How does EFD108 work?
Because they have very small capacity (tenths of pF) and very low opening voltage, are mainly used for "recovery" (detection) of high frequency (up to hundreds of MHz) and low level signals.
Unlike rectifier diodes, Schottky diodes (with silicon) they have no PN junctions, but works based on the unidirectional conduction effect at the metal-semiconductor contact.
Constructively, they contain an N-type doped silicon plate, on which a metal layer of aluminum is deposited. However, they have a much lower breakdown voltage (reverse), of the order of tens of volts, compared to more than 1000V in the case of diodes with PN junction.
What are the advantages of using EFD108 diodes?
Their main advantage is saturated-locked switching time much smaller than in the case of ordinary diodes, as well as a lower voltage drop in direct conduction.
That is why germanium diodes are preferred in the rectification of pulses with high frequencies (as in the case of switching stabilizers), but also for the detection of signals with very high frequencies, up to the microwave range.
The differentiation of the two fields of application is made by the geometry of the structure, including the physical dimensions of the metal-semiconductor contact, but also by the nature of the "impurities" with which it is doped with Si-N.
Where and how were the EFD108 diodes made?
Diodes EFD108 were manufactured at IPRS Baneasa, Bucharest, Romania in the 70's. The original manufacturing patent is owned by the company SGS-THOMSON Microelectronics, now STMicroelectronics, and the original name is SFD108.
They are made on a plate of germanium, but after encapsulation undergoes a process of "formation" by applying short pulses of high current, after which atoms in the metal wire (tungsten) diffuse into germanium and thus form a "micro-junction", much dimensional smaller than one made by alloying.
That is why its capacity is much smaller. And how the mobility of charge carriers in germanium is higher than in silicon, we understand why point diodes with germanium can work up to such high frequencies.
The structure of a diode with point contact
For those who still have such diodes in "dowries", here they have the marking code with colored rings, although they all work the same, the only difference being the maximum voltage supported:
Encoding by colored rings at IPRS point diodes (read from cathode to anode):
- AA112 white - red 25V, 20mA;
- AA114 orange - 25V, 20mA;
- AA117 black - yellow 100V, 20mA;
- AA118 black - 100V orange, 20mA;
- AA131 green - 40V orange, 20mA;
- EFD103 red - blue - yellow 30V, 20mA;
- EFD105 green - red 30V, 20mA;
- EFD106 gray - red 25V, 20mA;
- EFD107 white - yellow 15V, 20mA;
- EFD108 orange - yellow 100V, 20mA;
- EFD109 orange - yellow - black 100V, 20mA;
- EFD110 orange - 35V blue, 20mA;
- EFD115 gray (gray) 45V, 20mA;
- 1N54A black - green - yellow 80V, 20mA;
- 1N541 green - yellow - brown 45V, 20mA;
- 1N542 green - yellow - red 45V, 20mA.
Detailed picture of the EFD115 diode, 45V, 20mA, made by IPRS Baneasa
EFD108 equivalents
There are not many recent manufacturing equivalents. Most diodes today are made of silicon. Alternatively you can use a junction in a transistor EFT307, EFT317, EFT319 if the purpose of the application is for RF detection. But EFTs have been around for a long time. But you can get it from an older radio.
The closest to the features are 1N63, 1N34A, or uses a Schottky diode, because it has an internal fall close to the diodes on germanium. E.g 1N5817. You can definitely find this one.
Bibliography:
https://www.mouser.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ - A photo gallery of electronic components & parts
https://www.wikiwand.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ - Romanian electronics and more, audio, radio, TV, home, mag (group of "SR!")
https://www.elforum.info/
https://highvoltageforum.net/
Was it the detector diode that was extracting the audio signal from the intermediate frequency?
Yes. When I built my first radio, I used this diode. ⁇
I think it was a diode placed on a long wire antenna for the radio, and along with a coil and a landline headset, it was the primitive reception of many radio transmitters that mixed and went as they came. It was the first work on the radio circle at the pioneers 'house in the' 70s, but maybe I had a Russian diode.
The biggest disadvantage of germanium technology is the maximum junction temperature, which is up to 100C, most withstands up to 70C.
What else did I put on the minimalist radio receivers with phone capsule…
A galley stolen from a telephone receiver, a diode and ... the radio is ready! The antenna was the radiator pipe and the ground in the mouth!
radio-with-a-phone-galena-and-detection-diode
Correct, but the headphones had to have a fairly high impedance, like 60Ohm as far as I can remember.
With all due respect, there is no such thing as a "phone call." Galena is a solid chemical (lead sulfide) that was used for detection in the first unamplified radios instead of today's diodes. Basically the galena fixed in a box was in contact with a steel needle. From time to time the position of the needle had to be changed at another point because the detection became inadequate. The device also had a tuning circuit consisting of a coil and a variable capacitor. The audition was conducted in a pair of headphones with an impedance of 2000 ohms, each connected in series. With an antenna of a few meters on the roof and a good grounding, the audition was satisfactory in terms of level and fidelity. Then came electronic tube radios (with lamps).
The one stolen from the phone was a headset! Galena was a piece of pyrite on which you pressed a steel bow to get the diode! ⁇
Galena and galena are pyrite and pyrite. Galena is lead sulfide and pyrite is iron bisulfide. Let's not mix them up because it can rumble 🙂
Don't confuse galena (lead sulfide) with German!
Excellent catalog with color codes.
Yes ... the threshold can be lowered by the so-called prepolarization, through which a voltage close to the opening voltage is applied.
We looked at everything as a miracle, not knowing the true value and operation of the components. These simple radio receivers kept our passion for electronics alive. Then we manipulate a simple diode and a few simple components and we are very happy with our great achievement. We were the gods of electronics! 😉 Not knowing that after many years we will play with components with millions of diodes and transistors that can only work if "you know their programming language" .. Tomorrow? Who knows what the future holds ... but as long as the flame of passion is lit we will find out and enjoy the new achievements!
Curiosity, necessity, passion (radio club), interest (we also repaired a radio and then a TV with lamps) all while the view was good and the mind clear, now we remember and point the finger at the phone. What to do when you barely see them and they don't seem to have that specific smell anymore, but we still remember. Many greetings!
Remain the discrete component. Even if they are smaller, they can still be seen 😉
You can use the microscope. The smell of course will not be felt. Hmm .. Only if you borrow a cat's nose 🙂
I recovered a lot from some old boards. What could they be used for?
They can also be used for various types of RF mounting.
Germanium transistor amplifiers, be it from any manufacturer, sound great!
AD166-germanium-transistors
When I was a child, I used a diode to build a potato radio. ⁇
An EFD17 diode costs 108 lei and I didn't have money for everything I was looking at through the window of the radio parts store on the academy in Bucharest. A transistor from the EFT series I think 323 costs about 30 lei.
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Mystery_rf