Practical Name : Investigation Of Diode and Zener Diode Characteristics Using Electronic Workbench Software
What is a diode?
A diode is a semiconductor device that essentially acts as a one-way switch for current. It allows current to flow easily in one direction, but severely restricts current from flowing in the opposite direction.
Diodes are also known as rectifiers because they change alternating current into pulsating direct current. Diodes are rated according to their type, voltage, and current capacity.
Diodes have polarity, determined by an anode (positive lead) and cathode (negative lead). Most diodes allow current to flow only when positive voltage is applied to the anode. A variety of diode configurations are displayed in this graphic:
What is a Zener Diode?
Zener diodes are a special kind of diode which permits current to flow in the forward direction. What makes them different from other diodes is that Zener diodes will also allow current to flow in the reverse direction when the voltage is above a certain value. This breakdown voltage is known as the Zener voltage. In a standard diode, the Zener voltage is high, and the diode is permanently damaged if a reverse current above that value is allowed to pass through it. Zener diodes are designed in a way where the Zener voltage is a much lower value. There is a controlled breakdown which does not damage the diode when a reverse current above the Zener voltage passes through a Zener diode.
What is the Electronics Workbench software?
It is a software for designing and analyzing electronic circuits. You can easily draw a circuit from simple lamp or LED to battery connection to more complex logic circuitries, audio or any kind of amplifiers. It has a library of commonly used components (switches, lamps, LEDs, Resistors and Capacitors, Diodes, Transistors to MOSFETs, Inductance and Transformers, logic and linear ICs, OpAmps and lots more). You don't have to worry about changing the values of resistors and capacitors in your design because you can change them easily.
You can select from wide range of type of Transistors in-built on it if you want to design your own one transistor amplifier or even a complete high power audio amplifier using the 2N3055. lt has built-in instruments also (DMM, Oscilloscope, Signal Generator, Logic Analyzer, Frequency Counter and so on). You can probe or connect the instruments in almost any part of the circuit to determine the level or shape of the signal passing through it.
Just imagine you are working on a physical workbench in a shop or laboratory, with Electronic Workbench you can do more without hassle.
I'm not a salesman of that product but I'd been using it for many years and I found that the NI Version is much better. `
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