Special-Purpose

Diodes

Chapter 5
 Topics Covered in Chapter 5
• Zener Diodes
• Light-Emitting Diodes
• 7 Segment Displays
• Photodiodes & Optocouplers
• Schottky Diodes
• Varactor
• Special Purpose Diodes

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 Zener Diode
• Zener diodes are designed to operate in
their “breakdown” region.
• Zener diodes are supposed to be “reverse
biased.”
• A common use for zener diodes is voltage
regulation.
Zener Diode
Vz (Volts)
-13 -10 -6 -4 -2 0

-20

-30

Iz (mA)
-40

-50
-60

-70

-80
Zener Diode
V1 VR1 VD1  0
VR1 V1 VD1
VR1  20V  13V
VR1  7V

VR1
ID1  IT  IR1 
R1
7V
I D1 
1k 
ID1  7 mA
Zener Diode
Zener Diode
 Zener Diode

This circuit will function properly (zener diode regulates) if

the zener diode “sees” a VTH greater than the zener
voltage rating. R
VTH  L
xVS
R1  RL
Zener Diode

RL
VTH  xV1
R1  RL
1k 
VTH  x 20V
220  1k 
VTH  16.39V
VTH VZ
 Zener Diode
• Zener Diode Second Approximation
 Zener Diode Ratings
• Maximum power = PZ(max) = VZIZ(max).
• Available tolerances: 1, 2.5 and 20 percent.
• Zener resistance, RZT, increases at the knee
of the characteristic curve.
• A derating factor such as 6.67 mW per
degree for temperatures above 50 degrees
Celsius is typical.
 Load Lines
• The Q point is where the circuit is
operating, based on the voltage source.
• The Q point is the intersection of the load
line and the zener diode V-I curve.
• When the source voltage changes, a
different load line appears with a different
Q point.
 Load Lines
V (Volts)
-30 -20 -10 0

Q1
-10

Q2 I (mA)
-20

-30 When VS = 20V,

VR1 = 8 V
ID = 8 mA
 Load Lines
V (Volts)
-30 -20 -10 0

Q1
-10

Q2 I (mA)
-20

-30 When VS = 30V,

VR1 = 18 V
ID = 18 mA
 Light-Emitting Diodes
• The flat side is the Cathode.
• The shorter lead is the Cathode.
 Light-Emitting Diodes
• LEDs have a very low reverse bias voltage
limit. Typical PIV is ≈5V.

This LED will “open”.

 Light-Emitting Diode
• The typical forward voltage drop for LEDs
is between 1.5 V and 2.5 V.

VS VD1
I R 1  I D1 
R1

PD1  VD1 ID1 

 Light-Emitting Diode
Solve for VR1, ID1, and PD1

VS VR1 VD1  0
VR1 VS VD1
VR1  12V  2V
VR1  10V

Note: Since the forward voltage range for VD1 is

1.5 V to 2.5 V, use 2 V.
 Light-Emitting Diode
Solve for VR1, ID1, and PD1
VR1
IR 1 
R1
10V
IR 1 
1k 
IR1  ID1  10 mA
VR1  10V
 Light-Emitting Diode
Solve for VR1, ID1, and PD1

PD1 VD1x ID1

PD1  2V x 10 mA
PD1  20 mW

VR1  10V
ID1  10 mA
 Light-Emitting Diode
• The flat side is the Cathode.
• The shorter lead is the Cathode.
• Typical Forward Voltage is 1.5 V to 2.5 V.
• Typical PIV is ≈ 5 V.
 7 Segment Display
• The LEDs share either a Common Anode
(CA) or a Common Cathode (CC).
 7 Segment Display
• Common Cathode (CC) Design
 7 Segment Display
• Common Anode (CA) Design
 Photodiodes & Optocouplers
• Photodiodes are reverse biased.
• They conduct when light shines on them.
 Photodiodes & Optocouplers
• An optocoupler is formed when a LED and
a Photodiode are used together.
 Schottky Diode
• The Schottky diode has almost zero
reverse recovery time.
• Used for at high frequency rectification,
where fast switching times are required.

Dr. Schottky invented the screen-grid

vacuum tube in 1915 and the pentode
in 1919, while working at Siemens.
 Schottky Diode
• Common diodes used in HF rectification
produce reverse conduction called “tails.”

• The Schottky diode eliminated the “tails.”

 Schottky Diode
• Low Forward Voltage drop: 0.15 V to 0.45 V
• A Majority Carrier device
– No recombination occurs
• Low PIV, typically 50 V or less
Various Special Purpose Diodes
• Varactor Diode
– Exhibits variable capacitance.
– Used to tune resonant circuits.
– Applications include radio and television tuners.

• Used in Reverse Bias

– Less reverse bias = exhibits more capacitance.
– More reverse bias = exhibits less capacitance.
Various Special Purpose Diodes
• Varistor
– Sometimes called a transient suppressor.
Various Special Purpose Diodes
• Laser: Emits coherent light.
– Used in Blu-ray and DVD players.
• Step-recovery: Snaps off when reverse
biased.
– Frequency multipliers
• Back: Conducts better when reverse biased.
– Small-signal rectifiers
Various Special Purpose Diodes
• Tunnel: Has a negative resistance region.
– Used in high-frequency oscillators.
• PIN: Operates as a variable resistor at RF
and microwave frequencies.
– Used in RF and microwave modulator circuits.