ÜSKÜDAR University
Electrical-Electronics Engineering Department
Diodes, Rectifiers and Power
Supplies
EEE 101 Lecture 6
Re: Semiconductors
Section from the periodic
table. More common
semiconductor materials are
shown in blue. A
semiconductor can be either
of a single element, such as
Si or Ge, a compound, such
as GaAs, InP or CdTe, or an
alloy, such as SixGe(1-x) or
AlxGa(1-x). As, where x is
the fraction of the particular
element and ranges from 0
to 1.
Retrieved from http://pveducation.org/pvcdrom/pn-junction/semiconductor-materials on
August 28, 2014
Üsküdar University EE101 Lecture 6 1
Re: N-type and P-type
Semiconductors
Üsküdar University EE101 Lecture 6 2
Re: Semiconductors in Electronics
BASIC ELECTRONICS:
1. Components and Devices
– Passive Components: Resistors, Capacitors, Inductors,
Diodes, etc.
– Active Components: Transistors, Op-Amps, etc.
2. Measuring Instruments
Digital Multimeters, Power Supplies, Voltage and Current
Sources Oscilloscopes, Function Generators, etc.
3. Circuits
Rectifiers, Amplifiers, Oscillators, Filters, etc.
Üsküdar University EE101 Lecture 6 3
Diodes
• A diode is a very early type of semiconductor.
• Two-terminal electronic component.
• Electric current passes in one direction (called
the diode's forward direction), is blocked in the
opposite direction (the reverse direction).
• A diode can be damaged by reversing the
voltage and applying excessive power --most
diodes generally have a much greater tolerance
for this than LEDs.
Üsküdar University EE101 Lecture 6 4
Diodes
• Diodes are like check valves in the hydraulic
model.
Üsküdar University EE101 Lecture 6 5
Diodes
• The end of the diode that blocks positive
voltage is always marked, usually with a
circular band, while the other end remains
unmarked.
• Diodes are especially useful in logic circuits,
and can also convert alternating current (AC)
into direct current (DC).
Üsküdar University EE101 Lecture 6 6
Diodes
Üsküdar University EE101 Lecture 6 7
Diodes
Üsküdar University EE101 Lecture 6 8
Diodes
• Signal diodes are available for various different
voltages and wattages.
• It’s recommended to use diodes at less than
their rated capacity.
• Like any semiconductor, they can overheat and
burn out if they are subjected to
“mistreatment.”
Üsküdar University EE101 Lecture 6 9
Types of Diodes
Üsküdar University EE101 Lecture 6 10
Physical Structure of Diodes
Üsküdar University EE101 Lecture 6 11
Charge and Electric Field in Diodes
Üsküdar University EE101 Lecture 6 12
Diodes in Action
• Linear and non-linear resistances.
• A non-linear resistance can be approximated
as a piecewise linearity.
• A diode is a non-ohmic device.
Üsküdar University EE101 Lecture 6 13
Diodes in Action
For such a diode the current I flowing through
the device is given approximately by:
Üsküdar University EE101 Lecture 6 14
Diode Current
• The current through a diode is given by the
formula
• Here, n is the emission coefficient and is
between 1 and 2.
• VT is kT/q and is 0.0258 V at room
temperature.
Üsküdar University EE101 Lecture 6 15
I-V Characteristics of Diodes
• Re: Diode is a unidirectional device; i.e. it
conducts current in one direction only.
Üsküdar University EE101 Lecture 6 16
I-V Characteristics
Üsküdar University EE101 Lecture 6 17
I-V Characteristics
Üsküdar University EE101 Lecture 6 18
I-V Characteristics
• Typical IV characteristics for Ge and Si diodes.
• If a large enough reverse voltage is applied, the junction
breaks down and allows a large reverse current to flow
(the ‘Zener effect’).
Üsküdar University EE101 Lecture 6 19
Zener Diode
• A Zener diode is a
special of diode.
• It blocks current
completely in one
direction, and also
blocks it in the other
direction until a
threshold voltage is
reached.
Üsküdar University EE101 Lecture 6 20
Diode Rectifiers
• Let us use the diode in the following circuit
D1.A
1K
R1
V1 +
-
Üsküdar University EE101 Lecture 6 21
Diode Rectifiers
Üsküdar University EE101 Lecture 6 22
Diode Rectifiers
• The circuit above is called a half-wave rectifier.
• It uses half of the waveform.
• It is also possible to build a full-wave rectifier.
Üsküdar University EE101 Lecture 6 23
Diode Rectifiers
Üsküdar University EE101 Lecture 6 24
Diode Rectifiers
Üsküdar University EE101 Lecture 6 25
Diode Rectifiers
• This circuit needs two supplies with opposite
polarities.
• Q: What if we do not have such supplies?
A: We will use a diode bridge.
Üsküdar University EE101 Lecture 6 26
Diode Rectifiers
D1.A D2.A
+ 1K
V R
-
D3.A D4.A
Üsküdar University EE101 Lecture 6 27
Diode Rectifiers
Üsküdar University EE101 Lecture 6 28
Diode Rectifiers
• See the animation: http://www.falstad.com/circuit/e-fullrect.html
Üsküdar University EE101 Lecture 6 29
Smoothing
• The rectified voltages are still not good
enough for use as DC sources.
• There is too much variation on them.
• We have to “smooth” them.
• We have to store charge when voltage is high
and supply it when voltage is low.
• How can we do it?
Üsküdar University EE101 Lecture 6 30
Smoothing
• Let us use capacitors:
D1.A
V1 + C1
- RL
Üsküdar University EE101 Lecture 6 31
Smoothing
Üsküdar University EE101 Lecture 6 32
Smoothing
• We can use a capacitor on the full-wave
rectifier as well:
D1.A
V1
+
-
C1 R1
-
V2
+
D2.A
Üsküdar University EE101 Lecture 6 33
Smoothing
Üsküdar University EE101 Lecture 6 34
Smoothing
Üsküdar University EE101 Lecture 6 35
Smoothing
See the animation http://www.falstad.com/circuit/e-fullrectf.html
Üsküdar University EE101 Lecture 6 36
Smoothing
• The ripple is given by the discharge of the
capacitor.
• It is essentially an exponential discharge, but
can be approximated by a linear function.
• To find the minimum value, choose t as the
period. In other words, ignore the charging
time.
Üsküdar University EE101 Lecture 6 37
Smoothing
• Thus,
Üsküdar University EE101 Lecture 6 38
Power Supplies
• In real supplies, a regulator is added between
the load resistor and the smoothing capacitor.
• The regulator is an electronic circuit which
keeps the output voltage constant against
variations in
– Load variations
– Main supply fluctuations
– Ripple
Üsküdar University EE101 Lecture 6 39
Zener Diode as a Regulator
• Zener diodes can be used to produce a
stabilized voltage output with low ripple
under varying load current conditions.
Üsküdar University EE101 Lecture 6 40
