Dept.

of EEE / ETE
EEE-111 / ETE-111: Analog Electronics I
Semester: Summer - 2025
Topic-03: Applications of PN Junction Diodes

Dr. Abul Kalam Azad

Professor, Dept. of EEE, DU
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 01707076731
 Rectifiers
 Rectifier: A rectifier is a circuit that employs one or more diodes to convert a.c. voltage into
pulsating d.c voltage.
o Half-wave rectification: The process of removing one-half the input signal to establish a pulsating dc
level is called half-wave rectification.

o For the positive half-cycle during interval t = 0 → T/2, the polarity of the applied voltage vi is
such that the diode becomes forward biased and turn on the diode. As a result, current flows
through the load and the output signal vo is an replica of the applied signal.
o For the negative half-cycle during interval t = T/2 → T, the polarity of the input vi is such that
the diode becomes reverse biased and turn of the diode. The result is the absence of current
flowing through the load and vo = iR = (0)R = 0 V for the period T/2 → T.
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 Effect of Knee voltage on Half-Wave Rectifiers
 The effect of using a silicon diode with VT = 0.7 V is demonstrated in the following figure for the
forward-bias region. The applied signal must now be at least 0.7 V before the diode can turn “on.”

 For levels of vi less than 0.7 V, the diode is still in an off state and vo = 0 V as shown in the
figure. When conducting, the difference between vo and vi is a fixed level of VT = 0.7 V and vo = vi
- VT, as shown in the figure.
 The net effect is a reduction in output voltage, which naturally reduces the resulting dc voltage
level.
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 Half-Wave Rectifiers
 Math Problem: o Sketch the output vo and determine the dc level of the output for the
following rectifier using ideal diode
o Repeat part (a) if the ideal diode is replaced by a silicon diode.

Solution (a):
Solution (b):

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 Half-Wave Rectifiers
 Math Problem: An a.c. voltage of peak value 20 V is connected in series with a silicon diode
and load resistance of 500 Ω. If the forward resistance of diode is 10 Ω, draw the circuit diagram
and find: (a) Find peak current through diode and peak output voltage across the load
(b) What will be these values if the diode is assumed to be ideal?
Solution:

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 Full-Wave Rectifiers
 Full-wave Rectifier: In full-wave rectification, current flows through the load in the same direction
for both half-cycles of input a.c. voltage. Thus, a full-wave rectifier utilizes both half-cycles of input
a.c. voltage to produce the d.c. output. Two commonly-used rectifier circuits are
(a) Full-wave bridge rectifier
(b) Centre-tap full-wave rectifier
 Full-wave bridge rectifier:
o A Full-wave bridge rectifier circuit contains four diodes D1, D2, D3 and D4 connected to form bridge
as shown below.
oThe a.c. supply to be rectified is applied to the diagonally opposite ends of the bridge through.
o Between other two ends of the bridge, the load resistance RL is connected.

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 Full-Wave Bridge Rectifiers
oFor the period 0 → T/2 of the input voltage vi

D2 and D3 are conducting while D1 and D4 are in the “off” state

o For the period T/2 → T of the input voltage vi

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 Full-Wave Bridge Rectifiers
oFor the period 0 → T of the input voltage vi

 Effects of Knee voltage on full-wave bridge rectifiers

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 Center-Tapped Transformer Full-Wave Rectifiers
o This rectifier requires only two diodes with a center-tapped (CT) transformer.

o For the period 0 → T/2 of vi o For the period T/2 → T of vi

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 Rectifiers
Math Problem:
(a) Determine vo for the network given below and determine the dc level of Vo.
(b) Determine the maximum current through each diode.
(c) Repeat (a) and (b) considering Si diode in the network

For ideal diodes

(a) (b) Vdc = - 0.636×100 V

= 63.6 V

(c)

For Si diodes (a) (b) Vdc = - 0.636×198.6 V (c)

= - 62.7 V

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 Rectifiers
oMath Problem: Determine the output waveform for the following network and calculate the
output dc level of each diode.

oSolution: o For the period 0 → T/2 of vi

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 Applications of Diodes: Clippers
o There are a variety of diode networks called clippers that have the ability to “clip” off a portion of
the input signal without distorting the remaining part of the alternating waveform.
oThe half-wave rectifier is an example of the simplest clipper that contains one resistor and diode.
o Depending on the orientation of diode, positive or negative region of the input is “clipped” off.

