Chapter 2

ZENER DIODE

Zener diodes
The breakdown characteristics of diodes can
be tailored by controlling the doping
concentration
Heavily doped p+ and n- regions result in low
breakdown voltage (Zener effect)

Used as reference voltage in voltage

regulators
I
Region of
operation

ZENER DIODE

Basic Zener regulator

Vi and RL Fixed

Rl Vi
V VL
R RL
And:

(V i V Z )R L
R
VZ

If VVZ and Iz >Izmin that means the Zener diode is on

If V<VZ or Iz <Izmin that means the Zener diode is off

Basic zener regulator

Vi and RL Fixed
2. Substitute the appropriate equivalent circuit
and solve for the desired unknowns.

VL VZ

IR IZ IL
IZ IR IL

VL
IL
RL
PZ VZ I Z

Vi VL
IR
R

Fixed Vi, Variable RL

1- Finding RLmin:
Using VDR

R L m in

OR: If Izmin is given:

RV Z

Vi V Z

IZ IR IL
I L max I R I Z min

IR

VR
R Lmin

VR

R
Vi Vz
VZ

I Lmax

2- Finding RLmax:

I L min I R I Z max
RLmax

VZ
I L min

Fixed RL, Variable Vi

The minimum value of Vi must
be sufficiently large to turn the
Zener diode on.
Using VDR

Vi m in

( R L R )VZ

RL

The maximum value of Vi

limited by maximum Zener
current IZM

I ZM I R I L
VR
IR
R

I R max

VR Vi Vz

Vi

max

I ZM I L

I R maxR VZ

Applications
Simple square-wave generator

Applications
AC Limiter

Protection circuit

Half Wave Voltage Doubler

High Voltage transformers are expensive and
impractical at voltages above 1000V

The peak inverse voltage PIV across each diode is 2Vp

Half Wave Voltage Doubler

First Half Cycle D1 conducting, C1
charged. C2 remains uncharged
because of the reverse biased D2
Second Half Cycle D2 conducting, C2
charged by (source + C1) about
twice the source voltage
Next Half Cycle Repeat of first stage
with the addition that C2 can now
discharge through RL. Notice that C2
is charged once/cycle, so output has
the same frequency as input.

Full Wave Voltage Doubler

When the secondary voltage is
positive, D1 is forward-biased and C1
charges to approximately Vp

During the negative half-cycle, D2 is

forward-biased and C 2 charges to
approximately Vp. The output
voltage 2Vp- is taken across the two
capacitors in series.
The peak inverse voltage PIV across each diode is 2Vp

Voltage Tripler
The addition of another diode-capacitor section to the half-wave
voltage doubler creates a voltage tripler. The operation is as
follows: On the positive half-cycle of the secondary voltage. C 1
charges to Vp, through D1. During the negative half-cycle,
C 2 charges to 2Vp through D2 as described for the doubler. During
the next positive half-cycle, C 3 charges to 2Vp through D3 the
tripler output is taken across C 1 and C 3.

Voltage Quadrupler
The addition of still another diode-capacitor section produces an output four
times the peak secondary voltage. C4 charges to 2Vp through D4 on a
negative half-cycle. The 4V p output is taken across C2 and C4 , as shown.
In both the tripler and quadrupler circuits. the PlV of each diode is 2Vp

Voltage Quadrupler
Can extend this circuit to produce
extremely high voltages (~750kV).

Voltage Quadrupler

Special Purpose Diodes

Varactor Diodes
A varactor diode is best explained as a variable capacitor. Think of the depletion region a
variable dielectric. The diode is placed in reverse bias. The dielectric is adjusted by bias
changes.

Varactor Diodes
The varactor diode can be useful in filter circuits as the
adjustable component.

Other Diode Types

The Schottky diodes significant characteristic is its fast switching speed. This is useful for
high frequencies and digital applications. It is not a typical diode in the fact that it does not
have a p-n junction, instead it consists of a heavily doped n-material and metal bound
together.

Other Diode Types

The PIN diode is also used in mostly microwave frequency applications. Its variable forward
series resistance characteristic is used for attenuation, modulation, and switching. In reverse
bias exhibits a nearly constant capacitance.

Other Diode Types

The tunnel diode is also used for fast switching applications.
This is achieved by reduced doping at the junction.

Other Diode Types

The laser diode (light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation) produces a
monochromatic (single color) light. Laser diodes in conjunction with photodiodes are used
to retrieve data from compact discs.