A Zener Diode is a diode that allows voltage to flow from anode to cathode under normal circumstances, but also allows voltage to reverse direction (called the Zener effect) when it reaches its Zener Voltage. They are commonly used in voltage reference circuits.

The voltage drop remains relatively constant under varying current.

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The Schottky diode also known as hot carrier diode, is a semiconductor diode with a low forward voltage drop and a very fast switching action. The cat's-whisker detectors used in the early days of wireless and metal rectifiers used in early power applications can be considered primitive Schottky diodes.

When forward current flows through a solid-state diode, there is a small voltage drop across its terminals. A silicon diode has a typical voltage drop of 0.6–0.7 V, while a Schottky diode has a voltage drop of 0.15–0.45 V. This lower voltage drop can be used to give higher switching speeds and better system efficiency.

The Schottky diode is often used as a voltage limiter (aka clamp or bypass diode), in reverse bias.

See Schottky_diode on Wikipedia.

When something is Schott (shot), it typically will drop

Hint: The wrong answers all go in the same direction: Higher, More and Longer.

The correct answer goes opposite with 'Less'.

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All diodes, not just LEDs, have a characteristic forward voltage drop caused by the band gap of the semiconductor material used. The band gap is the amount of energy required to excite electrons from a lower energy "orbit" to a higher energy state. e.g. silicon's voltage drop is about 0.7V and germanium's is about 0.3.

The other answers (other than Band gap) are all characteristics which have nothing to do with forward voltage drop.

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In electronics, the following:

• a varicap diode
• varactor diode
• variable capacitance diode
• variable reactance diode
• tuning diode

are types of diode whose capacitance varies as a function of the voltage applied across its terminals.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varicap

Hint: "V" in voltage, "V" in varactor diode.

Also think variable capacitor diode.

Logical hint: The word varactor is made of two main parts: "v" and "actor." I think of it as being voltage reactor. Reactor means that it reacts to changes, in this case changes in voltage.

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The I in PIN means intrinsic!

Wikipedia: A PIN diode is a diode with a wide, undoped intrinsic semiconductor region between a p-type semiconductor and an n-type semiconductor region. The p-type and n-type regions are typically heavily doped because they are used for ohmic contacts.

The wide intrinsic region is in contrast to an ordinary PN diode. The wide intrinsic region makes the PIN diode an inferior rectifier (one typical function of a diode), but it makes the PIN diode suitable for attenuators, fast switches, photodetectors, and high voltage power electronics applications because it has low junction capacitance.

Test Hint: PIN - 3 letters. Answer - 3 words

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A Schottky diode is a type of semiconductor diode with a low forward voltage drop and fast switching speed, due to its metal-semiconductor junction rather than a p-n junction.

In VHF (Very High Frequency) and UHF (Ultra High Frequency) applications, Schottky diodes are used as mixers or detectors because of their rapid response to changes in signal.

As a mixer, a Schottky diode combines two different frequency signals to produce new frequencies, typically the sum and difference of the original frequencies.

As a detector, it rectifies high-frequency signals into a DC voltage, which can be used to extract information from the modulated signal.

The diode's fast response and low voltage drop make it ideal for these high-frequency applications.

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Some of the power that flows through a junction diode is dissipated in the form of heat. If a diode becomes too hot it will be damaged or destroyed.

When a component is damaged, we may say "it let the smoke out." Think "smoke," think "fire." Think "fire," think "hot."

silly hint: Both the question and the correct answer contain the word junction

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A hot-carrier diode (Schottky diode) is used as a VHF/UHF mixer or detector. In construction, a metal–semiconductor junction is formed between a metal and a semiconductor, creating a Schottky barrier (instead of a semiconductor–semiconductor junction as in conventional diodes).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schottky_diode

Hint: "Semiconductor" is in the answer. Think a barrier made out of metal!!

Hint 2: Schottky and Semiconductor both start with S.

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Point contact diodes are derived from crystal detectors and are good high frequency detectors. The key word is "detector"

Complete explanation here: https://electronicscoach.com/point-contact-diode.html

Hint: to make "Contact" between two "Points" you'll need a "Detector"

Hint: "Diode" and "Detector" both start with D.

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A PIN diode is a semiconductor device that operates as a variable resistor at RF and microwave frequencies. One common use for PIN diodes is as an RF switch. (E6B12)The characteristic of a PIN diode that makes it useful as an RF switch or attenuator is a large region of intrinsic material. (E6B05) The forward DC bias current is used to control the attenuation of RF signals by a PIN diode. (E6B11)

Remember that you can have both an AC and a DC component of current flow in a circuit. In this case, a DC component is used to control the AC component.

Hint: Think of "control the current" (only answer that has "current" in it.

Silly hack: You have to enter the PIN to move forward

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