SEMICONDUCTOR DIODES

Adiode is a two-lead semiconductor device that acts as a one-way gate to electric current flow.  When a diode’s  anode lead is made more  positive in voltage than its  cathode lead—a condition referred to as  forward biasing—current is permitted to flow through the device. However,  if the polarities are reversed (the anode is made more negative in voltage than the cathode)—a condition referred to as  reversed biasing—the diode acts to block current flow.Diodes are used most commonly in circuits that convert ac voltages and current into dc voltages and currents (e.g., ac/dc power supply). Diodes are also used in voltage-multiplier circuits, voltage-shifting circuits, voltage-limiting circuits, and voltage-regulator circuits.