CSE 223

ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND CIRCUITS

LECTURE - 3

Prepared by
Ipshita Tasnim Raha
Lecturer
Dept. of Computer Science & Engineering
Varendra University
Contact: [email protected]

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(review) V-I Characteristics of pn junction

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 Avalanche Breakdown

***Ref: https://electronicslesson.com/avalanche-breakdown/ 4
 Math Problems
• Ref Book: Electronic Devices and Circuit Theory
Book by Louis Nashelsky and Robert Boylestad
Chapter-2 Diode Applications

 Page 65 to Page 70 (Example 2.7 to Example 2.13)

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Zener Diode

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 Zener Diode
• A zener diode is a special type diode designed to operate in the reverse breakdown region.

• Usually, it is heavily doped to reduce the reverse breakdown voltage. In the zener breakdown
region, the diode maintains a constant voltage regardless of the value of current through the
device. This permits the zener diode to be used as a voltage regulator.

• The symbol, conduction direction of two types of diode is given below,

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 Zener Diode
Avalanche Breakdown
Zener Breakdown
Zener breakdown voltage < Avalanche Breakdown

• Zener Breakdown
• Zener Voltage (Vz)
• Applied reverse voltage > Zener voltage
• Diode becomes conductive

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Avalanche Breakdown vs Zener Breakdown

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Characteristics & Working Principle

Let’s watch a video

Link: : Zener Diodes: Characteristics & Working Principle

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 Zener Diode
The characteristics of zener diode is given below:

1. A zener diode is like an ordinary diode except that it is properly

doped so as to have a sharp breakdown voltage.

2. A zener diode is always reverse connected that is, it is always reverse

biased.

3. A zener diode has sharp breakdown voltage, called zener voltage VZ.

4. When forward biased, its characteristics are just those of ordinary

diode.

5. The zener diode is not immediately burnt just because it has entered
the breakdown region. As long as the external circuit connected to the
diode limits the diode current to less than burn out value, the diode
will not burn out.

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Zener Diode (summary)
• In forward bias
it acts like a normal PN junction diode.

• In Reverse Bias
It conducts current when the voltage across it is equal to or grater than Zener Voltage.

• It regulates the voltage across it which is equal to the Zener voltage. Meaning, Zener Diode will
regulate Vz whenever Vapplied is beyond Vz

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Zener Diode

Review Zener Diode Visually

Link: Zener Diodes in electric circuits

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Equivalent Circuit of Zener Diode

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Equivalent Circuit of Zener Diode

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 Regulated Power Supply Using Zener Diode
• The process of keeping constant voltage across load regardless of variation of input voltage or load current is
called regulation.

• Zener diode is a specially designed diode which has ability to maintain constant voltage across load.
Therefore zener diode can be used to provide constant voltage across load.

• Due to increase in the source voltage if the voltage and current across the load increases. Then the load may
be damaged due to over heating. To protect the load, zener diode is connected in parallel to the load R L, in
reverse fashion.

• This circuit shows, zener diode as shunt voltage regulator. It’s called as shunt regulator because the zener
diode is connected in parallel with the load resistor R L in reverse fashion.

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Zener Diode as Voltage Stabilizer

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Zener Diode as Voltage Stabilizer

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 Line & Load Regulation
Read details from book [Principles of Electronics by V.K. Mehta] – pg-111 (Search-126)

Basically there are two type of regulations such as:

• Line Regulation: In this type of regulation, series resistance and load

resistance are fixed, only input voltage is changing. Output voltage remains
the same as long as the input voltage is maintained above a minimum
value. The circuit diagram for line regulation is given

• Load Regulation: In this type of regulation, input voltage is fixed and the
load resistance is varying. Output volt remains same, as long as the load
resistance is maintained above a minimum value. The circuit diagram for
load regulation is given

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Problem Solving

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 Ex-1: semiconductor diode
Example 1: Determine current through each diode in the circuit. Assume both diode are similar and made of
silicon.
Solution: As the diodes both are made of silicon and both are in forward bias,
the voltage across it will be 0.7 V. So we can redraw it as,

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 Ex-2: semiconductor diode
Example 2: Determine the currents I1, I2 and I3 for the network. Assume both diode are similar
and made of silicon.
Solution: As the diodes both are made of silicon and both are in forward bias, the
voltage across it will be 0.7 V. So we can redraw the circuit as,
The voltage across R2 is 0.7 V. Here, R2 = 3.3 kΩ

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 Ex-3: semiconductor diode
Example 3: Determine I , V1 , V2 , and Vo for the following circuit

Solution: As the Diode is made of Si and it is in ON state we get the circuit

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Zener Diode Problem (Ei and RL fixed)

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Zener Diode Problem (Ei and RL fixed)

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Zener Diode Problem (fixed RL and variable Ei)

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Zener Diode Problem (fixed RL and variable Ei)

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Zener Diode Problem (fixed RL and variable Ei)

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Zener Diode Problem (fixed Ei and variable RL)

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Zener Diode Problem (fixed Ei and variable RL)

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Zener Diode Problem

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