DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION

ANDHRA PRADESH

Names of the faculty : V. Bangaramma

Designation : Lecturer
Branch : ECE
Institute : Government polytechnic for women,
Nellore
Year/Semester : IIISem
Subject : Electronic circuits I
Sub-code : EC-302
Topic : power supplies
Sub-topic : review of semiconductor diode and

transistor
Duration : 100min
Teaching aids : PPTEC302.1
, diagrams,
to 2
photos 1
Objectives

Upon the completion of this period you will be able to

• Study and understand the fundamentals and working of

a semiconductor diode and transistor

EC302.1 to 2 2
 What is a diode?

• A diode is an electronic device which allows

unidirectional flow of current.

• The term “diode” is customarily reserved for small signal

devices, i ≤ 1 A. The term rectifier is used for power

devices, i > 1 A.

EC302.1 to 2 3
Diode representations: PN-junction model, schematic symbol,
physical part.
EC302.1 to 2 4
 Operation of diode

Diode operation: (a) Current flow is permitted; the diode is

forward biased.
(b) Current flow is prohibited; the diode is

reversed biased.
EC302.1 to 2 5
 Operation of diode (contd)
• When the polarity of the battery is such that electrons
are allowed to flow through the diode, the diode is said to
be forward-biased. During this stage the diode offers low
resistance.

• Conversely, when the battery is “backward” and the

diode blocks current, the diode is said to be reverse-
biased, during this stage the diode offers high
resistance.

• A diode may be thought of as like a switch: “closed”

when forward-biased and “open” when reverse-biased.
EC302.1 to 2 6
 Operation of diode (contd)

DURING FORWARD BIAS.

• More charge carriers move from p- regions to N-

regions and vice –versa, hence the width of the
depletion layer decreases

• More conduction will be carried out.

EC302.1 to 2 7
Operation of diode (contd)

DURING REVERSE BIAS.

• Charge carriers tends to move towards the terminals of

the battery , hence the width of the depletion layer

increases.

• Hence little or zero conduction will be carried out.

EC302.1 to 2 8
Diode curve: showing knee at 0.7 V forward bias for Si, and
reverse breakdown.

EC302.1 to 2 9
Applications of diodes.

A diode can be used as

• Rectifier.

• Switch.

EC302.1 to 2 10
• What is a transistor?

When a third doped element is added to a

crystal diode in such a way that two PN
junctions are formed , the resulting device
is known as a transistor.

EC302.1 to 2 11
• Transistor is also

• A device which can transfer a signal from a low

resistance circuit to high resistance circuit.

EC302.1 to 2 12
Transistors

EC302.1 to 2 13
• A transistor consists of two PN junctions formed by

sandwiching either p-type or n-type semiconductor

between a pair of opposite types.

• There are two types

1. n-p-n transistor

2. p-n-p transistor

EC302.1 to 2 14
 Layer diagram of NPN Layer diagram of PNP transistor
transistor

The circuit symbol of an NPN The circuit symbol of an PNP

Bipolar Junction transistor Bipolar Junction Transistor
EC302.1 to 2 15
Transistor as amplifier

EC302.1 to 2 16
 Types of Transistor connections

• Common base connection

• Common emitter connection

• Common collector connection

EC302.1 to 2 17
Comparision of transistor connections

Common Common Common

Characteristic
Base Emitter Collector
Input Impedance Low Medium High
Output
Very High High Low
Impedance
Phase Angle 0o 180o 0o
Voltage Gain High HiGH Low
Current Gain Low Medium High

Power Gain Low Medium Very High

EC302.1 to 2 18
Summary

We have discussed about

• Diode formation, charecteristics and applications.

• Construction of Transistor, different types and different

connections .

EC302.1 to 2 19
 Frequently asked
questions

1. Explain the principle of operation of a diode .

4. Sketch v-i characteristics of a diode

7. Compare different connections (configurations) of a

transistor.

EC302.1 to 2 20
QUIZ

EC302.1 to 2 21
 1) A diode is said to be forward biased if

(c) Current flow is permitted

(e) If current flow is prohibited

(g) If there is no current

(i) All the above

EC302.1 to 2 22
 2) Two types of transistors are

(c) PPN and NNP

(e) NPN and PNP

(g) NNN and PPP

(i) PNN and NPP

EC302.1 to 2 23