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schematic

simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab

Hi,

Question: In the following, a string of three diodes is used to provide a constant voltage of about 2.1 V. We want to calculate the percentage change in this regulated voltage caused by (a) a ± 10% change in the power-supply voltage and (b) connection of a 1-kΩ load resistance. Assume n = 2.

To be solved using small signal model: I solved the first part, the input voltage is an ac wave with amplitude 1V on a dc-offset of 10V. The output ac-voltage (peak to peak) across the string of the three diodes is 37.1 mV. The incremental resistance, rd = 6.3Ω (of each diode).

The current through the circuit, I = 7.9 mA.

The method to model diode circuits that I am following is: 1. Perform dc analysis, (not considering the ac components) 2. Eliminate all dc sources, using small signal approximation; replace the diodes with their incremental resistance.

Now in the second part, after connecting the load resistance, RL. 2.1 mA current flows into the load, therefore the current through the diodes is (7.9 - 2.1) mA i.e. 5.8 mA.

So the incremental resistance should also change, as rd = nVt/Id --- (1)

The solution given is -39.7 mV. How should I proceed in the second part? --- (2)

(1) and (2) are the questions.

Note: The question is from Microelectronics Circuits, by Sedra and Smith.

EDIT: Solution: Due to a load resistance of 1kΩ the current flowing through the diode would decrease by 2.1 mA. Thus the decrease in voltage of the diodes is, -2.1*rd = -2.1*18.9 = -39.7 V.

I don't understand why rd is not changing despite a change in the diode current.

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  • \$\begingroup\$ Your methodology is correct up to (1). Are you sure the solution is -39.7 mV for the case with Rl=1k? Is the Q what is the new PSRR with a 1k load or how does the output change when loaded with a 1K RL? \$\endgroup\$
    – sstobbe
    Jan 20, 2018 at 17:02
  • \$\begingroup\$ Is the goal to solve it analytically or using a simulator? \$\endgroup\$
    – Sven B
    Jan 20, 2018 at 18:14
  • \$\begingroup\$ @SvenB Analytically. It is a practice problem. \$\endgroup\$ Jan 20, 2018 at 18:36
  • \$\begingroup\$ @sstobbe I am sorry I did not get you. Is the 'Q'? (What Q?). The solution in a manual I found is now mentioned in the edit. \$\endgroup\$ Jan 20, 2018 at 18:39
  • \$\begingroup\$ @sstobbe No information regarding the PSRR is mentioned. I wrote the question just as it was mentioned. \$\endgroup\$ Jan 20, 2018 at 18:45

1 Answer 1

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The essence of an AC analysis is to take the DC solution as the new "origin" and linearize all nonlinear components in that origin. These linearized components will not change values anymore for our AC analysis, although they will in practice. The error you make is small, as long as the perturbation is not too big.

In your case, \$i_D=\frac{10V-2.1V}{1k\Omega}=7.9mA \Rightarrow r_d=\frac{n U_t}{i_D}\approx6.5\Omega\$.

The principle is now that we don't change the resistance anymore in order to estimate the output variation when the power supply changes. If the power supply changes:

\$v_{out}=v_{in}\frac{3\cdot r_d}{3r_d + 1k\Omega}\approx 19mV\Rightarrow v_{OUT}\approx V_{OUT}+v_{out}=2.119V\$

Note that \$v_{out}\$ is the AC signal, \$V_{OUT}\$ is the DC solution, and \$v_{OUT}\$ is the total large signal.

You already have to solution for adding a resistor. We don't change the resistance to make computations easy. Although we realize there will be an error, we assume it to be small as long as the perturbation is also small.

(edited) If a resistor of \$1k\Omega\$ is added to the output, and we assume the output doesn't change much, then approximately \$2.1mA\$ is sank to the ground. We can model this in our AC equivalent circuit as follows:

schematic

simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab

The equivalent resistance to ground is approximately \$1k\Omega\ //\ 3\cdot r_d\approx 3\cdot r_d\$. And so the voltage drop is given by:

\$v_{out}\approx3\cdot 6.3\Omega\cdot 2.1mA\Rightarrow v_{OUT}\approx 2.1V-39.7mV\approx 2.06V\$

As you can see, the voltage change is very small, so our error is probably not too big and we can safely use our AC analysis as an (approximate) solution.

You could argue: why are we doing this if it is all approximations? Well there's a good reason for that! As an electronics engineer you're usually not concerned with the exact solution. You're usually more concerned with:

  • Identifying the most important/sensitive components
  • How to change component values in order to reach specifications
  • Discussing design trade-offs
  • Discussing stability (amplifiers with feedback)
  • Sensitivity w.r.t. component values
  • Fast approximations
  • etc.
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  • \$\begingroup\$ So we shouldn't assume the incremental resistance to change? But you said that not considering it would lead to an error. Then why shouldn't by considering that our answer get more accurate? \$\endgroup\$ Jan 20, 2018 at 19:56
  • \$\begingroup\$ If you assume it changes, then your problem becomes nonlinear, and you might just as well solve the DC equations then... The issue is that it's hard to solve nonlinear equations. \$\endgroup\$
    – Sven B
    Jan 20, 2018 at 19:59
  • \$\begingroup\$ OK. I understand. But I still don't understand the solution provided in the solution manual (the one I wrote in the edit). Is it incorrect? \$\endgroup\$ Jan 20, 2018 at 20:42
  • \$\begingroup\$ Another question that I have is: You said that even though the components change value we don't consider them to ensure simplicity. In the question the part 1 corresponds to a circuit in absence of RL and I get rd = 6.3 ohms. Now in part 2 I should continue with rd = 6.3 omhs? \$\endgroup\$ Jan 20, 2018 at 21:48
  • \$\begingroup\$ Also if I should continue with rd = 6.3 ohms, then if the question never mentioned part 1 i.e. RL would always be connected then wouldn't that lead to a different rd? (As now our initial circuit changed). And we would get a different answer to the part 2. Despite the fact that we simply omitted a question and didn't change the circuit. \$\endgroup\$ Jan 20, 2018 at 21:51

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