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Pro Electron: Component Designation System

The Association Internationale Pro Electron is the European type designation and registration system for active
components (semiconductors, sensor devices, and cathode ray tubes, etc.). The part numbering system provides a
concise and unambiguous type designation to the components.
The system administered by Pro Electron is described below.
A basic type number consists of two letters followed by a serial number
1 MATERIAL
The first letter indicates the semiconductor material used in the device:

Germanium or other material with a band gap of 0.6-1.0 eV

Silicon or other material with a band gap of 1.0-1.3 eV
Gallium-arsenide or other material with a band gap of more than 1.3 eV
Ceramic
Compound materials such as cadmium- sulfide

2 FUNCTION
The second letter indicates the general function of the device:
Second Letter

Device

Function

Diode

Signal, Low Power

Diode

Variable Capacitance

Transistor

Low power, Audio frequency

Transistor

Power, Audio frequency

Diode

Tunnel

Transistor

Low Power, Radio Frequency

Multiple Devices

Miscellaneous Devices

Diode

Magnetic Device

Capacitor

Transistor

Mixer

Photocoupler

Radiation sensitive device

Power, Radio Frequency

e.g. Photodiode, phototransistor

Photoconductive cell, or
Radiation detector diode

Radiation generating device

Light Emitting Diode, Laser

Control and Switching Device

Low Power
e.g. Thyristors , Diacs , Triacs

Transistor

Low power, Switching

Controlling and Switching Device

Power
e.g. Thyristors , Triacs

Transistor

Antennas

Power, switching

Surface acoustic wave device

Diode

Multiplier (e.g. Varactor , step recovery )

Diode

Rectifier, Booster, or efficiency diode

Diode

Voltage reference or voltage regulator,

Transient suppressor diode

3 SERIAL NUMBER
The remainder of the type number is a serial number, which lies in one of the following two groups:

Devices intended primarily for use in consumer applications such as radio and T.V. receivers, audio
amplifiers, domestic appliances, etc. The serial number consists of three or four numbers.
Devices intended mainly for applications such as industrial, professional, and transmitting equipment. The
serial number consists of one letter (Z, Y, X, W, etc.) followed by two or three numbers.

4 RANGE NUMBERS
Whenever there is a range of variants of a basic type of a rectifier diode, thyristor or voltage regulating diode:-

The type number is often used to identify the range

Further letters and numbers are added after a hyphen to identify associated types within the range.

These additions are as follows:

Voltage Reference Diodes and Voltage Regulator Diodes:

One Letter and One Number, preceded by a hyphen
The letter indicates the nominal percentage tolerance of the operating voltage V( z):o A - 1%
o B - 2%
o C - 5%
o D - 10%
o E - 20%
The number indicates the typical operating voltage, V(z), for each type at nominal operating current, I(z),
rating of the range. The letter V is used to indicate a decimal sign. Example: BZY74-C6V3

Transient Voltage Suppressor Diodes:

One Number, preceded by a hyphen. The number indicates the maximum continuous reverse (stand-off)
voltage V(R). Letter V is used to indicate the decimal point. Example: BZW70-9V1
Letter B can be used immediately after the last number to indicate the bi-directional suppressor diodes.
Example: BZW10-15B

Conventional and Controlled Avalanche Rectifier Diodes and Thyristors:

One Number, preceded by a hyphen. The number indicates the rated maximum repetitive peak reverse
voltage, V(RRM), or the rated repetitive peak off-state voltage, V(DRM), whichever is lower. Reverse polarity

with respect to case is indicated by a letter R, immediately after the number. Example: BTY80-100 or -100R

Radiation Detectors:
One number, preceded by a hyphen. The number indicates the depletion layer in m. The resolution is
indicated by a version letter. Example: BPX10-2A

Array of radiation detectors and generators:

One Number, preceded by a stroke (/). The number indicates the no. of basic devices, assembled into the
array. Examples: BPW50/6, BPW50/9

Radiation Generators:
One number, preceded by a hyphen. The number indicates the luminous intensity range in milli-candela
(MCD). Example: CQY54-1

High frequency power transistors:

One number, preceded by a hyphen. The number indicates the supply voltage. Example: BLU80-24