Optoelectronic

device
and
optoelectronic
sensor
 Optoelectronic device
In the scientific context, Optoelectronics deals with the study and application of electronic devices that interact
with light i.e. the detection of light, its creation, and exploitation for several purposes. This includes Gamma rays,
X-rays, Ultraviolet, Infrared and visible light. Optoelectronics is the communication between optics and
electronics which also encompasses the study, design, and manufacture of hardware apparatus that facilitate the
conversion of electricity into photon signals. This device is made from solid crystalline materials which are
lighter than metals and heavier than insulators. This device can be found in many optoelectronics applications like
military services, telecommunications, automatic access control systems, and medical equipment.

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 types
Optoelectronics are classified into different types such as

• Photodiode
• Solar Cells
• Light Emitting Diodes
• Optical Fiber
• Laser Diodes
 photodiode

A photodiode is a semiconductor light sensor that generates a

voltage or current when light falls on the junction. It consists of
an active P-N junction, which is operated in reverse bias. When a
photon with plenty of energy strikes the semiconductor, an
electron or hole pair is created. The electrons diffuse to the
junction to form an electric field.
This electric field across the depletion zone is equal to a negative
voltage across the unbiased diode. This method is also known as
the inner photoelectric effect. This device can be used in three
modes: photovoltaic as a solar cell, forward biased as an LED,
and reverse biased as a photodetector.

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Solar cells
A solar cell or photovoltaic cell is an electronic device that
directly converts the sun’s energy into electricity. When
sunlight falls on a solar cell, it produces both a current and a
voltage to produce electric power. Sunlight, which is composed
of photons, radiates from the sun. When photons hit the silicon
atoms of the solar cell, they transfer their energy to lose
electrons; then, these high-energy electron flow to an external
circuit.
The solar cell is composed of two layers that are struck
together. The first layer is loaded with electrons, so these
electrons are ready to jump from the first layer to the second
layer. The second layer has some electrons taken away, and
therefore, it is ready to take more electrons. The advantages of
solar cells are that there is no fuel supply and cost problems.
These are very dependable and require little maintenance.

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 Light-emitting diodes

A light-emitting diode is a P-N

semiconductor diode in which
the recombination of electrons
and holes yields a photon.
When the diode is electrically
biased in the forward direction,
“ This effect is called electroluminescence.
It is the conversion of electrical energy
into light. The color of the light is
decided by the energy band gap of the
material.
The usage of LED is advantageous as it
it emits incoherent narrow- consumes less power and produces less
spectrum light. When a voltage heat. LEDs last longer than incandescent
is applied to the leads of the lamps.
LED, the electrons recombine
with the holes within the device
and release energy in the form
of photons.

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 Optical fiber
An optical fiber or optic fiber is a plastic and For example, an orange-color cable
transparent fiber made of plastic or glass. It is clearly indicates a single-mode fiber,
somewhat thicker than a human hair. It can function while a yellow one indicates
as a light pipe or waveguide to transmit light a multimode fiber. In the single-mode
between the two ends of the fiber. Optical fibers fiber, one mode propagates and the
usually include three concentric layers: a core, a light rays travel straight through the
cladding and a jacket. The core, a light transmitting cable. In a multimode cable, the light
region of the fiber, is the central section of the fiber, rays travel through the cable following
which is made of silica. Cladding, the protective different modes.
layer around the core, is made of silica. This creates
The advantages of using optical-fiber
an optical waveguide that limits the light in the core
cables include their higher bandwidth,
by total reflection at the interface of the core-
less signal degradation, weightlessness
cladding. Jacket, the non-optical layer around the
and thinness than copper wire, cost-
cladding, typically consists of one or more layers of
effectiveness, and flexibility, hence
a polymer that protect the silica from the physical or
they are used in medical and
environmental damage.
mechanical imaging systems.
Along with the fiber-optic cable, jackets are
available in different colors. These colors allow the
recognition of the fiber-optic cable and the type of
cable one is dealing with.

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 Laser diodes
Laser (light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation) is a source of highly monochromatic, coherent and directional
light. It operates under stimulated emission conditions. The function of a laser diode is to convert electrical energy into light
energy like infrared diodes or LEDs. The beam of a typical laser has 4×0.6mm extending at a distance of 15 meters. The
most common lasers used are injection lasers or semiconductor lasers. The semiconductor laser changes from other lasers
like solid, liquid and gas lasers.

