Lesson 4

Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) and

Photodiodes
Learning Outcomes
• Explain the characteristics of light emitting
diodes and photo-diodes.
• Analyse simple circuits with light emitting diodes
and photodiodes.
Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs)
• LED’s are a special category of diodes which emit
light when forward biased.
• Light is emitted due to the recombination
process occurring close to the junction.
Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs)
• The colour of light emitted depends on the
material used in the construction of LED.
• When forward biased, diodes constructed out of
GaAs (Gallium Arsenide) emit light in the infra-
red (invisible) zone.
• Diodes made out of GaAsP (Gallium Arsenide
Phosphide) emit orange or red light.
LEDs
• Have a higher on-voltage (VON).
• GaAs diodes have VON of around 2 V.
• The light intensity is proportional to the forward
current.
• Light Intensity = kiD
Operation of LED
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUR9tebFD
Rc
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wl45Rrt4j2
U
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3H9Z7ABV
KU
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hl4v1aUFWr
s
Example
• The simple LED circuit shown uses a GaAs diode
with VON of 2 V and maximum rated current of 20
mA. Find a suitable resistor value, so that the
diode operates at its rated current.
Solution

• Using KVL
Photodiodes
• Performs the inverse function of an LED.
• A photodiode is operated in its reverse-bias
region.
• A light shining on semiconductor material has
enough energy to break co-valent bonds and
create free electron-hole pairs.
Photodiodes
• These free electron-hole pairs would increase the
reverse saturation current.
• The photocurrent is proportional to light
intensity.
• Photodiode characteristic:
Photodiode Characteristic
Example
• A given photodiode generates up to 50 A of
current under typical lighting conditions. Design
a circuit that converts the photocurrent into a
voltage, and select element values such that a
current of 50 A is converted into a 5 V output.
Solution

• Use Ohm’s Law:

• For the given specification
Operation of Photodiode
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgKcbW77t
xY
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoHgPZzu_
g8
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8k9UIlwo7
W4
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3CIV0ctN
Ms
Opto-coupler or Opto-isolator
• Combination of an LED and photodiode
 Other Applications
• Alarm system Counter operation

Reference: R. L. Boylestad and L. Nashelsky (2013) Electronic Devices and Circuit Theory (11th ed), Upper Saddle River: Pearson, pp. 826
Next Week
• Lesson 5: Transistor Behaviour and Models
• Lesson 6: The Transistor Inverter