LAB # 02

To Study and analyze the reverse recovery characteristics of

Diode.
Objective:
1- Measurement of peak reverse current.
2- Measurement of reverse recovery time.
3- Measurement of reverse recovery charge.
4- Measurement of softness factor.
Theory:
Reverse recover characteristics: The current in a forward-biased junction diode is made up of
Majority carriers and Minority carriers. Once there is a forward current, there will be free minority carriers.
A forward conducting diode whose forward current has been reduced to zero, will continue to conduct for
some small time after due to minority carriers stored in the pn-junction and carriers stored in the bulk
semiconductor material.
The forward current in a diode goes to zero if the diode goes from foward biased to reverse biased, or in
other words V goes from +ve to -ve. According to the characteristics of a diode, ignoring the leakage
current, when reverse biased there should be no reverse current once the reverse voltage does not exceed
in magnitude to the breakdown voltage. However, in practice, the diode does exhibit a reverse
characteristic for a short space of time due to the free carriers. These minority carriers require some finite
time, the reverse recovery time, to recombine with opposite charges in order to be neutralized. This time is
called the reverse recovery time.
Two reverse recovery characteristics exist:
1- Soft recovery
2- Abrupt recovery
Circuit Diagram:

Procedure:
1- Open Orcad Capture From start menu and make new project from File menu.

2- Then create blank project .

3- Then from right most side choose place part and then add all the required component in the schematic window.
Now choose place wire from right most side and connect the components.



4- Now from PSpice menu choose New simulation Profile name and then OK.

5- Now Run PSpice then Schematic window will become.

6- Set the step size ,start and stop time.

7- The output waveform will be:

8- Zoom the Reverse recovery area of diode. The wave form will be:

9- Now find t1,t2(at max reverse recovery current),t3(time at 25% of max reverse recovery current), Irr(using
cursor min)
10- Then use respective formulas to get the objective of lab.
Graphs:
When R=365k



When R=14.6k



Formula Used:
Trr= ta +tb
Irr= max reverse recovery current
t1= time when reverse recovery current is approx zero
t2= time when max reverse recovery current
t3=time at 25% of max reverse recovery current
ta= t2 - t1
tb=t3 - t2
Qrr= (Irr) (Trr)
Observations & Calculations:

Sr.No R Irr t1 t2 t3 Trr ta tb Sf Qrr
01 73k -638.550nA 9.986ms 9.995ms 10.194ms 0.208ms 0.009ms 0.199ms 22.11 0.0664092nC
02 73kx5=365k -389.202nA 9.990ms 10.014ms 10.709ms 0.71ms 0.144ms 0.695ms 4.826 0.13816671nC
03 73/5=14.6k 9.981ms 9.987ms 16.014ms 6.033ms 0.006ms 6.02ms 1003.3