This document discusses the types and functions of various diodes. It describes 22 different types of diodes including light emitting diodes, avalanche diodes, laser diodes, Schottky diodes, Zener diodes, tunnel diodes, varactor diodes, rectifier diodes, PIN diodes, photo diodes, transient voltage suppression diodes, vacuum diodes, Gunn diodes, point contact diodes, and small signal diodes. For each diode type, the document provides a brief description of its structure and operating principle, as well as examples of common applications.
This document discusses the types and functions of various diodes. It describes 22 different types of diodes including light emitting diodes, avalanche diodes, laser diodes, Schottky diodes, Zener diodes, tunnel diodes, varactor diodes, rectifier diodes, PIN diodes, photo diodes, transient voltage suppression diodes, vacuum diodes, Gunn diodes, point contact diodes, and small signal diodes. For each diode type, the document provides a brief description of its structure and operating principle, as well as examples of common applications.
This document discusses the types and functions of various diodes. It describes 22 different types of diodes including light emitting diodes, avalanche diodes, laser diodes, Schottky diodes, Zener diodes, tunnel diodes, varactor diodes, rectifier diodes, PIN diodes, photo diodes, transient voltage suppression diodes, vacuum diodes, Gunn diodes, point contact diodes, and small signal diodes. For each diode type, the document provides a brief description of its structure and operating principle, as well as examples of common applications.
This document discusses the types and functions of various diodes. It describes 22 different types of diodes including light emitting diodes, avalanche diodes, laser diodes, Schottky diodes, Zener diodes, tunnel diodes, varactor diodes, rectifier diodes, PIN diodes, photo diodes, transient voltage suppression diodes, vacuum diodes, Gunn diodes, point contact diodes, and small signal diodes. For each diode type, the document provides a brief description of its structure and operating principle, as well as examples of common applications.
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
Download as docx, pdf, or txt
You are on page 1/ 10
GOLDEN GATE COLLEGES
P. Prieto St., Batangas City
College of Engineering and Technology Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR
ELECTRICAL MACHINES
Submitted to: ENGR. JECSON ABANTE
Submitted by: LUMANGLAS, OBRIEN M.
September 13, 2023
Types and Function of Diode
1. Light Emitting Diode (LED)
Light-emitting Diodes (LEDs) are among the most popular diodes. During forward bias, light is produced when electrical current flows across the junction.
Applications
LEDs are often used as indicator lamps in electronic devices, replacing small incandescent bulbs. A variety of applications use light-emitting diodes, such as traffic signals, camera flashes, aviation lighting, and automobile headlights.
2. Avalanche Diode
This type of diode operates in reverse bias and uses the avalanche effect for its operation. Avalanche breakdown occurs across the entire PN junction when the voltage drop is constant and independent of the current.
Applications
The avalanche diode is used to protect any circuit from unwanted surges.
3. Laser Diode
Similar to an LED, a laser diode converts electrical energy into light energy. But unlike the Led, the laser diode produces coherent light.
The cost of laser diodes is higher than that of LEDs. They are, however, cheaper than other laser generators. Furthermore, these laser diodes have a limited lifespan.
Applications DVD and CD drives, laser pointers, and laser printers are some of the electronic devices that use these components.
4. Schottky Diode
In honor of German physicist Walter Schottky, the Schottky diode is named after him. Schottky diode switches on and off in less than 1 ns. This device used a metal- semiconductor junction instead of a PN semiconductor junction, which makes it much faster. There is a metal-to-semiconductor interface. A metal and N-type semiconductor are connected by a small junction. A P-N junction is not present.
Applications
Schottky diodes are used in RF, rectifying, and clamping diodes.
5. Zener Diode
This diode is characterized by maintaining a constant voltage at its terminals. In order to
perform its function correctly, the voltage of the source that feeds it must be higher than its stabilization voltage.
Applications
Power supplies use these diodes to provide a stabilized voltage to prevent
overvoltages.
6. Tunnel Diode Tunneling is an effect caused by quantum mechanical effects when electrons pass through a potential barrier. The device can be found in a wide range of microwave applications.
Applications
This diode is used to protect sensitive electronic components against voltage
spikes.
7. Varicap diode or Varactor Diode
This type of diode features a reverse bias placed across it, which varies the width of the depletion layer based on the voltage placed across the diode. This diode acts as a capacitor and the capacitor plates are formed by the extension of the conduction regions, and the depletion region as the insulating dielectric.
Applications
Varactor diodes are commonly used for tuning circuits. A varactor acts as a variable capacitance in a resonant circuit, allowing the resonant frequency to be adjusted by varying the voltage.
8. Rectifier Diode
These diodes are used to rectify AC power inputs into power supplies. They can rectify current levels going from an amplifier up. If low voltage drops are required then Schottky diodes can be used, however, usually, these diodes are PN junction diodes.
Applications
Power supplies to electronic circuits.
9. PIN Diode This type of diode has areas of P-type and N-type silicon, but between them is an intrinsic semiconductor area (non-doped). As a result, the depletion region becomes larger.
