DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION

ANDHRA PRADESH
Name : E. Sunil Kumar
Designation : Lecturer
Branch : A.E.I.E
Institute : K.D.R.G.P.T, Wanaparthy
Semester : VI
Subject : Industrial Electronics, PLC & SCADA
Subject code : AEI-602
Topic : Photo-Junction Devices
Duration : 100 mts

subtopic : Photo Diode Device

Teaching Aids : PPTS, Animations, Diagrams

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 Objectives
On the completion of this topic you would be able
to

• Classify Photo Junction Devices

• Explain construction of Photo Diode

• Explain the working principle of reverse biased

diode

• Explain the working principle of photo diode

• Applications of photo diode

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 Recap

In the last session, we have learnt about :

• Principle of opto-electronic devices

• Classification of opto-electronic devices

• Working principle of Photo-Emissive

• Working principle of Photo-conductive Device

• Construction Photo-conductive device

• Applications of Photo-conductive device

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 Photo-Junction Devices

Types of Photo-junction devices

• Photo-diode

• Photo-transistor

• Photo-coupler or opto-coupler

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 Photo Diode

• Semiconductor PN junction Device

• Operation depends on the light

• Operates in reverse biased condition

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Circuit Symbol

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 Construction

• Semiconductor P-N junction device

• Lens concentrates light on PN junction

• Electrodes anode and cathode

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Construction…

P N

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 Working

• Working is based on reverse biased ordinary diode

• Reverse biased diode has small reverse saturation

current

• Reverse current due to thermally generated electron-

hole pairs in depletion region

• Reverse current increases with temperature due to

increase in electron-hole pairs

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Circuit Diagram

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 Operation

• Operates in Reverse Bias

• When exposed to light electron hole pairs are generated

• Reverse current increases with light intensity at the PN

junction

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 Operation…

• Generated current is in the order of µA

• Without light reverse current is negligible (Dark Current)

• In forward biased condition photo diode operates like

ordinary diode

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 Applications
• Photo detection

• Demodulation

• Logic circuits

• Switching

• Optical communication

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 Quiz

1. Photo diode is made of

a. P-type material

b. N-type material

c. P-type & N-type material

d. None

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 Quiz

2) Reverse current in a diode is due to

a) Minority carriers

b) Majority carriers

c) Electrons

d) Holes

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 Quiz

3. The current developed in a photo diode is in the order

of
a. mA
b. µA
c. A
d. None

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 Quiz

4. With no light on photo diode the current in it is called

a. Light current

b. Dark current

c. Black current

d. None

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 Summary

We have discussed about

• Classification of Photo Junction Devices

• Construction of Photo Diode

• Working principle of reverse biased diode

• Working principle of photo diode

• Applications of Photo diode

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 Frequently Asked Questions

1. Give the classification of Photo junction devices

3. Explain the construction of Photo diode

5. Explain the working principle of Photo diode

7. Compare Photo diode with ordinary diode

9. List the applications of Photo diode

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