Exercise 2.1.3 Z-diode as voltage reference

The following circuit depicts a simple voltage reference circuit. There, a Z-diode provides a constant output voltage $U_\rm L$ on the load - despite a fluctuating input voltage $U_\rm S$ from the source.

The following quantities shall to be used:

  • Source voltage $U_{\rm S}=7.0 ... 13.0~\rm V$ (e.g. via sinusoidal input voltage with $f = 50 ~\rm Hz$),
  • series resistor $R_{\rm V}=1.0~\rm k\Omega $
  • load resistor $R_{\rm L}= 10~\rm k\Omega $
  • Z-diode $D_\rm Z$ as $\rm BZX84C6V2$ ($U_\rm Z = 6.2 ~\rm V$)

circuit_design:diagram1.svg

An ideal Z-diode would be assumed to hold the breakdown voltage $U_\rm Z$ at all reverse currents $I_\rm S$.
This is to be checked for the real diode.

  1. Model the circuit in Tina TI and insert a picture of the circuit.
  2. Compare the progression of $U_\rm L$ to $U_\rm S$. In particular, measure the maximum and minimum values of $U_\rm L$.
  3. Change the load resistance to $R_\rm L=1.0~\rm k\Omega $ and perform the same comparison of $U_\rm L$ to $U_\rm S$ again.
  4. How can the difference be explained?