The zener diode is a special type of diode - for it is designed to operate at reversed biased condition.
Zener diode is specially designed to operate at its reversed breakdown voltage region. This voltage is known as the Zener voltage, Vz.
At this region, a change in zener diode current will cause only a small change in the zener voltage. The zener voltage is reasonably stable.
3.) Zener Breakdown
Two types of reverse breakdown are avalanche and zener breakdown.
Avalanch breakdown occurs at a sufficiently high reverse voltage while Zener breakdown occurs at low reverse voltages.
Zener breakdown occurs at low reverse voltages.
4.) Breakdown Characteristic
As reverse voltage is increased, zener begins to breakdown at Izk.
A minimum value of reverse current, Izk, must be maintained to keep the diode in breakdown.
Maximum current, Izm, must not be exceeded otherwise the diode will be damaged.
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