ZENER DIODE

A Semiconductor Diode blocks current in the reverse direction, but will suffer from premature
breakdown or damage if the reverse voltage applied across becomes too high, However, the Zener
Diode or "Breakdown Diode", as they are sometimes referred too, are basically the same as the
standard PN junction diode but they are specially designed to have a low and specified Reverse
Breakdown Voltage which takes advantage of any reverse voltage applied to it.

Schematic Symbol

Application of Zener Diode

Zener diodes are widely used as voltage references and as shunt regulators to regulate the voltage
across small circuits. When connected in parallel with a variable voltage source so that it is reverse
biased, a Zener diodeconducts when the voltage reaches the diode's reverse breakdown voltage.

How to test Zener Diode

A second test you can do to check to see whether a zener diode is defective or not is to measure its
voltage with a voltmeter of a multimeter (or simply just a voltmeter if you have one.)

In order for this test to work, we must feed voltage to the zener diode in reverse bias in series with a
resistor. The voltage must be higher than the rated zener voltage of the zener diode. In the circuit
below, we feed the zener diode and a 1KΩ resistor 9 volts from a 9-volt battery. The zener diode is rated
for 5.1V, well below the 9 volts supplied. When measuring the voltage across the zener diode, it must
measure a voltage near its rated zener voltage.
 LIGHT EMITTING DIODE (LED)

A light-emitting diode is a semiconductor light source that emits light when current flows through it.
Electrons in the semiconductor recombine with electron holes, releasing energy in the form of photons.
This effect is called electroluminescence.

In electronics, an LED circuit or LED driver is an electrical circuit used to power a light-emitting diode
(LED). The circuit must provide sufficient current to light the LED at the required brightness, buth must
limit the current to prevent damaging the LED.

Schematic Symbol

Application of LED
Infrared LEDs are used in remote-control circuits, such as those used with a wide variety of consumer
electronics. ... Light-emitting diodes are used in applications as diverse as aviation lighting, automotive
headlamps, advertising, general lighting, traffic signals, camera flashes, lighted wallpaper and medical
devices.

How to Test LED

1. Connect the black lead to the COM terminal on the multimeter.

2. Connect the red lead to the Ω terminal, unless your particular model differs.

3. Turn the dial to the diode symbol on the multimeter. This allows for electric current to travel in
one direction (the arrow) and not the other.

4. Turn the multimeter on. The display window should indicate either 0L or OPEN.

5. Choose a regular red LED.

 6. Connect the black probe to the cathode end of the LED, which usually is the shorter end and/or
cut flat at its bottom. Connect the red probe to the anode end of the LED.

How LED works

A light-emitting diode is a two-lead semiconductor light source. It is a p–n junction diode that emits light
when activated. When a suitable voltage is applied to the leads, electrons are able to recombine with
electron holes within the device, releasing energy in the form of photons.
 VARACTOR DIODE

Varactor or varicap diodes are used mainly in radio frequency (RF) circuits to be able to provide a
capacitance that can be varied by changing a voltage in an electronics circuit. This can be used for tuning
circuits including radio frequency oscillators and filters. Although both names: varactor and varicap
diode are used, they are both the same form of diode.

Application of Varactor Diode

Varactor diodes are widely used within RF circuits. They provide a method of varying the
capacitance within a circuit by the application of a control voltage. ... Voltage controlled
oscillators, VCOs: Voltage controlled oscillators are used in many different circuits.

How to test Varactor Diode

Insert the positive (red) test lead into the ohm meter connector and then place the other (black)
common test lead into the common connector of the multimeter. Identify the cathode and anode leads
of the diode. You will find the cathode closer than the anode to the painted line that encompasses the
diode.
How does Varactor Diode works
To know the Varactor diode working principle, we must know the function of capacitor and
capacitance. ... The volume of the depletion region of the diode varies with change in reverse
bias. If the reverse voltage of the diode isincreased, then the size of the depletion region
increases.
 Schottky Diode
Schottky diode is a metal-semiconductor junction diode that has less forward voltage drop than the P-N
junction diode and can be used in high-speed switching applications.

In a normal p-n junction diode, a p-type semiconductor and an n-type semiconductor are used to form
the p-n junction. When a p-type semiconductor is joined with an n-type semiconductor, a junction is
formed between the P-type and N-type semiconductor. This junction is known as P-N junction.

