UNIT-I

Introduction of Electronics

Lecture No.7
 Contents

Allotted Lectures : 08 Hrs

• Evolution of Electronics, Impact of Electronics in industry and in society
• Introduction to active and passive components, Intrinsic Semiconductor,
Extrinsic Semiconductor, Current in semiconductors(Diffusion and Drift
Current), P-type Semiconductor, N-type Semiconductor, P-N Junction
Diode: P-N Junction diode construction
• Working in forward and reverse bias condition, V-I characteristics of P-N
junction Diode, Diode as a switch.
• Half Wave Rectifier.
• Full Wave Rectifier.
• Bridge Rectifier.
• Special purpose diodes: Zener Diode: V-I characteristics of Zener diode,
Applications of Zener diode
• Light Emitting Diode (LED), Photo diode
 Teaching Methodology Detailing

Lect. Topic Books Page No.

No.
1. Evolution of Electronics
T1 Preface
Impact of Electronics in Industry and Society
2. Introduction to active and passive components, Intrinsic
Semiconductor, Extrinsic Semiconductor, Current in semiconductors, T1 11 - 18
P-type Semiconductor, N-type Semiconductor,
3. P-N Junction Diode, Working in forward and reverse bias condition,
V-I characteristics of P-N junction Diode, Diode as a switch. T1 31-39

4. Half Wave rectifier T1 44-50

5. Full Wave Rectifier T1 50-54
6. Bridge rectifier 55-57
7. Special purpose diodes: Zener diode, and their applications T1 113-114
8. LED and Photo diode
T1 133-144

21/11/2024T1: “Electronics Devices ” by Thomas L. Floyd, 9 th Edition, Pearson 3

 Breakdown

• As the reverse voltage is increased, the reverse

saturation current remains constant equals to Io if
the temperature is constant.
• But as the reverse voltage reaches the breakdown
voltage value, a large current flows through the
diode.
• Operation in the breakdown region should be
avoided because the diode may be damaged due to
excessive power dissipation.
 Zener Diode

• “zener diode” is a special type p-n junction

semiconductor diode. Is construction is similar to
that of conventional p-n junction diode.
• However in constructing the zener diodes, the
reverse breakdown voltage is adjusted precisely
between 3V to 200V.
• The doping level of the impurity added to
manufacture the zener diodes is controlled in order
to adjust the precise value of breakdown voltage.
Circuit symbol and biasing of a Zener
Diode

Figure 1: Zener Diode Symbol

Figure 2: General diode V-I characteristic.
Figure 3: Reverse characteristic of a zener diode.
VZ is usually specified at the zener test current, IZT, and is
designated VZT.
 Circuit symbol and biasing of a Zener
Diode
• The circuit symbol of a zener diode is as shown in
figure.
• The arrowhead in the symbol points towards the
conventional direction of current through the
diode, when it is forward bias.

Figure 4: Zener Diode Symbol

 Forward biasing of a Zener Diode

• When the anode of the zener diode is connected to

the positive terminal of the DC source and the
cathode is connected at the negative terminal, the
zener diode is said to be forward bias.
• The forwards bias zener diode is behaves identical
to a forward biased diode
Figure 5: Forward biasing
 Reverse biasing biasing of a Zener
Diode
• When a cathode is connected to the positive
terminal and the anode is connected to the
negative terminal of the DC source, the zener diode
is said to be reverse bias.
Figure 6: Reverse biasing
 V-I characteristics of a Zener Diode

• The V-I characteristics of a zener diode can be

divided into two parts.

