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What are Diodes
Member rating: No Rating | Words: | Submitted: Wed Aug 27 2003
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The Symbol for a basic diode is: The Symbol for an LED is: A diode is an electronic device that permits current flow in only one direction. Most diodes are semiconductors. A diode has a low resistance to electric current in one direction and a high resistance to it in the reverse direction. This makes a diode useful as a rectifier, which can convert alternating current (AC) into direct current (DC). A diode using this property is called a Zener diode. It can be used to regulate the voltage in a circuit. Semiconductor diodes can be designed to have different characteristics. A varactor diode has a capacitance that is dependent upon the voltage across it. In another kind, the tunnel diode, the current through the device decreases as the voltage is increased within a certain range. This is called negative resistance and it is useful as an amplifier. Light-sensitive or photosensitive diodes...
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