8541.10.00 - Diodes, other than photosensitive or light-emitting diodes (LED)

This HTS category, 8541.10.00, specifically covers diodes that are neither photosensitive nor light-emitting. Diodes are fundamental semiconductor devices that allow electric current to flow primarily in one direction. This classification encompasses a broad range of diode types, including but not limited to rectifier diodes, Zener diodes, and transient voltage suppression (TVS) diodes, provided they do not possess light-sensing or light-emitting functionalities.

It is crucial to distinguish these diodes from their sibling categories. Unlike transistors (8541.20.00), which are used for amplification and switching, or thyristors, diacs, and triacs (8541.30.00), which are primarily used for power control, the diodes in this section are characterized by their unidirectional current flow. Furthermore, they are distinct from photosensitive semiconductor devices and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) covered under other headings within 8541, which are designed to interact with light either by detecting it or by producing it.

Within this classification, subcategories exist to further refine the classification based on the physical state of the diodes. The "Unmounted chips, dice and wafers" (8541.10.00.40) subdivision pertains to the raw, unassembled semiconductor material. The "Other" subcategory then encompasses all other diodes meeting the general description that are not in the unmounted form, such as those that are packaged or integrated into larger assemblies.