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Special-Purpose Diodes
Chapter Objectives:√
Describe the characteristics of a zener diode and
analyze its operation
Explain how a zener is used in voltage regulation and
limiting
Describe the varactor diode and it’s variable
capacitance characteristics
Discuss the operation and characteristics of LEDs
and photodiodes
Discuss the basic characteristics of the current
regulator diode, the pin diode, the step-recovery
diode, the tunnel diode, and the laserdiode.
3-1 Zener Diodes
(Introduction) √
The basic function of zener diode is to maintain a specific voltage across
it’s terminals within given limits of line or load change. Typically it is used for
providing a stable reference voltage for use in power supplies and other
equipment
The zener diode – silicon pn-junction device-designed for operate in the
reverse-biased region
Schematic diagram shown that this particular zener Zener diode symbol
circuit will work to maintain 10 V across the load
3-1 Zener Diodes (cont.)
(Introduction) √
Breakdown voltage – set by controlling the doping level during manufacture
When diode reached reverse breakdown – voltage remains constant- current change
drastically
If zener diode is FB – operates the same as a rectifier diode
A zener diode is much like a normal diode – but if it is placed
in the circuit in reverse bias and operates in reverse breakdown.
Note that it’s forward characteristics are just like a normal diode.
1.8V – 200V
3-1 Zener Diodes (cont.)
(Zener Breakdown) √
Two type of reverse breakdown: avalanche breakdown & zener breakdown
i) avalanche breakdown
- occurs in both rectifier & zener diodes at high reverse voltage
- breakdown voltages greater than approximately 5V
Note: both type called zener diode (breakdown voltages of 1.8V – 200 V)
3-1 Zener Diodes (cont.)
(Breakdown Characteristics) √
The reverse voltage (VR) is increased – the reverse current (IR) remains extremely
small up to the “knee”of the curve
Reverse current – called the zener current, IZ
At the bottom of the knee- the zener breakdown voltage (VZ) remains constant
although it increase slightly as the zener current, IZ increase.
IZK – min. current required to maintain voltage regulation
IZM – max. amount of current the diode can handle without being damage/destroyed
IZT – the current level at which the VZ rating of diode is measured (specified on a
data sheet)
The zener diode maintains a constant
voltage for value of reverse current
rating from IZK to IZM
3-1 Zener Diodes (cont.)
(Zener Equivalent Circuit) √
Since the actual voltage is not ideally vertical, the change in zener current I Z
produces a small change in zener voltage V
By ohm’s law:
Z
VZ
ZZ (3-1)
I Z Zener impedance
Normaly -Zz is specified at IZT
3-1 Zener Diodes (cont.)
(Temperature Coefficient & Zener Power Dissipation and Derating) √
As with most devices, zener diodes have given characteristics such as
temperature coefficients and power ratings that have to be considered.
The data sheet provides this information (refer Figure 3-7).
3-2 Zener Diodes Applications
(Introduction) √
Zener diode can be used as
Note: The zener diode maintains a nearly constant voltage across RL as long
as the zener current is greater than IZK and less than IZM
3-2 Zener Diodes Applications (cont.)
(From No Load to Full Load) √
• When the o/p terminal of the zener diode is open (RL=∞)-load current is
zero and all of the current is through the zener
• When a load resistor (R) is connected, current flow through zener & load
• RL , IL , IZ
• The zener diode continues to regulate the voltage until IZ reaches its
min value , IZK
• At this point, the load current is max. , the total current through R remains
essentially constant.
3-2 Zener Diodes Applications (cont.)
(Zener Limiting)
Zener diode also can be used in ac applications to limit voltage swings to desired level
a) To limit the +ve peak of a signal voltage to the selected zener voltage
- During –ve alternation, zener arts as FB diode & limits the –ve voltage to -0.7V
b) Zener diode is turn around
-The –ve peak is by zener action & +ve voltage is limited to +0.7V
c) Two back-to-back zeners limit both peaks to the zener voltage ±7V
-During the +ve alternation, D2 is functioning as the zener limiter – D1 is functioning
as a FB diode.
-During the –ve alternation-the roles are reversed
3-2 Zener Diodes Applications (cont.)
Example 1:
7.7V
6.3V
3-3 Varactor Diodes
(Introduction)
• A varactor diode is best explained as a variable capacitor – the junction
capacitance varies with the amount of reverse-bias voltage.
• Think of the depletion region a variable dielectric.
• The diode is placed in reverse bias- the dielectric is “adjusted” by bias changes.
• Operates in reverse-bias and is doped to maximize the inherent capacitance of
depletion region.
