Diodes (11)

The Schottky Diode

The Schottky Diode is another type of semiconductor diode which can be used in a variety of wave shaping, switching and rectification applications the same as any other junction diode. The main adavantage is that the forward voltage drop of a Schottky Diode is substantially less ...

Diode Clipping Circuits

This diode clipping of the input signal produces an output waveform that resembles a flattened version of the input. For example, the half-wave rectifier is a clipper circuit, since all voltages below zero are eliminated. But Diode Clipping Circuits can be used a variety of appl...

Bypass Diodes in Solar Panels

This use of bypass diodes allows a series (called a string) of connected cells or panels to continue supplying power at a reduced voltage rather than no power at all. Bypass diodes are connected in reverse bias between a solar cells (or panel) positive and negative output termin...

The Light Emitting Diode

The light emitting diode is the most visible type of semiconductor diode. They emit a fairly narrow bandwidth of either visible light at different coloured wavelengths, invisible infra-red light for remote controls or laser type light when a forward current is passed through them...

The Zener Diode

However, the Zener Diode or "Breakdown Diode", as they are sometimes referred too, are basically the same as the standard PN junction diode exept that they are specially designed to have a low and specified Reverse Breakdown Voltage which takes advantage of any reverse voltage ap...

Full Wave Rectifier

The full wave rectifier converts both halves of each waveform cycle into pulsating DC signal using four rectification diodes. In the previous power diodes tutorial we discussed ways of reducing the ripple or voltage variations on a direct DC voltage by connecting smoothing capaci...

Power Diodes and Rectifiers

Previously we saw that a semiconductor diode conducts current in one direction only when forward biased from anode to cathode, but not in the reverse direction acting a bit like an electrical one way valve. One widely used application of this feature and the power diode in genera...

The Signal Diode

The semiconductor Signal Diode is a small non-linear semiconductor devices generally used in electronic circuits, where small currents or high frequencies are involved such as in radio, television and digital logic circuits. Signal diodes in the form of the Point Contact Diode o...

PN Junction Diode

The PN junction diode consists of a p-region and n-region separated by a depletion region where charge is stored. The effect described in the previous tutorial is achieved without any external voltage being applied to the actual PN junction resulting in the junction being in a st...

PN Junction Theory

This tutorial about PN junction theory shows that when silicon is doped with small amounts of Antimony, an N-type semiconductor material is formed, and when the same silicon material is doped with small amounts of Boron, a P-type semiconductor material is formed. This is all wel...