Zener diode as voltage regulator

3. Zener diodes
 Optimize to operate in the breakdown region.
 Use mainly in voltage regulators
 circuits that hold load voltage almost constant
despite large changes in input voltage and/or
load resistance.

 Zener diodes operate in the reverse breakdown region

and behave like a voltage source in that region. These
devices are used mainly in regulator circuits.
1
 Zener diodes (cont.)
Schematic symbol

Zener resistance

Ideal RE

2
 Zener diodes (cont.)
The V-I characteristics

I
Breakdown

_ VZ
V
I Z min

I Z max

3
 Zener regulators

Ri iL
+
iZ
+
vs VZ RL
_

 vS > Vz
 Vo remains constant even when the input voltage
varies over a relatively wide range.

4
 Summary (cont.)

 Zener diodes operate in the reverse breakdown region

and behave like a voltage source in that region. These
devices are used mainly in regulator circuits.