356 SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
Forv→−∞,i=0 sinceD 1 will be off andD 2 on. WithD 1 at its breakpoint, the circuit
is drawn in Figure E7.2.7(b). It follows thati=0 andv 1 =v+12; but one does not know the
value ofv 1 and the state ofD 2. If one assumesv 1 >10 V, thenD 2 will be off and there is no
source for the currenti 1 =v 1 /4. Hence one concludes thatD 2 must be on andv 1 =10 V. Then
the correspondingi–vbreakpoint is ati=0 andv=−2V.
v 1 4 Ω
(a)
2 Ω
10 V
−
+
v
12 V
i D 1
Ideal diode
D 2
− Ideal diode
+
−
+
−
+
v 1 = v + 12 4 Ω
(b)
2 Ω
10 V
−
+
v
12 V
i D 1
0A
0 V
i 1 D 2
− −
+
−
+ +
0A
−0 V+
−
+
4 Ω v 1
(c)
i, A
v, V
D 1 breakpoint
D 2 breakpoint
i =+ 2
1
6
v
6
D 1 off, D 2 on
D 1 on,
D 2 off
i = 0
2.5
2.0
03
(d)
− 2
2 Ω
10 V
−
+
v
12 V
4
i D 1 v 1
−
+
−
+
−
+
Figure E7.2.7