What is a Current Limiting Diode?
A current limiting diode, also known as a CLD, current regulating diode, diode connected transistor or constant current diode, regulates or limits current over a wide voltage range. Current limiting diodes consist of a JFET with the gate shorted to the source and function like a two-terminal current limiter or current source, much like voltage limiting Zener diodes. They allow a current passing through them to rise to a certain value and then level off at a specific value. Contrary to Zener diodes, these diodes keep the current constant instead of keeping the voltage constant. Current limiting diodes keep the current which is flowing through them unchanged when the voltage changes.
Applications for Current Limiting Diodes:
Current limiting diodes offer high performance and simplicity characteristics compared with bipolar transistors. They offer versatility in several circuit applications and superior performance regarding dynamic and impedance temperature drift. Some examples of devices using current limiting diodes are waveform generator circuits, timing circuits and battery chargers. Current limiting diodes can also be found as a constant current source for driving LEDs and can be used in order to replace holding coils in telephone connection devices.
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