diode
Current flows one-way
A diode is an electronic component that allows electric current to flow in only one direction.
The simplest type uses a semiconductor junction; others include vacuum tubes and light-emitting diodes (LEDs).
Diodes appear in circuits for rectification—converting alternating current to direct current—and for signal processing, voltage regulation, and protection against reverse polarity.
Semiconductor that glows
Oxidation electrode
- cathodeElectrode current exits through
- positiveAffirming or certain
- negativeOpposite of affirmative
- junctionPoint where things meet
forward · reverse · electrode · charge · terminal · band · stripe · marking
Metalloid in electronics
Semiconductor signal switch
- resistorCurrent-limiting circuit element
- capacitorCharge-storing circuit element
- LEDSemiconductor that glows
- schematicSimplified technical diagram
breadboard · amplifier · PCB · soldering · multimeter · prototyping · circuitry · microcontroller
Heat transfer through contact
- blockingImpeding forward progress
- thresholdPoint of beginning
- breakdownFailure or decomposition
- leakageUnintended fluid escape
saturation · voltage drop · avalanche · depletion · carrier · electron flow · diffusion · drift
Graphed oscillation pattern
- filteringSelective passage of elements
- smoothingReducing irregularities systematically
- rippleMinor surface disturbance
- power supplyElectrical energy delivery device
voltage regulator · demodulation · clamper · clipper · charging
LED
Semiconductor that glows
anode
Oxidation electrode
junction · forward · reverse · electrode · charge · terminal · band · stripe · marking · orientation
silicon
Metalloid in electronics
crystal · wafer · fabrication · intrinsic · extrinsic · tunnel · PIN
transistor
Semiconductor signal switch
- resistorCurrent-limiting circuit element
- capacitorCharge-storing circuit element
- LEDSemiconductor that glows
schematic · breadboard · amplifier · PCB · soldering · multimeter · prototyping · circuitry · microcontroller · oscilloscope
conduction
Heat transfer through contact
leakage · saturation · voltage drop · avalanche · depletion · carrier · electron flow · diffusion · drift
waveform
Graphed oscillation pattern
- filteringSelective passage of elements
- smoothingReducing irregularities systematically
- rippleMinor surface disturbance
power supply · voltage regulator · demodulation · clamper · clipper · charging
- electricityelectricity, battery, batteries, wire, wires
- electronicscomputer, resistors, capacitors, TVs, TV
- computer hardwareCPU, GPU, motherboard, RAM, hard drive
- electrical inventionslight bulb, telephone, radio, television, computer
- two or doubledual, double, duo, duet, duality
- Electricity HistoryMichael Faraday, Faraday, Benjamin Franklin, Franklin, Thomas Edison
dioderesistor
Current-limiting circuit element
capacitor · inductor · transistor · wire · transformer
- light-emitting diodesSemiconductors that glow electrically
- light emitting diodeSemiconductor that produces illumination
- laser diodeSemiconductor emitting focused light