• The depletion region-widened by the reverse bias – acts as a capacitor dielectric
because of its nonconductive characteristic.
• The p & n regions are conductive – acts as the capacitor plates.
The reverse-biased
varactor diode acts
as a variable capacitor
A A = plate area,
C ; dielectric constant, d dielectric thickness
d
• The capacitance parameters are controlled by the method of doping near the
pn junction and the size and geometry of the diode’s construction.
3-3 Varactor Diodes (cont.)
(An Application)
Major applications – tuning circuits – e.g.: electronic tuning in TV, other commercial
receiver.
When used in a resonant circuit –acts as a variable capacitor (see Figure) – allowed
the resonant frequency to be adjusted by a variable voltage level.
Varactor diode provides the total variable capacitance in the parallel resonant band-
pass filter.
C1,C2,C3,C4 – coupling capacitor – prevent the dc bias circuit
The parallel resonant frequency is f r 1
2 LC prevent a dc path
prevent a dc path from the wiper to a
from potentiometer load on the o/p
wiper back to the ac through the inductor
source through the
inductor & R1
as a variable
prevent a dc path dc voltage divider
from cathode to the for biasing the
anode of the varactor varactor
through the inductor prevent a dc
path from the Figure 3-23 A resonant
wiper to gnd band-pass filter
3-4 Optical Diodes
(Introduction) √
Two types of optoelectronic devices:
1. The light-emitting diode (LED) – a light emitter
2. Photodiode – a light detector
3-4 Optical Diodes (cont.)
(LED)
Basic operation:
√
- When the devices is FB – e- cross the pn junction from the n-type material
& recombine with holes in p-type material.
- Recombining release energy in the form of heat and light.
- A large exposed surface area on one layer of the semiconductive material
permits the photons to be emitted as visible light - electroluminescence
- Various impurities are added during the doping process to establish the
wavelength of the emitted light – determine the color of the light and if it is
visible or infrared (IR)
reverse current
3-4 Optical Diodes (cont.)
(The Photodiode)
Current Regulator
Diode
Schottky Diode
PIN Diode
Step-recovery Diode
Tunnel Diode
Laser Diode
3-5 Other Types of Diodes (cont.)
(Current Regulator Diode)
Referred to as a constant-current diode – maintains
a constant current
Operates in forward bias & the forward current becomes
a specified constant value at forward voltages ranging
about 1.5 V – 6 V
Constant forward current – called regulator current, Ip
3-5 Other Types of Diodes (cont.)
(The Schottky Diode)
The Schottky diode’s significant characteristic is its fast switching speed –
also known as hot-carrier diodes
This is useful for high frequencies and digital applications.
It is not a typical diode in that it does not have a pn junction.
Form by joining a doped n-material with a metal such as gold,silver or platinium
Forward voltage drop is around 0.3 V
Operate only with majority carrier – no minority carrier/ no reverse leakage current
When forward biased – the higher energy e- in the n region are injected into the
metal region where they give up their excess energy very rapidly
Schottky diode
symbol
VF begin to developed
a barrier- the current
A to B –
acts as
conductor
act as a conventional
forward biased diode
Two alternate symbols of tunnel diode
3-5 Other Types of Diodes (cont.)
(The Tunnel Diode)
When the tank circuit is ”shocked”
Application: Parallel resonant circuit into oscillation by an application of
Voltages, a damped sinusoidal o/p
Parallel equivalent of the series results. The damping due to resistance
winding resistance of the coil of the tank-prevent a sustained oscillation
Basic operation:
The laser diode is FB by an external voltage source
Electron move through the junction –recombine with holes – photons are released
Released photon can strike an atoms – cause another photons to be released
Some of the photons that are randomly drifting within the depletion region strike the
reflected surfaces perpendicularly
This back-and-forth movement of photons increase as the generation of photons
“snowballs” until a very intense beam of laser light is formed by the photons that pass
through the partially reflective of the pn junction
Therefore, a single wavelength of intense light emerges from the laser diod
Application:
Used in the pick-up system of compact disk (CD) players
3-6 Troubleshooting
Although precise power supplies typically use IC type regulators, zener diodes can be
used alone as a voltage regulator. As with all troubleshooting techniques we must know
what is normal.
A properly functioning zener will work to maintain the output voltage within certain
limits despite changes in load.
3-6 Troubleshooting (cont.)
With an open zener diode, the full unregulated voltage will be present at the output
without a load. In some cases with full or partial loading an open zener could remain
undetected.
undetected
3-6 Troubleshooting (cont.)
With excessive zener impedance the voltage would be higher than normal but less
than the full unregulated output.
7.0V
- 8.4V