2006-10-29 23:40:01 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
Diode, electronic device that allows the passage of current in only one direction. The first such devices were vacuum-tube diodes, consisting of an evacuated glass or steel envelope containing two electrodes—a cathode and an anode. Because electrons can flow in only one direction, from cathode to anode, the vacuum-tube diode could be used in rectification. The diodes most commonly used in electronic circuits today are semiconductor diodes. The simplest of these, the germanium point-contact diode, dates from the early days of radio, when the received radio signal was detected by means of a germanium crystal and a fine, pointed wire that rested on it. In modern germanium (or silicon) point-contact diodes, the wire and a tiny crystal plate are mounted inside a small glass tube and connected to two wires that are fused into the ends of the tube.
Junction-type diodes consist of a junction of two different kinds of semiconductor material. The zener diode is a special junction-type diode, using silicon, in which the voltage across the junction is independent of the current through the junction. Because of this characteristic, zener diodes are used as voltage regulators. Another special junction-type diode is used in solar cells; a voltage appears spontaneously when the junction is illuminated. In light-emitting diodes (LEDs), on the other hand, a voltage applied to the semiconductor junction results in the emission of light energy. LEDs are used in numerical displays such as those on electronic digital watches and pocket calculators.
2006-10-29 23:43:43 · answer #1 · answered by Josh 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Zener Diode Vs Diode
2016-10-15 05:52:30 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Diode and zener:
1. Diode can conduct current only in one direction, whereas zener diode allows the conduction in both directions.
2. A normal diode will be permanently damaged for a large reverse current, but a zener diode will not.
3. Amount of doping for P and N semiconductor layers are different in the two devices.
4. Diodes are normally used for rectification, whereas zener diodes are used for voltage regulation.
https://www.electrikals.com/
2015-08-19 17:39:14 · answer #3 · answered by shaun 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Zener diode "shares" current with the load; the more is drawn by a load the less goes through zener, and that is one reason for not very stabile voltage regulation with zeners. On the other hand an IC voltage regulator draws from power source a bias current which is almost constant regardless of the load and input voltage and in most cases is negligible. Second reason, and in the same time dfference from IC voltage regulators, is poor temperatur response from zener diodes. Again, the IC voltage regulators are temperature comensated and their utput voltage is almost independent of temperature
2016-05-22 07:10:20 · answer #4 · answered by Mary 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All semiconductor diodes have a maximum reverse voltage that they can withstand. If you exceed this voltage, the diode no longer blocks current. This is called the breakdown voltage.
In a Zener diode the reverse voltage I vs. V curve is particularly sharp and consistent, meaning that the reverse current rises very steeply with voltage greater than the breakdown, so that the voltage is relatively independent of current. Therefore when reverse biased it can be used as a stable and accurate voltage reference. However be sure to limit the current so that the maximum dissipation limit is respected. Power = i * Vzd.
2006-10-30 11:00:06 · answer #5 · answered by AnswerMan 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Normal diode operates in forward conduction and reverse blocking mode while, zener operates as normal diode in forward conduction while it also conducts in reverse blocking region too(if voltage across it increases beyond zener voltage).
Due to this peculiar property we use zener as a shunt voltage regulator, to clip additional voltage in power supplies(mostly DC).
https://www.electrikals.com/
2015-10-13 17:33:02 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Diode workes in its v range. A zener is used to brake down if its range or polarity is exceeded.
2006-10-29 23:45:29 · answer #7 · answered by wmf936 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Zener is a type of diodes that we use in reverse bias.
2006-10-30 00:27:01 · answer #8 · answered by mehdi sharifi sedeh 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Normal diode conducts current in one direction.
Zener is like a normal diode, but can conduct current in the other direction if the voltage across it is made to reach a certain thershold.
2006-10-30 00:02:43 · answer #9 · answered by jackal_04 1 · 2⤊ 1⤋
One is used in reverse BIAS the other has only 2 pins.
2016-11-02 11:20:31 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