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Uses of Zener Diode and its Applications are primarily focused on enabling a forward and reverse flow of the current stream. A Zener Diode is a semiconductor device that consists of a P-N junction that directs current in a switch path when a certain voltage is achieved.
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Keyterms: Zener diode, Diode, Reverse flow, Current steam, Semiconductor device, P-N junction, Semiconductor, Voltage, Breakdown Voltage
What is Zener Diode?
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Zener diode is a highly doped silicon crystal diode that allows current to flow forward in an equivalent way. The current can also flow in the opposite direction when the voltage exceeds a specific threshold known as the Breakdown Voltage. The breakdown voltage is also referred to as the Zener Knee Voltage.
A reverse-biased, heavily doped p-n junction diode functioning in the breakdown region is used in the device. Conventional diodes and rectifiers are never used in the breakdown zone, but the Zener diode may be safely operated at the given point.
It features a reverse breakdown voltage, which means it may operate in an opposite tendency state indefinitely without being damaged.
A Zener Diode not only allows current to flow from anode to cathode but also in the opposite direction in order to reach the Zener voltage. Zener diodes are the most often used semiconductor diodes due to their utility.
The video below explains this:
Zener Diode as a Voltage Regulator Detailed Video Explanation:
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Functions of Zener Diode
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When a forward one-sided voltage is given to the Zener Diode, it operates in the same manner as a conventional diode. In any event, when a one-sided voltage is supplied to the Zener diode, it behaves in a variety of ways.
When an opposing one-sided voltage is supplied to a Zener Diode, only a little amount of spilling current is allowed until the voltage is not exactly Zener voltage. When the reverse one-sided voltage supplied to the Zener diode reaches Zener voltage, it starts allowing a large amount of electric flow.
Now, a small increase in inversion voltage will rapidly increase the electric flow. Zener breakdown occurs as a result of this sudden increase in electric flux. However, Zener Diode exhibits a controlled breakdown that damages the device.
Uses of Zener Diode
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Since the voltage decreases across the diode, it remains constant over a broad range of voltages. For voltage recommendations, a Zener Diode is appropriate.
Read on to know some of the common uses of Zener Diode and its applications.
Zener Diode as Voltage Regulator
When the heap voltage approaches the breakdown voltage, the resistors in the arrangement limit the current through the diode when there is an abundance of voltage when the diode is leading.
While doing so, the diode generates some disturbance, which may be suppressed by connecting massively valuable decoupling capacitors across the diode. The heap voltage increases to the diode's breakdown voltage VZ.
The arrangement resistor restricts the current through the Diode and drops the overabundance voltage when the Diode is directing.
Overvoltage Protection with Zener Diode
When the voltage increases and reaches the Zener breakdown voltage, the present through the diode causes a drop across the resistor. This causes a brief to the bottom.
If the information voltage rises to a value greater than the Zener breakdown voltage, current flows through the diode, causing a voltage drop across the resistor, which activates the SCR and causes a short out to the ground. The short out detaches the heap from the inventory and opens the breaker.
Zener Diode for Trimmer Circuits
Trimmer circuits are used to prevent the output signal from exceeding a predetermined threshold without affecting the information stream. The use of Zener Diodes includes modifying and shaping the AC waveform cutting circuits. Section circuits limit one portion of the AC waveform to shape it or provide security.
These kinds of circuits are commonly used in TV and FM transmitters to remove interference. Zener Diodes are used to modify or shape alternating current waveform cutting circuits. To shape the waveform or provide insurance, the cut-out circuit cuts out points or clasps off sections of either half pattern of an AC waveform.
Zener Diode to Maneuver Voltage
The most common application for Zener Diodes is switching a signal from one voltage to the next. It is capable of maintaining a steady yield voltage in breakdown regions. Because of its voltage-moving use, the Zener Diode is an ideal component of the activity.
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Things to Remember
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- A basic PN junction diode forms under the combination of p-type and n-type semiconductor materials. A PN junction is formed when donor impurities are doped on one side of a semiconductor crystal and acceptor impurities are doped on the other.
- A Zener diode can be used as a voltage regulator or a voltage reference in a DC circuit. The major benefit of a Zener diode is that the voltage across it remains constant despite a larger variation in current. As a result, a Zener diode can be used as a voltage regulator or a constant voltage device.
- Zener diode is used as a constant voltage source or a voltage reference in power supply and many other circuits. The only requirements are that the input voltage exceeds the Zener voltage and that the series resistor has a minimum value that allows the device to conduct the maximum current.
- A Zener diode can be utilized in a circuit containing an AC input source, which is distinct from a conventional PN diode clamping circuit. The diode may be used to limit the peak of the output voltage to Zener voltage on one side of the sinusoidal waveform and to around 0V on the other.
