Starting Electronics

Diodes I

REVERSE^

VOLTAGE^

Vg

(BREAKDOWN

VOLTAGE)

(TRANSITION

VOLTAGE)

^

FORWARD

VOLTAGE

Figure

6.14

Plotting

the

reverse bias characteristics

for an

ordinary diode

is not

practical,

so

vie give

you the

characteristic

curve

here

137

need. But, yes youVe guessed it, diodes are not per-

fect

— when they are reverse biased so that they have

reverse voltages, reverse currents flow. So, to get a

true

picture of diode operation we have to extend the char-

acteristic

curves to include reverse biased conditions.

Reverse

biasing a diode means that its anode is more

negative

with respect to its cathode. So by interpolating

the

X-

and y-axes of the graph ...