Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012. a semiconductor diode across which the reverse voltage remains almost constant over a wide range of currents, used especially to regulate voltage. Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way. Zener diodes have a well-defined breakdown voltage, so that current flows in the reverse direction at that voltage and a constant voltage can be maintained despite … Accessed 10 Jan. 2021. A made up Zener Diode (from standard diodes). Definition: Zener diode is specially designed for operation in the breakdown region in reverse bias condition. What made you want to look up zener diode? A diode is effectively like a valve for an electrical circuit.. Semiconductor diodes are the most common type of diode. If you are a student or simply want to learn how to solve Zener Diode tasks, please visit this sectionof our website where you can find a wide variety of electronic tasks. Even though they transmit current in a single direction, the way with which they transmit … Rectifier diodes may use a straightforward PN junction diode, or in some cases they may use a … The Zener will go into reverse bias at various voltages. Delivered to your inbox! It is fabricated by using heavily doped p-side and n-sides of the diode. After exceeding this voltage, current value rapidly increases. Its symbol is shown in the attached figure. Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021, Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition The Dictionary.com Word Of The Year For 2020 Is …. The constant voltage (V 0 = V Z) is the desired voltage across the load. “Capital” vs. “Capitol”: Do You Know Where You’re Going? Clarence M. Zener †1993 American physicist. Zener diodes acts like normal p-n junction diodes under forward biased condition. The Zener diode can be defined as; it is a special kind of diode when we compare with other diodes. The voltage needed for this is called the breakdown voltage or Zener voltage. The amount of voltage required for reverse bias varies according to the Zener … A diode is the ' Definition: A special type of PN junction diode that operates in reverse biased mode, more specifically in breakdown region is known as Zener Diode. Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible). The flow of current in this diode will be in a forward direction or in reverse direction. A Zener Diode is a special kind of diode which permits current to flow in the forward direction as normal, but will also allow it to flow in the reverse direction when the voltage is above a certain value – the breakdown voltage known as the Zener voltage. In the above circuit, the Zener diode of Zener Voltage V Z is connected across the load R L in reverse condition. An electronic device that can be used as a voltage regulator is the Zener diode, Figure 7. It was formerly widely used as a rectifier and detector but has now been replaced in most electrical circuits by the more efficient and reliable semiconductor diode. Light-emitting diodes are p-n junctions that emit light when a current flows through them. “Affect” vs. “Effect”: Use The Correct Word Every Time, “Misinformation” vs. “Disinformation”: Get Informed On The Difference, “DNA” vs. “RNA” vs. “mRNA”: The Differences Are Vital, The Most Surprisingly Serendipitous Words Of The Day. The figure below shows the circuit arrangement of the Zener diode as a regulator. When the diode is forward biased, it acts like a diode or a closed switch. Definition of Zener diode in the Definitions.net dictionary. (This answer goes with the earlier comment above.) Zener diodes are used for providing reference voltages, whilst varactor diodes are used to provide a variable level of capacitance in an RF design according to the reverse bias provided. A Zener Diode, also known as a breakdown diode, is a heavily doped semiconductor device that is designed to operate in the reverse direction. Definition of zener diode. What differs Zener diode from regular semiconductor diode is when Zener is reverse-biased, one can notice thatZener diode is able to conduct electricity after exceeding the specified voltage at the junction, so called Zener breakdown voltage without damaging the component. This needs to be taken into account if the circuit and equipment in which the Zener diode is to be used is subject to temperature change. Zener diode - definition. A normal diode if operated in reversed biased will get destroyed. 'All Intensive Purposes' or 'All Intents and Purposes'? In order to achieve sharp breakdown voltage, it is properly doped. See more. A diode is a semiconductor device which conducts in one direction only. Why Do “Left” And “Right” Mean Liberal And Conservative? The diode consists of a special, heavily doped p-n junction, designed to conduct in the reverse direction when a certain specified voltage is reached. Zener diode definition semiconductor used on British motorcycles for many years as a voltage regulator . Post the Definition of zener diode to Facebook, Share the Definition of zener diode on Twitter, Words From 1921: 100 Years Old and Still Around. However, the Zener has unique reverse bias qualities that make it differ from the typical diode. Figure 7.The schematic symbol for the Zener diode. zener diode is a special type of device designed to operate in the zener breakdown region. simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab. A