Small Signal Model of the diode

 In certain applications a diode is biased to operate at a point on the forward i-v curve.
 A small AC signal is superimposed on the DC quantities.
1. Determine DC operating point (VD and ID), using one of the models discussed,
2. For small signal operation around the dc bias point:
The diode is modeled by a resistance equal to the inverse of the slope of the tangent
to the i-v curve at the bias point.
Consider the circuit shown:
𝜐𝐷 𝑡 = 𝑉𝐷 + 𝜐𝑑 𝑡 is the total voltage applied:
𝑉𝐷 ≡ the dc value
𝜐𝑑 𝑡 ≡ the small signal value

𝑖𝐷 𝑡 = 𝐼𝐷 + 𝑖𝑑 𝑡 is the total current:

𝐼𝐷 ≡ the dc value
𝑖𝑑 𝑡 ≡ the small signal value

1. DC analysis: iD

Turn off the small signal: ⇒ 𝜐𝐷 𝑡 = 𝑉𝐷 Bias Point

Q

The current through the diode will be only dc: ID

𝑉𝐷 vD
𝑖𝐷 𝑡 = 𝐼𝐷 = 𝐼𝑆 exp( ) 0.8
𝑛𝑉𝑇 0.5
V
0.6
V
VD 0.7
V V
When the signal 𝜐𝑑 𝑡 is applied:
 Total voltage across the diode: 𝜐𝐷 𝑡 = 𝑉𝐷 + 𝜐𝑑 𝑡
𝜐𝐷 𝑡
 Total instantaneous current: 𝑖𝐷 𝑡 = 𝐼𝑆 exp( )
𝑛 𝑉𝑇
𝑉𝐷 +𝜐 𝑑 𝑡 𝑉𝐷 𝜐𝑑 𝑡
𝑖𝐷 𝑡 = 𝐼𝑆 exp = 𝐼𝑆 exp × exp →
𝑛𝑉𝑇 𝑛𝑉𝑇 𝑛𝑉𝑇
𝜐𝑑 𝑡
𝑖𝐷 𝑡 = 𝐼𝐷 exp : (1)
𝑛𝑉𝑇

𝜐𝑑 𝜐𝑑 𝑡 𝜐𝑑 𝑡
 When 𝜐𝑑 ≪ 𝑛𝑉𝑇 ; ≪ 1 ⇒ exp ≅1+
𝑛 𝑉𝑇 𝑛𝑉𝑇 𝑛𝑉𝑇

𝜐𝑑 𝑡 𝜐𝑑 𝑡
𝑖𝐷 𝑡 = 𝐼𝐷 exp ≅ 𝐼𝐷 (1 + ): (2)
𝑛𝑉𝑇 𝑛𝑉𝑇

This represents the small signal approximation: where the

exponential dependence is approximated by a linear relation

𝐼𝐷
𝑖𝐷 𝑡 ≅ 𝐼𝐷 + 𝜐𝑑 𝑡 = 𝐼𝐷 + 𝑖𝑑 (𝑡):
𝑛 𝑉𝑇
Thus we have a small signal current 𝑖𝑑 (𝑡) superimposed on the
dc current 𝐼𝐷
𝐼𝐷
𝑖𝑑 𝑡 ≅ 𝜐𝑑 𝑡
𝑛𝑉𝑇
𝐼𝐷
The quantity relating 𝑖𝑑 to 𝑣𝑑 has the dimension of
𝑛 𝑉𝑇
conductance; it is: the diode small signal conductance

𝑛𝑉𝑇
Its inverse: 𝑟𝑑 = is the diode small signal resistance 𝑟𝑑
𝐼𝐷
or incremental resistance 𝑟𝑑
or the dynamic resistance 𝑟𝑑
Graphical Interpretation of the small signal approximation
1
𝑟𝑑 = 𝜕 𝑖𝐷
𝜕 𝑣 𝐷 𝑖 =𝐼
𝐷 𝐷

This small signal resistance represents the inverse of the slope of

the 𝑖𝐷 − 𝑣𝑠 − 𝑣𝐷 curve at the operating point Q.
Equivalent circuit model for the diode for
small changes around bias point Q.

The incremental resistance rd is the inverse

of the slope of the tangent at Q, and VD0 is
the intercept of the tangent on the vD axis:
𝜐𝐷 𝑡 = 𝑉𝐷 + 𝜐𝑑 𝑡 = 𝑉𝐷0 + 𝑟𝑑 ∙ 𝑖𝐷 𝑡
𝑉𝐷 + 𝜐𝑑 𝑡 = 𝑉𝐷0 + 𝑟𝑑 ∙ 𝐼𝐷 + 𝑖𝑑 𝑡 Large Signal
Equivalent Circuit
𝑉𝐷 + 𝜐𝑑 𝑡 = 𝑉𝐷0 + 𝑟𝑑 ∙ 𝐼𝐷 + 𝑟𝑑 ∙ 𝑖𝑑 𝑡

DC: 𝑉𝐷 = 𝑉𝐷0 + 𝑟𝑑 ∙ 𝐼𝐷
AC: 𝜐𝑑 𝑡 = 𝑟𝑑 ∙ 𝑖𝑑 𝑡

The Small Signal Equivalent Circuit: is as

shown
Small Signal
Equivalent Circuit
 Replace Diode by its large
signal equivalent circuit

dc Analysis Small signal analysis

High frequency small signal equivalent circuit

We add the capacitance to consider the delay between the signal

voltage applied and the signal current