BZX85B6V8-TAP

Diodes - Zener - Single: BZX85B6V8-TAP Application Field and Working Principle

Zener diode can be employed for voltage regulation or self-protection. BZX85B6V8-TAP is a special Zener diode with a breakdown voltage of 6.8V and power dissipation of 500mW. It is mostly used in signal rectification, signal switching and protection components.

Application Field

BZX85B6V8-TAP is primarily used in low-power critical applications and communication devices such as micro-controller units (MCUs), graphic processors, radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags, cellular networks, portable audio and handheld devices. It is also suitable for switching applications, integrated circuit (IC) protection, over-current protection, over-voltage protection and other specific applications when the voltage needs to be regulated.

Working Principle

Zener diode operates as a two-terminal electronic device, which consists of two main parts: anode and cathode. To understand its working principle, it is important to understand its construction. It contains two PN-junctions connected in series and share a common terminal, which is called their anode. This structure is called an antiparallel diode. As with other diodes, current flows from anode to cathode if the anode is more positive than the cathode. When the potential at the anode is greater than a certain breakdown voltage, the diode will start conducting current, regardless of the polarity.

When Zener diode is forward biased, the electric field across the junction causes the charge carriers to move out of the P-region into the N-region and eventually recombine, generating a net current flow. This process is called forward biased. When the diode is operated in the reverse polarity, it will allow current to flow from cathode to anode only if the applied voltage is greater than the breakdown voltage. This is called inverse conductivity.

The breakdown voltage is determined by the Zener junction construction and the amount of dopant ions used to form the junction. The BZX85B6V8-TAP Zener diode has the breakdown voltage of 6.8V, which means that it will start conducting current when the applied voltage is higher than 6.8V.

Features

BZX85B6VV-TAP is a low-power Zener diode with a power dissipation of 500mW and operating current range from 0 – 5mA. It also features low noise, fast recovery time, wide operating temperature range from – 55°C to +125°C, and low voltage steaming. It is available in the surface mount SOT-23 package.

Conclusion

The BZX85B6V8-TAP Zener diode is a reliable and cost-effective electronic component which can be used for a variety of applications in which a steady current is needed to be regulated at a particular voltage. It features a low power, small form factor, and wide operating temperature range, thus allowing it to be used in multiple types of consumer-grade and industrial applications.