DIAC

Diode for alternating current

By Upama Bose 13MPE0002

INTRODUCTION
A diac is an important member of the thyristor family. A diac is a two-electrode bidirectional avalanche diode which can be switched from off-state to the on-state for either polarity of the applied voltage.

The main characteristics are of the DIAC are as follows:

(i) Break over voltage (ii) Voltage symmetry (iii) Break-back voltage (iv) Break over current (v) Lower power dissipation
Although most DIACs have symmetric switching voltages, asymmetric DIACs are also available. Typical DIACs have a power dissipations ranging from 1/2 to 1 watt.

Construction of a Diac

A diac is a P-N-P-N structured four-layer, twoterminal semiconductor device. MT2 and MT1 are the two main terminals of the device. There is no control terminal in this device. This is just like a triac without gate terminal. The doping level at the two end P-layers is the same.

Operation of a Diac
When T1 is positive,current flow path is p-n-p-n For positive polarity of T2,current flow path is p-n-p-n+ When applied voltage in either polarity is small (less than breakover voltage)leakage current, flows through the device However, when the magnitude of the applied voltage exeeds the avalanche breakdown voltage, breakdown takes place and the diac current rises sharply

Characteristics of a Diac
Once the diac goes into conduction, the diac maintains an almost continuous negative resistance characteristic. It remains "in conduction" until the current through it drops below the holding current, IH. Most DIACs have breakover voltage around 30 V

MATLAB SIMULATION MODEL(1ST QUAD. CHARACTERISTICS)

MATLAB SIMULATION MODEL(3rd QUAD. CHARACTERISTICS)

TABLE-VALUES
Vd
0.1 0.5 0.8 0.9 1 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.6 1.7 -0.1 -0.5 -0.8 -0.9 -1 -1.1 -1.2 -1.3 -1.6 -1.7

Id
0 0 0 0.0095 0.01905 0.02867 0.0381 0.04762 0.0747 0.8571 0 0 0 0 -0.0095 -0.01905 -0.02867 -0.0381 -0.04762 -0.0747 -0.8571

PLOT of Vd vs Id
1 0.8 0.6

0.4

0.2

0 -2 -1.5 -1 -0.5 -0.2 0 0.5 1 1.5 2

Series1

-0.4

-0.6

-0.8

-1

Diac Applications
The diacs are used as triggering devices in triac phase control circuits,employed for:

lamp dimmer
heat control

universal motor speed control etc.

THANK YOU