A Zener diode‘s main function is to maintain a stable voltage across a circuit once the voltage reaches a specific threshold, known as the Zener voltage. This makes Zener diodes widely used as voltage regulators and voltage references in electronic circuits.
Primary applications:
- Voltage regulation: To keep the voltage stable in a circuit, even if the input voltage fluctuates.
- Voltage reference: To provide a precise, stable voltage reference for other components.
- Waveform shaping: To modify the shape of an electrical signal.