In schottky diode, metals such as aluminum or platinum replace the P-type semiconductor. The schottky
diode is named after German physicist Walter H. Schottky.

Schematic Symbol

Application of Schottky Diode

Schottky diodes are used for the voltage clamping applications and prevention of transistor saturation
due to the high current density in the Schottky diode. It’s also be a low forward voltage drop in
Schottky diode, it is wasted in less heat, making them an efficient choice for applications that are
sensitive and very efficiency. Because of the Schottky diode used in stand alone photovoltaic systems in
order to prevent batteries from discharging purpose for the solar panels at night as well as in grid
connected systems, containing multiple strings are connected in parallel connection. Schottky diodes are
also used as rectifiers in power supplies.

How to test Schottky Diode

Insert the positive (red) test lead into the ohm meter connector and then place the other (black)
common test lead into the common connector of the multimeter. Identify the cathode and anode leads
of the diode. You will find the cathode closer than the anode to the painted line that encompasses the
diode.
How Schottky Diode works

A typical diode combines p-type and n-type semiconductors to form a p-n junction. In a Schottky diode
metal replaces the p-type semiconductor. This metal can range from platinum to tungsten,
molybdenum, gold, etc.

When metal is combined with an n-type semiconductor an m-s junction is formed. This junction is
referred to as a Schottky Barrier. The behavior of the Schottky Barrier will differ depending on whether
the diode is in an unbiased, forward-biased, or reverse-biased state.
 PIN Diode
A PIN diode is a diode with a wide, undoped intrinsic semiconductor region between a p-type
semiconductor and an n-type semiconductor region. The p-type and n-type regions are typically heavily
doped because they are used for ohmic contacts.

The wide intrinsic region is in contrast to an ordinary p–n diode. The wide intrinsic region makes the PIN
diode an inferior rectifier (one typical function of a diode), but it makes it suitable for attenuators, fast
switches, photodetectors, and high voltage power electronics applications.

Schematic Symbol

Application of PIN Diode

The PIN diode is used as an ideal radio frequency switch. The intrinsic layer among the P & N layers
increases the space between them. This also reduces the capacitance between both the regions, thus
raising the level of isolation when the PIN diode is reverse biased.

How to test PIN Diode

Insert the positive (red) test lead into the ohm meter connector and then place the other (black)
common test lead into the common connector of the multimeter. Identify the cathode and anode leads
of the diode. You will find the cathode closer than the anode to the painted line that encompasses the
diode.

How does PIN Diode works

A PIN diode operates under what is known as high-level injection. ... This electric field helps in speeding
up of the transport of charge carriers from the P to the N region, which results in faster operation of
the diode, making it a suitable device for high frequency operations.
 Tunnel Diode
A Tunnel diode is a heavily doped p-n junction diode in which the electric current decreases as the
voltage increases.

In tunnel diode, electric current is caused by “Tunneling”. The tunnel diode is used as a very fast
switching device in computers. It is also used in high-frequency oscillators and amplifiers.

Schematic Symbol of Tunnel Diode

Application of Tunnel Diode

 Tunnel diode can be used as a switch, amplifier, and oscillator.

 Since it shows a fast response, it is used as high frequency component.

 Tunnel diode acts as logic memory storage device.

 They are used in oscillator circuits, and in FM receivers. Since it is a low current device, it is not
used more.

How to test Tunnel Diode

Insert the positive (red) test lead into the ohm meter connector and then place the other (black)
common test lead into the common connector of the multimeter. Identify the cathode and anode leads
of the diode. You will find the cathode closer than the anode to the painted line that encompasses the
diode.
How Tunnel Diode works

Tunnel Diode is the P-N junction device that exhibits negative resistance. When the voltage is increased
then the current flowing through it decreases. Itworks on the principle of Tunneling effect. ... Thetunnel
diode is a two terminal device with n-type semiconductor as cathode and p-type semiconductor as
anode.
 Photodiode
A photodiode is a device that helps in conversion of light into electric current. Made of semi-conductor
material and containing a p-n junction, it is designed to function in reverse bias. Current is produced in
the photodiode when photons are absorbed and a small amount of current is also produced when there
is no light present. With increase of the surface area, photodiodes have slower response times.
Photodiode technology has been successfully and widely used due to its simple and low-cost rugged
structure.

