TOPIC : TYPES OF PHOTODETECTORS

NAME- SWAGATA DEB BURMAN

ROLL NO:- 12000319051
DEPT:- ECE
SUBJECT:- FIBER OPTIC COMMUNICATION (EC801B)
COLLEGE:-DR B. C. ROY ENGINEERING COLLEGE
EXAMINATION:-CA-2
• ABSTRACT : The photodetector is an essential component in an optical
receiver that converts the incoming optical signal into an electrical signal.
Semiconductor photodetectors are usually called photodiodes because
these are the main types of photodetectors utilized in
optical communication systems due to their quick detection speed, high
detection efficiency & small size. At present, photodetectors are widely
used in industrial electronics, electronic communications, medicine &
healthcare, analytical equipment, automotive & transport, and many more.
These are also known as photosensors and sensors of light. So, this article
discusses an overview of a photodetector – working with applications.

• INTRODUCTION : A photodetector definition is; an optoelectronic device

that is used to detect the incident light or optical power to convert it into
an electrical signal is known as a photodetector. Usually, this o/p signal is
proportional to the incident optical power. These sensors are absolutely
needed for different scientific implementations like process control, fiber
optic communication systems, safety, environmental sensing & also in
defense applications. Examples of photodetectors are phototransistors
and photodiodes.

• THEORY : Photodetector is the key device in the front end of an optical

receiver that converts the incoming optical signal into an electrical signal,
known as O/E convertor. Semiconductor photodetectors, commonly
referred to as photodiodes, are the predominant types of photodetectors
used in optical communication systems because of their small size, fast
detection speed, and high detection efficiency.
Photodetector simply works by detecting light or other electromagnetic radiation
or devices may by receiving the transmitted optical signals. Photodetectors that
use semiconductors operate on the electron-hole pair creation upon the light
irradiation principle.
Once a semiconductor material is illuminated through photons that have high or
equivalent energies to its bandgap, then absorbed photons encourage valence
band electrons to move into the conduction band, so leaving behind holes within
the valence band. The electrons in the conduction band perform as free electrons
(holes) that can disperse under the power of an intrinsic or externally applied
electric field.

The photo-generated electron-hole pairs because of optical absorption may

recombine & re-emit light unless subjected to an electric field-mediated
separation to give an increase to a photocurrent, which is a fraction of the photo-
generated free charge carriers received at the electrodes of the photodetector
arrangement. The photocurrent magnitude at a specified wavelength is directly
proportional to the intensity of incident light.

• PROPERTIES :
• Spectral Response – It is the photodetector’s response as a photon
frequency function.
• Quantum Efficiency – The number of charge carriers generated for each
photon
• Responsivity – It is the output current separated by the total power of light
dropping on the detector.
• Noise-equivalent Power – It is the required amount of light power to
generate a signal that is equivalent in size to the noise of the device.
• Detectivity – The square root of the area of the detector separated by the
noise equivalent power.
• Gain – It is the photo detector’s output current which is divided by the
directly produced current by the incident photons on the detectors
• Dark Current- The flow of current throughout a detector even in the
deficiency of light.
• Response Time – It is the required time for a detector to go from 10 – 90%
of the final output.
• Noise Spectrum – The intrinsic noise current or voltage is a function of
frequency that can be signified in a noise spectral density form.
• Nonlinearity – The photo detector’s nonlinearity limits the RF output.
A photodiode is used as a photodetector to generate current within the
circuit once light falls on it. In this circuit, the photodiode is used in reverse
bias mode through the R1 resistor. So this R1 resistor does not permit too
much current to supply throughout the photodiode in case a huge amount
of light drops on the photodiode.

When no light falls on the photodiode, then it results in high potential at

the pin6 of an LM339 comparator (inverting input). Once light falls on this
diode, then it allows current to supply throughout the diode & thus voltage
will drop across it. The pin7 (non-inverting input) of the comparator is
connected to a VR2 (variable resistor) to set the comparator’s reference
voltage.

Here, a comparator works when the non-inverting input of the comparator

is high as compared to inverting input then its output remains high. So the
output pin of IC like pin-1 is connected to a light emitting diode. Here, the
reference voltage is set throughout a VR1 preset to correspond to a
threshold illumination. At the output, the LED will be turned ON once light
falls on the photodiode. So, the inverting input drops to a lower value as
compared to the reference set at the non-inverting input. So, the output
goes supplying the required forwards bias to the light-emitting diode.
 • TYPES OF PHOTODETECTORS :

The photodetectors are classified based on the detection mechanism of

light like the photoelectric or photoemission effect, polarisation effect,
thermal effect, weak interaction, or photochemical effect. The different
types of photodetectors mainly include a photodiode, MSM photodetector,
phototransistor, photoconductive detector, phototubes & Photomultipliers.

Photodiodes

These are semiconductor devices with a PIN or PN junction structure where light
is absorbed within a depletion region & produces a photocurrent. These devices
are fast, highly linear, very compact and generate a high quantum efficiency
which means it generates almost one electron for each incident photon & a high
dynamic range. Please refer to this link to know more about Photodiodes.

MSM Photodetectors

MSM (Metal–semiconductor–metal) photodetectors include

two Schottky contacts rather than a PN junction. These detectors are potentially
faster as compared to photodiodes with up to hundreds of GHz bandwidths. MSM
detectors allow very large area detectors to make easy coupling with optical
fibers without bandwidth degrading.
Phototransistor

The phototransistor is one type of photodiode which uses internal amplification

of the photocurrent. But these are not frequently used as compared to
photodiodes. These are mainly used for detecting light signals & change them into
digital electrical signals. These components are simply operated through light
rather than electric current. Phototransistors are low-cost and provide a large
amount of gain, so they are used in various applications. Please refer to this link
to know more about phototransistors.

Photoconductive Detectors

Photoconductive detectors are also known as photoresistors, photocells & light-

dependent resistors. These detectors are made with certain semiconductors like
CdS (cadmium sulfide). So this detector includes a semiconductor material with
two connected metallic electrodes for detecting the resistance. Compared to
photodiodes, these are not expensive but they are quite slow, not extremely
sensitive & exhibit a nonlinear response. Alternatively, they can react to long-
wavelength IR light. Photoconductive detectors are separated into different types
based on the function of spectral responsivities like as the visible wavelength
range, near-infrared wavelength range, and IR wavelength range.
Phototubes

The gas-filled tubes or vacuum tubes that are used as photodetectors are known
as phototubes. A phototube is a photoemissive detector that uses an external
photoelectric effect or photoemissive effect. These tubes are frequently
evacuated or filled sometimes with gas at low pressure.

Photomultiplier

A photomultiplier is one type of phototube that changes incident photons into an

electrical signal. These detectors use an electron multiplication process to obtain
a much-increased responsivity. They have a large active area & high speed. There
are different types of photomultipliers available like Photomultiplier tube,
Magnetic photomultiplier, Electrostatic photomultiplier, and Silicon
photomultiplier.
 • CONLUSION :

Photodetectors, also called photosensors, are sensors of light or

other electromagnetic radiation.[1] There is a wide variety of photodetectors
which may be classified by mechanism of detection, such as photoelectric or
photochemical effects, or by various performance metrics, such as spectral
response. Semiconductor-based photodetectors typically photo detector have
a p–n junction that converts light photons into current. The absorbed photons
make electron–hole pairs in the depletion region.we could use these
photodetectors to for various purpouse and in report it is briefly explaind about
all of those working principles of various type of photodetectors in optic fiber
communication
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