Varactor Doide

Reporting Group:

Kyle Sandrei Villamor

Francis Mancol
Eugene Bongoyan
Objectives
• Familiarize the characteristics
of varactor diode.

• Learn how to solve the

capacitance of varactor diode.

• Differentiate the varactor

diode to the other types of
diode.
What is Diode?
• An electrical component that allows
the flow of current in only one
direction.

• In circuit diagrams, a diode is

represented by a triangle with a line
across one vertex.
What is Diode?
• Types of Diode

• Zener Diode
• Varactor Diode
• Light Emitting Diode
• Organic LED
• Photo Diode
• Laser Diode
• Schottky Diode
• PIN Diode
• Step-Recovery Diode
• Tunnel Diode
• Current Regulator Diode
 Varactor Diode
The diode whose internal capacitance varies with the variation
of the reverse voltage such type of diode is known as the
Varactor diode. It is used for storing the charge. The varactor
diode always works in reverse bias, and it is a voltage-
dependent semiconductor device.

The voltage-dependent device means the output of the diode

depends on their input voltage. The varactor diode is used in a
place where the variable capacitance is required, and that
capacitance is controlled with the help of the voltage.
 Varactor Diode
Symbol of Varactor Diode

The symbol of the varactor diode is similar to that of the PN-

junction diode. The diode has two terminals namely anode and
cathode. The one end of a symbol consists the diode, and their
other end has two parallel lines that represent the conductive
plates of the capacitor. The gap between the plates shows their
dielectric.
 Varactor Diode
Working of Varactor Diode

The Varactor diode is made up of n-type and

 p-type semiconductor material. In an n-type semiconductor
material, the electrons are the majority charge carrier and in the p-
type material, the holes are the majority carriers. When the p-type
and n-type semiconductor material are joined together, the p-n
junction is formed, and the depletion region is created at the PN-
junction. The positive and negative ions make the depletion
region. This region blocks the current to enter from the PN-
region.
 Varactor Diode
Working of Varactor Diode
 Varactor Diode

The varactor diode operates only in reverse

bias. 
The Varactor diode is used for storing the charge
not for flowing the charge. 
 Varactor Diode
The formula gives the capacitance of varactor diode,

Where, ε – Permittivity of the semiconductor material.

A – area of PN-junction
W – width of depletion region

The capacitance of the varactor diode increases with the

increase of n and the p-type region and decreases with the
increases of the depletion region. The increase in capacitance
means the more charges are stored in the diode. 
 Varactor Diode
Characteristic of Varactor Diode

The characteristic curve of the

varactor diode is shown in the figure
below.  The graph shows that when
the reverse bias voltage increases the
depletion region increases, and the
capacitance of the diode reduces.
 Varactor Diode
Advantages of Varactor Diode

The following are the advantages of

the varactor diode.
1.The varactor diode produces less noise
as less compared to the other diode.
2.It is less costly and more reliable.
3.The varactor diode is small in size and
less in weight.
 Varactor Diode
Varactor diode in tunning Circuit

The figure to the right shows that

D1 and D2 are the two Varactor diode.
These diodes provide the variable
resistance in the parallel resonance
circuit. The Vs is the DC voltage
used for controlling the reverse
voltage of the diode.
 Varactor Diode

The L is the inductance of the

circuit, and it is measured in
Henry. The resonant
Where,
frequency of the circuit is
expressed as C1 and C2 is the
maximum voltage
capacitance of the diode
 Varactor Diode
Sample Problem
Solution:
Example
1
1 The capacitance ratio of a
C 2
Zetex 832A varactor is 5. C 20 = =4 . 4 pF
CR
Its capacitance at a 2 V
2

reverse bias is 22 pF ,

determine the capacitance 1 1

fr 1 = √ = √ = 795 kHz
at a reverse bias of 20 V . 2π LC 2π 2 mH 20 pF
2

2 Calculate the resonant

3

frequencies at the bias

extremes for the circuit if 1 1

fr 2 = √ = √ =1 . 7 MHz
L =2 mH . 2π LC 2π 2 mH 4 . 4 pF
20
 Varactor Diode
Summary
• The diode whose internal capacitance varies with the variation of the reverse
voltage such type of diode is known as the Varactor diode. It is used for storing
the charge. The varactor diode always works in reverse bias, and it is a voltage-
dependent semiconductor device.

• The formula gives the capacitance of varactor diode.

• The capacitance of the varactor diode increases with the increase of n and the p-
type region and decreases with the increases of the depletion region. The
increase in capacitance means the more charges are stored in the diode. 
 Varactor Diode
Summary
• The charateristics of Varactor Diode shows that when the
reverse bias voltage increases the depletion region increases,
and the capacitance of the diode reduces.

• Advantages of Varactor Diode:

1. The varactor diode produces less noise as less compared
to the other diode.
2. It is less costly and more reliable.
3. The varactor diode is small in size and less in weight.
 Varactor Diode
References
https://circuitglobe.com › varactor-d...What is a Varactor Diode? -
Definition, Symbol, Working ...
https://www.electronics-notes.com › …
Varactor Diode Circuits – Electronics Notes
https://feng.stafpu.bu.edu.eg › …PDF
ECE121: Electronics (1) – Lecture 3: The Varactor Diodes
 Varactor Diode

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