ZENER REGULATOR (ZENER DIODE)

The characteristic drops in almost vertical manner at reverse bias potential

denoted as Vz. The current in zener diode has a direction opposite to what of
forward bias diode.

Zener is designed to work in reverse bias direction without harming the diode.
Two things happen when reverse breakdown voltage is reached

Diode current increase drastically

Reverse voltage across diode, VR remain constant.

A diode operated in this region will have relatively constant voltage across it,
regardless the value of current through the device. A zener diode is used to
operate in reverse region and maintain constant voltage regardless the
variation current. This make zener diode a goood voltage regulator in the
circuit.
 ZENER REGULATOR (ZENER DIODE)
Diode breakdown
There are two types of diode brakdown
1. Zener breakdown
2. Avalance brakdown

Zener breakdown
Occur at a much lower value of reverse voltage, VR than those the
avalanhce breakdown. The heavily doping of the zener diode causes
the device to have much narrow depletion layer. As a result it takes
very little VR to cause the diode to go into breakdown. Typically 5V
or less.
Zener breakdown is a result of ionization of covalent bonds due to
high intensity electric field that inherently exist increasing the
potential across it. It will eventually yank valence electron out of
their covalent bond, producing free electron or conduction electron.
This additional carrier drift across the junction under the influence of
reverse voltage causing reverse current to increase rapidly and bring
about zener reverse breakdown.
 ZENER REGULATOR (ZENER DIODE)
Avalanche Breakdown
Avalanche breakdown is a result of the ionization of covalent bond by
minority carriers accelerated across the reverse biased junction. This results
in multiplication of carriers crossing the junction causing reverse current to
increase rapidly with reverse voltage (VR). Reverse breakdown in a diode
occurs at a voltage > 5V.

Zener Equivalent circuit

rz
VZ

VZ

Zener diode Complete equivalent Approximate equivalent

circuit
 ZENER REGULATOR (ZENER DIODE)
R IR
The figure shows the
simplest voltage
regulator using zener IZ IL
diode. Vi VZ
+
PZM
Three condition of input RL VL
voltage, Vi and load
-
resistance, RL are:

1. Vi and RL fixed
2. Vi fixed and RL variable
Voltage regulator using zener diode
3. Vi variable and RL fixed
 (1) Vi and RL fixed
R IR
R IR

IZ IL
IL

VZ + +
+
PZM Vi VZ RL VL
Vi RL VL
- -
-

a b
The simplest of Zener diode networks appears in figure (a). The applied dc
voltage is fixed, as is the load resistor. The analysis of the circuit can be
solve by the following steps:
1. Determine the state of the zener diode by removing it from network as
shown in figure (b) and calculating the voltage across the resulting open
circuit.
2. Using voltage divider rule: RLVi
V VL
RL R
 Vi and RL fixed
3. If V VZ : Zener diode is ON
If V < VZ : Zener diode is OFF
4. Substitute the appropriate equivalent circuit as shown in figure below
and solve for the desired unknowns.
R IR Since the zener diode is
parallel with load resistor,
IZ IL the voltage across parallel
VZ
+ element must be the same,
PZM
Vi RL VL therefore VL = VZ
-
Apply Kirchoffs current
law IR = IZ + IL
IZ = I R - IL
Approximate equivalent circuit of zener diode

VL VR Vi VL
IL IR
RL R R
Power dissipation by zener diode: PZ = VZIZ
 Example for Vi and RL fixed
Q : Determine VL, VR, IZ and PZ for the following zener diode network.

