
Temperature-compensated zeners
The zener Diode and the TC zener Reference
393
with a collector voltage range of approximately +0.5 volt to +V
S2
. This collector voltage
is used to trigger the input of the 555 timer. Normally both the zener and the BJT are
not conducting, and no current flows through R
3
, thus the input to the timer is high
(+V
S2
). When a voltage occurs that is greater than the zener’s breakdown voltage
(V
Z
), the zener conducts current to the transistor’s base, turning it on. The zener cur-
rent (I
Z
) serves as the transistor’s base current (I
B
). Current then flows through resis-
tor R
3
, pulling the collector voltage down sharply, and trigger ...