Sampo Syreeni <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Aren't there dedicated avalanche diodes available with low breakdown > voltages, precisely for this reason? I think they're used in applications > where zeners could be, except for higher breakdown current.
Sure. I was thinking of an IC design, in which case you're a lot more likely to be able to make a bipolar than you are to have essentially <5V zeners. >> [mention of reliability issues] > Shouldn't be a problem, if you limit the breakdown current. If you're > after entropy, you'd likely want to use a constant current source anyway. To first order, yes, but at least a couple of the processes I've worked with warn against even controlled emitter-base breakdown. Of course, I suppose they're assuming you want to use the transistor some other way, too... -- Riad Wahby [EMAIL PROTECTED] MIT VI-2/A 2002
