I can't remember the source of this image, but I found a similar image in an Ekulit catalog. One recommended circuit shows just a resistor in series with the piezo buzzer. But this one adds a diode. What's its function?
Answer
It's not so much about external sounds but mechanical vibrations. Piezo transducers are capable of quite large voltages. There may be very little current behind them, but that can still punch thru the insulation of a FET gate, for example. The voltage is high enough that a small piezo can actually draw a spark if hit right. This is how the ignitors in many outdoor grill starters work, for example.
Sound vibrations coming thru the air don't cause enough mechanical vibration to generate such high voltages, so that's not really the problem. However, placing the device on a table or dropping it on the floor can produce a short sharp mechanical impulse that can result in high voltage.
However, that's not the reason for the diode. Presumably the IC has protection diodes on it's pin, which should work well enough with the series resistance to clip the voltage. After all, the circuit shown expects this to work in one direction, so it doesn't add up that they think this protection is needed in the other direction. The polarity of external mechanical shocks can't be predicted.
The reason for the diode is that the piezo looks partially inductive to the rest of the circuit. Think what would happen if you replaced the piezo with a inductor in the circuit shown. When the IC output is high, the inductor charges up. Then what happens if the output goes low or high impedance? The inductor current could drive the IC pin voltage negative. So in short, it's a inductive kickback catching diode.
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