Chapter 2

DIODE APPLICATIONS
 2

RECTIFIER
2-1 Half-Wave rectifier
Block diagram of a rectifier and a dc power supply with a load.
Half-wave rectifier operation. The diode is considered to be ideal.
 The effect of the barrier potential on the half-wave
rectified output voltage is to reduce the peak value of
the input by about 0.7 V.
 Vi(t)

Vp

VD

 t
0 2

-VP

Vo(t)

Vp - VD

t
0  2
Figure 2–3 Average value of the half-wave rectified signal.
Average value of HWR

1 T
VDC 
T  0
V dt

1  π 2
  Vp sin θ dθ   0 dθ 
2π   0 
π

VP
 cos θ
2π 0

VP

π
 RMS Value of HWR
1 T 2
 
2
Vrms V dt
T 0

1  π 2 2
  V sin 2
θ dθ   0 dθ 
2π   0
p 
2 2
VP VP  1 
 
π
  sin θ dθ     
2
1 cos 2θ dθ
2π 0 2π 0
2 
2
VP  1 π
  θ  sin 2θ
4π  2 0
2
VP

4
 VO

Vp
Vrms
VDC
t0 t1 t2 t3 t
The PIV occurs at the peak of each half-cycle of the input voltage
when the diode is reverse-biased. In this circuit, the PIV occurs
at the peak of each negative half-cycle.
Half-wave rectifier with transformer-coupled input voltage.
2-2 FULL-WAVE RECTIFIERS
Center-tapped Full-wave Rectifier
Figure 2–11 Full-wave rectification.
 Average Value

1 T
VDC 
T 0 V dt

1 π

π 0  Vp sin θ dθ
π

VP
 cos θ
π 0

2 VP

π
 RMS Value

1 T 2
 
2
Vrms V dt
T 0

1 π 2
  θ dθ
2
Vp sin
π 0

2
VP  1 
    1  cos 2θ  dθ 
π 0
2 
2
VP  1 π
  θ  sin 2θ
2π  2 0
2
VP

2
Figure 2–13 A center-tapped full-wave rectifier.
Basic operation of a center-tapped full-wave rectifier. Note that the current through the
load resistor is in the same direction during the entire input cycle, so the output voltage
always has the same polarity.
Center-tapped full-wave rectifier with a transformer turns ratio of 1.
Vp(pri) is the peak value of the primary voltage.
Center-tapped full-wave rectifier with a transformer turns ratio of 2.
Diode reverse voltage (D2 shown reverse-biased and D1 shown forward-biased).
Full-Wave Bridge Rectifier
Figure 2–23

26
Figure 2–20 Operation of a bridge rectifier.

27
Figure 2–21 Bridge operation during a positive half-cycle of the primary and secondary voltages.

28
 Vi(t)

Vp

 t
0 2

-VP

Vo(t)

Vp - VD

t
0  2

29
Figure 2–22 Peak inverse voltages across diodes D3 and D4 in a bridge rectifier
during the positive half-cycle of the secondary voltage.

30
2-3 POWER SUPPLY FILTERS AND CAPACITOR
FILTER
Figure 2–24 Power supply filtering.

32
Figure 2–30

33
Figure 2–25 Operation of a half-wave rectifier with a capacitor-input filter. The current indicates charging or discharging of the capacitor.

34
 RIPPLE VOLTAGE

 The variation in the capacitor voltage due to the

charging and discharging is called the ripple voltage.
 The smaller the ripple voltage, the better the filtering
action.
 For a given input frequency, the output frequency of
a full wave rectifier is twice that of a half wave
rectifier.
 As a result, a full wave rectifier is easier to filter
because of the shorter time between peaks.
Figure 2–26 Half-wave ripple voltage (green line).

36
Figure 2–27 The frequency of a full-wave rectified voltage is twice that of a half-wave rectified voltage.

37
Figure 2–28 Comparison of ripple voltages for half-wave and full-wave rectified voltages with the same filter capacitor and load and derived from the
same sinusoidal input voltage.

38
 Vr and VDC determine the ripple factor.

39

Vr( pp) 1 Vr( pp) 1

rhwr   rfwr  
VDC 2 3 fRL C VDC 4 3 fRL C
Vp(rect) : unfiltered peak rectified voltage
Vr(pp) : peak to peak ripple voltage
 VDC  voltage
: average value of ripple
 D.I.Y.

 EXAMPLE 2-7
 Effects of RL and C
41

R=1500Ω
C=1000µF C=470µF
R=1000Ω
C=100µF R=500Ω

(a) RL fixed (b) C fixed

 SURGE CURRENT IN THE CAPACITOR
INPUT FILTER

 When the power is first applied to a power supply,

the filter capacitor is uncharged.
 At the instant the switch is closed, voltage is
connected to the rectifier and the uncharged
capacitor appears as a short.
 This case is illustrated for a bridge circuit in Figure 2-
26(a).
 An initial surge of current is produced through the
forward-biased diodes.
 SURGE CURRENT IN THE CAPACITOR
INPUT FILTER…

 It is possible that the surge current could destroy the

diodes, for this reason a surge-limiting resistor
Rsurge, is sometimes connected. (See Figure 2-26(b) ).
 The value of this resistor must be small to avoid a
significant voltage drop across it.
 The diode must have a forward current rating that
can handle the momentary surge of current.
 2-4

