Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
Macadangdang
Course:BSSoftwareEngineering
HomeworkinEE3105
September9,2015
What is a Diode?
A Diode is the simplest two-terminal unilateral semiconductor device. It allows current to flow
only in one direction and blocks the current that flows in the opposite direction. The two terminals of
the diode are called as anode and cathode. The symbol of diode is as shown in the figure below.
The characteristics of a diode closely match to that of a switch. An ideal switch when open
does not conduct current in either directions and in closed state conducts in both directions. The
characteristic of a diode is as shown in the figure below.
Ideally, in one direction that is indicated by the arrow head diode must behave short circuited
and in other one that opposite to that of the direction of arrow head must be open circuited. By ideal
characteristics, the diodes is designed to meet these features theoretically but are not achieved
practically. So the practical diode characteristics are only close to that of the desired.