09/02/2010

Contents
 The load line
 Diodes in DC circuits
 Diodes in AC circuits
Diode applications  Half-wave rectifier
 Full-wave rectifier: diode birdge
 Full-wave rectifier: centre tapped transformer
Jorge Garcia-Sucerquia  Clipper diode circuits
 Clamping circuits
School of Physics, Universidad Nacional de Colombia  Zener diodes
Sede Medellín. A.A. 3840, Medellín – Colombia
 Voltage multiplier circuits

The load line The load line

e 
The Load Line plots all possible current (ID) conditions for all voltages
E  VD applied to the diode (VD) in a given circuit. E/R is the maximum ID and E is
ID 
KVD / Tk
ID  IS 1 the maximum VD.
Where the Load Line and the Characteristic Curve intersect is the Q point,
R which specifies a particular ID and VD for a given circuit.

Diodes in DC circuits Diodes in DC circuits

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Diodes in DC circuits Diodes in AC circuits

Half-wave rectifier.

1/ 2
1 T /2
 1 T /2

f t RMS    f t  f t AVE    f t dt 
2
dt 
T T / 2  T T / 2

Diodes in AC circuits Diodes in AC circuits

Conduction region (0  T/2) Half-wave rectified signal

1/ 2
 1 T /2 
f  t  RMS    f  t  dt 
2

 T T / 2 

Non-conduction region (T/2  T)  1 T /2 

f  t  AVE    f  t  dt 
 T T / 2 

PIV (PRV) > Vm

Diodes in AC circuits Diodes in AC circuits

Effect of VT on half-wave rectified signal. Full-wave rectified signal. Diode bridge

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Diodes in AC circuits Diodes in AC circuits

Diode states for the period 0 T /2 of the input voltage vi. Diode states for the period 0 T /2 of the input voltage vi.

Diode states for the period T/2  T of the input voltage vi.

Diodes in AC circuits Diodes in AC circuits

Full-wave rectified signal. Diode bridge Full-wave rectified signal. Centre-tapped transformer

Vm

Vm-2VT

PIV (PRV) > Vm

Diodes in AC circuits Diodes in AC circuits

Diode states for the period 0 T /2 of the input voltage vi. Rectifier circuit summary

Rectifier Ideal VDC Actual VDC

Half Wave Rectifier VDC = 0.318Vm VDC = 0.318Vm – VT
Bridge Rectifier VDC = 0.636(V
0 636(Vm) VDC = 0.636(V
0 636(Vm) – 2(VT)
Centre-Tapped Transformer VDC = 0.636(Vm) VDC = 0.636(Vm) - . VT
Diode states for the period T/2  T of the input voltage vi. Rectifier

PIV (PRV) > Vm

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Diodes in AC circuits Diodes in AC circuits

Clipper diode circuit with DC supply Clipper diode circuits summary

Diodes in AC circuits Diodes in AC circuits

Clipper diode circuits summary Clamper diode circuits

A diode in conjunction with a capacitor can be used to “clamp” an AC signal

to a specific DC level.

Diodes in AC circuits Diodes in AC circuits

Clamper diode circuits Clamper diode circuits Summary

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Zener diodes Zener diodes

The Zener is a diode operated in reverse bias at the Zener Voltage (Vz). Calculations

RVz Vz
RL min  RL max 
Vi  Vz I R  I z max

Voltage multipliers circuits Voltage multipliers circuits

Voltage doubler. Half-wave Voltage doubler. Full-wave

This half-wave voltage doubler’s output can be

calculated as

Vout = VC2 = 2Vm

Vm = peak secondary voltage of the transformer.

Voltage multipliers circuits Practical diode applications

Voltage tripler and quadrupler
Rectifier Circuits
Conversions of AC to DC for DC operated
circuits
Battery Charging Circuits

Simple Diode Circuits

Protective
i Ci
Circuits
i against
i
overcurrent
Polarity Reversal
Currents caused by an inductive kick in a
relay circuit

Zener Circuits
Overvoltage Protection
Setting Reference Voltages