Transcript Zener Diode

Recall-Lecture 5
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DC Analysis
 Representation of diode into three models
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Ideal case – model 1 with V = 0
Piecewise linear model 2 with V has a constant value
Piecewise linear model 3 with V and forward resistance, rf
• Diode AC equivalent model
– During analysis, must perform DC analysis first
to calculate ID in order to obtain rd
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DC ANALYSIS
DIODE = MODEL 1 ,2
OR 3
CALCULATE DC
CURRENT, ID
AC ANALYSIS
CALCULATE rd
DIODE = RESISTOR, rd
CALCULATE AC
CURRENT, id
Other Types of Diodes
Photodiode
The term ‘photo’ means light. Hence, a photodiode converts optical
energy into electrical energy. The photon energy breaks covalent bond
inside the crystal and generate electron and hole pairs
Solar Cell
Solar cell converts visible light into
electrical energy. The working
principle is the same as photodiode
but it is more towards PROVIDING
the power supply for external uses
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Light Emitting Diode
An LED is opposite of photodiode this time, it converts electrical energy into
light energy – Normally GaAs is used as the material for LED. During diffusion of
carriers – some of them recombines and the recombination emits light waves.
Schottky Barrier Diode
A Schottky Barrier diode is a metal
semiconductor junction diode. The
metal side is the anode while the ntype is the cathode. But the turn on
voltage for Schottky is normally
smaller than normal pn junction
diode
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Breakdown Voltage
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The breakdown voltage is a function of the doping concentrations in
the n- and p-region of the pn junction.
Large doping concentrations result in smaller break-down voltage.
Reverse biased voltage – ET 
The electric field may become large enough for the covalent bond to
break, causing electron-hole pairs to be created.
So, electrons from p-type are swept to n-region by the electric field
and holes from the n-type are swept to the p-region
The movement will create reverse biased current known as the Zener
Effect.
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Zener Effect and Zener Diode
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The applied reverse biased voltage cannot increase without limit since at some
point breakdown occurs causing current to increase rapidly.
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The voltage at that point is known as the breakdown voltage, VZ
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Diodes are fabricated with a specifically design breakdown voltage and are
designed to operate in the breakdown region are called Zener diodes. Circuit
symbol of the Zener diode:
NOTE: When a Zener diode is reverse-biased, it acts at the
breakdown region, when it is forward biased, it acts like a
normal PN junction diode
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Such a diode can be used as a constant-voltage reference in a circuit.
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The large current that may exist at breakdown can cause heating effects and
catastrophic failure of the diode due to the large power dissipated in the device.
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Diodes can be operated in the breakdown region by limiting the current to a value
within the capacities of the device.
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Avalanche Effect
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While these carriers crossing the space-charge region,
they also gain enough kinetic energy.
Hence, during collision with other atoms, covalent
bond is broken and more electron-holes pairs are
created, and they contribute to the collision process as
well. Refer to figure below
Electron with
high kinetic
energy
e
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e
atom
h
e
atom
h
eh
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ECE 1231
Zener Diode
10 k
Calculate the value of the current ID if VZ = 10V
ANSWER: ID = 0.2 mA
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ECE 1231
Chapter 3
Diode Circuits
Voltage Regulator
Voltage Regulator - Zener Diode
A voltage regulator supplies constant voltage to a load.
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The breakdown voltage of a Zener
diode is nearly constant over a wide
range of reverse-bias currents.
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This make the Zener diode useful in a
voltage regulator, or a constantvoltage reference circuit.
3. The remainder of VPS
drops across Ri
2. The load
resistor sees
a constant
voltage
regardless of
the current
1. The Zener diode holds the
voltage constant regardless of
the current
Example
A Zener diode is connected in a voltage regulator circuit. It is given that VPS = 20V, the
Zener voltage, VZ = 10V, Ri = 222  and PZ(max) = 400 mW.
a. Determine the values of IL, IZ and II if RL = 380 .
b. Determine the value of RL that will establish PZ(max) = 400 mW in the diode.
For proper function the circuit must satisfied the following conditions.
1. The power dissipation in the Zener diode is less than the rated value
2. When the power supply is a minimum, VPS(min), there must be minimum
current in the Zener diode IZ(min), hence the load current is a maximum,
IL(max),
3. When the power supply is a maximum, VPS(max), the current in the diode is a
maximum, IZ(max), hence the load current is a minimum, IL(min)
AND
Or, we can write
Considering designing this circuit by substituting IZ(min) = 0.1 IZ(max),
now the last Equation becomes:
Maximum power dispassion in the Zener diode is
EXAMPLE 1
Consider voltage regulator is used to power
the cell phone at 2.5 V from the lithium ion
battery, which voltage may vary between 3
and 3.6 V. The current in the phone will vary 0
(off) to 100 mA(when talking). Calculate the
value of Ri and the Zener diode power
dissipation
Solution:
The stabilized voltage VL = 2.5 V, so the Zener diode voltage must be VZ = 2.5 V. The
maximum Zener diode current is
The maximum power dispassion in the Zener diode is
The value of the current limiting resistance is
• Example 2
Range of VPS : 10V– 14V
RL = 20 – 100 
VZ = 5.6V
Find value of Ri and calculate the maximum power rating of the diode