MOS Flashcards
What carriers live in the p-type semiconductor which contains many holes??
Majority carriers and is of a net positive charge.
The n type semiconductor has?
Excess electrons (negative charge)
What happens at the point of contact when a p and n type material come together?
The holes in the P type material attract electron in the N type material. this point of contact is known as the PN junction
At the point of contact with a P and n material the p region contains?
A few thermally generated free electrons (minority carriers)
What forms the depletion region?
The formation of positive and negative charger on each side at the junction
The electric field in the depletion region acts as a barrier for the free electrons in the n region, how are they moved across the barrier?
An external energy must be applied to get the electrons to move across the barrier, .7V for silicon
What happens to the barrier potential with an increase in temperature?
Conductance is increased, causing the barrier potential (voltage required to decrease)
Why are resistors used in a diode circuit?
Limits the current to a value that will not damage the PN structure of the diode.
In forward bias when does a diode turn on in relation to the graphing curve?
At the knee (0.7V) where the voltage practically stops but the current sky rockets.
Explain resistance within a diode.
Diode resistance in forward bias is very minimal, in reverse bias it is very high.
Explain dynamic resistance of a diode.
The resistance is greatest below the knee of the curve because the current increases very little until it reaches 0.7. as it reaches 0.7 the sharp increase of current causes the resistance to reduce practically to none.
What happens to the depletion regions when a diode is placed in reverse bias and voltage applied?
With voltage applied the electric field is higher which widens the depletion region which in turn DECREASES the probability that current carriers can make the jump across it.
Describe the relationship between voltage and current in reverse BIAS
With Voltage applied there is a very very small amount of current passing (leakage current) With 0 Volts applied there is absolutely no current. As voltage is gradually increased there is a constant very small current passing, until voltage hits breakdown which causes failure and the current spikes. (Downwards on the graph)
Why are diodes used in series?
They are used to increase the reverse blocking capabilities in many high voltage applications
What is a problem with diodes in series?
The reverse current leakage ratings are always different during process, the diode with the highest resistance will also have a higher voltage across it causing it to fail which in turn fails the other diode.
How is the problem over series diodes overcome?
By adding in a high value resistor in parallel with each diode., (parallel sharing resistors) This will bring the reverse voltage that is applied across the diodes =
Why are diodes used in parallel?
Increases forward current rating. (diodes with equal current sharing should be achieved other wise the use of resistors will be needed)
What is a problem in relation to diodes in parallel?
If the diodes have varying current capacities, the diode with the lowest forward voltage drop will try to carry a large current, which may damage it.
When connecting diodes in parallel, if the diodes exact characteristics are not known what should be done?
Sharing resistors can be used ( Resistors in series with diodes but parallel to each other)
What is a rectifier diode and what is it used for?
Rectifier diodes are simply diodes redesigned to serve the purpose of rectifying AC current, The circuit symbol for diodes and rectifier diodes are the same.
What are the primary uses of a rectifier diode?
Half wave and full wave rectifiers, and a DC Blocker. They are also used to convert AC to DC voltage.
How does a half wave rectifier work?
By converting the positive portion of a sine wave to DC through 1 diode, when the AC sine wave turns to the negative direction this reverse biases the diode blocking the AC.
How does a full wave rectifier work?
By using 2 or more diodes arranged so that load/output current flows in the same direction during each half cycle of the AC input signal.
How does a bridge rectifier work?
By using a 4 diodes arranged in a diamond shape allowing current to flow through the load during both half cycles of the applied voltage, this bridge rectifier is a full wave rectifier.
What is an advantage of the bridge rectifier?
Produces a voltage output that is nearly twice that of the conventional full wave circuit
Where are SCR thyristors mainly used?
Motor speed controls, light dimmers, pressure control systems.
How an a diode be forced into breakdown?
By applyging a reverse bias across the diode.
Describe a nonlinear circuit
It is a discrete (digital) circuit, meaning it doesnt deal with analogue type data. 1 & 0’s
Describe a logic circuit.
Perform logic on a given discrete input using logic gates (AND, OR, NOT)
What is a logic integrated circuit?
A singular electronic device which contains entire logic circuits within. Large IC’s can house thousands to billions of transistors within and can perform very complex logic.
Describe a Linear Circuit and their uses.
An analogue type of circuit which contains an entire linear circuit within , OP Amps, Voltage regulators, communication circuits, interface circuits.
The ideal OP AMP has what characteristics?
- Infinite Voltage gain (20,000 to 200,000)
2.An infinite input impedance. (2Mohm)
3.A zero output impedance (75 ohm)