What is Semiconductor Diode?:

The Semiconductor Diode (Silicon Rectifier) described here in Fig 11.2(a) are based on the property of p-type and n-type materials in conjunction. An ideal diode presents zero impedance to current flow in one direction and infinite impedance in the opposite direction. A practical diode has a very low forward resistance and has a voltage drop of 0.3 to 0.7 V at all current levels and a reverse current of a few milliamperes when blocking voltage (or peak reverse voltage) is around 1 kV.

What is Semiconductor Diode

The v-i characteristic of a Semiconductor Diode and its idealized form, commonly employed in diode circuit analysis, are shown in Figs. 11.2(b) and (c) respectively. The voltage rating (maximum 5 kV), is fixed by the reverse characteristic in terms of the break-down voltage.

The main Parameters of Diode are:

  • Blocking voltage,
  • Average forward current and
  • Maximum operating junction temperature (nearly 125 °C for most silicon rectifiers).

Protection is necessary against voltage surges, overcurrents and excessive temperature rise. A “free-wheeling” diode is commonly used in motor control systems to provide an alternate path for continuity of current in the inductive circuit following the switching-off of some power device between the motor and the energy source.

The zener diode, though not a true power controlling device, is quite often used as a voltage control and sensing device in many motor controllers.

Related posts:

  1. Semiconductor Temperature Sensing Diode
  2. DC Load Line Analysis of Semiconductor Diode
  3. Temperature Effect on Semiconductor Diode
  4. AC Equivalent Circuit of Semiconductor Diode
  5. Semiconductor Diode Specifications
  6. Testing of Semiconductor Diode
  7. What is Semiconductor Memory?
  8. Introduction to Semiconductor Materials and Devices
  9. Conductor Semiconductor and Insulator
  10. P Type and N Type Semiconductor
  11. PN Junction Semiconductor
  12. Power Supply Source Effect in Semiconductor
  13. Semiconductor Diodes in Static Relays
  14. Carrier Concentration in Intrinsic Semiconductor
  15. Fermi Level in Extrinsic Semiconductor
  16. Carrier Lifetime in Semiconductor
  17. Continuity Equation in Semiconductor
  18. Metal Insulator Semiconductor Field Effect Transistors (MISFETs)
  19. Power Semiconductor Devices Interview Questions and Answers
  20. Semiconductor Physics Interview Questions and Answers