Hello Friends. As we know diodes are the first semiconductors and transfer current in one direction only. The diagram below shows the schematic symbol of the diode.
Diodes are perfectly used in open circuits along with negative voltage and they seem to be open circuits. There are certain inefficiencies of diodes and due to this current-voltage relation is nonlinear. In this article, I will tell you the importance of diodes and why it is important to use diodes in electronic circuits. So without wasting any time let’s start.
Why Diodes are used in electronic circuits?
Diodes are electronic component that works in a one-way valve. They are helpful in the conduction of current in one direction only. A diode should be electrically and thermally operated according to the environment otherwise it cannot work. With the failure of the diode current can easily move in any direction and can damage other components also.
The following are some reasons why diodes work in electronic circuits:
- Forward and reverse biased
Diodes work in either forward direction or reverse but the condition is the flow of current in one direction only. Depending upon the voltage applied in the cathode or anode they can operate likewise. The voltage has a barrier of value 0.7. The following are two conditions for the application of voltage:
- If the voltage is applied above 0.7 at anode then the diode will operate in forwarding bias
- If the voltage is applied at the value of -0.7 at the cathode then the diode will operate in a reverse bias direction
What happens in the circuit?
In circuits, you can operate in any biased condition based on your requirement. If we want positive cycles then the circuit operates in the forwarding direction. Similarly, if the negative cycles are required then the circuit will operate in the reverse direction. This can also be used as a peak detector for the detection of the maximum voltage value.
- Diodes used for circuit protection
One of the reasons for using diodes are used in circuits is due to their ability to restrict the current to move in both directions. It has a built-in feature of moving current in one direction. Some of the electronic components damage or malfunction if the current flows in the wrong directions.
For example, current moving in the wrong direction can cause a microprocessor to out and fail. The microprocessors are also damaged because the radiation induces current moving in the wrong direction across the microprocessor.
Shunting
Diodes are not only helpful in protecting the current to move in the right direction but also electrically routed to redirect stray current into the useful current. This process is known as Shunting and it is only possible with diodes. So now the stray power is not grounded but rather used in rerouting.
How do you use the diode in the circuit?
The answer to this question is quite simple. Diodes are used depending upon our requirements. The simplest form of the diode is LED (Light Emitting Diode) and a resistor.
Method to use
- We can use one diode in order to provide the half-wave rectification of a sine wave. This method saves power and is also cheap.
- You can combine four diodes to make a bridge rectifier. It is the one you find for a better power supply.
- In order to make a am radio, you need to combine a germanium diode along with a coil and capacitors. When they combined to give high impedance.
Applications of diodes
The following are some applications of diodes:
- LED Flashlight
Light Emitting Diode flashlight is sourced from the LED. A photodiode accepts the light and converts it into current (a small one).
- Logic Gates
As we know that computers operate in binary ones and zeros. So in computers binary decision trees are based on logic gates that are enabled by diodes.
- Alternating Current to Direct current
- Mixing Signals
- Rectifying a voltage such as turning AC into DC voltages
- Controlling the size of signals
Conclusion
So dear friends we use diodes in a circuit for allowing the current to flow in one direction only and block the current in the opposite side direction. This is applicable to simple diodes in circuits. But sometimes some complicated and special diodes that allow current to flow in an even reverse direction if the voltage is low are called the breakdown voltage. In this case, also the flow of current is blocked in the reverse direction if the voltage applied is less than the value of breakdown one.