Laboratory Experiment No.

1
Diode Characteristics & Rectifications

Objectives
To be familiar with the basic properties of the junction diodes.
To investigate the concept of rectification properties.
Theory
The diode is a two-terminal semiconductor device with a nonlinear i-v characteristic. The current
flows in only one direction through the diode from the anode to the cathode. There are three operating
regions for the diode:
Forward biased.
Reverse biased.
Reverse breakdown.
From examining Figure 1, you should note that the Anode (A)
corresponds to the P-type side while the Cathode (K) corresponds to the Ntype side of the diode. The purpose of rectifier circuits is to convert AC voltage
to DC voltage. That is, the current flows through a load in one direction only,
{positive or negative with respect to common (0V or GND) point).
This DC level is the average of the peak load voltage (VP) over
a
complete period (360 or (2)) which can be expressed for rectified unfiltered sinusoidal signals as a
constant and equals to:
Vav = VDC = VP/ = (0.318) VP
(for half-wave rectification).
Vav = VDC = 2VP/ = (0.636) VP
(for full-wave rectification).
The frequency of the rectified output waveform can be expressed as:
fO = fSource
(half-wave rectification).
fO = 2fSource
(full-wave rectification).
The percentage ripple can be expressed as:
Percentage Ripple = ( Vr-PP / Vav )* 100%.
The purpose of the filter capacitor is to reduce the amount of ripple voltage at the of the
rectifier circuit. The capacitor charges to approximately the peak voltage across the load voltage VL-P and
then discharges through the load resistance RL as the rectified DC falls below VP. As long as the discharge
time for the capacitor is greater than the time between the peaks of the rectified DC, the load voltage
can be found using the formula shown.
Vav = VL-P - (Vr-PP /2)
Procedure
Equipment & Part List
Oscilloscope
Function Generator (FG) or Signal Generator
Digital Multimeters (DMM)
DC power supply
Project Breadboard
Resistors of 100, 1K, 10K, 100K
Capacitors of 1F and 2.2F
Diode 1N4006 and Bridge rectifier
Connection Wires and coaxial cables probes
PART A- Diode Characteristics
Forward Bias Mode
1- Construct the circuit shown in Figure 2. By using 1N4006 Si diode. (Make sure
your diode has the correct polarity).
2- Ask the instructor to check your circuit.
3- Set the DC power supply output adjustment potentiometer fully counter clock
wise. Then switch it ON.
4- Adjust the voltage source (VS) corresponding to Table 1. Use the DMM to
measure the remaining values and record it in Table 1.
5- When finish, set the (VS) to 0.0V. Then switch OFF the DC power supply.

Reverse Bias Mode

1- Reverse the polarity of the DC power source (VS) as shown in Figure 3.
2- Adjust the voltage source (VS) corresponding to Table 2. Use the DMM to
measure
the remaining values and record it in Table 2.

PART-B Rectification

Unfiltered Half-wave Rectifier

1- Construct the circuit shown in Figure 4.a by using 1N4006 Si diode.
2- Switch ON the Oscilloscope.
3- Switch ON the Function Generator and set the source voltage (VS) to 10Vp-p, 100Hz, sinusoidal.
4- Use the Oscilloscope to measure and record VLoad-P from Ch2.
Sketch the Oscilloscope screen on the respective grids in Table 3.
5- Reverse the diode according to Figure 4.b and repeat step 4.
6- What about the Frequency of the Output Signal.

Filtered Half-wave Rectifier

1- Construct the circuit shown in Figure 5.
2- Use the value of Capacitor C and Load resistor RL
according to Table 4. (Be sure to observe the capacitor
polarity).
3- Use the Oscilloscope to measure the Ripple Voltage Vrpp (since Vr-pp = Vout-pp) from Ch2, use DMM to measure
the Average Voltage ( Vavg ). Calculate Ripple Percentage
(Ripp.%)and sketch the Oscilloscope screen on the
respective grids in Table 4.
4- Repeat the steps 2 to 3.
5- Switch OFF the Function Generator
Full-wave Bridge Rectifier
1- Construct the circuit shown in Figure 6 by using the Bridge rectifier chip. (Be sure to observe
the capacitor polarity).
2- Switch ON the Function Generator and set the source voltage (VS) to 10Vp-p, 100Hz, sinusoidal.
3- Use the Oscilloscope to measure and record the Vr-pp. Sketch the Oscilloscope screen on the
respective grids in Table 5.
4- Replace the components of RL and C according to Table 5.
5- Repeat the steps 3 to 4.

6- On the same circuit shown in Figure 6 by using RL = 1 k, and C = 1.0 F.

Observe the effect of increasing signal frequency to 1 kHz on the ripple voltage. Explain.
7- How many ways to control the ripple voltage? Mention.
8- What about the Frequency of the Output Signal?

9- Switch of the Function Generator.