PN Junction and Diode Operation

The process of adding impurities to a semiconductor to lower its resistivity. This is done by introducing atoms with either 3 or 5 valence electrons.

A type of semiconductor where the majority charge carriers are holes, and minority charge carriers are electrons. These semiconductors are created by doping with elements like boron or aluminum.

A type of semiconductor where the majority charge carriers are electrons, and minority charge carriers are holes. These semiconductors are created by doping with elements like phosphorus, arsenic or antimony.

A semiconductor device consisting of a P-type and an N-type semiconductor joined together. It allows current to flow in only one direction.

The condition in which the positive terminal of the diode is connected to the more positive terminal of the power source. This allows current to flow through the diode.

The condition in which the positive terminal of the diode is connected to the more negative terminal of the power source. This prevents current from flowing through the diode.

A complete model of a diode includes a resistor, a voltage source, and a forward resistor. This allows for accurate calculation of diode behavior in different conditions.

The voltage drop across a silicon diode in forward bias is typically 0.7 volts.

The voltage drop across a germanium diode in forward bias is typically 0.3 volts.

A graphical representation of how the current through a diode changes with the voltage applied across it. It shows the forward and reverse bias regions of the diode.

The maximum voltage that appears across the diode during the reverse cycle in a rectifier circuit. It's crucial to ensure diodes don't get damaged.

The positive or negative half-cycle of an alternating current (AC) waveform.

A type of rectifier circuit that utilizes two diodes and a center-tapped transformer to convert AC to DC. It produces a pulsating DC output.

When a diode is connected in a circuit, it acts as if it's 'closed' and doesn't allow current to flow through it. This happens when the voltage across the diode opposes the flow of current.

When a diode is connected in a circuit, it acts like it's 'open' and allows current to flow through it. This happens when the voltage across the diode promotes the flow of current.

The output frequency of a full-wave rectifier is double the input frequency. Double the frequency means twice the number of pulses per second in the output.

The process of converting AC, which alternates directions, into DC, which flows in one direction only. It's a fundamental process in many electronic circuits.

A type of rectifier circuit that utilizes four diodes arranged in a bridge configuration to convert AC to DC. It produces a pulsating DC output with a higher efficiency compared to the half-wave rectifier.

The average value of a pulsating DC signal over a complete cycle. It's crucial for determining the overall DC voltage level produced by a rectifier circuit.

A measure of the fluctuation or ripple in a pulsating DC signal. It represents the difference between the maximum and minimum voltage values.

Represents a diode as a perfect switch, conducting fully in the forward direction and blocking completely in the reverse direction. This model simplifies analysis and offers a basic understanding of diode behavior.

A diode is modeled as a resistor and a voltage source in series. The voltage source accounts for the forward voltage drop, while the resistor represents the internal resistance. This model offers a more realistic representation of a diode's behavior, particularly when working with practical circuits.

The voltage drop across a conducting diode. It's typically around 0.7 volts for silicon diodes and -0.3 volts for germanium diodes. This voltage drop must be considered in circuit calculations.

When a diode conducts current, it is in the "-ve" state. It acts almost like a short circuit. It is important to note that this model is "ideal", meaning it doesn't account for the diode's internal resistance.

When a diode is blocking current, it is in the "+ve" state. It acts like an open circuit. In this state, the current flow is almost 0.

A type of rectifier circuit that uses a single diode to conduct only during the positive half-cycle of the input AC signal. This results in a pulsating DC output with only the positive half-cycles.

A type of rectifier circuit that uses two diodes in a configuration that conducts during both positive and negative cycles of the input AC signal, producing a smoother DC output.

Used in rectifier circuits to reduce voltage ripple and provide a smoother DC output. The capacitor charges during the peak of the input voltage and discharges slowly during the low voltage, resulting in a less fluctuating output.

Used in full-wave rectifiers to provide two outputs with opposite polarities. The two halves of the secondary winding each produce a waveform that is 180 degrees out of phase, allowing for rectification of both positive and negative half-cycles.