Photodiode
Definition of Photodiode
The photodiode is an optoelectronic device whose region of operation is limited to the reverse bias region. It carries current in reverse bias condition that depends upon the intensity of light falling on a P-N junction
Principle of Photodiode
The photodiode is a simple P-N junction diode that is reverse-biased with a battery of voltage V (Figure 4,9) Under normal conditions, a reverse saturation current (lo) flows due to thermally generated minority carriers. It is called dark current. The reverse saturation current is independent of applied reverse voltage (reverse voltage opposes the flow of majority carriers and diffusion of minority carriers is unaffected).
Minority carrier depends upon temperature, therefore, reverse solution current is a function of temperature When light falls at the P-N junction, light photons impart their energy to valence electrons to break the covalent bond. So electron and hole pairs are generated and their concentration depends upon the energy of photons (i.e. intensity of light). These additionally generated electron-hole pairs are added to already present minority carriers and the total quantity of minority carriers increases. Thus increasing the reverse current and total reverse saturation current l-lo + Where lo is due to thermally generated minority carriers and I is due to photogenerated minority ca Since I, is a function of light intensity, so current () of the photodiode depends upon
the intensity of Iight
V-I Characteristic Of Photodiode
Characteristics of photodiode have following salient features
Characteristics of photodiode have following salient features
- Current with no light falling on the junction is called dark current Uo) It is a function of temperature only.
- Reverse current cruises with an increase in the intensity of light (measured in foot candles).
- Reverse current is dependent on the amount of reverse voltage.
- if the forward voltage is applied. forward current due to the majority of carriers flowing opposite to the reverse current, therefore, the magnitude of the resultant current flowing through the photodiode decrease.
- The magnitude of reverse current also depends upon the dıstance of the point of light falling from the junction Larger is the distance lesser will be current (Since the chances of recombination are higher for a point away from the junction).
- The forward voltage at which the resultant current is zero is called the photovoltaic potential.
Applications Of Photodiode
The photodiode has to follow ing application
(1) Light detection s stem
(2) Counting of objects
(3) Rcading of film soundtrack
(4) Light-operated switches
(5) High-speed reading of computer-punched cards and tapes
(6) Alarm system
(7)In optocoupler