Uses for diodes

[John Larkin]

On Thu, 25 Feb 2016 13:32:42 GMT, N0Spam@daqarta.com (Bob Masta)
wrote:

On Mon, 22 Feb 2016 20:39:09 -0000 (UTC), Chris
cbx@noreply.com> wrote:

Other than as a simple 'one-way current valve' in a circuit, what other
purposes can diodes be used for?

Nobody seems to have mentioned the ever-popular tunnel
diode! Back in the '60s-'70s they were the heart of
ridiculously-simple FM transmitters. I believe Tektronix
used them for fast rise-time calibrators, until they went
the way of the unijunction transistor. (Also wildly popular
for a while.)

I did mention "oscillator". The question was for "purposes", not
types.

TDs were great. You can still buy them, but they're not affordable.

Back diodes use tunneling and are manufactured as RF detectors. I
think they are the only planar, lithographically fabbed germanium
devices ever made.

Here's a Tek TD calibrator:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/53724080/Gear/Tek_TD_pulser.JPG

Still works!


--

John Larkin Highland Technology, Inc

lunatic fringe electronics

 

[Kevin Glover]

On Mon, 22 Feb 2016 20:39:09 -0000 (UTC), Chris <cbx@noreply.com>
wrote:

Other than as a simple 'one-way current valve' in a circuit, what other
purposes can diodes be used for?

Random Noise Generator

 

[Michael A. Terrell]

John Larkin wrote:

On Wed, 24 Feb 2016 02:40:16 -0500, "Michael A. Terrell"
mike.terrell@earthlink.net> wrote:


John Larkin wrote:

On Mon, 22 Feb 2016 20:39:09 -0000 (UTC), Chris <cbx@noreply.com
wrote:

Other than as a simple 'one-way current valve' in a circuit, what other
purposes can diodes be used for?

Variable capacitor. Step-recovery pulse generator. Temperature sensor.
Variable resistor. Frequency multiplier. Oscillator. Amplifier. Mixer.
Overload protector. Voltage reference. Current source. Light detector.
Solar cell. Light emitter. Heater. Cooler. Power source. Paperweight.


You forgot 'Stabistor' diodes.

I never claimed to include all possible uses.

I didn't say that you had.

But a stabistor is covered under "Voltage reference."

At a might higher tolerance than usually used in a circuit, without
using a precision IC reference. It looks like I need an obsolete one to
repair one of my triple output HP6236B power supplies. All outputs are
out of spec, and one goes into shutdown at a fraction of a volt. I
bought a couple defective ones, to repair. The other arrived without
the meter bezels, and the power switch turns itself off. Not a breaker,
just a miniature bat handle DPDT toggle switch that is also obsolete.
Maybe I should just part out the working 6237B for the parts for these
two?

 

[Michael A. Terrell]

Kevin Glover wrote:

On Mon, 22 Feb 2016 20:39:09 -0000 (UTC), Chris <cbx@noreply.com
wrote:

Other than as a simple 'one-way current valve' in a circuit, what other
purposes can diodes be used for?

Random Noise Generator

Usenet posts can also be used for a source of random noise.