Applications of Diode

• The Half-Wave Rectifier

• The Half-Wave Rectifier with transformer • Clippers and Limiters

• The Full-Wave Rectifier • Clampers

• The Bridge Rectifier • Voltage Multipliers

• The Choke-Input Filter

• The Capacitor-Input Filter
 Rectifiers

Most electronics need a direct current to function, but the

The most popular application of the diode. standard form of electricity that is transmitted to homes is
alternating current.
 Rectification
is the conversion of alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC).

Half-wave rectification is a very simple way to reduce power to a resistive load.

Some two-position lamp dimmer switches apply full AC power

to the lamp filament for “full” brightness and then half-wave
rectify it for a lesser light output.
The Half-Wave Rectifier
A half-wave rectifier is a simple electronic device that converts alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC).

Definition: A half-wave rectifier allows either the positive or negative half-cycle of AC to pass through while
blocking the other half-cycle.

Components:
1. Diode:
2. Resistive Load
Working Principle:
• During the positive half cycle of the AC voltage, the diode is forward biased and acts as
a closed switch.
• Conversely, during the negative half cycle, the diode becomes reverse biased and acts
as an open switch.
• The output waveform resembles a pulsating DC signal, as shown below: Half Wave
Rectifier Waveform

Circuit clips off

the negative
half-cycles
half-wave signal

➢ Unidirectional load current

o dc value of a signal = the average value

𝑉𝑝
𝑉𝑑𝑐 = , 𝑉 ≈ 0.318𝑉𝑝
𝜋 𝑑𝑐
o Output frequency
fout = fin

Second approximation
Because of the barrier potential, the diode does not turn on until the ac source voltage
reaches approximately 0.7 V

Vp(out) = Vp(in) − 0.7 V

DC load voltage ?
With second approximation?
 Half-wave rectifier with transformer
The transformer steps the line voltage down to safer and lower levels that are more suitable for use
with diodes, transistors, and other semiconductor devices.

Working
• On the positive half-cycle of primary voltage, the secondary winding has a positive half sine
wave across it and the diode is forward biased.
• On the negative half-cycle of primary voltage, the secondary winding has a negative half-cycle
and the diode is reverse biased.
• Result in a half-wave load voltage.
What are the peak load voltage and dc load voltage?

Applications:
▪ Half-wave rectifiers find use in low-power applications, battery chargers, and voltage regulators.
▪ They are simple and cost-effective solutions for converting AC to DC.
Full-wave rectifier

Working
• Diode D1 conducts on the positive half-cycle, and diode D2 conducts on the negative half-cycle.
• During both half-cycles, the load voltage has the same polarity and the load current is in the same
direction.
• Thus, the ac input voltage is changed to the pulsating dc output voltage.
 o dc or average value

2𝑉𝑝
𝑉𝑑𝑐 = , 𝑉𝑑𝑐 ≈ 0.636 𝑉𝑝
𝜋

o Output frequency

fout = 2fin

A full-wave output has twice as many cycles as the sine-wave input has.

The full-wave rectifier inverts each negative half cycle so that the number of positive half-cycles become double.
Calculate the peak input and output voltages. Then compare the theoretical values to the measured values
 The Bridge Rectifier

Positive half-cycle: D1 and D2 are forward biased.

This produces a positive load voltage

A bridge rectifier allows electric

current during both positive and
Negative half-cycle: D3 and D4 are forward biased. negative half cycles of the input AC
This also produces a positive load voltage. signal.
o dc or average value
2𝑉𝑝
𝑉𝑑𝑐 = , 𝑉𝑑𝑐 ≈ 0.636 𝑉𝑝
𝜋
o Output frequency

fout = 2fin

o Second Approximation

The peak output voltage,

Vp(out) = Vp(in) – 1.4 V (Because of 2 diodes in the conducting path)
Filtering:
o The output of a half-wave rectifier is a pulsating DC waveform.
o To smoothen it into a constant DC waveform, a capacitor filter can be used.
o The capacitor filter helps reduce the ripple factor, ensuring a more stable output.
Filter for rectified output
The primary purpose of a filter is to smooth out the pulsating DC voltage produced by a rectifier.

▪ Choke-input filter

The choke-input filter produces a dc output voltage equal to the average value of the rectified voltage.

Disadvantage
• large inductances have to be used to get enough reactance for adequate filtering - too much dc voltage is
dropped across the choke resistance.
• Bulky inductors are not suitable for modern semiconductor circuits.

Application
Choke-input filter was used as a switching regulator in computers, monitors, and an increasing variety of
equipment for high frequency filtering (20 kHz).
▪ Capacitor-input filter
- A capacitor connected in parallel with the rectifier’s output.

- Capacitor-input filter produces a dc output voltage equal to the peak value of the rectified voltage.
- Most widely used.

Capacitor-input filter
Capacitor input filter with a load dc voltage output have small ripple

Also referred to as a smoothing capacitor or reservoir capacitor.

Working

• During the time when the rectifier is conducting and the potential is higher than the charge across the capacitor,
the capacitor stores energy.
• When the rectifier output falls below the charge on the capacitor, the capacitor discharges energy into the
circuit.
• Since the rectifier conducts current only in the forward direction, any energy discharged by the capacitor flows
into the load.
• The result is a DC voltage with a superimposed waveform resembling a sawtooth wave. This sawtooth wave is a
convenient linear approximation to the actual exponential waveform during charge and discharge.

A capacitor-input filter plays a crucial role in ensuring stable DC power supply by reducing ripple and
providing a more consistent voltage output
 The ripple formula

What is the dc load voltage and ripple in following Fig.

Peak Inverse Voltage

Maximum voltage across the nonconducting diode of a rectifier.

• This voltage must be less than the breakdown voltage of the diode;
otherwise, the diode will be destroyed.
• Depends on the type of rectifier and filter

Half-Wave Rectifier with Capacitor-Input Filter

PIV = 2𝑉𝑝
Full-Wave Rectifier with Capacitor-Input Filter
PIV = 𝑉𝑝
Bridge Rectifier with Capacitor-Input Filter
PIV = 𝑉𝑝
Surge Current

Initially before the power is on, the filter capacitor is uncharged.

The moment when power is turned on, this capacitor looks like a short
Large current flows through it – surge current.

May include a surge resistor in the circuit to reduce surge current to a safe
level.
The Zener Diode

Symbols

A zener diode is a type of diode that allows current to flow in the "reverse"
direction, opposite to the way a normal diode works, when a certain voltage,
known as the breakdown voltage (Vz), is reached.

• Operation in the breakdown region At the tip of the arrow, a bent

• Breakdown voltages from about 2 to over 1000 V. line is drawn to distinguish it
• The voltage at which this breakdown occurs is the zener voltage (Vz). from an ordinary diode.
 Data sheets usually specify the value of VZ at a particular test
Forward current IZT
Leakage region The maximum reverse current IZM above which the Zener diode will
be destroyed
A current-limiting resistor is used to control excessive currents.
Breakdown
Zener resistance
In the reverse region, the bulk resistance is referred to as the
Zener resistance.
= Inverse of the slope in the breakdown region

Applications of a voltage regulator

• As a voltage regulator
• Protects from overvoltage
• Used in clipping circuits
• Used to shift voltage
Zener Diode as a voltage regulator
It can maintain a constant output voltage even though the current through it changes.
when you want a dc output voltage that is less than the output of the power supply

• Reverse-bias the zener diode.

• Source voltage VS must be greater than the zener breakdown voltage VZ.
• Series resistor RS : to limit the zener current to less than its maximum
current rating

Zener voltage regulator