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Zener Diode

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Vijaya Kumar Vadladi
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39 views6 pages

Zener Diode

Uploaded by

Vijaya Kumar Vadladi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Zener Diode

 A Zener diode can be defined as a heavily doped semiconductor device


that is designed to operate the electric circuit in the reverse direction.
 It is also called a breakdown diode.
 It is a heavily doped semiconductor diode that is designed to operate
the electric circuit in the reverse direction.
 When some voltage passes through the terminals of a Zener diode
then it gets reversed and the potential of the circuit reaches the Zener
Voltage or knee voltage, which is the forward voltage of a flowing
current.
 Then the junction breaks down and the current starts to flow in the
reverse direction.
 This effect in an electric circuit is known as the Zener Effect.
 The symbol for zener diode is shown as follows:

Working Principle of Zener Diode


 The working principle is such that if the reverse bias voltage is less
than the breakdown voltage, or if it is forward biased then it acts as an
ordinary diode.
 This means that forward bias allows current to flow and reverse bias
blocks the current from flowing.
 After this, the voltage surpasses the breakdown point in reverse bias,
and the diode falls in the Zener region, where it gets conducted
without getting damaged.
 Current in this region is known as avalanche current but for a Zener
diode, it is also known as a Zener current.

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 When the voltage decreases in the circuit the diode maintains its non-
conducting condition and gets back to its natural properties.

Avalanche Breakdown

 Avalanche breakdown occurs in a Zener diode when the reverse bias


voltage is increased to a point where the electric field across the
depletion region becomes strong enough to knock electrons from their
valence bonds into the conduction band.
 These electrons then collide with other atoms, knocking more electrons
free, and the process continues in a chain reaction known as an
avalanche.
 This avalanche of electrons causes a sudden increase in current
through the diode, and the voltage across the diode drops to a
constant value known as the breakdown voltage.

Zener Breakdown

 Zener breakdown is a tunneling effect that occurs in a Zener diode


with a narrow depletion region.
 When the reverse bias voltage is increased to a point where
the electric field across the depletion region is strong enough, some of
the valence electrons in the p-type material can tunnel through the
depletion region and into the conduction band of the n-type material.
 This tunneling of electrons causes a sudden increase in current
through the diode, and the voltage across the diode drops to a
constant value known as the breakdown voltage.

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V-I Characteristics of Zener Diode

The V-I characteristics of a Zener diode are divided into two parts
which are mentioned as follows:

Forward Characteristics of Zener Diode

 The first quadrant of the graph depicts the forward


characteristics of a Zener diode, and from which we can
understand that it is almost similar to the forward
characteristics of any other normal PN junction diode .

Reverse Characteristics of Zener Diode


 When a reverse voltage is applied to a Zener voltage, a
small reverse saturation current which is Io, flows across the
whole diode.
 This current is present due to thermally generated minority
carriers present in the diode.
 As the reverse voltage starts to increase, at a certain value
of reverse voltage the reverse current also starts to increase
drastically and sharply.
 This is proof that the breakdown in the diode has occurred.
This voltage is known as breakdown voltage in zener diode
or Zener voltage and is denoted by Vz.

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Difference between PN Junction and Zener
Diode
Zener Diode PN Junction Diode
It allows the current to flow in both A PN junction diode allows
directions which means that its current to pass only in one
current can flow forward as well as in direction which is a forward
the reverse direction. direction.
Zener diode has high doping. PN junction diode has low
doping.
A reverse current has no effect on a A reverse current effect on a
Zener diode. PN junction diode by
damaging its junctions.
A breakdown occurs at a lower A breakdown occurs at a
voltage in a Zener diode. higher voltage in a PN
junction diode.
A Zener diode does not follow Ohm’s A PN junction diode does
law. follow Ohm’s law.

3. A Zener diode, also known as a breakdown diode, is a heavily


doped semiconductor device that is designed to act in the

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opposite direction. Zener diode is commonly used as a voltage
regulator to maintain a constant DC output voltage.

Zener Diode as a Voltage Regulator


Zener diode is a silicon semiconductor with a p-n junction that is
specifically designed to work in the reverse biased condition.
When forward biased, it behaves like a normal signal diode, but
when the reverse voltage is applied to it, the voltage remains
constant for a wide range of currents. Due to this feature, it is
used as a voltage regulator in d.c. circuit. The primary objective
of the Zener diode as a voltage regulator is to maintain a constant
voltage

There is a series resistor connected to the circuit in order to limit


the current into the diode. It is connected to the positive terminal
of the d.c. It works in such a way the reverse-biased can also work
in breakdown conditions. We do not use ordinary junction diode

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because the low power rating diode can get damaged when we
apply reverse bias above its breakdown voltage. When the
minimum input voltage and the maximum load current is applied,
the Zener diode current should always be minimum.
Since the input voltage and the required output voltage is known,
it is easier to choose a Zener diode with a voltage approximately
equal to the load voltage, i.e. VZ = VL.
The value of the series resistor is written as RS = (VL − VZ)IL.
Current through the diode increases when the voltage across the
diode tends to increase which results in the voltage drop across
the resistor. Similarly, the current through the diode decreases
when the voltage across the diode tends to decrease. Here, the
voltage drop across the resistor is very less, and the output
voltage results normally.

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