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Diode

Purpose

Ideal diode with optional forward voltage and on-resistance

Library

Electrical / Power Semiconductors

Description

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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 Vf    in volts (V) between anode and cathode when the diode is conducting. The default is 0.
On-resistance
The resistance Ron   of the conducting device, in ohms (_O_  ). 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 von = Vf + Ron ⋅i  .
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.