• Forward characteristics
• Reverse characteristics.
Figure 7: Forward characteristics of a Zener
Diode
Figure 8: Reverse characteristics of a Zener Diode
 Reverse characteristics of a Zener
Diode
• At a certain value of reverse voltage the reverse
current will increase suddenly and sharply. This is
an indication that the breakdown has occurred.
This breakdown voltage is called as zener
breakdown voltage or zener voltage and it is
denoted by VZ
Zener region :
• After reverse breakdown the zener diode operates
in a region called zener region, as shown in figure.
• In this region the voltage across zener diode
remains constant but current changes depending
on the supply voltage.
• Zener diode operated in this region when it is being
used as a voltage regulator
Figure 9: Complete V-I characteristics of a Zener
Diode
 Equivalent Circuit of a Zener Diode

Figure 10: Equivalent circuit of a Zener Diode

The equivalent circuit of a zener diode, when it is operating in
the zener region of the reverse characteristics is shown in figure.
 Breakdown mechanism in the zener
diode
• In the zener diode, there are two different
breakdown machanism, they are:
• Zener breakdown
• Avalanche breakdown
 Breakdown mechanism in the zener diode

• Zener breakdown :
• The zener breakdown is observed in the zener
diodes having VZ less than 5V or between 5 to 8
Volts.

• Avalanche breakdown :
• The avalanche breakdown is observed in the zener
diodes having VZ higher than 8 V.

November 21, 2024 UNIT - 1 Diodes and Circuits 22

 Breakdown mechanism in the zener
diode
• Zener breakdown :
• The current limiting resistor should be connected in
series with the zener diode to protect it against the
damage due to excessive heating.
• In zener breakdown the breakdown voltage
depends on the temperature of p-n junction. The
breakdown voltage decreases with increase in the
junction temperature.
 Breakdown mechanism in the zener diode

• Zener breakdown :
• The zener breakdown is observed in the zener diodes having VZ less
than 5V or between 5 to 8 Volts.
• When a reverse voltage (5V or less) is applied to a zener diode, it cause
a very intense electric field to appear across a narrow depletion region.
The field intensity is typically of the order of 3X105 V/cm.
• Such a intense electric field is strong enough to pull some of the
valence electrons into the conduction band by breaking their covalent
bonds. These electrons then become free electrons which are available
for conduction.
• Large number of such free electrons will constitute a large reverse
current through the zener diode and breakdown is said to have
occurred due to the zener effect
Figure 11: V-I characteristics in the reverse bias
junction
 Breakdown mechanism in the zener diode
• Avalanche breakdown :
• The avalanche breakdown is observed in the zener
diodes having VZ higher than 8 V.

VZ
VR in volts

Gradually changing
characteristics

-I

Figure 12: Avalanche Breakdown

Comparison of zener and avalanche
breakdown
 Application of a zener diode

1. As a voltage reference in emitter follower type

voltage regulator.
2. As a regulated power supply
3. In a clipping circuits
4. Clamping circuits.
5. In the protection circuits for MOSFET
 Specification of zener diode

Important ratings of the zener diode are :

• Zener Voltage
• Power dissipation
• Zener test current
• Zener impedance
• Reverse leakage current
• Maximum zener current
 Specification of zener diode

Important ratings of the zener diode are :

1. Zener Voltage :
• The manufacturer specify the value of breakdown
voltage known as Zener voltage, Vz, at some of test

current, IZT.
• This is on the linear portion of the reverse
characteristics.
• Values of Vz are available at various values from 2.4
to 200 V with accuracy between 5 and 20%,
depending upon cost.
 Specification of zener diode

2. Power dissipation :
• Power dissipation in the diode is the product of Vz
and reverse current, Iz, with maximum power
ranging from 150 mW to 50 W.
3. Zener Test Current :
• The value of zener current IZT in mA at which the
nominal voltage is specified.
4. Zener impedance :
• ZZT is The value of dynamic impedance in ohms
measured at the test current
 Specification of zener diode

5. Reverse leakage current :

• The leakage current is the current through the
reverse biased zener diode for value of reverse
voltage less than the value at the knee of the
characteristics curve.
• Note that the values are extremely small .
6. Maximum zener current :
• The maximum reverse current that can flow
through a zener diode without damaging it due to
excessive heating.