NAME: TINASHE MARUMBI

REG. NUMBER: R193696W

PROGRAM: MECHANICAL ENGINEERING (HENMEE)

COURSE: ELECTRIC CIRCUIT DESIGN (EE201)

LECTURER: MRS CHIROODZA

TITLE: ECD ASSIGNMENT 2

HOW A LIGHT EMITTING DIODE IS FORMED?

An LED is a p-n junction with a heavily doped n-type semiconductor and a lightly doped p-
type. The devise works if it is forward biased. When a forward bias voltage is applied across a
p-n junction, electrons and holes flow across the space charge region becoming excess minority
carriers. These excess minority carriers diffuse into the neutral semiconductor regions where
they recombine with majority carriers. If the semiconductor is a direct bandgap material such
as GaAs, the electron and the hole can recombine with no change in momentum and a photon
or light wave can be emitted. (Neamen, 1997). When the p-side of the junction is connected to
the positive terminal of a battery and the n+ side to the negative terminal the barrier gets
reduced and the carriers diffuse to the other side of the junction. As the p-side is lightly doped,
much fewer number of holes cross over to the n side than the number of electrons which diffuse
to the n side. Recombination takes place in the depletion region (also known as the active layer)
and light is emitted. The emission takes place in the random direction. If the width of the p-
side is made much thinner than the width of the n-side, the emitted light can escape from the
device without getting reabsorbed by the material.

WHAT ARE ITS TYPICAL OPERATING VOLTAGES?

Typically, the forward voltage of an LED is between 1.8 and 3.3 volts. It varies by the colour
of the LED. A red LED typically drops around 1.7 to 2.0 volts, but since both voltages drop
and light frequency increase with band gap, a blue LED may drop around 3 to 3.3 volts. (Bates
and Malvino, 2016)

WHAT HAPPENS IF GERMANIUM OR SILICON IS USED?

In Si and Ge diodes the greater percentage of the energy converted during recombination at the
junction is dissipated in the form of heat within the structure, and the emitted light is
insignificant. For this reason, silicon and germanium are not used in the construction of LED
devices. (Boylestad and Nashelsky, 1978)

In an indirect bandgap material, such as silicon when an electron and a hole recombine, both
energy and momentum must be conserved so the emission of a photon is unlikely. (Neamen,
1997). Hence there is no light emitted
WHAT HAPPENS IF WE INCREASE THE CURRENT?

In an LED the diode current is directly proportional to the recombination rate which means that
the output light intensity is also proportional to the diode current. (Neamen, 1997). Hence as
current through the LED increases, the brightness also increases. Typically, the recommended
current for an LED is 20 milliamperes or less. Above this value the lifetime of the LED will be
decreased significantly. The light intensity of an LED will increase with forward current until
a point of saturation arrives where any further increase in current will not effectively increase
the level of illumination. (Neamen, 1997)

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN LED AND A PHOTODIODE?

One of the major differences between LED and a photodiode is related to their operating
principle. An LED is a devise that works on the principle of electro-luminance. While the
operation of a photodiode depends on the principle of photoconduction. A photodiode is a diode
that responds to light. (Bates and Malvino, 2016)

The case of a Photodiode is constructed with a transparent area such that incident light can fall
on the p-n junction within. This energy generates additional holes and electrons from the crystal
lattice, which are then swept away from the junction by an impressed reverse bias. The resulting
current flow adds to the existing reverse saturation current, thereby increasing its value. (Bates
and Malvino, 2016). Thus, light falling on a photodiode causes current flow. On the other hand,
the light-emitting diode is a diode that gives off visible or invisible (infrared) light when
energized. (Boylestad and Nashelsky, 1978).

One difference is that an LED coverts electrical energy into equivalent light form whilst a
photodiode is able to convert supplied light energy into equivalent electrical form. (Boylestad
and Nashelsky, 1978). A light emitting diode operates in forward biased condition only while
a photodiode is basically a reverse biased diode. As LEDs are forward biased hence no leakage
current exists in its case whereas due to reverse applied voltage at the terminals of the
photodiode, reverse leakage current flows, which is known as dark current. (Neamen, 1997).
Another difference is that LEDs are fabricated with materials like gallium arsenide, gallium
phosphide etc whilst photodiodes are constructed with materials such as silicon, indium gallium
arsenide etc. (Bates and Malvino, 2016). One may also note that an LED is able to emit light
but cannot detect it, However, a photodiode can detect light but cannot release it. LEDs majorly
find their applications in electronic display systems for example lights in vehicles whereas
photodiodes find their applications in solar panels, in logic circuits, in televisions etc
REFERENCE LIST

Boylestad R.L. and Nashelsky L. (1978) Electronic Devices and Circuit Theory. Englewood Cliffs,
N.J: Prentice-Hall.

Malvino A and Bates D. J. (2016) Electronic Principles New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education

Neamen, D.A. (1997) Electronic Circuit analysis and design, 2nd edition. Homewood, IL;
Richard D. Irwin, Inc.