
Forward
- Biased
C1 is charged to peak voltage Vp
ES110 ETE Department 9
Voltage Doubler
During -ve half cycle
C1 D2 Forward
+ - Biased
U - Vp -
C2 2Vp
-Vp
Reverse D1 +
Biased
+
The peak voltage on C1 adds to Vp of the source to
charge C2
C2 is charged to peak voltage Vp + Vp
ES110 ETE Department 10
Zener Diodes
Zener diode is a silicon pn junction device that
differs from the rectifier diode
It is designed to be operated in the reverse
breakdown region
The breakdown voltage is set by carefully
controlling the doping level during
manufacturing
The breakdown is known as Zener breakdown
which occur at low reverse voltage and is
different from Avalanche breakdown
ES110 ETE Department 11
Zener Diodes…
Zeners are available IF
commercially with
breakdown voltages of
1.8V to 200V
In the forward direction VZ
it behaves like a normal VF
VB
diode
After break down the
voltage across the diode
is constant, VZ IR
ES110 ETE Department 12
Zener Diodes Applications
The key feature of Zener diode is it ability to
maintain nearly a constant voltage across its
terminals over a wide range of reverse current
Widely used for voltage regulation
+ System
Varying requires
voltage VZ 9V regulate
- supply
10 – 15V 9V
ES110 ETE Department 13
Zener Diodes
D1 2.7V
Uin Uout
D2
5.1V
Uin Uout
+8V +8V
5.8V
0 0
-3.4V
-8V
-8V
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Schottky Diode
The normal junction diodes have considerable
capacitance caused by the depletion layer
especially when they are reverse biased
This capacitance cause delay on time varying
signals. Therefore they are not suitable for high
frequencies applications
Schottky diodes are used in high frequency and
fast switching applications
Operates only with majority carriers
ES110 ETE Department 15
Schottky Diode…
Operates only with majority carriers there are no
minority carriers as in the normal diodes
Used in many digital circuits to decrease the
switching times.
Circuit
symbol
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Light Emitting Diode (LED)
When recombination of electrons and holes takes
place, electrons release energy in the form of
heat and light
Applications include indicators and readout
displays
Circuit
symbol
ES110 ETE Department 17
Light Emitting Diode (LED)…
LED LED LED
LED ON OFF ON
OFF
7-segment 5 x 7 dot matrix LED Display
display
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