The George Washington University
School of Engineering and Applied
Science
Department of Electrical and Computer
Engineering
ECE 20 - LAB
Experiment # 1
Solid State Diodes
Testing & Characteristics
Equipment:
You must make up a complete equipment
list and have your instructor review it before you start.
Components:
-
D1 - 1N34 Germanium Diode
-
D2 - 1N4002 Series Silicon Diode
-
DS1 - MV5753 Gallium Arsenide Phosphide
(GaAsP) Red LED
-
VR1 - 1N751 Zener Diode
-
R1 - 1 Ohm
-
R2 - 1 MOhm
-
C1 - to be determined (large)
Objectives:
-
To use an ohm meter to determine the
forward and reverse resistance of different types of diodes
-
To use the Diode Test function of the
Keithley Model 175
-
To obtain one diode i-v characteristic
curve by using the information obtained from a test circuit
-
To obtain the i-v forward bias characteristic
curves for several types of diodes by using a the Tektronix Model 571
-
To obtain the i-v reverse bias characteristic
curve for a Zener diode
-
To determine the value of the small
signal resistance of one diode for different operating points and using
three different techniques: graphically, analytically and by the application
of a small signal.
-
To appreciate the limitations of the
small signal analysis technique
-
To interpret the results of static
and dynamic diode tests
1.- Data & Static Diode Tests
-
(HW) Draw and name the electrical
symbols for D1, D2, VR1 and DS1. Prepare Table # 1 to show technical information
for the different diodes.
-
Set the ohm meter to the appropriate
range, measure and record the forward direction resistance (Rf) of D1,
D2, VR1 and DS1. Then set the ohm meter to its highest scale, measure and
record the reverse direction resistance (Rr) of D1, D2, VR1 and DS1. Calculate
the back to front ratio (Rr/Rf) for D1, D2, VR1 and DS1. Place this information
in Data Table #2.
-
Set the Keithley Model 175 to perform
the diode test function. Measure and record the forward and reverse bias
voltage readings for D1, D2, VR1 and DS1. Place this information also in
Data Table #2.
2.- Reverse Saturation Current
Fig # 1
Construct the circuit depicted in
Fig # 1 using the following specifications:
VS = -10 Vdc
R = R2
D = D2
The Anode of D2 should be connected
to R.
-
Find the reverse saturation current
IS of the diode. The DMM must be connected in such a manner that
its loading effect is reduced to a minimum.
-
(HW) What is the value
of IS that SPICE uses to model this diode?
3 .- Forward i-v Characteristic
Fig # 2
-
(HW) With the help of SPICE,
plot the i-v characteristic for the D1N4002. The suggested current
range is 0 to 20 mA DC. The suggested voltage range is 0
to 1 Volts DC (Plot # 1).
-
Assemble the circuit shown in Fig #
2. Take enough current voltage measurements to plot an i-v characteristic
curve for D2 (Plot # 2). You will have to vary Is in order to do
this. The suggested current range is 0 to 20 mA DC in 2 mA steps.Mark
the point on the i-v curve that indicates the voltage drop across D2 when
the forward current is equal to 10 mA DC.
-
In the forward region the i-v relationship
is closely approximated by:
i = IS(exp(v/nVT)-1)
(1)
Determine the values of n and IS
for this equation to predict the same voltage values as those measured
in part b) for i =6 mA and i =14 mA.
-
With the help of QUATRO, plot the values
obtained in part a), and those predicted by equation 1.
-
Compare the value of IS obtained in
part 3 c) with the value obtained in part 2.
4.- Diode Parameters on the Curve
Tracer
-
Use the Tektronix Model 571 Curve Tracer
to obtain the i-v forward bias characteristic curves for D1, D2, VR1 and
DS1. Annotate the 10mA point on each curve (cut-in or cut-off point), and
the point for which the voltage is equal to the value measured using the
Keithley 175 diode test function.
-
Use the Tektronix Model 571 Curve Tracer
to obtain the i-v reversed bias characteristic curves for D1, D2, VR1 and
DS1. On the curve for VR1 find VZ when IZ is equal to 20 mA. Choose the
appropriate range voltage and current range.
-
Compare the results generated by your
test circuit to the results generated by the curve tracer for D2 and explain
all differences!
-
Explain the methodology Keithley uses
to perform the diode test. What are the nominal conditions for this test?
5.- Small Signal Analysis (extra
credit)
-
Compute rd analytically for
ID=6 mA, and for ID=14 mA using rd=dvD/diD=(nVT)/ID. You have already
estimated the value of nVT previously.
-
Compute the small signal resistance
for D2 graphically for for ID=14 mA, and for ID=6 mA using rd=DvD/DiD
and Plot # 2.
Fig # 3
Build the circuit shown in Fig #
3. R=R1 (1 W) and C=C1 (as large as possible)
-
Set ID=14 mA, vs=15 mVRMS, (100kHz
sinusoidal signal), and measure va (or vs) and vb
(or vd). Compute the small signal resistance of the diode for this
operating point: rd = vd / id.
-
Compare the values of rd obtained
by the three different techniques.