INTEGRATED CIRCUIT VOLTAGE

REGULATORS
 IC REGULATORS

 The most effective filter is a combination of a

capacitor-input filter with an IC regulator.
 In general, and IC (Integrated Circuit) is a complete
functional circuit constructed on a single, tiny chip of
silicon.
 An integrated circuit regulator is an IC that is
connected to the output of rectifier an maintains a
constant output voltage or current despite changes
in the input.
IC Regulators
 IC REGULATORS…

 Three terminal regulators designed for a fixed output

voltage.
 Require only external capacitors to complete the
regulation portion of the power (See Figure 2-27(a)).
 Filtering is accomplished by a large-value capacitor
between the input voltage and ground.
 Sometimes a second smaller-value input capacitor is
connected in parallel, especially if the filter capacitor
is not close to the IC regulator to prevent transients
and internal oscillation.
 Fixed Voltage Regulator IC

78xx Series
- 3-terminal device
- Provide fixed positive DC voltage
- Last 2 digits designate output DC voltage
- Can produce output current up to in excess of 1 A
when used with adequate heat sink
- The input voltage must be at least 2 V above the
output voltage
- Thermal overload protection is available
Fixed Voltage Regulator IC
 Adjustable Positive Linear Voltage Regulator
LM317

 LM317 is an example of adjustable 3-terminal

positive regulator
 Vout can be varied from 1.2V to 37V
 It can provide 1.5 A current to the load
Adjustable Positive Linear Voltage Regulator
 Adjustable Negative Linear Voltage Regulator
LM337

 The counterpart of LM317 is LM 337

 Vout from -1.2V to -37 V
 Percent Regulation

The regulation expressed as a percentage is a figure

of merit used to specify the performance of a voltage
regulator.
Percent Regulation can be in terms of :-

 Line Regulation
 Load Regulation
 Line Regulation

Line regulation specifies how much change occurs in

the output voltage for a given change in the input
voltage.
It is typically defined as a ratio of a change in output
voltage for a corresponding change in the input
voltage expressed as a percentage.

Line Regulation = ( ∆Vout / ∆ Vin) 100%

 Load Regulation

Load regulation specifies how much change occurs

in the output voltage over a certain range of load
current values, usually from minimum current (no
load, NL) to maximum current (full load, FL). It is
normally expressed as a percentage.

Load Regulation = VNL - VFL 100%

VFL
Example 2-9

D.I.Y.
 2-5 DIODE LIMITING AND CLAMPING
CIRCUITS

 Diode circuits, called Limiters, or Clippers are

sometimes used to clip off portions of the signal
voltages above or below certain levels.

 Another type of diode circuit, called a Clamper, is

used to restore a dc level to an electrical signal.
 DIODE LIMITERS

 Diode Limiter is an electronic circuit that limits or

clips off the positive or negative part of the input
signal See Figures 2-30(a) and (b).
 The negative or positive signal limiting function is
based on if the diode is wired in a forward or reverse
biased mode .
 DETERMING VOUT

 Whenever the input is below 0.7 V, the diode is

reversed biased and appears as an open.
 The output voltage VOUT looks like the negative part
of the input, but with a magnitude determined by the
voltage divider formed by R1 and RL, as follows:
VOUT = RL VIN
R1+RL
 If R1 is small compared to RL, then VOUT:VIN
Limiting the Signal into a Computer
EXAMPLE 2 - 10
 BIASED LIMITERS

A positive Limiter with positive bias

 BIASED LIMITERS

A positive Limiter with variable positive bias

 BIASED LIMITERS
A positive & negative Limiter with negative bias
 BIASED LIMITERS

A negative Limiter with negative bias

Example 2-11
EXAMPLE 2-12

D.I.Y.
 DIODE CLAMPERS

 Diode Clamper adds a dc level to an ac signal.

 Clampers are sometimes known as dc restorers See
Figure 2-40.
 The net effect of the clamping action is the capacitor
retains a charge approximately equal to the peak
value of the input less the diode drop.
Positive Clamper
Negative Clamper
Clamping circuit (DC Restorer) in a TV Receiver
Example 2-13
 2-6 VOLTAGE MULTIPLIERS

A voltage multiplier is an electrical circuit that converts AC

electrical power from a lower voltage to a higher DC voltage by
means of capacitors and diodes combined into a network.

Voltage Multipliers use clamping action to increase peak

rectified voltages without necessity of increasing the
transformer’s voltage rating.

Multiplication factors of 2, 3 and 4 are common.

Applications: Used where High-Voltage, Low-Current

applications, such as TV Receivers.
 Voltage Doubler

A voltage doubler is an electric circuit with an AC input and

a DC output of roughly twice the peak input voltage.

H.W. Voltage Doubler

How Voltage Doubler Works?
 Response Curve
(for Voltage Doubler)
Full-Wave Voltage Doubler
 Response Curve
(for F.W. Voltage Doubler)
Voltage Tripler
Response Curve
(Voltage Tripler)
Voltage Quadrupler
 Response Curve
(Voltage Quadrupler)