Large AC testing of PN junction diodes

Circuit project demands high quality device parameters data. The measurements of these parameters often require precise measurements instrumentation as well as the use of advanced data analysis. One of the simplest and most common devices - the junction diode - remarkable has no published large signal AC data experimental analysis able to retrieve its physical parameters. In this work we present a sequence of measurements performed on typical diode, the 1N4007, subjected to a large AC signal and compare its response to a theoretical model for the time-dependent diode voltage equation. In addition, a Fourier analysis of the measured data was also performed. As a result, we were able to get dc parameters and its effective capacitance.