Diode characteristics. As I have previously said, a diode is an electro component that has two active channels, anode and a cathode, but sometimes has three channels where the other channel only functions as a heater, where an electric current can flow in it and is usually used because of its nature that allows current to flow only one direction, against the flow of another.
To make an electronic device, many of the electronic designers use the basic material taken from semiconductor materials, be it Germanium (Ge), Silicon (Si) and so on, where these semiconductor materials have the same valence electrons. The connection of type P and Type N semiconductor materials that underlie an active electronic device is called a diode.
The diode has an anode electrode that has a positive pole and a cathode electrode that has a negative pole. The diode symbol can be described as follows:
In applying its voltage, the diode has characteristics. There are two characteristics of a diode, namely as follows:
1. Diode Forward Bias.
Is a way of applying external voltage to the diode terminals. If the anode is connected to the positive pole of the battery, and the cathode is connected to the negative pole of the battery, then the diode state is called forward bias. Current flows from the anode to the cathode, and the action is the same as a closed circuit. In this bias condition, there will be a current flow provided that the voltage difference applied to the diode will always be positive.
2. Diode Reverse Bias.
Conversely, if the anode is given a negative voltage and the cathode is given a positive voltage, the current that flows is much smaller than the forward bias condition. This bias is called reverse bias in the forward current. The battery voltage is provided with neither too large nor significant increase.
As a characteristic of the diode, when it is reverse, the resistance value of the diode is relatively large and this diode cannot conduct electricity. The values obtained, both current and voltage, should not be exceeded because it will damage the diode.
This is a brief explanation of the characteristics of the diode. Also follow other articles about how diodes and photodiodes work.