1) A photodiode is a type of photodetector that converts light into current or voltage depending on its mode of operation. It operates using the photoelectric effect when exposed to light in reverse bias mode. 2) Developed from PN junction diodes in the 1940s-50s, the PIN photodiode was developed in the late 1950s and uses a wide depletion area for increased light absorption. Silicon is commonly used but germanium can also be used. 3) Photodiodes are used in applications like optical communications, camera light meters, smoke detectors, and CD players to convert light into electrical signals for various functions like power generation, circuit control, and signal processing.

1. CUÑADO, Jeaneth T.
GEQUINTO, Leah Jane P.
MANGARING, Meleria S.
cgmarts@ee12

2. PHOTODIODE
A photodiode is a type of photodetector capable of converting light into
either current or voltage, depending upon the mode of operation. The
common, traditional solar cell used to generate electric solar power is a
large areaphotodiode.
OPERATION
• A photodiode is designed to operate
in reverse bias.
• Photoelectric effect.
• Photocurrent.

3. HISTORY & THEORY
• Photodiode technology developments came out of
the basic developments of the PN junction diode
that started in the 1940s in earnest. Applications
for the use of the PN junction diode were found
outside the basic use of rectifying signals.
• Photodiode technology was refined in the 1950s
and in the latter part of that decade the PIN
photodiode was developed. Light absorption in the
wide depletion area of the PIN structure was first
investigated in a paper published in 1959 by
Gartner. Although silicon has been the favoured
material for photodiodes, germanium can also be
used, and its use was first demonstrated in 1962

4. MATERIALS
STRUCTURE

5. TYPES
1.PINphotodiode
2.PNphotodiode
3.Avalanche photodiode
4.Schottky photodiode
ADVANTAGES &
DISADVANTAGES
+ Advantages for the
Photodiode detector are high
NIR sensitivity and high speed.
- Disadvantages are limited
amount of pixels and no UV
response.

6. CHARACTERISTICS
Photodiodes are similar to
regular semiconductor diodes except that they
may be either exposed (to detect vacuum
UV or X-rays) or packaged with a window
or optical fiber connection to allow light to reach
the sensitive part of the device. Many diodes
designed for use specifically as a photodiode use
a PIN junction rather than a p-n junction, to
increase the speed of response.

7. CHARACTERISTICS

8. SIGNIFICANCE
• In most cases, the photodiode is used to deliver
a trigger signal to an electrical device when it is
either exposed to a UV ray or X-ray. It may also
be used to deliver the same trigger signal when
the light source is either turned off or
the photodiode is blocked from the light source.
• A function that a photodiode can perform is to
keep an electrical device operating through the
process of converting light into a power signal or
voltage.
• Photovoltaic mode and photoconductive mode
are naturally occurring reactions to the light

9. APPLICATIONS
• P-N photodiodes are used in similar applications
to other photodetectors, such
as photoconductors, charge-coupled devices,
and photomultiplier tubes. They may be used to
generate an output which is dependent upon the
illumination (analog; for measurement and the
like), or to change the state of circuitry (digital;
either for control and switching, or digital signal
processing)..
• Photodiodes are used in consumer
electronics devices such as compact
disc players, smoke detectors, and the

10. many applications either photodiodes or photoconductors may
be used. Either type of photosensor may be used for light
measurement, as in camera light meters, or to respond to light
levels,asin switchingon streetlightingafterdark
• Photosensors of all types may be used to respond to incident
light, or to a source of light which is part of the same circuit or
system. A photodiode is often combined into a single
component with an emitter of light, usually a light-emitting
diode (LED), either to detect the presence of a mechanical
obstruction to the beam (slotted optical switch), or
to couple two digital or analog circuits while maintaining
extremely high electrical isolation between them, often for
APPLICATIONS

11. • Photodiodes are often used for accurate
measurement of light intensity in science and
industry. They generally have a more linear
response than photoconductors.
• They are also widely used in various medical
applications, such as detectors for computed
tomography (coupled with scintillators),
instruments to analyze samples (immunoassay),
and pulse oximeters.
• PIN diodes are much faster and more sensitive
than p-n junction diodes, and hence are often
used for optical communications and in lighting
APPLICATIONS

12. • P-N photodiodes are not used to measure extremely low light
intensities. Instead, if high sensitivity is needed, avalanche
photodiodes, intensified charge-coupled
devices or photomultiplier tubes are used for applications such
as astronomy, spectroscopy, night vision equipment and laser
rangefinding.
APPLICATIONS

13. EFFECTS
Photodiodes are basically reverse biased
diodes with optical windows that allow like to
shine on the PN junction. Like any diode, the
leakage current (otherwise known as a
photodiodes 'dark' current) increases
exponentially with temperature in accordance to
William Shockley's idea diode equation. This is
known as the quantum efficiency of the
photodiode. If the quantum efficiency of a
photodiode will increase with temperature, so as
well as the thermally induced noise.
(According to
temperature…)

14. BreakDown Voltage:
For small active area devices, by definition breakdown voltage is
defined as the voltage at which the dark current becomes 10 A. Since
dark current increases with temperature, therefore, breakdown
voltage decreases similarly with increase in temperature.