A diode is a device that allows current to flow in one direction but not in the other. This ability makes diodes useful in many applications, including converting AC to DC, regulating voltages, and ...

The most demanding component in terms of high-frequency operation on an RF-ID tag is the rectifying device: this device needs to be able to charge a storage capacitor providing quasi-d.c. power supply ...

We have all had difficulty testing diodes in-circuit. Most DMM’s have a diode Vf function that measures forward drop, but what is the normal voltage drop? Analog VOM’s attempt to measure resistance of ...

It isn’t unusual to expect a precisely regulated voltage in an electronic project, but what about times when you need a precise current? Over on EDN, prolific [Stephen Woodward] explains how to use a ...

Nexperia has introduced 120V silicon germanium (SiGe) rectifier diodes “with reverse voltages that combine the high efficiency of their Schottky counterparts with the thermal stability of ...

A major cause of losses in a conventional power supply using a 50/60-Hz transformer is the bridge rectifier. This article shows how to build a “greener” rectifier, substantially reducing losses by ...

The history of the diode is a fun one as it’s rife with accidental discoveries, sometimes having to wait decades for a use for what was found. Two examples of that are our first two topics: thermionic ...

Scientists working at the Stanford Institute for Materials and Energy Sciences (SIMES) claim to have created a molecule-sized electronic component just a few nanometers long that conducts electricity ...

Alpha and Omega Semiconductor has announced a family of active diodes which can reduce the 1.2V forward drop of 600V bridge rectifiers. “Both products are self-powered from the AC line and do not ...

STMicroelectronics has introduced three radiation-hardened low-voltage rectifier diodes intended for power conversion and ...