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CHAPTER 3
SPECIAL DEVICES
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this chapter, you will be able to:
1. Explain the basic operation and the major applications of the Zener diode.
2. Describe the basic operation of the tunnel diode and the varactor.
3. Explain the basic operation of the silicon controlled rectifier and the TRIAC, and compare the
advantages and disadvantages of each.
4. List the five most commonly used optoelectronic devices and explain the uses of each.
5. Describe the basic operation, applications, and major advantages of the unijunction transistor.
6. Describe the basic operation, applications, and major advantages of the field effect transistor and the
metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor.
7. Explain the basic operation and the major applications of the Zener diode.
8. Describe. the basic operation of the tunnel diode and the varactor.
9. Explain the basic operation of the silicon controlled rectifier and the TRIAC, and compare the
advantages and disadvantages of each.
10. List the five most commonly used optoelectronic devices and explain the uses of each.
11. Describe the basic operation, applications, and major advantages of the unijunction transistor.
12. Describe the basic operation, applications, and major advantages of the field-effect transistor and the
metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor.
INTRODUCTION TO SPECIAL DEVICES
If you consider the sensitive nature and the various interacting properties of semiconductors, it should
not be surprising to you that solid state devices can be designed for many different purposes. In fact, devices
with special features are so numerous and new designs are so frequently introduced that it would be beyond
the scope of this chapter to describe all of the devices in use today. Therefore, this chapter will include a
variety of representative devices that are used extensively in Navy equipment to give you an idea of the
diversity and versatility that have been made possible. These devices have been grouped into three
categories: diodes, optoelectronic devices, and transistors. In this chapter each device will be described and
the basic operation of each one will be discussed.
