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How are Diodes formed?
When P Type and N Type materials join together
What is a Diode?
An electrical one way valve that results from interactions at the junction of the N Type and P Type material
Current can pass easily in one direction but:
It is blocked in the opposite direction
Why is the orientation of the battery in a circuit important?
Because current can only flow in one direction
What is it called if current is able to flow?
A Forward Biased
What must happen in order for the circuit to be forward biased?
The P type material should be connected to the battery’s positive terminal and the N type should be connected to the battery’s negative terminal
What is a P type material also known as?
The Anode
What is an N type material also known as?
The Cathode
What does the excess of electrons at the battery’s negative terminal do?
Repel the free electrons in the N type material and sends them towards the junction
The electrons in the N type material then cross over the junction to:
Fill the “holes” in the p type material, and current flows through the diode
What does reversing the diode’s connection to the battery do?
It creates a new set of conditons
Why do the N type material’s free electrons move away from the junction?
They are attracted to the opposite charge on the battery’s positive terminal
Since the electrons have moved away from the junction:
No electron transfer takes place there and current flow stops
What does a reverse bias refer to?
A situation in electronics where a voltage is applied across a diode in the opposite direction of its normal current flow, effectively blocking most current from passing through it
What is the most common application for diodes?
Rectification
What is Rectification?
The conversion of AC into DC
Since a code only permits current flow in one direction:
It will only pass either the upper or lower half of the waves
When current only passes either the upper or lower half of the waves, what is it called?
Half Wave Rectification
Four Diodes can be connected in a diamond configuration to:
Create a full wave rectifier, which is the foundation for most DC power supplies
What are Diodes also used for?
Rectification in automotive alternators
What happens in Automotive Alternators?
Generated AC is converted into DC to be used in the vehicle’s electrical system
A diode only outputs:
DC current
What will happen to any AC current that passes through a diode:
It will be converted to DC
Only the positive or negative values of the AC signal:
Will be output
