Measure Light Intensity using Photodiode

September 2005 EmAnt Pte Ltd

www.emant.com

Measure Light Intensity using Photodiode

The Photodiode used is the BPW34.
This is a high speed and high
sensitive silicon PIN photodiode in a
miniature flat plastic package. A
photodiode is designed to be
responsive to optical input. Due to its
waterclear epoxy the device is
sensitive to visible and infrared
radiation. The large active area
combined with a flat case gives a
high sensitivity at a wide viewing
angle.
Photodiodes can be used in either
zero bias or reverse bias. Diodes have
extremely high resistance when reverse biased. This resistance is reduced when light of an
appropriate frequency shines on the junction. Hence, a reverse biased diode can be used as a light
detector by monitoring the current running through it. Coupled to a 10Kohm resistor, and given the
specification of the BPW34 a simple relationship between lux (light intensity) and voltage is given
by
lux = 1333 * Vo
The Light Application Adaptor for the EMANT300 has the photodiode BPW34 connected to AIN0
(input analog) of the DAQ module and the resistor connected to AINCOM.
The LabVIEW VI that reads the voltage across the resistor and converts the voltage to lux is called
EMANT300 Example Photodiode.VI

Front Panel

LabVIEW is a trademark of National Instruments

September 2005 EmAnt Pte Ltd

www.emant.com

Diagram

September 2005 EmAnt Pte Ltd

www.emant.com