- Android-based projects are becoming more popular as smartphones become more prevalent. Bluetooth-enabled devices are being used in these projects. The operation of these Bluetooth devices needs a voltage of around 3V. A Zener diode is used to provide a 3V reference to the Bluetooth device in such cases.
- Zener diode is an important topic from the standpoint of the class 12 board exam. It is part of chapter 14 named ‘SEMICONDUCTOR ELECTRONICS: MATERIALS, DEVICES AND SIMPLE CIRCUITS’. The chapter briefs us about the seed of the development of modern solid-state semiconductor electronics.
Sample Questions
Ques. Which of the following can be used in series with a Zener diode so that combination has almost zero temperature coefficient? (1 Mark)
a)Diode
b)Resistor
c)Transistor
d)MOSFET
Ans. If a Zener diode of TC of about -2mV is connected with a forward diode (which has a TC of about +2mV) in series, the combination can be used to obtain a very low (close to zero) TC.
So, the correct option is a) Diode.
Ques. Zener diodes can be effectively used in voltage regulators. However, they are these days being replaced by more efficient (1 Mark)
a)Operational Amplifier
b)MOSFET
c)Integrated Circuits
d)None of the mentioned
Ans. ICs have been widely adopted by the industries over conventional Zener diodes as their better replacements for voltage regulators.
So, the correct option is c) Integrated Circuits.
Ques. Mention the significance of the Zener diode in a laboratory. (3 Marks)
Ans. When a Zener diode conducts a unidirectional current, it conducts the current in the opposite direction when the voltage exceeds a certain value, which is known as the Zener breakdown voltage.
For example, if the current is 10v in the zeneris the way of condition over the power supply, it conducts long the voltage less than 10v as soon as the voltage exceeds 10v, in which case it acts as voltage regulating protecting us the equipment.
Ques. What is the purpose of a Zener diode as a voltage regulator? (3 Marks)
Ans. A Zener Diode is always functioning in its opposite one-sided state. A simple voltage controller circuit may be designed using a Zener Diode to maintain a constant DC yield voltage across the heap despite variations in the information voltage or changes in the heap current.
In this opposite one-sided state, the Zener voltage controller has a current limiting resistor RS connected in series with the information voltage VS with the Zener Diode connected to the heap RL. The balanced out yield voltage is always selected to be equal to the diode's breakdown voltage VZ.
Ques. What is a Zener Breakdown? (3 Marks)
Ans. Due to their restricted exhaustion district, Zener breakdown occurs in aggressively doped P-N intersection diodes. When a reversibly one-sided voltage is placed across the P-N diode, the electric field in the consumption region is strong enough to draw electrons from their valence band.
Valence electrons that obtain sufficient energy from the exhaustion area's solid electric field will break holding with the parent iota. Valence electrons that lose their bond with the parent molecule become free electrons. These liberated electrons carry electric current from one location to the next.
Ques. What is the difference between a Zener Diode and a Regular Diode? (4 Marks)
Ans. The Diode and Zener Diode are distinct in terms of their images, development, activities, and applications. A significant difference between diode and Zener Diode is the electric flow conduction ordinary diode can only direct in one direction whereas Zener Diode can direct in both forward and switch direction.
A normal Diode is used as an amendment activity, cutting jobs, voltage multipliers, and so on, but a Zener Diode is used as a voltage controller.
In terms of breakdown voltage, an ordinary diode has an extremely low breakdown voltage, implying that it can support a lesser amount of opposite voltage, whereas a Zener Diode has an extremely high breakdown voltage, implying that it can support a greater amount of opposite voltage than the typical diode.
Ques. Explain the forward and the reverse characteristic of a Zener diode. (5 Marks)
Ans. A diode is a fundamental electronic component that allows the flow of electricity in one direction only. There are many sorts of diodes and the Zener diode is one among the commonly used diodes. Zener diode not only allows current to be due anode to cathode but also, within the reverse direction on reaching the Zener voltage. Due to this functionality, Zener diodes are the foremost commonly used semiconductor diodes.
V-I Characteristics of Zener diode: When reverse-biased voltage is applied to a Zener diode it allows only a little amount of leakage current until the voltage is a smaller amount than Zener voltage.
The V-I characteristics of a Zener diode are often divided into two parts as follows:
- Forward characteristics.
- Reverse characteristics.
Forward characteristics: The first quadrant in the graph represents the forward characteristics of a Zener diode. From the graph, we understand that it's almost just like the forward characteristics of the other contact diode.
Reverse characteristics: When a reverse voltage is applied to a Zener voltage, initially a little reverse saturation current flows across the diode. This current is thanks to thermally generated minority carriers. As the reverse voltage is increased, at a certain value of reverse voltage, the reverse current increases drastically and sharply. This is a sign that the breakdown has occurred. This voltage is termed as Zener breakdown voltage and it's denoted by Vz.
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