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Photodiode

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A photodiode is a type of photodetector capable of convertinglight into either current or voltage ,depending upon the mode of operation. The common, traditionalsolar cell used to generate electric

solar power is a large areaphotodiode. Photodiodes are similar to regular

semiconductor diodes except that

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photodetectorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lighthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_currenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voltagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_cellhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_powerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semiconductorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diodehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diodehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semiconductorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_powerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_cellhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voltagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_currenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lighthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photodetector

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Modes of operationPhotovoltaic mode

When used in zero bias or

photovoltaic mode , the flow of photocurrent out of the device isrestricted and a voltage builds up.

This mode exploits thephotovoltaic effect , which is the basisfor solar cells in fact, a traditionalsolar cell is just a large area

photodiode.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bias_%28electrical_engineering%29http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photovoltaic_effecthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_cellhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_cellhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photovoltaic_effecthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bias_%28electrical_engineering%29

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FeaturesCritical performance parameters of aphotodiode include: Responsivity The ratio of generated

photocurrent to incident light power,typically expressed in A/W when usedin photoconductive mode. Theresponsivity may also be expressedas a Quantum efficiency , or the ratioof the number of photogeneratedcarriers to incident photons and thus

a unitless quantity.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Responsivityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amperehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_efficiencyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_efficiencyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amperehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Responsivity

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Applications P-N photodiodes are used in similar applications to other

photodetectors , such as photoconductors ,charge-coupled devices , and photomultiplier tubes.

Photodiodes are used in consumer electronics devices such

as compact disc players, smoke detectors , and thereceivers for remote controls in VCRs and televisions , astronomy , spectroscopy , night vision equipment andlaser rangefinding .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photodetectorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photoconductorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charge-coupled_devicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photomultiplierhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_electronicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact_dischttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoke_detectorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VCRhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Televisionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astronomyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spectroscopyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_vision_equipmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser_rangefinderhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser_rangefinderhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser_rangefinderhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser_rangefinderhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_vision_equipmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spectroscopyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astronomyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Televisionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VCRhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoke_detectorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact_dischttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_electronicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photomultiplierhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charge-coupled_devicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photoconductorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photodetector