When a voltage is applied across the P-N junction, the population inversion of the electrons is produced, and then the laser
beam is available from the semiconductor region. The ends of the P-N junction of the laser diode have polished surfaces, and
hence, the emitted photons reflect back to create more electron pairs. Thus, the photons generated will be in phase with the
previous photons.
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 Applications of optoelectronic devices

 LEDs could become the next generation of lighting and used

anywhere like in indication lights, computer components, medical
devices, watches, instrument panels, switches, fiber-optic
communication, consumer electronics, household appliances, traffic
signals, automobile brake lights, 7 segment displays and inactive
displays, and also used in different electronic and electrical
engineering projects such as

• Propeller Display of Message by Virtual LEDs

• LED-Based Automatic Emergency Light
• Mains Operated LED Light
• Display of Dialed Telephone Numbers on Seven Segment Display
• Solar Powered Led Street Light with Auto Intensity Control

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 Applications of optoelectronic devices

 The solar cells are applicable in rural electrification,

telecommunication systems, ocean navigation aids, and
electric power generation in space and remote monitoring and
control systems and also used in different solar energy based
projects such as

• Solar Energy Measurement System

• Arduino based Solar Street Light
• Solar Powered Auto Irrigation System
• Solar Power Charge Controller
• Sun Tracking Solar Panel

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 Applications of optoelectronic devices
 Photodiodes are used in many types of circuits and different applications such as
cameras, medical instruments, safety equipment, industries, communication devices, and
industrial equipment.

 Optical fibers are used in telecommunications, sensors, fiber lasers, bio-medicals, and in

many other industries.

 The laser diodes are used in fiber optic communication, optical memories, military

applications, CD players, surgical procedures, Local Area Networks, long-distance
communications, optical memories, fiber optic communications, and in electrical
projects such as RF Controlled Robotic Vehicle with Laser Beam Arrangement and so on.

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 Optoelectronic sensors

By basic definition, an optoelectronic sensor is a device that

produces an electrical signal proportional to the amount of
light incident on its active area. A number of devices meet this
definition, but none is more prevalent than the semiconductor
photodiode. Over the years, this two-terminal device has
become the mainstay for light sensing.
 Application in the medical field
Optoelectronic Sensor Description
Designers today—especially medical equipment
Type
designers—are now asking for more than just a light-to-
current transducer. They are looking for more Light-to-voltage converters Produce a linear output
functionality integrated around this semiconductor voltage proportional to light
intensity
workhorse, to provide themselves with improved
performance and reliability, and lower system cost in the Light-to-frequency Convert light intensity to digital
highly cost-sensitive medical equipment market. Added converters format for direct connection to
a microcontroller or DSP
integrated functionality also removes the need for certain
subsystem circuit designs and thus helps shorten the Ambient light sensors Measure what the human eye
design cycle. sees

Integrated optoelectronic sensors are designed to respond Linear sensor arrays Measure spatial relationships
and light intensity
to light so that they can recognize things such as
patterns, images, motion, intensity, and color. The Color sensors RGB (red/green/blue) filtered
sensor's ability to perform this recognition (and the sensors for color
complexity of the recognition possible) depends upon discrimination, determination,
and measurement
Reflective light sensors Convert reflective light
intensity to a voltage output

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 Application in the medical field
All of these types of sensors can be, and are, used
in medical equipment applications. They help
eliminate human error while providing more
accurate readings and faster results. Rather than
rely on human judgment to match colors or
identify changes in light intensity, the sensors are
designed to read or measure light— a real-world
signal considered to be very stable and highly
accurate—in a reliable, repeatable way. Data from
the optoelectronic measurements are fed directly
into the computer system, removing another
possible source of error. The sensors are
noncontact, able to perform their sensing or
measurement functions without the need for
physical contact with specimens such as blood,
urine, or other bodily fluids. This is critical
because if the specimens are tainted in any way,
the resulting readings and measurements may not
be accurate.
Current medical applications
that use optoelectronic sensors
include:
• pulse oximetry, measuring
the amount of oxygen in the
blood;
• heart-rate monitors;
• blood diagnostics, such as
blood glucose monitoring;
• urine analysis; and d Figure 1. Pulse oximetry measures the
• ental color matching. percentage of hemoglobin (Hb)
saturated with oxygen by measuring
the absorption of red and IR light
passed through a patient's finger (as
shown here) or ear lobe. Knowing
what percentage of the hemoglobin is
saturated with oxygen is important
when administering anesthesia or for
determining the effectiveness of the
respiratory system, as well as for
helping diagnose various illnesses.
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 end

LINK SOURCES

https://
www.fierceelectronics.com/
https:// components/optoelectronic-
www.elprocus.com/ sensors-medical-
optoelectronics- applications#:~:text=By
%20definition%2C%20an
devices-with-their- %20optoelectronic
applications/ %20sensor,incident%20on
%20its%20active%20area.

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