Zener Diode I-v Curve

June 26, 2024 Post a Comment

Zener diode i-v curve

A Zener diode operates just like a normal diode when it is forward-biased. However, a small leakage current flows through the diode when connected in reverse biased mode. As the reverse voltage increases to the predetermined breakdown voltage (Vz), current starts flowing through the diode.

What is a diode IV curve?

A diode is a semiconducting device which only allows current to flow through it in one direction. This can be seen in the I-V curve. At positive voltages, the curve rises exponentially, indicating that current is free to flow through the device. At negative voltages, the current remains nearly at zero.

What is Zener diode draw its characteristics curve?

A graph of current through vs the voltage across the device is called the characteristic of Zener diode. The first quadrant is the forward biased region. Here the Zener diode acts like an ordinary diode. When a forward voltage is applied, current flows through it.

Is the characteristic curve of Zener diode linear?

This reverse breakdown voltage point is used to good effect with zener diodes. Then we can see that the I-V Characteristic Curves for a silicon diode are non-linear and very different to that of the previous resistors linear I-V curves as their electrical characteristics are different.

What is VI characteristics of diode?

V-I Characteristics of P-N Junction Diode VI characteristics of P-N junction diodes is a curve between the voltage and current through the circuit. Voltage is taken along the x-axis while the current is taken along the y-axis. The above graph is the V-I characteristics curve of the P-N junction diode.

What is the conclusion of VI characteristics of Zener diode?

Result: The V-I characteristic of Zener diode indicates that characteristic of Zener diode in forward bias is same as PN junction diode. In reverse bias, a negligible constant current flow through the zener diode but the current becomes abruptly large at certain voltage. This voltage is called as zener voltage.

How do you draw an I-V curve?

Plot a graph between VF and IF taking VF on the x-axis and IF on the y-axis. The graph obtained is known as forward bias characteristic curve. Plot a graph between VR and IR taking VR on the negative x-axis and negative IR on the y-axis. The graph obtained is known as reverse bias characteristic curve.

Why is a diode graph curved?

This curve shows the variation of the diode current versus the voltage across the diode. On the right-hand side of the vertical axis (the current axis), a diode is forward biased because the voltage applied across it is positive. The left-hand side corresponds to reverse bias.

Is the IV graph of a diode linear?

Because the diode is a passive device, the I-V curve for a diode is obtained by a linear voltage sweep and is shown in Figure 1. When the applied voltage across the diode is greater than zero, i.e., VD>0 V D > 0 , the diode is said to be forward-biased.

What are zener diodes used for?

Zener diodes are widely used in electronic equipment of all kinds and are one of the basic building blocks of electronic circuits. They are used to generate low-power stabilized supply rails from a higher voltage and to provide reference voltages for circuits, especially stabilized power supplies.

What is Zener voltage called?

Voltage regulator diodes actively use this characteristic. Since this breakdown voltage is also called Zener voltage, voltage regulator diodes are also called Zener diodes. This voltage may be used as a constant voltage power supply or a reference voltage for electronic circuits.

Why Zener diode is used in reverse bias?

The Zener Diode is used in its “reverse bias”. Current starts to flow through the diode to limit this increase in voltage. Therefore the Zener diode will drain the current through it which is called a regulator. Thus, the Zener diode shows the voltage handling capacity.

Is the IV relationship of a diode linear or exponential?

As the plot above demonstrates, the relationship between a diode's current and voltage is not discontinuous. The relationship is exponential rather than linear, but current nonetheless increases smoothly from zero to large values.

Is VI characteristic a straight line?

Linear VI Characteristics The V-I curve is a straight line passing through the origin. An electronic component may exhibit linear characteristics only in a particular region. For example, a diode has a mostly linear behaviour in its operating region.

What happens to the slope of the IV curve for larger resistors?

If by “larger” you mean greater resistance, then the slope of the curve changes since R = V/I (the slope). If by “larger” you mean physically larger, then nothing is changed to the curve.

What is the VI relationship of a diode?

The current voltage relationship of a diode is I=Ix[exp(kTeV)−1] where e is charge on an electron, V is voltage applied, k is Boltzmann's constant, T is temperature in Kelvin.

How do you draw an IV characteristic of a pn junction diode?

Bring moving contact of potential divider (rheostat) near positive end and insert the key K Voltmeter V and micro-ammeter μA will give zero reading. Move the contact towards negative end to apply a reverse-bias voltage (VR) of 0.5 V, a feebly reverse current starts flowing. Increase VR in steps of 0.2 V.

Why is PN junction used?

A p-n junction diode allows electric current when it is forward biased and blocks electric current when it is reverse biased. This action of p-n junction diode enables us to use it as a rectifier.

What is the difference between the VI characteristics curve of a Zener diode and normal pn junction diode?

The major difference between PN junction and the Zener diode is that the PN junction diode allows current to pass only in the forward direction, whereas the Zener diode allows the current to flow both in the forward and the reversed direction.

What is the conclusion of Zener diode experiment?

Conclusion. The Zener diode, with its accurate and specific reverse breakdown voltage, allows for a simple, inexpensive voltage regulator. Combined with the right resistor, fine control over both the voltage and the supply current can be attained.