Backward diode

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Circuit symbols

The backward diode ( backward diode ) is a special form of the tunnel diode . Despite the English vocabulary, the preferred international term is " back diode ".

Example characteristic of a backward diode

Compared to the normal tunnel diode, the characteristic current hump has been almost completely suppressed. As a result of this property, the backward diode has an approx. 0.5 V wide range in the current-voltage characteristic curve , in which it has an almost constant current that can be interpreted as reverse current . It should be noted that the characteristic curve image is rotated by 180 ° compared to the usual representation for the tunnel diode .

The backward diode is operated in the opposite direction, hence its name. The almost flat range of the characteristic curve up to a voltage of about 0.5 V is used as the blocking range. The characteristic then changes back to the exponential curve of a normal diode . The backward diode has a low forward voltage (low internal resistance) and continues to have the high speed of the original tunnel diode.

Their area of ​​application was primarily high frequency technology. It was used here as a rectifier , in mixer circuits or in envelope curve demodulators for low signal levels. With the development of alternative active semiconductor components in high-frequency technology , the importance of the backward diode has been almost completely lost and it is therefore difficult to obtain.

literature

  • Wolfgang Bauer, Hans Herbert Wagener: Components and basic circuits of electronics. Volume 1: Components. 2nd edition, Carl Hanser Verlag, Munich / Vienna 1981, ISBN 3-446-13305-4 .
  • Franz Moeller, Hans Fricke, Paul Vaske, Heinrich Frohne: Fundamentals of electrical engineering. 17th edition, Springer Fachmedien, Wiesbaden 1986, ISBN 978-3-519-36400-9 .
  • Michael Reisch: Electronic components. Function - basic circuits - modeling with SPICE, Springer Verlag, Berlin / Heidelberg 1998, ISBN 978-3-662-06988-2 .
  • Leonhard Stiny: Active electronic components . Design - structure - mode of operation - properties and practical use of discrete and integrated semiconductor components, Springer Fachmedien, Wiesbaden 2015, ISBN 978-3-658-09153-8 .

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