A Brief Introduction about Zener Diodes, Their History and Basics

2018 A Brief Introduction about Zener Diodes, Their History and Basics

Express Technology Group

6/14/2018

Zener diodes are used in various voltage references diodes in electronic circuits. It allows simple voltage regulator circuits to be made and in addition they are cheap and easy for manufacturing. These diodes have been available for many years and are used in many areas of electronic circuits nowadays. Moreover, the obvious use is within power supply regulators. In addition, these diodes can be used as a reasonably stable reference voltage in many electronics circuits.

However, they can be used to remove peaks in waveforms that may not be required.

Zener diodes can also be used for removing spikes that may damage a circuit or cause it to overload. The Zener effects that provide them their unique name are used in different diodes although the term diode is widely used for describing diodes used as voltage references. It is important to understand that these dioxides can be purchased from reliable wholesale Zener diode distributors if the manufacturers need them in bulk quantities to meet their manufacturing needs.

They are used in different areas of electronic circuits in view of the many applications of Zener diodes not just in power supplies that is probably their most obvious used.

History of Zener diode The history of this diode can be trace back to the development that precisely occurred as semiconductor materials science, which started to come to the fore. The first person to describe the electrical properties utilized by the Zener diode was described by Clarence Melvin Zener, who was born in the year 1905 and died in year 15thJuly 1993.

He did not consider himself particularly qualified to work on purely theoretical physics problems although he was a very successful theoretical physicists.

Basics of Zener Diode Zener diode operates like an ordinary diode in the forward bias direction and it is often known as reference diodes by many experts. In addition, they have the normal turn on voltage of 0.6 volts for a silicon diode. The operation of these zener diodes is rather different in the reverse direction. They do not conduct at all like a normal diode for very low voltages. In addition, they once a certain voltage is reached the diode “break down� and current flows.

Regardless of the current carried, the voltage of the diode is almost constant. Zener effect and impact ionization are two different breakdown mechanisms that can occur although the voltage reference diode is normally referred to as a zener diode. When the manufacturers of electronic diodes needs cheap electronic components such as diode in bulk quantities and delivered within promised time frame, they can get in touch with reputed vendors with large production capacity, spacious warehousing facilities and wide distribution network.

Zener diode symbol

The circuit symbol is modified slightly to differentiate a diode from the normal signal diode. The symbol has a small “tag� applied to the bar of the diode symbol for identifying their functions.

The final thought The zener diodes can be used as discrete devices and also used in different throughout electronics circuits. In addition, they can be used within integrated circuits in various electrical appliances or devices. It is essential or important to understand that these diodes are essential building block for the production of different types of electronic circuits.