Zener diode is a specially designed, highly doped PN junction diode. Instead, a diode will have negligible resistance in one direction (to allow current flow), and very high resistance in the reverse direction (to prevent current flow). Information and translations of Zener diode in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. When the voltage across the zener diode reached a certain point, the element would begin to conduct current ,routing it to ground, thus preventing the battery from overcharging. Useful when no Zener part (or the correct voltage) is not available. The Zener Diode Characteristic A zener diode has two connections: a cathode and an anode. the earliest and simplest type of electronic valve having two electrodes, an anode and a cathode, between which a current can flow only in one direction. American Scientist C. Zener explained the phenomenon of the breakdown. What Does Amen Mean At The End Of A Prayer? the act of a person who encloses something in or as if in a casing or covering, a school giving instruction in one or more of the fine or dramatic arts, a comic character, usually masked, dressed in multicolored, diamond-patterned tights, and carrying a wooden sword or magic wand, First recorded in 1955–60; named after U.S. physicist Clarence Melvin, Dictionary.com Unabridged A Zener diode contains a heavily doped p–n junction allowing electrons to tunnel from the valence band of the p-type material to the conduction band of the n-type material, such that the reverse voltage is "clamped" to a known value (called the Zener voltage), and avalanche does not occur. a semiconductor diode that exhibits a sharp increase in reverse current at a well-defined reverse voltage: used as a voltage regulator. Meaning of Zener diode. Zener diode temperature characteristic It can be seen in the example given that there is a noticeable difference between the specification for the Zener diode reverse voltage at 0°C and 50°C. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free! "The device was named after Clarence Zener, who discovered this electrical property. Imagine you're driving through a busy city looking for your friend's home on Light Bulb Avenue. Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words? Learn a new word every day. These devices are used to protect circuits by limiting the voltage and to also transform AC into DC. A zener diode is like a normal diode, but instead of being destroyed by a big reverse voltage, it lets electricity through. A Zener diode is a silicon semiconductor device that permits current to flow in either a forward or reverse direction. You see her location on the map but the actual streets have signs that only allow traffic to flow in one direction, the 'one way' street sign. special type of diode that lies at the heart of voltage regulators and circuits generating the reference voltage for a differential amplifier Several p-n junction diodes can be connected in series to make a rectifier (an electrical component that converts alternating current to direct current). Thus, a normal PN junction diode is considered as a unidirectional device. A diode is a specialized electronic component with two electrodes called the anode and the cathode.Most diodes are made with semiconductor materials such as silicon, germanium, or selenium.Some diodes are comprised of metal electrodes in a chamber evacuated or filled with a pure elemental gas at low pressure. It has high resistance on one end and low resistance on the other end. 'Nip it in the butt' or 'Nip it in the bud'. A zener diode is a special kind of diode which allows current to flow in the forward direction in the same manner as an ideal diode, but will also permit it to flow in the reverse direction when the voltage is above a certain value known as the breakdown voltage, "zener knee voltage" or "zener voltage. Construction of a zener diode: Zener diode is a special purpose p-n junction diode. Although in the real world, diodes can not achieve zero or infinite resistance. Because it is built with a known breakdown voltage it can be used to supply a known voltage. What does Zener diode mean? A diode is a two-terminal electronic component that conducts electricity primarily in one direction. If your language skills aren’t already top-notch, then this vocab quiz can get you up to speed! This method is also useful when you need a Zener with a … © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Zener diode definition, a semiconductor diode across which the reverse voltage remains almost constant over a wide range of currents, used especially to regulate voltage. For sma… Working Principle of Zener Diode When a PN junction diode is reverse biased, the depletion layer becomes wider. Zener Diode Definition: A heavily doped semiconductor diode which is designed to operate in reverse direction is known as the Zener diode. “Zener diode.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zener%20diode. Semiconductorslike silicon and germanium are used to make the most of diodes. It is also called breakdown diode. The Zener diode is a special type of diode that is designed to work in reverse bias and in the so-called Zener region of the diode characteristic curve. A Zener diode is a semiconductor device which conducts in forward biased as well as reversed biased. 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