Experiment: Diode Circuits

1.0 Objectives

· To observe the operations of a half-wave rectifier

· To observe the operation of a diode clipping circuit
· To observe the operation of a diode clamping circuit

2.0 Apparatus

DC Power Supply
Dual-trace Oscilloscope
Function Generator
Digital Multimeter
Connecting wires

3.0 Introduction

The p-n junction diode is the most common type of solid-state device. One side of the
p-n junction is a p-type semiconductor and another side is an n-type semiconductor. The p-type
end is the anode while the n-type end is the cathode. The conceptual structure, the typical
appearance and the schematic symbol of a diode is shown in Figure 1. When the potential
applied to the cathode is more positive than that at the anode, the diode is said to be in the
reversed bias condition. Ideally, no current can flow through the device. When the voltage at
the anode is more positive than the cathode, this condition is called forward bias. Figure 2
shows the typical V-I characteristic of a diode. If the forward bias voltage is less than a
threshold value, known as the cut-in voltage Vg, the current flowing through the diode is very
small. As soon as the applied voltage gets above this cut-in voltage, the current will rise rapidly.
This cut-in voltage is approximately 0.2V for a germanium diode and 0.6V for a silicon diode.
conceptual structure
anode p n cathode V
I(mA)
typical shape

anode cathode
3 mA
2
circuit symbol
1

anode cathode V
Vg

Figure 1 Figure 2

Consider a silicon diode that is connected in series with a 1 kW resistor, as shown in

Figure 3. When a battery voltage of 3V is applied, the diode is forward-biased and an electric
current will start to flow in both the diode and the resistor. The voltage across the resistor will
rise to a value VR = I´R of approximately 2.4V, while the current is limited to 2.4 mA (= 2.4V/1
kW). In the analysis of a diode circuit, we can usually assume the voltage across a silicon diode
to be 0.6V, provided that the voltage source in the circuit is higher than 0.6V and the polarity
is to bias the diode in the forward direction. The diode acts like a switch that is turned on. If
the polarity is reversed, the diode will be reverse-biased and no current can flow in the circuit.

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In this condition, the diode acts like a switch that is turned off. As a result, the voltage across
the resistor will become zero (since I = 0).

0.6V
+ -
+
3V I
VR
1 kW
-
Figure 3

Due to the unidirection characteristic of the device, a diode can be configured as a

rectifier that allows current flow for only half a cycle of an AC waveform. A half-wave rectifier
circuit is shown in Figure 4. When the potential at point A is more positive than that at point
B, i.e. the supply voltage VS is positive, the diode is forward-biased. The voltage across the
resistor will have the same waveform as the supply voltage VS (minus away 0.6V, to be exact).
In the second half cycle, the voltage at A becomes negative, so the diode is reverse-biased. The
voltage across the resistor will be zero throughout this half cycle. As a result, a half-wave
waveform is obtained at the resistor. As the current flows only in the X-to-Y direction, therefore
a direct current is obtained from the AC source.

v
A X VS
+ + Vm Vo
AC voltage VS R Vo
- - p 2p wt
B Y f
Figure 4

Since the above diode circuit operates only for half a cycle, the efficiency is low. A
bridge-rectifier circuit constructed using 4 diodes, as shown in Figure 5, can be used to double
the efficiency. In the first half cycle of an AC waveform, diodes D1 and D2 are turned on while
D3 and D4 are off. Current flows from X to Y. In the second half cycle, when the potential at
point B is more positive than point A, diode D3 and D4 are on while D1 and D2 are turned off.
Current flows from X to Y again. Since there is always a current flow during both the positive
cycle and the negative cycle, a rectified full-wave waveform is obtained, as shown in Figure 5.
Note that there is 2*0.6V lost in Vo because 2 diodes conduct in series.
n:1
A D1 vo
D4
VS =nVmsinwt X +
D2 V
B D3 m
RL Vo
D1 & D 2 D3 & D 4 D1 & D 2
on on on
-
Y
wt
Figure 5

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 Diodes can also be used to change the shape of an AC waveform. The circuits in Figure
6 are known as the clipping circuits. The diodes are turned on for only the period of time when
the AC voltage is at least 0.6V higher than the reference voltage, Vref. During this period, a
current flows through the diode and the voltage across the diode is about 0.6V. As a result, part
of the output AC waveform, Vo, is clipped off.

Another wave shaping circuit, as shown in Figure 7, is the clamping circuit. The
capacitor is fully charged to the peak voltage of the AC source when the diode is forward-
biased. (For simplicity, we have assumed the forward voltage drop of the diode is negligible.)
As the diode acts like a switch that is turned on, the output voltage taken across the diode is
zero when the AC waveform is at its peak. As soon as the AC voltage falls below the peak
value, the diode becomes reverse-biased by the voltage sum of the transformer and the
capacitor which is a negative value. The resulting waveform is an AC waveform that is
“clamped” down below zero volt. If the 0.6V forward voltage drop of the diode is considered,
the capacitor is charged to (Vm – 0.6) V and the average value of Vo is – (Vm – 0.6 ) V. The Vo
peak voltage is 0.6 V above zero volt.
VS
Vm
+
C

Vo wt
VS ~
-Vm + 0.6

- Vo

Figure 7

Instructions

1. Set the vertical sensitivities of CH1 and CH2 of the oscilloscope to 5 V/div. Set the
horizontal (time base) sensitivity to 20 ms/div.
2. Apply VS = 10Sin(2p*10000t) V. Set the function generator for a 10 kHz sine wave with
10V amplitude. Check the waveform using the oscilloscope.

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Experiments

4.1 Half-wave Rectifier

Procedures
1. Construct the circuit as shown below.

2. Finely adjust the function generator frequency so that CH1 waveform (VI) has a period of
5 divisions.
3. Sketch the CH2 waveform (Vo) displayed on the oscilloscope with respect to the input
voltage VI. Measure and record the maximum and the minimum voltages of CH2 waveform
(Vo, max and Vo, min). Calculate the ripple voltage, Vo,r = Vo, max – Vo,min.
4. Repeat procedure 3 for the following conditions at the rectifier output. Sketch the Vo
waveforms and record all the respective Vo, max and Vo, min.
(i) A 10nF capacitor in parallel with the 18kW resistor
(ii) A 10nF capacitor in parallel with a 10kW resistor
(iii) A 470pF capacitor in parallel the 18kW resistor
(iv) A 10nF capacitor alone, in place of the 18kW resistor
(v) A 470pF capacitor alone, in place of the 18kW resistor

4.2 Clipping Circuit

Procedures
1. Construct the circuit as shown below. Ensure that the DC power supply is set to 0V and set
the current adjustment knob to about ¼ turn from the min position. Make sure that the
negative terminal of the DC power supply is not connected to the ground.

2. Switch on the DC power supply. Set it to VDC = 0V (measured by a multimeter). Record

Vo, max and Vo,min. Repeat for VDC = 1V, 2V and 3V.
3. Switch the power supply off, and swop the position of the 1kW resistor with the diode.
Repeat procedure 2.

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4.3 Clamping Circuit
Procedures
1. Make sure that the DC power supply is off. Construct the circuit as shown below.

2. Sketch Vo waveforms for VDC = 0V and 2V. Label the waveforms. Record Vo,max and Vo,min.
3. Calculate the peak-to-peak voltages of Vo waveforms, Vo, pp = Vo, max – Vo,min.

End of Lab Sheet

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