Diode
Purpose
Ideal diode with optional forward voltage and on-resistance
Library
Electrical / Power Semiconductors
Description
The Diode is a semiconductor device controlled only by the voltage across it and the current through the device. The Diode model is basically an ideal switch that closes when the voltage between anode and cathode becomes positive and opens when the current through the component becomes negative. In addition to the ideal switch, a forward voltage and an on-resistance may be specified. These parameters may either be scalars or vectors corresponding to the implicit width of the component. If unsure set both values to 0.
Parameters
The following parameters may either be scalars or vectors corresponding to the implicit width of the component:
- Forward voltage
- Additional dc voltage
in volts (V) between anode and cathode when the diode is conducting. The default is 0.
- On-resistance
- The resistance
of the conducting device, in ohms (
). The default is 0.
- Thermal description
- Switching losses, conduction losses and thermal equivalent
circuit of the component. For more information see chapter Thermal Modeling.
If no thermal description is given the losses are calculated based on the voltage
drop
.
- Initial temperature
- Temperature of all thermal capacitors in the equivalent Cauer network at simulation start.
Note Under blocking conditions the diode voltage is negative. Hence you should define the turn-on and turn-off loss tables for negative voltages. See chapter Diode Losses for more information.
Probe Signals
- Diode voltage
- The voltage measured between anode and cathode.
- Diode current
- The current through the diode flowing from anode to cathode.
- Diode conductivity
- Conduction state of the internal switch. The signal outputs 0 when the diode is blocking, and 1 when it is conducting.
- Diode junction temperature
- Temperature of the first thermal capacitor in the equivalent Cauer network.
- Diode conduction loss
- Continuous thermal conduction losses in watts (W). Only defined if the component is placed on a heat sink.
- Diode switching loss
- Instantaneous thermal switching losses in joules (J). Only defined if the component is placed on a heat sink.