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 Applications of Diodes: Clippers
o Make a mental sketch of the response of the network based on the direction of the diode and
the applied voltage levels.
o Determine the applied voltage (transition voltage) that will cause a change in state for the diode.
o For the ideal diode the transition between states will occur at the point on the characteristics
where vd = 0 V and id = 0 A.
o Applying the condition id = 0 at vd = 0 to the network
will result in the configuration, where it is recognized
that the level of vi that will cause a transition in state

KVL

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 Applications of Diodes: Clippers
Math Problem: Determine the output waveform for the network
Solution

vi  5 V  v0  0 KVL
 v0  vi  5 V

Math Problem: Determine the output waveform for the network

Solution

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 Applications of Diodes: Clippers
Math Problem: Determine the output waveform for the network

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Applications of Diodes: Clippers

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 Applications of Diodes: Clippers
Math Problem: Determine the output waveform for the network of silicon diode with VT = 0.7 V.

Solution

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Applications of Diodes: Clippers

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Applications of Diodes: Clippers

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 Applications of Diodes: Clampers
o The clamping network is one that will “clamp” a signal to a different dc level.
o The network must have a capacitor, a diode, and a resistive element, but it can also employ
an independent dc supply to introduce an additional shift.
o R and C is chosen such that the time constant τ = RC is large enough that the voltage across
the capacitor does not discharge significantly during the interval the diode is non-conducting.
o Throughout the analysis we will assume that for all practical purposes the capacitor will fully
charge or discharge in five time constants.

For 0 → T/2 V V  v0  0
For T/2 → T
 v0  2V

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 Applications of Diodes: Clampers
 In general, the following steps may be helpful when analyzing clamping
networks
o Comment-1: Start the analysis of clamping networks by considering that part of the
input signal that will forward bias the diode.
o Comment-2: During the period that the diode is in the “on” state, assume that the
capacitor will charge up instantaneously to a voltage level determined by the network.
o Comment-3: Assume that during the period when the diode is in the “off” state the
capacitor will hold on to its established voltage level.
o Comment-4: Throughout the analysis maintain a continual awareness of the
location and reference polarity for vo to ensure that the proper levels for vo are
obtained.
o Comment-5: Keep in mind the general rule that the total swing of the total output
must match the swing of the input signal.

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 Applications of Diodes: Clampers
Math Problem: Determine vo of the following network with ideal diode for the given input

Solution:
o The frequency 1000 Hz results in a period of 1 ms and an interval of 0.5 ms between levels.
oThe time constant of the discharging network is determined by the product RC and has
the magnitude τ = RC = (100 kΩ)(1 μF) = 100 ms
o The total discharge time is therefore 5τ = 500 ms.
500 ms >> 0.5 ms

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 Applications of Diodes: Clampers
Math Problem: Determine vo of the following network with ideal diode for the given input

Solution:
oThe analysis will begin with the period t1 → t2 of the
input signal since the diode is in its short-circuit state as
recommended by comment 1.

For t1 → t2, Vo = 5V

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 Applications of Diodes: Clampers
Math Problem (cont…): Determine vo of the following network with ideal diode for the given input

For t1 → t2
Applying KVL around the input loop:
− 20 V + VC − 5 V = 0 => VC = 25 V
The capacitor will therefore charge up to 25 V, as
stated in comment 2.

For the period t2 → t3 the network will appear as

Applying KVL around the input loop:
10 V + 25 V − Vo = 0 => Vo = 35 V
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 Applications of Diodes: Clampers
Math Problem (cont…): Determine vo of the following network with ideal diode for the given input

oThe total discharge time is therefore 5τ = 5RC =

5×(100 kΩ)(1 μF) = 500 ms. Now, 500 ms >> 0.5 ms

oThe capacitor will thus hold its voltage during the

discharge period between pulses of the input signal.

Results: For t1 → t2, Vo = 5V

For t2 → t3, Vo = 35 V
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 Applications of Diodes: Clampers
Math Problem (cont…): Determine vo of the following network employing diode with VT = 0.7 V
for the given input

Solution:
For t1 → t2, Vo = -0.7V+5V = 4.3 V
− 20 V + VC − 4.3 V = 0 => VC = 24.3 V
The capacitor will therefore charge up to 24.3 V
10 V + 24.3 V − Vo = 0 => Vo = 34.3 V

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 Applications of Diodes: Clampers

Input to all circuits

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Applications of Diodes: Clampers

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