EL 124

Electronic Devices and Circuits

Chapter 3
Special--Purpose Diodes
Special
A. Professor Sajid Ansari , P.Eng.
P.Eng. PMP.

Department of Electrical Engineering

Usman Institute of Technology

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 its variable
capacitance characteristics
Discuss the operation and characteristics of LEDs
and Photodiodes
Discuss the basic characteristics of the Current
Regulator diode,
diode, the PIN diode,
diode, the StepStep-Recovery
diode,, the Tunnel diode,
diode
diode, and the LASER diode.
diode.

ZENER DIODE
The basic function of Zener Diode is to maintain a specific voltage
across its 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
equipment.

RLoad

This particular Zener circuit will work to maintain 10 V across the load.

Zener Diodes Operating Range

A Zener Diode is much
like a normal diode, the
exception being is that it
is placed in the circuit in
reverse bias and operates
in reverse breakdown.
breakdown.
This typical characteristic
curve illustrates the
operating range for a
Zener.. Note that its
Zener
forward characteristics
are just like a normal
diode.

Operating range

Zener Diodes Regulation Ranges

The zener diodes
breakdown
characteristics are
determined byy the
doping process.
Low voltage zeners
(<5V
<5V),
), operate in the
zener breakdown range
range..
Those designed to
operate >5 V operate
mostly
l in
i avalanche
l
h
breakdown range.
range.

Zener zone

Diode zone

Avalanche
zone

5V.
Zeners are available with
voltage breakdowns of This curve illustrates the minimum and
1.8 V to 200 V.
maximum ranges of current operation that the
Zener can effectively maintain its voltage
voltage..

Zener Diodes Breakdown Characteristics

Note very small reverse
current (before knee).
Breakdown occurs @ knee.
Breakdown Characteristics:
VZ remains near constant
VZ provides:
-Reference voltage
g regulation
g
-Voltage
IZ escalates rapidly
IZMAX is achieved quickly
Exceeding IZMAX is fatal

Zener Diodes Voltage Regulation

Regulation occurs between:

VZK - knee voltage
to
VZM - Imax

Ideal
Zener Diodes Equivalent Circuit
Ideal Zener exhibits a
constant voltage,
regardless of current
draw.
Ideal Zener exhibits no
resistance
characteristics.

Practical
Zener Diodes Equivalent Circuit
Zener exhibits a near
constant voltage,
varied by current draw
through the series
resistance ZZ.
As Iz increases, Vz
also increases.

Zener Diodes Characteristic Curve

Vz results
from Iz.
Iz thru Zz
produce this.

Zener Diodes
Zener diodes have given characteristics such as;
Temperature coefficients describes the % Vz for Temp (0C)
Vz = Vz x T0C x T %//oC
Power ratings the zener incurs power dissipation based on Iz
and Zz P = I2Z
Power derating factor specifies the reduced power rating for
device operating temperatures in excess of the rated
maximum temperature
temperature.
PD(
mW/0C)
C)
T mW
D(derated
derated)) = PD(max) (mW/
The data sheet provides this information.

Zener Diode - Applications

Regulation When VIN changes
In this simple illustration of zener regulation circuit, the zener diode
will adjust its impedance based on varying input voltages. Zener
current will increase or decrease directly with voltage input changes.

The zener current, Iz, will vary to maintain a constant Vz.

Note: The zener has a finite range of current operation.

VZener
remains
constant

Zener Diode - Applications

VIN

VIN

IZ

& Vout

IZ

& Vout

Zener Diode - Applications

Calculate VZRegulate: (pg.91)
1N4740
PDMAX = 1W and VZ = 10V
IZK = 0.25mA to IZM = 100mA
VRmin = IZK R= .25mA x 220 = 55mV
= 100mA x 220 = 22V
VRmax = IZM R=

VinMIN = VR + VZ = 55mV + 10V = 10.055V.

10 055V
Vin
in(max)
(max) = 22V + 10V = 32V
VReg is 10.055V to 32V.

Example 33-6
Determine the minimum and maximum load currents for
which the zener diode in Figure 3-12 will maintain
regulation.
What is the minimum value of RL that can be used?
VZ = 12V, IZK = 1 mA, and IZM = 50 mA.
Assume ZZ = 0 , and VZ remains a constant 12 V over the
range of current values, for simplicity.
470
R

24V

RL

Example 3-6 ((Solution)

Solution)

Example 3
3--7
For the circuit in Figure 3-13.
(a) Determine VOUT at IZK and IZM.
(b) Calculate the value of R that should be used.
(c) Determine the minimum value of RL that can
be used.
R

RL

24V
1N4744

Example 3-7 (Solution

(Solution))

Zener Limiting
Zener diodes can used for limiting just as normal diodes. Recall
in previous chapter studies about limiters. The difference to
consider for a zener limiter is its zener breakdown
characteristics (operates in reverse bias)
bias).

