Question
Which of the following is a common use of a Schottky diode?
Answer Options
- A) In oscillator circuits as the negative resistance element
- B) As a variable capacitance in an automatic frequency control circuit
- C) In power supplies as a constant voltage reference
- D) As a VHF/UHF mixer or detector
Correct Answer: D
Explanation
A Schottky diode (or hot-carrier diode) is a metal-semiconductor junction characterized by extremely fast switching speed and very low junction capacitance. These two features make it ideal for high-frequency signal processing, where conventional PN junction diodes are too slow due to charge storage effects.
Because of its speed and low capacitance, a common use of a Schottky diode is as a VHF/UHF mixer or detector. It is often employed in the first stages of high-frequency receivers for frequency mixing or envelope detection, where its fast response minimizes conversion loss and improves overall performance.
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