19 May 2018

Difference between transistor and diode

The main difference between diode and transistor is that transistor is a three terminal device which passes current from high resistance region to low resistance region while the diode is a two-terminal device which current in only one direction from the anode to the cathode. This article gives the difference between the transistor and diode to know more details about it.

Definition :
  • A transistor is a semiconductor device which transfers the weak signal from low resistance circuit to high resistance circuit.
  • A diode is also a semiconductor device in which current flows only in one direction. 
Terminal :
  • Transistor has three terminal Base, Emitter and Collector.
  • A diode has two terminals anode and cathode.
Region :
  • Transistor cover the region in the emitter, collector, and base.
  • A diode has two region - P- region and N-region.
Formation :
  • Transistor is formed by sandwiching a layer of P-types and N-types material between two N-type or P-type material on either end.
  • a diode is formed by joining a P-type semiconductor with an N-type semiconductor.
Types :
  • Transistor has two types of bipolar transistors and also a field-effect transistor.
  • The diode has many types like Light-emitting diode, a Zener diode, tunnel diode, varactor diode, Schottky diode, junction diode.
Depletion region :
  • Transistor has two depletion regions.
  • The diode has one depletion region.
A number of junction :
  • Transistor has two junction, one in between emitter and base and other in between base and collector.
  • Diode has only junction P and N types of semiconductor.
Uses :
  • The transistor must be used amplifier, switches, regulator, rectification, oscillator.
  • Diode must be used clipping, clamping, voltage rectifier, voltage multipliers, non linear mixing of two voltage.
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