R IR

1k
IZ IL
VZ = 10V
PZM = 30mW +

Vi 16V 1.2k RL VL

Solution:
1. Determine the state of the zener diode by removing it from network
as shown in figure (next page) and calculating the voltage across
the resulting open circuit.
2. Using voltage divider rule find VL
 Example for Vi and RL fixed
R IR

1k
IZ IL
+
+
V
Vi 16V 1.2k RL VL
-
-

Voltage divider:
RLVi
V VL
RL R
1.2k (16V)

1k 1.2k
8.73V Since V is less than VZ (8.73V < 10 V) diode is OFF.
4. Substituting the open circuit equivalent circuit will result in the same network as above.
Where we find
V = VL = 8.73V VR = Vi VL = 16 -8.73 =7.27V IZ = 0A PZ = IZVZ =VZ(0A)=0W
 (2) Vi fixed and RL variable
Due to the offset voltage VZ, there is a specific range of resistor values (and therefore
load current) which will ensure that the zener is in the on state.
Too small a load resistance RL will result in a voltage VL across the load resistor less
than VZ and the zener device will be in the off state.
To determine the minimum load resistance that will turn the Zener diode on calculate
the value of RL that will result in a load voltage VL = VZ. That is,

RLVi
Vz VL
RL R

Solving for RL, we have

RV Z
RL min
Vi VZ
 (2) Vi fixed and RL variable
Any load resistance value greater than RLmin, will ensure the diode to be in on state
and the diode can be replaced by its VZ source equivalent.
We need maximum IL in order to have a minimum load resistance. Therefore

VL VZ
IL max
RL RL min
VR Vi VZ
Once the diode is in the on state, the voltage across R and current IR remains fixed at

VR Vi VZ VR
IR
VR R
IR
The zener current : IZ IR IL
R
Since IR is constant, IZ will be minimum if IL maximum and IZ will be maximum if IL minimum.
Since IZ is limited to IZM, it does affect the range of RL and therefore IL. Substituting IZM for IZ
established the minimum IL and the maximum loadIresistanceL max Ias
R IZM

IL min IR IZM VZ
RL max
IL min
VZ
RL max
 Example Vi fixed RL variable
R
IR

a) For the network shown, determine +

1k IZ IL
the range of RL and IL that will result
in VR, being maintained at 10V. VZ=10V
Vi=50V
b) Determine the maximum wattage IZM=32mA RL
rating of the diode.

Solution:

a) To determine the value of RL that will turn the Zener diode on use the formula

RV Z 1k (10V) 10k
RL min 250
Vi VZ 50V 10V 40
The voltage across the resistor R is then determined by using KVL in the input loop.

VR Vi VZ 50V 10V 40V

 Example Vi fixed RL variable
The value of IR is:

VR 40V
IR 40mA
R 1k
The minimum level of IL is then determine by

IL min IR IZM 40mA 32mA 8mA

The maximum RL is then determine by
VZ 10V
RL max 1.25k
IL min 8mA
A plot of VL versus RL appear in figure (a) and for VL versus IL in figure (b)
VL VL

10V 10V

0 250 RL 0 8mA IL
1.25k 40mA
(a) (b)

b) P max VZIZM
(10V)(32mA ) 320mW
 (3) Vi variable and RL fixed
For fixed value of RL, the voltage Vi must be sufficiently large to turn the Zener diode on.
The minimum turn on voltage Vi = Vimin is determined by

VL VZ
RLVi (RL R )VZ
where Vi min
RL R RL

The maximum value of Vi is limited by the maximum Zener current IZM. Since IZM = IR-IL

IR max IZM IL
Since IL is fixed at VZ/RL and IZM is the maximum value of IZ, the maximum Vi is defined by

Vi max VR max VZ
Vi max IR max R VZ
 Example Vi variable RL fixed
Q: Determine the range of values of Vi that will maintain the Zener diode in the figure in the
on state. R
IR

+
220 IZ IL

+
VZ=20V
Vi RL
VL
IZM=60mA
1.2k
-

Solution:
( RL R ) VZ (1.2k 220)( 20V )
Vi min 23.67 V
RL 1. 2 k
VL VZ 20V
IL 16.67 mA
RL RL 1.2k
IR max IZM IL 60mA 16.67 mA 76.67 mA
Vi max IR max R VZ
(76.67 mA )( 220) 20V
16.87 V 20V
36.87 V