Models for the PN Junction Diode

• Exponential Model
• Constant Voltage-Drop Model
• Ideal Diode Model
• Small-signal Model
 Exponential Model
IS and n are known
Two equations to determine two
unknown quantities VD & ID
I D  I S eVD / nVT
VDD  VD
ID 
R
Two alternative ways for
obtaining a solution are :
Graphical analysis
Iterative analysis

Electronics I 2
Graphical Analysis
 Graphical Analysis using the Exponential
Model
Plot i-v characteristics I D  I S eV D / nVT

Plot load line VDD  VD

I 
For Max ID ; VD = 0 D R
ID = VDD / R
For Min ID ; VD = VDD

VDD  VDD
ID  0
R

Intersection point Q
represents Operating point
(VD & ID)
Lecture 04 Electronics I 4
 Numerical Iteration
• Numerical iteration are a set of methods to find
successively the roots of a real-valued function

• For example Newton-Raphson method

• To design a relatively complex circuit, rapid circuit

analysis is a necessity so this method is seldom
used.
 Numerical Iteration
• Determine the current ID and the diode
voltage VD for the circuit in Fig with VDD = 5 V
and R = 1 kΩ. Assume that the diode has a
current of 1 mA at a voltage of 0.7 V.
Iterative Analysis using the Exponential
Model (Example 3.4)
VDD  VD
Solve I D  I S e
VD / nVT
and I D  iteratively
R
VDD = 5 V & R = 1 KΩ
Assume: diode current 1 mA at voltage 0.7 V
Assume: Voltage drop changes by 0.1 V for every decade
change in current
VDD  VD 5  0.7
ID    4.3mA
R 1k
Initially ID = 1 mA & VD = 0.7 V
Now ID = 4.3 mA

Electronics I 7
Iterative Analysis using the Exponential
Model (Example 3.4)
i2
For next iteration v2  v1  2.3nVT log
i2 v2  v1  2.3nVT log
i1 i1
4.3
v2  0.7  0.1 log  0.763 V
1
We know for a decade
change in current, diode voltage changes by 2.3nVT so
2.3nVT = 0.1

Better estimate of VD & ID

VDD  VD 5  0.763
ID    4.237 mA
R 1
VD = 0.763 V & ID = 4.237 mA
Second iteration yields VD = 0.762 V & ID = 4.237 mA

Electronics I 8
Constant Voltage Drop Model

This
can be
approximated
with

• Most commonly used model!

Constant-Voltage-Drop Model

A simpler model
Straight line approximates
the exponential curve
VD = 0.7 V
In the current range 0.1mA
to 10 mA
Voltages differ by ±0.1 V

Electronics I 10
Constant-Voltage-Drop Model
 Constant-Voltage-drop model of the
diode forward characteristics
 Equivalent circuit representation
 VDD = 5 V : R = 1 KΩ

VDD  VD 5  0.7
ID    4.3mA
R 1

• Iterative analysis result

VD = 0.762 V & ID = 4.237 mA

Electronics I 11
Design the circuit to provide an
output voltage of 2.4 V???
Exercise 3.12
Design the circuit to provide an output
voltage of 2.4 V
Diodes available have 0.7 V drop at 1mA
ΔV = 0.1 V/decade change in current
For an output of 2.4 V
VD =2.4/3 = 0.8 V
i2 i2
v2  v1  2.3nVT log  0.8  0.7  0.1 log 3
i1 10
i2  10mA

R = (10 – 2.4)/10mA = 760 Ω

Electronics I 13
Small-signal Model
Small-signal Model
• Diode is biased to operate on the forward i-v
characteristics
• Small ac signal is superimposed on the dc quantities
• Determine d.c. operating point, usually 0.7V-drop
model is utilized
• Diode modelled by a resistance equal to the inverse
slope of the tangent to the i-v characteristics at the bias
point

Electronics I 15
Small-signal model

Electronics I 16
 Small-signal model
In the absence of signal vd(t)
I D  I S eVD / nVT

When signal vd(t) is applied

Instantaneous diode voltage
Corresponding diode current
Substituting diode voltage vD(t)
iD (t )  I S e vD / nVT
vD (t )  VD  vd (t )
Rewritten as iD (t )  I S e (VD  vd ) / nVT
iD (t )  I S eVD / nVT e vd / nVT
Substituting ID
iD (t )  I D e vd / nVT
Electronics I 17
 Small-signal model
iD (t )  I D e vd / nVT
If amplitude of vd(t) is small such that
vd
 1
nVT
 vd  c 2 2
x
iD (t )  I D 1    e  1  cx 
cx
 .....
 nVT  2!
Exponential is expanded in a series with
only first two terms

Small-signal approximation valid for

signals with amplitudes
smaller than 10 mV for n = 2, VT= 25 mV
smaller than 5 mV for n = 1, VT= 25 mV
Electronics I 18
Small-signal model

Signal current
iD (t )  I D  id ID
id  vd
ID nVT
iD (t )  I D  vd
nVT

is a small signal component Superimposed on dc current ID

id ID

vd nVT
id is dependant on vd diode small-signal conductance

Electronics I 19
Small-signal model

Diode small-signal resistance

nVT
rd 
ID
Dynamic resistance
The tangent intersects the vD
axis at VD0
The tangent equation is iD =
(vD – VD0)/rd

Lecture 05 Electronics I 20
 Small-signal Model
• Consider the circuit shown in
Fig. where R = 10 kΩ. The
power supply V+ has a dc
value of 10 V on which is
superimposed a 60-Hz
sinusoid of 1-V peak
Amplitude and n=2. Calculate
both the dc voltage of the
diode and the amplitude of
the sine- wave signal
appearing across it. Assume
the diode to have a 0.7-V
drop at 1-mA current.
Example 3.6
 R = 10 KΩ
 Supply V+ = 10 V
 Superimposed 60 Hz sinusoid
of 1-V peak amplitude (ripple)
 Diode available has 0.7 V drop
at 1mA and n = 2 Calculate:
 D.C voltage of diode: VD = ?
 Amplitude of sine wave
appearing across it : vd = ?

Lecture 06 Electronics I 22
Example 3.6 (cont’d)
ID = (VDD – VD)/R
ID = (10 – 0.7)/10 = 0.93 mA
0.93 mA is close to given ID = 1 mA
Therefore VD  0.7 V
nVT
rd 
ID
= 2(25)/0.93=53.8 Ω
vd(peak-to-peak) = vs rd/(R + rd)
= 2(0.0538)/(0.0538+10)
= 10.7 mV
Amplitude of vd = 5.35 mV (Less than
10mv use of small-signal model is
justified)
Lecture 06 Electronics I 23
 Voltage Regulation
In example
Variation in input voltage is ±10% (10 V with 1 V ripple)
Variation in output voltage is ±0.8% (0.7 V with 5.35 mV
ripple)
Simple voltage regulator can be designed
Connecting forward biased diodes in series

Electronics I 24
 Small-signal Diode
• Small-signal model of diode is used to create a
voltage regulator.
• A voltage regulator is a circuit whose purpose is
to provide a constant dc voltage between its
output terminals.
• The output voltage is required to remain as
constant as possible in spite of
– changes in the load current drawn from the regulator
output terminal and
– changes in the dc power-supply voltage that feeds the
regulator circuit.