Zener Diode & its Applications

Zener Diode

• This is a diode designed with adequate power

dissipation capabilities to operate in the
breakdown region.
• When both sides are heavily doped, the
depletion layer is very thin (100 Ǻ).
• Even 4 V may give a field of 107 V/m, causing
breakdown.
• Whatever may be the breakdown phenomenon,
it is called ‘zener diode’.
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 Equivalent Circuits

Rz

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v By controlling the thickness of the depletion
layer, Zener Diode can be made to have
breakdown at a specified Zener Voltage.
v Generally Zener Voltage ranges from 0 volts to
200 volts.
v As long as the current through the diode is
limited by the external resistance in the circuit
within permissible values, it does not burn out.

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 Zener Diode Applications

1. Voltage Stabilizer or Regulator.

2. Peak Clipper.
3. Switching Operation.
4. Reference Element.
5. Meter Protection.

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 Voltage Regulator

It has the ability to maintain a constant

output even when either the input voltage
or load varies.
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• A voltage regulator provides a constant
voltage from a source whose voltage
may vary appreciably.

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Example

Zener Diode 9 गु वार, 11 फरवर 2010

Zener Diode 10 गु वार, 11 फरवर 2010
• This voltage (82.5 V) is more than
VZ (= 60 V).
• Hence, diode is ‘ON’.
• Replace the diode by its equivalent.

गु वार, 11 फरवर 2010 Zener Diode 11

Zener Diode 12 गु वार, 11 फरवर 2010
Zener Diode 13 गु वार, 11 फरवर 2010
Zener Diode 14 गु वार, 11 फरवर 2010
This is more than VZ. Hence diode is
‘ON’. We now calculate the minimum
value of zener current.
Zener Diode 15 गु वार, 11 फरवर 2010
Zener Diode 16 गु वार, 11 फरवर 2010
When V1 becomes 120 V :

Zener Diode 17 गु वार, 11 फरवर 2010