Applications
It is used in several applications, including radio frequency switches and
photodiodes. A diode can be made for low-current applications, such as radio frequencies, or a high current and high voltage for power applications.
10. Photo Diode
It is a diode sensitive to the incidence of visible or infrared light. It works in the reverse polarization zone, with a negative voltage at the anode and a positive voltage at the cathode. A photodiode behaves like a photovoltaic cell since it generates a small current when illuminated without an external source of power. So, it is helpful when detecting changes in light intensity.
Applications
There are many applications of the photodiode. Photodiodes are used in
industrial measuring instruments and scientific instruments. They measure light intensity either by itself or as a measure of some other property (smoke, density). A photodiode can be used as a receiver of encoded data in an infrared beam, such as in-home remote controls.
11. Backward Diode
The backward diode functions in a similar way as the tunnel and zener diode functions. Its operating voltage is much lower. It is a type of tunnel diode that has a less doping concentration at one side of the junction in comparison to another side of the junction. Applications
It is used for the rectification of small voltage signals of high frequency. It is also used for RF mixers and multipliers because they have a very fast switching speed.
12. Transient Voltage Suppression (TVS) Diode
A TVS diode is a type of avalanche diode that is used to protect the circuit from voltage surges. It can handle higher voltage as compared to an avalanche diode.
This type of diode has a vacuum tube and two electrodes-cathode and anode which are enclosed inside the vacuum tube. In forward bias, on heating the cathode, it emits electrons, and the anode which is at positive potential catches these electrons, and current flows between the anode and cathode. In reverse bias, the anode is held at negative potential and it repels the electrons, thus no current flow between the anode and cathode.
Applications
Used in radios, microwave ovens, Television transmitters, and receivers
Early Computers Satellite & radar communication 14. Shockley Diode
This diode has four layers and it is also called a PNPN diode. If you compare it to a thyristor, you will find that it is just like a thyristor without a gate terminal. The Shockley Diode conducts when it is forward-biased.
Applications
As Relaxation Oscillator As Trigger Switch
15. Step Recovery Diode
The step Recovery diode has unusual doping. It has an extremely small doping density near the junction area and, therefore has small numbers of charge carriers near the junction and leading to fast switching of the diode from ON state to OFF state.
Applications
Used as a charge controller switch
Used for high-speed pulse shaping, frequency multipliers, high-frequency harmonic generators
16. Gold Doped Diode
Gold is used as a dopant in these diodes. The gold diode has very less leakage current in reverse bias and its switching speed is very fast. The gold facilitates faster recombination of minority carriers.
Application
It is widely used in the control of storage time in small-area diffused silicon
computer diodes. 18. Super Barrier Diode
The super barrier diode is used as a rectifier diode. The super barrier diode has a low forward voltage drop like the Schottky diode with surge handling capability and low reverse leakage current like the P – N junction diode.
Applications
For high power, fast switching, and low-loss applications
Next-generation rectifier with the low forward voltage
18. Peltier Diode
Peltier or Thermal diode permits the flow of heat in one direction. Its thermal resistance is different in both directions. A Peltier diode has different thermal resistance for heat flow in one direction when compared to heat flow in the other direction.
Applications
For heat monitoring in microprocessor
For cooling effect in refrigerators
19. Crystal Diode
The crystal diode is a type of point contact diode. The crystal diode or Cat Whisker diode has a small point junction formed between a metal wire & N-type semiconductor crystal. Cat whicker is a thin springy wire of phosphorous bronze or tungsten material and it makes a point contact with an N-type semiconductor, therefore it is called a point- contact diode.
Applications
Used for rectification of low-voltage signal
In microwave mixer and detectors
Used in radio receiver as a detector
20. Point Contact Diode
A point contact diode is formed by touching a gold or tungsten wire with an N-type semiconductor and passing a high current through it. By this process, a small PN junction area is formed around the edge of the wire,
Gunn diode has only n-type semiconductor material. It consists of two electrodes with Gallium Arsenide and Indium Phosphide. The depletion region of two N-type materials is very thin. Gunn diode has negative differential resistance, therefore it is also called a transferred electron device.
Applications
Used in oscillators circuits
Radio communications, Radar Microwave transmitters Microelectronics Used in laser beam
22. Small Signal Diode
The small signal diodes are very small in comparison to power diodes. The cathode of the diode is marked with black or red color. The diode is housed in a glass tube to protect it from contamination. The diode is enveloped with glass, therefore it is also called as Glass Passivated diode. You have ever used the diode 1N4148, this is a small signal diode.
Applications
Used for small current at high-frequency applications like TV, Radio
Switching and clipping applications Used for snubbers, rectifiers, and wave-shaping circuits Used in limiter circuit Used in regulated power supply circuits
23. Large Signal Diode
A large signal diode has a larger PN junction area. The larger PN junction area means the diode has more current carrying capacity and more reverse blocking voltage. both these features make the large signal diodes suitable for rectification applications i.e. converting AC to DC. However, these types of diodes are not suitable for high- frequency applications.
