What is zener diode?
A zener
diode may be a special kind of device designed to control within the zener
breakdown region. Zener diodes acts like traditional p-n junction diodes
underneath forward biased condition. When forward biased voltage is applied to
the zener diode it allows large amount of electric current and blocks only a
small amount of electric current.
Zener diode is heavily doped than the traditional p-n
junction diode. Hence, it has very thin depletion region. Therefore, zener
diodes allow more electric current than the normal p-n junction diodes.
Zener diode allows electric current in forward direction like
a normal diode but also allows electric current in the reverse direction if the
applied reverse voltage is greater than the zener voltage. Zener diode is
usually connected in reverse direction because it's specifically designed to
figure in reverse direction.
Zener diode definition
A zener diode may be a p-n junction semiconductor device
designed to control within the reverse breakdown region. The breakdown voltage
of a zener diode is carefully set by controlling the doping level throughout
manufacture.
The name zener
diode was named after the American physicist Clarance Melvin Zener who
discovered the zener effect. Zener diodes are the essential building blocks of
electronic circuits. They are widely used in all kinds of electronic
equipments. Zener diodes are in the main wont to shield electronic circuits
from over voltage.
Zener diodes used?
Using Zener diodes as
constant-voltage diodes
The Zener voltage across a diode remains constant over a wide
range of Zener current. Because of this property, Zener diodes ar wide used as
constant-voltage devices.
Using Zener diodes as
voltage detection devices
A Zener
diode permits Zener current, Iz, to flow when the voltage is above the
specified Zener voltage. Thus, a Zener diode can be used for voltage detection
by sensing Zener current with some other device.
Advantages of zener
diode
Power dissipation capacity is very high
High accuracy
Small size
Low cost
Applications of zener
diode
It is normally used as voltage reference
Zener diodes are utilized in voltage stabilizers or shunt
regulators.
Zener diodes are used in switching operations
Zener diodes are utilized in clipping and clamping circuits.
Zener diodes are used in various protection circuits
Types of Diodes
The various types of diodes are as follows:
Zener diode
Avalanche diode
Photodiode
Light Emitting Diode
Laser diode
Tunnel diode
Schottky diode
Varactor diode
P-N junction diode
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