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Types of Diode Tapan K. Sarkar, Robert
HOME Mailloux, Arthur A. Oliner,
Magdalena Salazar-Palma,
- a summary of the different types of diodes used in electronics with links to Dipak L. Sengupta
further in-depth pages on individual diodes with circuit design details.
MAGAZINE There are many different types of diodes that are available for use in electronics design. Different semiconductor
diode types can be used to perform different functions as a result of the properties of these different diode types.

Semiconductor diodes can be used for many applications. The basic application is obviously to rectify
REFERENCE AND waveforms. This can be used within power supplies or within radio detectors. Signal diodes can also be used for
TUTORIALS many other functions within circuits where the "one way" effect of a diode may be required.

- Antennas Diodes are not just used as rectifiers, as various other types of diode can be used in many other applications.
Some other different types of diodes include: light emitting diodes, photo-diodes, laser diodes and more as
detailed in the list below. amazon
- Cellular telecoms .co.uk .com
(inc PMR)
Many of the different types of diodes mentioned below have further pages providing in-depth information about
- Circuits them including their structures, method of operation, how they may be used in circuits, and precautions and tips
for using them in electronics design. More books ....
- Design principles
and processes
Types of diodes
- Electronic
components It is sometimes useful to summarise the different types of diodes that are available. Some of the categories may
overlap, but the various definitions may help to narrow the field down and provide an overview of the different
- Electronics diode types that are available.
manufacturing

Avalanche diode: The avalanche diode by its very nature is operated in reverse bias. It uses the
- Formulae and avalanche effect for its operation. In general the avalanche diode is used for photo-detection where the
general data avalanche process enables high levels of sensitivity to be obtained, even if there are higher levels of
associated noise.
- Radio broadcast
technology
Laser diode: This type of diode is not the same as the ordinary light emitting diode because it produces
coherent light. Laser diodes are widely used in many applications from DVD and CD drives to laser light
- Radio history pointers for presentations. Although laser diodes are much cheaper than other forms of laser generator,
they are considerably more expensive than LEDs. They also have a limited life. See related articles list
in left hand margin.
- Radio receiver
technology
Light emitting diodes: The light emitting diode or LED is one of the most popular types of diode. When
forward biased with current flowing through the junction, light is produced. The diodes use component
- Radio wave semiconductors, and can produce a variety of colours, although the original colour was red. There are
propagation also very many new LED developments that are changing the way displays can be used and
manufactured. High output LEDs and OLEDs are two examples. See related articles list in left hand
- RF technology and margin.
design

Photodiode: The photo-diode is used for detecting light. It is found that when light strikes a PN junction
- Satellites it can create electrons and holes. Typically photo-diodes are operated under reverse bias conditions
where even small amounts of current flow resulting from the light can be easily detected. Photo-diodes
can also be used to generate electricity. For some applications, PIN diodes work very well as
- Telecoms and photodetectors. See related articles list in left hand margin.
networks

PIN diode: This type of diode is typified by its construction. It has the standard P type and N-type areas,
- Test and but between them there is an area of Intrinsic semiconductor which has no doping. The area of the
measurement intrinsic semiconductor has the effect of increasing the area of the depletion region which can be useful
for switching applications as well as for use in photodiodes, etc. See related articles list in left hand
- Wireless margin.
technologies

Point contact diode: This type of diode is one of the most basic forms of diode in terms of its
construction but it performs in the same way as a PN junction diode. This type of diode consists of a
piece of N-type semiconductor, onto which a sharp point of a specific type of metal wire (group III metal)
is placed. As this physical junction is formed, some of the metal from the wire migrates into the
ELECTRONICS semiconductor and produces a PN junction. Point contact diodes have a very low level of capacitance
AND RADIO NEWS because the resulting junction is very small. As such this type of diode is ideal for many radio frequency
(RF) applications. The downside of the small junction is that they cannot carry high levels of current but
they have the advantage that they are very cheap to manufacture, although their performance is not
particularly repeatable.
EXHIBITIONS
CALENDAR
PN Junction: The standard PN junction may be thought of as the normal or standard type of diode in
use today. These diodes can come as small signal types for use in radio frequency, or other low current
applications which may be termed as signal diodes. Other types may be intended for high current and
high voltage applications and are normally termed rectifier diodes. See related articles list in left hand
margin.
JOBS

Rectifier diode: This definition refers to diodes that are used in power supplies for rectifying alternating
power inputs. The diodes are generally PN junction diodes, although Schottky diodes may be used if low
voltage drops are needed. They are able to rectify current levels that may range from an amp upwards.

BOOK SHOP
Schottky diodes: This type of diode has a lower forward voltage drop than ordinary silicon PN junction

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Types of Diode:: Radio-Electronics.Com Page 2 of 2

diodes. At low currents the drop may be somewhere between 0.15 and 0.4 volts as opposed to 0.6 volts
BOOKS BY IAN for a silicon diode. To achieve this performance they are constructed in a different way to normal diodes
POOLE having a metal to semiconductor contact. They are widely used as clamping diodes, in RF applications,
and also for rectifier applications.

Signal diode: This for of diode is used for small signal applications where small values of current are
ABOUT US drawn. Diodes with the description of signal diode are generally the standard PN junction diode types.

Step recovery diode: A form of microwave diode used for generating and shaping pulses at very high
frequencies. These diodes rely on a very fast turn off characteristic of the diode for their operation.

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Tunnel diode: Although not widely used today, the tunnel diode was used for microwave applications
where its performance exceeded that of other devices of the day. See related articles list in left hand
margin.

Varactor diode or varicap diode: This type of diode is used in many radio frequency (RF) applications.
LINKS The diode has a reverse bias placed upon it and this varies the width of the depletion layer according to
the voltage placed across the diode. In this configuration the varactor or varicap diode acts like a
capacitor with the depletion region being the insulating dielectric and the capacitor plates formed by the
extent of the conduction regions. The capacitance can be varied by changing the bias on the diode as
this will vary the width of the depletion region which will accordingly change the capacitance. See related
articles list in left hand margin.

Zener diode: The Zener diode is a very useful type of diode as it provides a stable reference voltage.
As a result it is used in vast quantities. It is run under reverse bias conditions and it is found that when a
Related articles certain voltage is reached it breaks down. If the current is limited through a resistor, it enables a stable
voltage to be produced. This type of diode is therefore widely used to provide a reference voltage in
Summary of types of power supplies. Two types of reverse breakdown are apparent in these diodes: Zener breakdown and
diodes Impact Ionisation. However the name Zener diode is used for the reference diodes regardless of the form
of breakdown that is employed. See related articles list in left hand margin.
PN junction diode

Zener diode Summary

Gunn diode Semiconductor diodes are widely used throughout all areas of the electronics industry from electronics design
through to production and repair. The semiconductor diode is very versatile, and there are very many variants
and different types of diode that enable all the variety of different applications to be met. The different diode
IMPATT diode types of types of diodes include those for small signal applications, high current and voltage as well as different
types of diodes for light emission and detection as well as types for low forward voltage drops, and types to give
Laser diode variable capacitance. In addition to this there are a number of diode types that are used for microwave
applications. From this it can be seen that the semiconductor diode is a particularly versatile form of electronics
LED - light emitting component that can be used in many areas of electronics.
diode

Avalanche Photodiode

Photo diode

PIN diode

Schottky barrier diode

Step recovery diode

Tunnel diode

Varactor diode

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