Chapter 3

Special Purpose Diodes

Zener Diode

By

Engr. Najeeb Ullah

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Introduction
A diode is a two-terminal electronic component that
conducts primarily in one direction.

It blocks current in the opposite direction.

This unidirectional behavior is called rectification.

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Introduction
A Zener diode is a particular type of diode that
allows current to flow not only from its anode to
its cathode, but also in the reverse direction,
when the so-called "Zener voltage" is reached.

Clarence Melvin Zener the American physicist

invented Zener diode.
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Introduction

Figure: Zener diode Symbol

Figure: Zener diode Package

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How can we make a diode?

pn Junction
Depletion Layer
p type n type
carrier concentration

- - + +
- - + +
- - + +
- - + + Vo
- - + +
- - + +
- - + +
x

E field
E field force on holes E field force on electrons
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Construction of Zener Diode
The Zener diode's operation depends on the heavy doping of its p-n junction.

(<1 µm)

The depletion region formed in the diode is very thin, less than 1 µm.

Now, even for a small reverse bias voltage of about 5 V, allowing

electrons to tunnel from the valence band of the p-type material to
the conduction band of the n-type material.
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Important Features

• Zener diodes have a highly doped p-n junction. Normal

diodes will also break down with a reverse voltage but
the voltage and sharpness of the knee are not as well
defined as for a Zener diode.

• Zener diode can be operated in breakdown region.

• In the forward bias direction, the zener diode behaves

like an ordinary silicon diode.
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Graphical Representation
IF

Reverse Forward
Bias Bias

VBR
V
0.7v
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Zener Breakdown
• Zener diodes are designed to operate in reverse
breakdown.
• Two types of reverse breakdown in a zener diode are
• Avalanche breakdown
• Zener breakdown
• The avalanche effect, discussed in Chapter 2, occurs in
both rectifier and zener diodes at a sufficiently high
reverse voltage.
Zener breakdown occurs in a zener diode at low
reverse voltages.
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Breakdown Characteristics
• Figure shows the reverse portion of a zener diode’s
characteristic curve. Notice that as the reverse voltage
(VR) is increased, the reverse current (IR) remains
extremely small up to the “knee” of the curve.

The reverse current is also called

the zener current, IZ.
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Zener Regulation

• A zener diode operating in breakdown acts as a voltage

regulator because it maintains a nearly constant
voltage across its terminals over a specified range of
reverse-current values.

• A minimum value of reverse current, IZK, must be

maintained in order to keep the diode in breakdown
for voltage regulation.
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Zener Equivalent Circuits

 Ideal Model  Practical Model
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Temperature Coefficient
• The temperature coefficient specifies the percent
change in zener voltage for each degree Celsius change
in temperature.

• where VZ is the nominal zener voltage at the reference

temperature of 25°C, TC is the temperature coefficient,
and ΔT is the change in temperature from the
reference temperature.
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Temperature Coefficient

 Problem
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Zener Power Dissipation and Derating

• Zener diodes are specified to operate at a maximum

power called the maximum dc power dissipation,
PD(max).

• For example, the 1N746 zener is rated at a PD(max) of

500 mW and the 1N3305A is rated at a PD(max) of 50
W. The dc power dissipation is determined by the
formula,.
PD = VZ/Z
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Zener Power Dissipation and Derating

• Power derating
• The derating factor is expressed in mW/°C. The
maximum derated power can be determined with
the following formula:
• PD(derated) = PD(max) - (mW/°C)ΔT
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Application
Zener Regulation with a Variable Input Voltage

VIN > VZ
(a) As the input voltage increases, the output
voltage remains nearly constant (IZK < IZ <
IZM).

VIN > VZ
(b) As the input voltage decreases, the output
voltage remains nearly constant (IZK < IZ <
IZM).
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Application
» In a DC circuit, Zener diode can be used as a
voltage regulator to regulate the voltage
across small circuits.

The function of the regulator is to

provide constant output voltage.
Zener diode will continue to
regulate the voltage until the
diodes current falls below the
minimum Iz value in the reverse
breakdown region.
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Application
» Zener diode can be used to make a Waveform
Clipper. Two Zener diodes facing each other in
series will act to clip both halves of an input signal.

Waveform clippers can be used to not only reshape a signal, but also to
prevent voltage spikes from affecting circuits that are connected to the
power supply.
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Application
» A Zener diode can be applied to a circuit with a resistor to
act as a voltage shifter. This circuit lowers the output
voltage by a quantity that is equal to the Zener diode's
breakdown voltage.
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Application
» Zener diodes are also used in surge protectors
to limit transient voltage spikes.
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Application
» Another application of the Zener diode is the
use of noise caused by its avalanche
breakdown in a random number generator.

Figure: Avalanche noise curve

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• Zener diodes are designed to operate at voltages

greater than the breakdown voltage (peak reverse
voltage).
• Zener diodes are manufactured with a specific
breakdown (Zener) voltage.
• Zener diodes are packaged the same as P–N junction
diodes.
• Zener diodes are used to stabilize or regulate voltage.
Thank You For Your Attention