ZENER DIODE

A Semiconductor Diode blocks current in the reverse direction, but will suffer from premature
breakdown or damage if the reverse voltage applied across becomes too high.
However, the Zener Diode or “Breakdown Diode”, as they are sometimes referred too, are
basically the same as the standard PN junction diode except that they are specially designed to
have a low and specified Reverse Breakdown Voltage which takes advantage of any reverse
voltage applied to it.
In the forward-biased direction, that is Anode is more positive with respect to its cathode, a Zener
diode behaves like a normal junction diode when the forward voltage VF across the diode exceeds
0.7 volts (silicon) causing the Zener diode to conduct. The forward current flowing through the
conducting diode is at its maximum determined only by the connected load. Thus, in the forward-
bias direction, the zener behaves like a regular diode within its specified current and/or power
limits and as such, the forward characteristics of a zener diode is generally of no interest.
However, unlike a conventional diode that blocks any flow of current through itself when reverse
biased, that is the Cathode becomes more positive than the Anode, as soon as the reverse voltage
reaches a pre-determined value, the zener diode begins to conduct in the reverse direction.
Since a zener diode is designed to work in the reverse breakdown region of its characteristic curve,
they have a fixed breakdown voltage, VZ value which is determined during manufacture. As the
reverse voltage across the zener diode increases from 0 volts to its zener breakdown voltage, a
small reverse or leakage current will flow through the diode which remains fairly constant as the
reverse voltage increases.
Once the reverse voltage applied across the zener diode exceeds the rated voltage of the device, a
process called Zener Breakdown occurs in the semiconductor depletion layer and a current starts
to flow through the diode to limit this increase in voltage.
The current now flowing through the zener diode increases dramatically to its maximum circuit
value (which is usually limited by a series resistor). Once zener breakdown occurs, the voltage
drop across the diode remains fairly constant even though the zener current, IZ through it can vary
considerably. The voltage point at which the voltage across the zener diode becomes stable is
called the “zener voltage”, (VZ). For zener diodes this breakdown voltage value can range from a
few volts upto a few hundred volts.
The point at which the zener voltage triggers the current to flow through the diode can be very
accurately controlled (to less than 1% tolerance) in the doping stage of the diodes semiconductor
construction giving the diode a specific zener breakdown voltage, ( VZ ) for example, 4.3V or
7.5V. This zener breakdown voltage on the I-V curve is almost a vertical straight line.
Zener Diode I-V Characteristics

The Zener Diode is used in its “reverse bias” or reverse breakdown mode, i.e. the diodes anode
connects to the negative supply. From the I-V characteristics curve above, we can see that the
zener diode has a region in its reverse bias characteristics of almost a constant negative voltage
regardless of the value of the current flowing through the diode.
This voltage remains almost constant even with large changes in current providing the zener diodes
current remains between the breakdown current IZ(min) and its maximum current rating IZ(max).
This ability of the zener diode to control itself can be used to great effect to regulate or stabilise a
voltage source against supply or load variations. The fact that the voltage across the diode in the
breakdown region is almost constant turns out to be an important characteristic of the zener diode
as it can be used in the simplest types of voltage regulator applications.
The function of a voltage regulator is to provide a constant output voltage to a load connected in
parallel with it in spite of the ripples in the supply voltage or variations in the load current. A zener
diode will continue to regulate its voltage until the diodes holding current falls below the
minimum IZ(min) value in the reverse breakdown region.

The Zener Diode Regulator

Zener Diodes can be used to produce a stabilised voltage output with low ripple under varying
load current conditions. By passing a small current through the diode from a voltage source, via a
suitable current limiting resistor (RS), the zener diode will conduct sufficient current to maintain a
voltage drop of Vout.
We remember from the previous tutorials that the DC output voltage from the half or full-wave
rectifiers contains ripple superimposed onto the DC voltage and that as the load value changes so
to does the average output voltage. By connecting a simple zener stabiliser circuit as shown below
across the output of the rectifier, a more stable output voltage can be produced.

Zener Diode Regulator

Resistor, RS is connected in series with the zener diode to limit the current flow through the diode
with the voltage source, VS being connected across the combination. The stabilised output
voltage Vout is taken from across the zener diode.
The zener diode is connected with its cathode terminal connected to the positive rail of the DC
supply so it is reverse biased and will be operating in its breakdown condition. Resistor RS is
selected so to limit the maximum current flowing in the circuit.
With no load connected to the circuit, the load current will be zero, ( IL = 0 ), and all the circuit
current passes through the zener diode which in turn dissipates its maximum power.
Also a small value of the series resistor RS will result in a greater diode current when the load
resistance RL is connected and large as this will increase the power dissipation requirement of the
diode so care must be taken when selecting the appropriate value of series resistance so that the
zener’s maximum power rating is not exceeded under this no-load or high-impedance condition.
The load is connected in parallel with the zener diode, so the voltage across RL is always the same
as the zener voltage, ( VR = VZ ).
There is a minimum zener current for which the stabilisation of the voltage is effective and the
zener current must stay above this value operating under load within its breakdown region at all
times. The upper limit of current is of course dependant upon the power rating of the device. The
supply voltage VS must be greater than VZ.
One small problem with zener diode stabiliser circuits is that the diode can sometimes generate
electrical noise on top of the DC supply as it tries to stabilise the voltage. Normally this is not a
problem for most applications but the addition of a large value decoupling capacitor across the
zener’s output may be required to give additional smoothing.
Then to summarise a little. A zener diode is always operated in its reverse biased condition. As
such a simple voltage regulator circuit can be designed using a zener diode to maintain a constant
DC output voltage across the load in spite of variations in the input voltage or changes in the load
current.
The zener voltage regulator consists of a current limiting resistor RS connected in series with the
input voltage VS with the zener diode connected in parallel with the load RL in this reverse biased
condition. The stabilised output voltage is always selected to be the same as the breakdown
voltage VZ of the diode.

Tutorial Example No1

A 5.0V stabilised power supply is required to be produced from a 12V DC power supply input
source. The maximum power rating PZ of the zener diode is 2W. Using the zener regulator circuit
above calculate:
a). The maximum current flowing through the zener diode.

b). The minimum value of the series resistor, RS

c). The load current IL if a load resistor of 1kΩ is connected across the zener diode.

d). The zener current IZ at full load.