The Diodes having P-N junction are the most popular types of diode used so far in various applications. One of those types of circuits is the PIN diode. This diode is used in a wide range of areas. It is very good in the applications of RF switching, and the structure is useful in photodiodes.
| Table of Contents |
What is PIN Diode?
A PIN diode can be defined as:
A diode with a wide and undoped intrinsic semiconductor region between a p-type and an n-type semiconductor region.
It has an undoped intrinsic semiconductor region between a p-type and an n-type semiconductor.
- The PIN diode was first used in the year 1952 as a low frequency and high power rectifier. It was even used for microwave applications and as a photodetector as it is said to be a good light absorber.
- A PIN diode is a type of diode having undoped intrinsic semiconductor region placed between two regions called p-type semiconductor and the n-type semiconductor region. These two regions are primely heavily doped as they find applications for ohmic contacts.
Characteristics of Pin Diode
Some of the PIN Diode characteristics are given in the points below.
- The capacitance of PIN diode is independent of bias level as the net charge is said to be very less in the intrinsic layer
- PIN diode possesses very low reverse recovery time
- The Diode obeys the standard diode equation for all the low-frequency signals.
- This diode appears more like a resistor than any other non-linear device and is said to produce no distortion or rectification.
Structure and Working of a Pin Diode
The PIN diode comprises a semiconductor diode having three layers naming the P-type layer, Intrinsic layer and N-type layer, as shown in the figure below. The P and N regions are there, and the region between them consists of the intrinsic material, and the doping level is said to be very low in this region. The thickness of the intrinsic layer is very narrow, which ranges from 10 – 200 microns. The P region and the N-type regions are known to be heavily doped.
The changes in the properties of the diode are known from the intrinsic material. These diodes are made of silicon. The intrinsic region of the PIN diode acts like an inferior rectifier which is used in various devices such as attenuators, photodetectors, fast switches, high voltage power circuits, etc.
You may also want to check out these topics given below!
- How do Diodes Work as a Rectifier?
- Uses of diode
- Semiconductor Diode – Forward Bias and Reverse Bias
- Difference Between Diode and Rectifier
Applications of PIN Diode
PIN Diode has a wide range of applications coming in various fields of physics like radio frequency switch, microwave switch, radiofrequency attenuator, microwave attenuator, photodetector, etc. Some applications are given below:
- These diodes are used in the RF and also for microwave switches and microwave variable attenuators since they are said to have low capacitance.
- They are used in Photodetectors and photovoltaic cells, and the PIN photodiodes are used for fibre optic network cards and switches.
- These diodes are effectively used for RF protection circuits, and they can also be utilized as an RF switch.
- The PIN photodiode is also used to detect X-rays and gamma rays photons.
Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs
Name the material that is used in the PIN diode
How many layers of semiconductors are there in the PIN diode?
What happens to the resistance of the PIN diode with a positive bias voltage?
What is the forward resistance of the PIN diode?
What is the value of forwarding current in frequency models?
where,
- μP is the mobility of p-type charge carriers
- μN is the mobility of n-type charge carriers.
What happens in the PIN diode for the low-frequency model?
When does the PIN diode act as a variable capacitor?
When does the PIN diode act as a variable resistor?
Put your understanding of this concept to test by answering a few MCQs. Click ‘Start Quiz’ to begin!
Select the correct answer and click on the “Finish” button
Check your score and answers at the end of the quiz
Visit BYJU’S for all Physics related queries and study materials
Your result is as below
Comments