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What happens when applied voltage across zener diode exceeds Zener voltage?
This is because when the reverse voltage applied across the zener diode exceeds the rated voltage of the device a process called Avalanche Breakdown occurs in the semiconductor depletion layer and a current starts to flow through the diode to limit this increase in voltage.
What is the effect on voltage across it is more than breakdown voltage?
When the zener diodes reverse breakdown voltage is reached the current flow will be very high (a short) effectively clamping the voltage across the diode to the breakdown voltage zener diode. This high current usually requires a resistor to limit the current to a maximum safe level for the type of zener diode.
What is done for Zener breakdown?
Zener breakdown occurs when the electric field near the junction becomes large enough to excite valence electrons directly into the conduction band.
What is the current, IZM, of a Zener diode?
Current : The current, IZM, of a Zener diode is the maximum current that can flow through a Zener diode at its rated voltage, VZ. Typically there is also a minimum current required for the operation of the diode. As a rough rule of thumb, this can be around 5 to 10 mA for a typical leaded 400 mW device.
How does Zener diode work?
Zener diodes behave much the same as ordinary silicon diodes and start conducting at around 0.7V
What is a voltage reference diode?
A voltage reference diode is a device that is able to maintain an accurate voltage level given a suitably wide range of reverse current through it. With this characteristic, a voltage reference diode is very useful in providing precision voltage levels, such as in regulated power supplies…
What is the value of a diode?
The value is different for other diode types— Schottky diodes can be rated as low as 0.2 V, germanium diodes 0.25 to 0.3 V, and red or blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs) can have values of 1.4 V and 4.0 V respectively.