Special Diode Applications

Lesson 5

By:
Engr. Verna C. Magnaye, EcE
Overview:
Utilizing the breakdown region of the diode, Zener
diode was developed. Other characteristics of the diode were
also studied and analyzed. Because of this, more special-
purpose diodes were developed. Some of which were
considered in this lesson.
Objectives:
After successfully completing this lesson, you should be able to
understand the basic operation of the following special-
purpose diodes and describe some applications:

• Zener Diode
• Varactor diode
• Light Emitting diode
• photodiodes
Course Contents:

Zener Diode
• Is used to regulate voltages for refence purposes.
• It is a silicon pn junction device that is designed for operation
in the reverse breakdown region.

Zener Breakdown
There are two types of Zener breakdown, the Avalanche breakdown and Zener
breakdown. The Avalanche breakdown is the same as the breakdown that
occurs in rectifier diodes at a sufficiently high reverse voltage. Zener
breakdown occurs in a Zener diode at low reverse voltage.
Zener Impedance (Zz)
 It is calculated as change in Zener voltage to the change
in Zener current.

Zz = ∆Vz/ ∆Iz
Zener Voltage Regulation
Varactor Diode
 Also known as variable-capacitance diode
 It is basically a reverse-biased PN junction diode that utilizes
the inherent capacitance of the depletion region. Its junction
capacitance varies with the amount of reverse-bias voltage.

Operation:
 When the reverse-bias voltage increases, the depletion region
widens, effectively increasing the dielectric thickness and
decreasing the capacitance.
 When the reverse-bias voltage decreases, the depletion
region narrows, thus increasing the capacitance.
Capacitance Formula

𝑨𝜺
C=
𝒅

Where:
C= capacitance
A= plate area
𝜀= dielectric constant
d = dielectric thickness
Applications:
 Tuning Circuits (ex. Electronic tuners in TV and
other commercial receivers)
LED (Light emitting diode)
 It is a special-purpose diode that is commonly used for
indicator lamps, and readout displays such as 7-segment
display.

Operation
 When the device is forward-biased , electrons cross the PN
junction from the n-type material and recombine with holes
in the p-type material. When recombination takes place, the
recombining electrons release energy in the form of heat and
light. A large exposed surface area on one layer of the
semiconductor permits the photons to be emitted as visible
light. Such process is called electroluminescence.
LED Semiconductor Materials
1) Early LEDs were made using Gallium Arsenide(GaAs).
2) The first visible red LED was produced using Gallium Arsenide
Phosphide (GaAsP) on a GaAs substrate.
3) The efficiency was increased using the GaP substrate, resulting
to a brighter red LED and allowing also orange LED, and later
the same substrate was used as the light emitter to achieve pale
green light.
4) The first superbright red, green, and yellow LEDs were
produced using Gallium aluminum Arsenide Phosphide
(GaAlAsP).
5) In early 1990s, Ultrabright LEDs in red, orange, yellow, and
green were made using Indium Gallium Aluminum Phosphide
(InGaAlP)
6) Blue LEDs were made using Silicon Carbide(SiC).
7) Ultrabright blue LEDs were made using Gallium Nitride (GaN).
Continuation….
6) Blue LEDs were made using Silicon Carbide(SiC).
7) Ultrabright blue LEDs were made using Gallium Nitride
(GaN).
8) Blue and green high intensity LEDs were made using Indium
Gallium Nitride (InGaN).
9) High intensity White Leds were made using Ultrabright Blue
GaN coated with fluorescent phospors that absorbs the blue
light and reemit it as white light.
Photodiode
 Is a PN junction device that operates in reverse bias. The
reverse-biased current is produced by thermally generated
electron-hole pairs in the depletion region, which are swept
across the junction by the electric field created by the reverse
voltage.
 In a photodiode, the reverse current increases with the light
intensity at the exposed PN junction. When there is no
incident light, the reverse current is almost negligible and is
called the dark current. An increase in the amount of light
intensity, expressed as irradiance(mW/cm2), produces an
increase in the reverse current.
Application
 A beam of light continuously passes across a conveyor
belt and into a transparent window, behind which is a
photodiode circuit. When the light beam is interrupted by
an object passing through a conveyor belt, sudden reduction
in diode current activates a control circuit that advances a
counter by one. Such concept can be used for production
control, shipping, and monitoring of activity on production
lines.
Read:
 Zener Diodes
Chapter 2
Boylestad, R. L. & Nashelsky, L. (2013). Electronic Devices and Circuit Theory.
First Lok Yang Road, Jurong, Singapore: Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd.

 Special –Purpose Diodes

Chapter 16
Floyd, T. L. (2007). Electronic Devices (Conventional Current Version). First Lok
Yang Road, Jurong, Singapore: Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd.
Activities/Assessments:
1. A certain 10 V Zener diode has a resistance of 8Ω at 30mA
of reverse current. What is the terminal voltage?
2. What is the purpose of varactor diode?
3. What happens to the diode capacitance when the reverse
voltage is increased?
4. How does an LED differ from photodiode?
5. There is a very small reverse current in a photodiode under
no-light conditions. What is this current called?
6. Zener diodes are normally operated in the breakdown
region. (True or False)