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Special Purpose Diodes: S. Hashim Bukhari

This document discusses zener diodes and their applications. It defines a zener diode as a silicon pn junction device designed to operate in reverse breakdown. Zener diodes maintain a nearly constant voltage for a range of reverse currents between Izk and IzM. They can be used for voltage regulation and limiting voltage swings in AC applications. The zener diode exhibits zener breakdown at low reverse voltages and avalanche breakdown at higher reverse voltages. Its practical equivalent circuit includes a zener voltage source and series zener resistance.

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75 views

Special Purpose Diodes: S. Hashim Bukhari

This document discusses zener diodes and their applications. It defines a zener diode as a silicon pn junction device designed to operate in reverse breakdown. Zener diodes maintain a nearly constant voltage for a range of reverse currents between Izk and IzM. They can be used for voltage regulation and limiting voltage swings in AC applications. The zener diode exhibits zener breakdown at low reverse voltages and avalanche breakdown at higher reverse voltages. Its practical equivalent circuit includes a zener voltage source and series zener resistance.

Uploaded by

nasiruddin
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© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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SPECIAL PURPOSE

DIODES
CHAPTER NO. 03

S. Hashim Bukhari

Saturday, August 31, 2019


1
ZENER DIODE
“A zener diode is a silicon pn junction device that is
designed for operation in the reverse breakdown region”.

The zener diode is used for voltage regulation and like the
general purpose rectifier diode. The schematic symbol for a
zener diode is shown in Figure 3-1

2
VOLTAGE REGULATION
Definition:

“A voltage regulation provides a constant dc output voltage that


is essentially independent of the input voltage”

3
VI CHARACTERISTIC OF RECTIFIER
DIODE & ZENER DIODE
The VI characteristic with normal operating regions for rectifier diode
and for zener diode is shown in a Figure 3.2. If a zener diode is
forward-biased, it operates the same as a rectifier diode.

4
REVERSE BREAKDOWN IN
ZENER DIODE
As Zener diodes are designed to operate in reverse breakdown.
Two types of reverse breakdown in a zener diode are :

 Avalanche Breakdown
 Zener Breakdown

5
AVALANCHE BREAK DOWN
The avalanche breakdown occurs in both rectifier and zener
diodes at a sufficiently high reverse voltage. Zener diodes
with breakdown voltages greater than approximately 5V
operate predominately in avalanche breakdown

6
ZENER BREAK DOWN
Zener breakdown occurs in a zener diode at low reverse
voltages. A zener diode is heavily doped to reduce the
breakdown voltage. This causes a very thin (Narrow)
depletion region. Zener diodes with breakdown
voltages of less than approximately 5V operate
predominately in zener breakdown

7
BREAKDOWN
CHARACTERISTICS
The reverse portion of a zener diode's characteristic curve is shown in
Figure 3-3. As the reverse voltage (VR) is increased, the reverse current
(IR) remains extremely small up to the knee of the curve. The reverse
current is also called the zener current, lz

8
BREAKDOWN
CHARACTERISTICS
From the bottom of the knee , the zener breakdown voltage (Vz) remains
essentially constant although it increases slightly as the zener current,
lz, increases.

This regulating ability is the key feature of the zener diode. It


maintains a nearly constant voltage across its terminals over a
specified range of reverse current values.

9
MINIMUM VALUE OF REVERSE
CURRENT (IZK)
A minimum value of reverse current, (IZK) must he maintained in
order to keep the diode in breakdown for voltage regulation. From
breakdown curve, when the reverse current is reduced below the
knee of the curve, the voltage decreases drastically and regulation
is lost

10
MAXIMUM VALUE OF REVERSE
CURRENT (IZM)
The value of reverse current at which the diode may be damaged
due to the excessive power dissipation is called Maximum value of
reverse current (IZM)

11
CONCLUSION

We conclude that the zener diode maintains a constant voltage


across its termials for the values of reverse current ranging from
IZK to IZM

12
ZENER EQUIVALENT CIRCUIT

The Ideal approximation of a zener diode is simply a battery having


a value equal to the zener votage.
The Practical equivalent of a zener diode include the zener
resistance Zz with zener voltage source.

13
ZENER EQUIVALENT CIRCUIT
As from figure a change in zener current ΔIz produces a small
change in zener voltage ΔVz. So, by ohm’s law the ratio of ΔVz to
ΔIz is the impedance expressed by the following formula;

14
EXAMPLE # 3.1
A zener diode exhibits a certain change in Vz for a certain
change in lz on a portion of the linear characteristic curve
between IZK and IZM as illustrated in Figure 3-5. What is the
zener impedance?

15
SOLUTION

16
EXAMPLE # 3.2
A 1N4736 zener diode has a ZZT of 3.5Ω. The data sheet gives VZT =
6.8 V at IZT = 37 mA and IZK = 1 mA. What is the voltage across the
zener terminals when the current is 50 mA? When the current is 25
mA? Figure represents the zener diode.

17
SOLUTION

18
Zener Diode(continued…)

19
Zener Diode Applications

20
Zener Diode
Applications(continued…)
Zener Limiting:
Zener diodes can be used in ac applications to limit
voltage swings to desired levels.
Part (a) shows a zener used to limit

the positive peak of a signal voltage


to the selected zener voltage.
During the negative alternation, the zener acts as a
forward-biased diode and limits the negative voltage to -0.7
V.
When the zener is turned around,

as in part (b). the negative peak is


limited by zener action and the
positive voltage is limited to +0.7 V.
21
Zener Diode
Applications(continued…)
 Two back-to-back zeners limit both peaks to the zener
voltage +/-0.7 V, as shown in part (d). During the positive
alternation, D2 is functioning as the zener limiter and D1
is functioning as a forward-biased diode. During the
negative alternation, the roles are reversed.

22
Zener Diode
Applications(continued…)
Example 7:

Sol:

23

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