Semiconductor Electronics-2
Rectifier is a device which converts alternating current/voltage into direct
current/voltage.
P-N diode as a half wave rectifier
principle that the resistance of p-n junction becomes low when it is forward
biased and becomes high when reverse biased
Working: During positive half cycle of input a.c. voltage, the diode D is forward
biased, it conducts, current flows through the external resistance RL and the output
across RL vary in accordance with a.c. input.
During the negative half cycle, diode D is reverse biased, no current flows due to
which there is no output across RL. Since the output is pulsating and discontinuous,
it is overcome by using a full wave rectifier.
Full wave Rectifier
Principle: same as above
Working: During positive half cycle of input a.c. voltage, upper end A of the coil is at
positive potential with respect to centre tap and lower end B is at a negative
potential. Diode D1 is forward biased and diode D2 is reverse biased. D1 conducts and
D2 does not and current flows through RL.
During negative half cycle, end B is at high potential with respect to A. D2 conducts,
D1 does not and current flows through RL in the same direction.
[Pulsating dc output is removed by using a capacitor filter circuit]
Light Emitting Diode (LED)
• Operates under forward bias
• Heavily doped p-n junction
• When forward bias voltage increases, due to each recombination of holes and
electrons, a photon is released at the junction emitting light.
• The wavelength of light are depends on the band gap energy.
• Intensity of light emitted is directly proportional to forward current.
• Range of band gap for visible light is from 3eV-1.8eV.
