Lesson 3

The Zener Diode

The Diode Characteristic
Learning Outcomes
• Describe the characteristic of a Zener diode
• Design a simple voltage regulator circuit based
on a Zener diode
Introduction
• Zener diode is a device designed exclusively to
operate in the reverse breakdown region
• It has a well controlled breakdown characteristic
• A zener diode can be used to obtain a reference
voltage
Circuit Symbol
• Zener diode circuit symbol
+ vD -
iD

iZ
- vZ +
Characteristic Curve
• Zener diode I - V curve

nominal Zener voltage

vZ VZ

IZK: knee current

IZT: test current

IZM: maximum
(rated) current
Slope = DiZ/DvZ = 1/rZ
iZ

rz is called the Zener dynamic

impedance (also denoted as ZZT)
Piecewise Linear Zener Model
• vZ = rZiZ + VZ0
nominal Zener voltage
vZ VZ

• VZ0 = A value close to IZK: knee current

knee voltage (VZK)

IZT: test current

IZM: maximum
(rated) current
Slope = DiZ/DvZ = 1/rZ
iZ

rz is called the Zener dynamic

impedance (also denoted as ZZT)
Approximate model
• If iZ > 0 then vZ = VZ
• Else if vZ < VZ, then iZ = 0
• With the approximate model, rZ = 0
Circuit Design with Zeners
• Use the approximate model for design
• Use the piecewise linear model for accurate
calculations
• Manufacturer’s data sheet usually specifies the
following quantities (in addition to other
electrical characteristics):
• IZK, IZT, VZ, rZ and PD
Manufacturer’s Data Sheet
(from General Electric)
Manufacturer’s Data Sheet
(from General Electric) …
Manufacturer’s Data Sheet
(from General Electric) …
Manufacturer’s Data Sheet
(from General Electric) …
Manufacturer’s Data Sheet
(from General Electric) ...
Applications: The Zener
Regulator
• Primary voltage sources
R S

vS

• Voltage source with voltage regulator

R S

+
V o lta g e
vS iL vo
R e g u la to r
-
Applications: The Zener
Regulator …
• A simple Zener regulator circuit

iS
R S R A
+
iZ +

vS V iL v o
Z

-
-
Design Guidelines
• For proper regulation
• iZ > IZK
• iZ < IZM
• i S = iZ + i L R S R A
iS

+
• i Z = iS – iL iZ +

vS  VZ vS V iL v o
iZ   iL
Z

RS  R A -
-
Design Example
• Design a Zener regulator that meets the
following specifications:
iS
• vS  [12 V, 15 V] R S R A
+
iZ +
• iL = [0, 20 mA]
vS V iL v o
v0 = 10 V
Z
• -
-
• RS = 20 

• Design problem is to find RA and Zener power

rating.
Design Example …

VZ  10 V
vS  VZ iS
iZ   iL R S R A
RS  RA +
iZ +

VS ,max  VZ vS iL v o
I Z ,max   I L ,min V Z

RS  R A -
-

15  10
I Z ,max  0
20  RA
5
I Z ,max 
20  RA
Design Example …

VS ,min  VZ
I Z ,min   I L ,max
RS  RA R S R A
iS

+
iZ +
12  10
I Z ,min   0.02 vS V iL v o
20  RA Z

-
-
2
I Z ,min   0.02
20  RA
Design Example …

5 iS
I Z ,max  R S R A

20  RA iZ +
+

vS iL v o
2 V Z
I Z ,min   0.02 -
20  RA -

• Two equations in three unknowns.

Design Example …
• Select a Zener diode with VZ = 10V (for example
1N4740)
• The power rating of the selected Zener (PD) and
the knee current (IZK)can be used in the design.
• With 1N4740 Zener, PD = 1W (data sheet)
• Then IZM = PD/VZ = 0.1 A
• IZK = 0.25mA (data sheet)
Design Example …
• Set R R
iS
S A

I Z ,max  I ZM iZ +
+

vS iL v o
I Z ,min  I ZK V Z

-
-

• And
• IZ,max is when RA = RA,min
• IZ,min is when RA = RA,max
Design Example …
• This gives,
iS
R R
• RA,min = 30  and S A
+
iZ +
• RA,max = 78 
vS V iL v o
Z

-
-

• Select a mid value for RA

• A possible value is RA = 56 
Revisit Design Problem

5 iS
I Z ,max  R S R A

20  RA iZ +
+

vS iL v o
2 V Z
I Z ,min   0.02 -
20  RA -

• Two equations in three unknowns.

Another method of solution
• Without selecting a Zener diode we could have
used the following Rule of Thumb:
• IZ,max = 10IZ,min

5  2 
 10    0.2
20  RA  20  RA 
iS
R S R A

RA  55  iZ +
+

• Select RA = 56  vS V iL v o
Z

-
-
Another method of solution …
• With RA = 56 
• IZ,max = 65.8 mA
• PD = VZIZ,max= 1065.8 = 658mW
Selecting a 1 W Zener gives a good safety margin.
• If 1N4740 is selected iS
R R
IZK = 0.25mA
S A
• +
iZ +
• IZ,min= 6.58 mA vS iL v o
V Z

•  IZ,min > IZK -

-

• Design complete!
Another Example
• vS  [12 V, 14 V]
• iL = [60 mA, 75 mA]
• v0 = 10 V
Design method
• We can write,

• One equation in two unknowns (iz and RA).

Design method …
• We can select a Zener diode which has VZ = 10 V
(say 1N4740).
• Then,

• Setting, iZ,max = 0.1 A, gives us RA = 25 

Validate the Design
• Check that RA = 25  gives
• IZ,min > IZK
• IZK = 0.25mA for 1N4740
• Check:
Next Lesson
• Lesson 4: Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) and
Photodiodes