PHOTODIODE

Working Principle:-
• It works on the principle of the photoelectric
effect.
• The operating principle of the photodiode is
such that when the junction of this two
terminal semiconductor device is illuminated
then the electric current starts flowing
through it.
PHOTO DIODE
 Construction:-
• The photodiode is made using two semiconductors like
P-type & N-type. In this design, the formation of P-type
material can be done from the diffusion of the P-type
substrate which is lightly doped. So, the P+ ions layer can
be formed because of the diffusion method. On the
substrate of N-type, the N-type epitaxial layer can be
grown.
 Continued….
• The development of a P+ diffusion layer can be done
over the heavily doped N-type epitaxial layer. The
contacts are designed with metals to make two
terminals like anode and cathode. The front region of
the diode can be separated into two types like active
& non-active surfaces.
• The designing of the non-active surface can be done
with silicon dioxide (SiO2). On an active surface, the
light rays can strike over it whereas, on a non-active
surface, the light rays cannot strike. & the active
surface can be covered through the material of anti-
reflection so that the energy of light cannot lose and
the highest of it can be changed into the current.
 Working:-
• The working principle of a photodiode is, when a
photon of ample energy strikes the diode, it makes a
couple of an electron-hole. This mechanism is also
called the inner photoelectric effect. If the absorption
arises in the depletion region junction, then the carriers
are removed from the junction by the inbuilt electric
field of the depletion region.
• Therefore, holes in the region move toward the anode,
and electrons move toward the cathode, and a
photocurrent will be generated. The entire current
through the diode is the sum of the absence of light
and the photocurrent. So the absent current must be
reduced to maximize the sensitivity of the device.
 Modes of Operation
• The operating modes of the photodiode include three modes,
namely Photovoltaic mode, Photoconductive mode, an avalanche
diode mode
• Photovoltaic Mode: This mode is also known as zero-bias mode, in
which a voltage is produced by the lightened photodiode. It gives a
very small dynamic range & non-linear necessity of the voltage
formed.
• Photoconductive Mode: The photodiode used in this
photoconductive mode is more usually reverse biased. The reverse
voltage application will increase the depletion layer’s width. This
mode is too fast and displays electronic noise
• Avalanche Diode Mode: Avalanche diodes operate in a high reverse
bias condition, which permits the multiplication of an avalanche
breakdown to each photo-produced electron-hole pair. This
outcome is an internal gain in the photodiode, which slowly
increases the device response.
 Why is Photodiode Operated in
Reverse Bias?
• The photodiode operates in the mode of
photoconductive. When the diode is connected in
reverse bias, then the depletion layer width can be
increased. So this will diminish the capacitance of
the junction & the response time.
• In fact, this biasing will cause quicker response
times for the diode. So the relation between
photocurrent & illuminance is linearly proportional.
 Photodiode Circuit
• The circuit diagram of the photodiode is shown below. This circuit can
be built with a 10k resistor and photodiode. Once the photodiode
notices the light, then it allows some flow of current throughout it.
The sum of current that supplies through this diode can be directly
proportional to the sum of light noticed through the diode .
 Advantages
• The advantages of photodiode include the following.
• Less resistance
• Quick and high operation speed
• Long life span.
• Fastest photodetector.
• Spectral response is good.
• Doesn’t use high voltage.
• Frequency response is good.
• Solid and low-weight.
• It is extremely responsive to the light.
• Dark current is less.
• High quantum efficiency.
• Less noise.
 Disadvantages
• The disadvantages of photodiode include the
following.
• Temperature stability is poor.
• Change within current is extremely little, therefore
may not be enough to drive the circuit.
• The active area is small.
• Usual PN junction photodiode includes a high response
time.
• It has less sensitivity.
• It mainly works by depending on the temperature.
• It uses offset voltage.
 Applications of Photodiode
• The applications of photodiodes involve similar applications of
photodetectors like charge-coupled devices, photoconductors, and
photomultiplier tubes.
• These diodes are used in consumer electronics devices like smoke
detectors, compact disc players, and televisions and remote controls in
VCRs.
• In other consumer devices like clock radios, camera light meters, and
street lights, photoconductors are more frequently used rather than
photodiodes.
• Photodiodes are frequently used for exact measurement of the intensity
of light in science & industry. Generally, they have an enhanced, more
linear response than photoconductors.
• Photodiodes are also widely used in numerous medical applications like
instruments to analyze samples, detectors for computed tomography,
and also used in blood gas monitors.
• These diodes are much faster & more complex than normal PN junction
diodes and hence are frequently used for lighting regulation and in
optical communications.