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Varactor Diodes
A varactor diode is best explained as a Variable Capacitor Diode.
Diode.
It operates in reverse bias and the doping is to maximize inherent
capacitance of the depletion region. Think of the depletion region as
a variable dielectric
dielectric. The dielectric is adjusted
adjusted by reverse bias
voltage changes.

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Varactor Diode Application

The Varactor diode can be useful in filter circuits as the
adjustable component for resonance frequency selection.

Varactor
Bias adjust

Optical Diodes
1. Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs)
2. Photodiode

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Light--Emitting Diode (LED)

Light
The Light
Light--Emitting Diode (LED) emits photons as visible light
light.. Its
purpose is for indication and other display solutions.
solutions. Various impurities
are added during
process to varyy the color output
output.
g the doping
p gp
p .

Light--Emitting Diodes
Light
Electroluminescence: The process of
emitting photons from a parent material
(substrate), is the basis for LEDs.

Colors result from the choice of substrate

material and the resulting wavelength.
Today's LEDs (green, red, yellow) are
based on indium gallium aluminum

phosphide

Blue uses silicon carbide or gallium nitride

White uses Sapphire
IR (infrared) GaAs (gallium arsenide)
LED Biasing: 1.2V to 3.2V is typical.
Note: Some newer LEDs run at higher
voltages and emit immense light energy.
Applications:
Traffic signals
Outdoor video screens
Runway markers

A strong
t
F
Forward
d bi
bias
encourages conductionconductionband electrons in the NNmaterial to leap the
junction and recombine
with available holes
releasing light and heat.

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LED Spectral Curves

(the range of wavelengths human EYE can perceive, approximately from 390 nm to 750 nm)

Note the wavelengths of the various colors and infrared.

Example of LEDs

(Seven Segment Display )

The seven segment display is an example of LEDs used for
display of decimal digits.

See Light Emitting Diodes.pdf

Acrobat Document

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Photodiodes

Unlike LEDs, photodiodes receive light rather than produce light. The
photodiode varies its current in response to the amount of light that
strikes it. It is placed in the circuit in Reverse Bias.
Bias. As with most
diodes, no current flows when in reverse bias, but when light strikes
window reverse current
the exposed junction through a tiny window,
increases proportional to light intensity (irradiance).

All

Note:
Photodiodes exhibit a
reverse leakage
current which
appears as an inverse
variable resistance.
Irradiance causes the
device to exhibit a
reduction in the
variable resistance
characteristic.

Others Diodes
1.
2.
3.
4
4.
5.

Current Regulator Diode

Schottky Diode
PIN Diode
S -Recovery
StepStep
R
Diode
Di d
Tunnel Diode

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Current Regulator Diode

Symbol
Current regulator diodes
(constant current
diodes) keep a constant
current value over a
specified range of
forward bias voltages
ranging from about 1.5V
to 6V
6V.

Operating Range

This device exhibits very

high impedances.

Schottky Diode

The Schottky diodes (hot

(hot--carrier diodes) significant characteristic is its
fast switching speed
speed.. This is useful for high frequencies and digital
applications..
applications
It is not a typical diode in that it does not have a p-n junction.
junction. Instead,
it consists of a lightlylightly-doped n-material and heavily
heavily--doped (conduction(conductionband electrons) metal bounded together.
together. Its Barrier Potential is
typically around 0.3 V.
The Schottky Diode operates only with majority carriers
carriers..

Lightly doped

Heavily doped (conduction

(conduction-band electrons)

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PIN Diode

The is also used in mostly microwave frequency applications

applications.. Its variable
forward series resistance characteristic is used for attenuation,
modulation, and switching.
switching. In reverse bias it exhibits a nearly constant
capacitance.
PIN Diode consist of heavily doped P and N regions separated by i region
region..

Fixed Capacitance

Current-controlled
CurrentResistance

Step--Recovery Diode
Step
The Step
Step--Recovery Diode uses graded doping where the doping level of
semi--conductive material is reduced as the pn
semi
pn--junction is approached.
approached.
The diode recovers very quickly, making it useful in Very High
High--Frequency
(VHF) applications
applications..

Tunnel Diode
The tunnel diode exhibits negative resistance
resistance.. It will actually conduct
well with low forward bias
bias.. With further increases in bias it reaches
the negative resistance range where current will actually go down.
down.
This is achieved by heavily
heavily--doped p and n materials that create a
very thin depletion region which permits electrons to tunnel thru
the barrier region.
region.

Germanium or Gallium

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LASER Diode

The LASER diode (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of

Radiation) produces a monochromatic (single color) coherent
light.. Laser diodes in conjunction with photodiodes are used to
light
retrieve data from compact
p
discs
discs..

Forward bias the diode and electrons move through the junction,
recombination occurs (as ordinary).
ordinary). Recombination results in
photon release, causing a chain reaction of releases and
avalanching photons which form an intense laser beam
beam..

Sajid Ansari , P.Eng. PMP.

A. Professor (UIT).

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