Diode modelling
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In electronics, diode modelling refers to the mathematical models used to approximate the actual behaviour of real diodes to enable calculations and circuit analysis. A diode's I-V curve is nonlinear[disambiguation needed].
This article needs additional citations for verification. (October 2014) |
A very accurate, but complicated, physical model composes the I-V curve from three exponentials with a slightly different steepness (i.e. ideality factor), which correspond to different recombination mechanisms in the device;[1] at very large and very tiny currents the curve can be continued by linear segments (i.e. resistive behaviour).
In a relatively good approximation a diode is modelled by the single-exponential Shockley diode law. This nonlinearity still complicates calculations in circuits involving diodes so even simpler models are often used.
This article discusses the modelling of p-n junction diodes, but the techniques may be generalized to other solid state diodes.