Schematic Symbol

Application of Photo Diode

The applications of PIN mainly include the following areas

 The PIN diode is used as a high voltage rectifier. The intrinsic layer in the diode offers a partition
between the both the layers, permitting higher reverse voltages to be tolerated

 The PIN diode is used as an ideal radio frequency switch. The intrinsic layer among the P & N
layers increases the space between them. This also reduces the capacitance between both the
regions, thus raising the level of isolation when the PIN diode is reverse biased.

 The PIN diode is used as a photo detector to convert the light into the current which takes place
in the depletion layer of a photo diode, rising the depletion layer by inserting the intrinsic layer
progresses the performance by increasing the volume in where light change occurs.

 This diode is an ideal element to give electronics switching in applications of electronics. It is

mainly useful for RF design applications and also for providing the switching, or an attenuating
element in RF attenuators and RF switches. The PIN diode is capable to give much higher levels
of consistency than RF relays that are frequently the only other alternative.

 The main applications of the PIN diode are discussed in the above, although they can also be
applied in some other areas
How to test Photo Diode

Insert the positive (red) test lead into the ohm meter connector and then place the other (black)
common test lead into the common connector of the multimeter. Identify the cathode and anode leads
of the diode. You will find the cathode closer than the anode to the painted line that encompasses the
diode.

How does Photodiode works

The working principle of a photodiode is, when a photon of ample energy strikes the diode, it makes a
couple of an electron-hole. This mechanism is also called as the inner photoelectric effect. If the
absorption arises in the depletion region junction, then the carriers are removed from the junction by
the inbuilt electric field of the depletion region. Therefore, holes in the region move toward the anode,
and electrons move toward the cathode, and a photocurrent will be generated. The entire current
through the diode is the sum of the absence of light and the photocurrent. So the absent current must
be reduced to maximize the sensitivity of the device.
 Laser Diode
A Laser Diode is a semiconductor device similar to a light-emitting diode (LED). It uses p-n junction to
emit coherent light in which all the waves are at the same frequency and phase. This coherent light is
produced by the laser diode using a process termed as “Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of
Radiation”, which is abbreviated as LASER. And since a p-n junction is used to produce laser light, this
device is named as a laser diode.

Schematic Diagram

Applications of Laser Diode

Laser Diode Modules are ideal for applications such as life science, industrial, or scientific
instrumentation. Laser Diode Modules are available in a wide variety of wavelengths, output powers, or
beam shapes.
Low power Lasers are used in an increasing number of familiar applications including CD and DVD
players and recorders, bar code readers, security systems, optical communications and surgical
instruments

Industrial applications: Engraving, cutting, scribing, drilling, welding, etc.

Medical applications remove unwanted tissues, diagnostics of cancer cells using fluorescence, dental
medication. In general, the results using lasers are better than the results using a surgical knife.

Laser Diodes used for Telecom: In the telecom field 1.3 μm and 1.55 μm band laser diodes used as the
main light source for silica fibre lasers have a less transmission loss in the band. The laser diode with the
different band is used for pumping source for optical amplification or for the short-distance optical link.

How to test Laser Diode?

Set Up the Laser Diode Test Load Using Constant Current Mode. Attach a testload between the Laser
Diode Anode (LDA) and Laser Diode Cathode (LDC) of the laser diode driver (see Figure 1). Connect
the multimeter, in voltage mode, between the Current Monitor (IMON) and common Ground (GND) pins.

How Laser Diode Work

Every atom according to the quantum theory, can energies only within a certain discrete energy level.
Normally, the atoms are in the lowest energy state or ground state. When an energy source given to the
atoms in the ground state can be excited to go to one of the higher levels. This process is called
absorption. After staying at that level for a very short duration, the atom returns to its initial ground
state, emitting a photon in the process, This process is called spontaneous emission. These two
processes, absorption and spontaneous emission, take place in a conventional light source.

Principle of Laser Action

In case the atom, still in an excited state, is struck by an outside photon having precisely the energy
necessary for spontaneous emission, the outside photon is increased by the one given up by the excited
atom, Moreover, both the photons are released from the same excited state in the same phase, This
process, called stimulated emission, is fundamental for laser action (shown in above figure). In this
process, the key is the photon having exactly the same wavelength as that of the light to be emitted.