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  • Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT) – Structure, Operation & Applications

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    John Mulindi
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    IGBT is a voltage controlled device. It has high input impedance like a MOSFET and low on-state conduction losses like a BJT. In other words, this power device combines the voltage control of the MOSFET gate with the superior conduction characteristics of the bipolar device. Nonetheless, the IGBT utilizes injected-charge modulation in the base region…

  • PIN Diode – Features & Applications

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    John Mulindi
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    PIN diode is characterized by fast low capacitance switching. A PIN diode is fabricated in a similar fashion to a silicon switching diode with an intrinsic region added between the PN junction layers. This generates a thicker depletion region, the insulating layer at the junction of a reverse biased diode. This results in lower capacitance…

  • Schottky Diode – Features & Applications

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    John Mulindi
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    Schottky diode is fabricated as a metal-to-N junction rather than a P-N semiconductor junction. Also referred to as hot-carrier diodes, Schottky diodes are characterized by fast switching times (low reverse-recovery time), low forward voltage drop (normally 0.25 to 0.4 volts for a metal-silicon junction), and low junction capacitance. The forward voltage drop (VF), reverse-recovery time…

  • Soft-Core Processor on an ASIC vs. FPGA

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    John Mulindi
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    A soft-core processor can be executed via different semiconductor devices, such as an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) or a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). An ASIC is customized for a specific application, whereas the FPGA’s programmable logic blocks and interconnects allow a single FPGA to be used and reused in several different applications. On…

  • How Photoelectric Effect Impacts p-n Junctions

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    John Mulindi
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    When light strikes a semiconductor p-n junction, its energy is absorbed by electrons. Electrons and holes generated by light in the p-n junction are swept by the junction electrical field. Consequently, the current flows through the junction. The figure below illustrates the process of generating current in a photodiode. The figure above is a p-n…

  • Principle of Operation and Applications of a Laser Diode

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    John Mulindi
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    Laser diodes are PN junction devices under a forward bias. LASER is an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. Laser Diode Structure The laser diode structure can be divided into two categories: An example of an edge-emitting laser diode structure is shown in Figure 1.0 below. This type of structure is termed…

  • How the Photoelectric Effect Influences Semiconductors

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    John Mulindi
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    A photoelectric effect is any effect in which light energy is converted to electricity. When light strikes certain light-sensitive materials, it may cause them to give electrons or change their ability to conduct electricity or may cause them to develop an electrical potential or voltage across two surfaces. When a surface is exposed to electromagnetic…