PHOTODIODE + adie fc natn saesatin nti » Photodiode ar ) iearree amar : Tegel NE ; eee @ © Henne by ( ieemetactaees ss GQ ® Rete maar er Sie desacia eee aga, ee Photo Diode » Asemiconductor diode whose current Inereases as light strikes Into its opening. » Usually operated in a reversed-biased and dependent on the leakage or reverse saturation current, » The increase in reverse current is due to the ierease In the number of free electrons. + The inereased in numbers of free electrons is the result of the energy transfer from Photons of light to the atomic structure of » This energy is determined by the following equation; » Wavelength Is usually measured in Angstron oF micromoters A= 10-10 m p= 106m Construction SS, —_ Operatio » A photodiode Is a ‘sttucture. When a pf i energy strikes the diode, it excites an tlectvon thereby creating a mobile electron and a positively charged electron hole. If the absorption occurs in the junction’s depletion region, or one diffusion length away from it these carriers are swept from the junction by the built-in field of the depletion region. Thus holes move toward the anode, and electrons toward the ‘cathode, and a photocurrent is produced.