(This answer goes with the earlier comment above.) 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. Definition: Zener diode is specially designed for operation in the breakdown region in reverse bias condition. Zener diodes acts like normal p-n junction diodes under forward biased condition. The voltage needed for this is called the breakdown voltage or Zener voltage. A made up Zener Diode (from standard diodes). 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. Because it is built with a known breakdown voltage it can be used to supply a known voltage. For sma… Definition: A special type of PN junction diode that operates in reverse biased mode, more specifically in breakdown region is known as Zener Diode. A diode is the ' © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins 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. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free! Zener diode - definition. Characteristics Curve Figure 8 shows a characteristic curve for a Zener diode. Useful when no Zener part (or the correct voltage) is not available. Definition of Zener diode in the Definitions.net dictionary. It has high resistance on one end and low resistance on the other end. 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. The amount of voltage required for reverse bias varies according to the Zener … Construction of a zener diode: Zener diode is a special purpose p-n junction diode. A zener diode is like a normal diode, but instead of being destroyed by a big reverse voltage, it lets electricity through. In order to achieve sharp breakdown voltage, it is properly doped. Its symbol is shown in the attached figure. A normal diode if operated in reversed biased will get destroyed. These devices are used to protect circuits by limiting the voltage and to also transform AC into DC. A diode is a two-terminal electronic component that conducts electricity primarily in one direction. 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. "The device was named after Clarence Zener, who discovered this electrical property. Zener Diode Definition: A heavily doped semiconductor diode which is designed to operate in reverse direction is known as the Zener diode. The constant voltage (V 0 = V Z) is the desired voltage across the load. 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. A diode is a semiconductor device which conducts in one direction only. 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. What does Zener diode mean? The Dictionary.com Word Of The Year For 2020 Is …. Figure 7.The schematic symbol for the Zener diode. What Does Amen Mean At The End Of A Prayer? Thus, a normal PN junction diode is considered as a unidirectional device. special type of diode that lies at the heart of voltage regulators and circuits generating the reference voltage for a differential amplifier The Zener Diode Characteristic A zener diode has two connections: a cathode and an anode. Semiconductorslike silicon and germanium are used to make the most of diodes. A Zener diode is a specially designed, highly doped PN junction diode. 'Nip it in the butt' or 'Nip it in the bud'. Even though they transmit current in a single direction, the way with which they transmit … Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible). 'All Intensive Purposes' or 'All Intents and Purposes'? Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021, Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way. A Zener Diode, also known as a breakdown diode, is a heavily doped semiconductor device that is designed to operate in the reverse direction. zener diode is a special type of device designed to operate in the zener breakdown region. This method is also useful when you need a Zener with a … Learn a new word every day. It is also called breakdown diode. Working Principle of Zener Diode When a PN junction diode is reverse biased, the depletion layer becomes wider. American Scientist C. Zener explained the phenomenon of the breakdown. 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. 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. “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. Why Do “Left” And “Right” Mean Liberal And Conservative? A Zener diode is a silicon semiconductor device that permits current to flow in either a forward or reverse direction. It is fabricated by using heavily doped p-side and n-sides of the diode. Definition of zener diode. Light-emitting diodes are p-n junctions that emit light when a current flows through them. Clarence M. Zener †1993 American physicist. If this reverse biased voltage across the diode is increased continually, the … a semiconductor diode that exhibits a sharp increase in reverse current at a well-defined reverse voltage: used as a voltage regulator. simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab. What made you want to look up zener diode? However, the Zener has unique reverse bias qualities that make it differ from the typical diode. 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. Accessed 10 Jan. 2021. Meaning of Zener diode. See more. 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. 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 … In the above circuit, the Zener diode of Zener Voltage V Z is connected across the load R L in reverse condition. Rectifier diodes may use a straightforward PN junction diode, or in some cases they may use a … If your language skills aren’t already top-notch, then this vocab quiz can get you up to speed! The figure below shows the circuit arrangement of the Zener diode as a regulator. Information and translations of Zener diode in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. Zener diode definition semiconductor used on British motorcycles for many years as a voltage regulator . The Zener will go into reverse bias at various voltages. 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. A diode is effectively like a valve for an electrical circuit.. Semiconductor diodes are the most common type of diode. 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. “Zener diode.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zener%20diode. The Zener diode can be defined as; it is a special kind of diode when we compare with other diodes. Imagine you're driving through a busy city looking for your friend's home on Light Bulb Avenue. 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. 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). “Capital” vs. “Capitol”: Do You Know Where You’re Going? 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 Several p-n junction diodes can be connected in series to make a rectifier (an electrical component that converts alternating current to direct current). Although in the real world, diodes can not achieve zero or infinite resistance. The flow of current in this diode will be in a forward direction or in reverse direction. An electronic device that can be used as a voltage regulator is the Zener diode, Figure 7. 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. 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. Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words? : a silicon semiconductor device used especially as a voltage regulator. A Zener diode is a semiconductor device which conducts in forward biased as well as reversed biased. Delivered to your inbox! When the diode is forward biased, it acts like a diode or a closed switch. After exceeding this voltage, current value rapidly increases. 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 semiconductor diode across which the reverse voltage remains almost constant over a wide range of currents, used especially to regulate voltage.