1. What is function of PHOTO DIODE? A photodiode is a transducer that takes light energy and converts it into electrical energy.

If placed in a dark room, the photodiode is exposed to no light; therefore it creates no electricity. However, if light falls upon it, it takes the light energy and produces electric current in response. A photodiode conducts electric current directly proportional to the amount of light that falls upon it. It's a perfect direct relationship. 2. What is function of LDR? A light dependent resistor (LDR) is resistor whose resistance varies with light intensity. This resistor uses a high resistance conductor, whereby, light energy contained in the light makes the electrons to move changing the resistive property of the semiconductor. Depending on the semiconductor, the resistance may either increase or decrease.

3. Define dark current in photodiode.

The small amount of current that flows through a photonic semiconductor device when it is not operating. Also known as leakage current.

4. How does a Phototransistor Work?

With no light falling on the device there will be a small current flow due to thermally generated hole-electron pairs and the output voltage from the circuit will be slightly less than the supply value due to the voltage drop across the load resistor R. With light falling on the collector-base junction the current flow increases. With the base connection open circuit, the collector-base current must flow in the base-emitter circuit and hence the current flowing is amplified by normal transistor action. Collector base junction is very sensitive to light .Its working condition depends upon intensity of light. The base current from the incident photons is amplified by the gain of the transistor, resulting in current gains that range from hundreds to several thousands. A phototransistor is 50 to 100 times more sensitive than a photodiode with a lower level of noise.

A phototransistor works just like a normal transistor, where the base current is multiplied to give the collector current, except that in a phototransistor, the base current is controlled by the amount of visible or infrared light where the device only needs 2 pins.

In the simple circuit, assuming that nothing is connected to Vout, the base current controlled by the amount of light will determine the collector current, which is the current going through the resistor. Therefore, the voltage at Vout will move high and low based on the amount of light.

5. what are the different modes of operation of photodiode? A photodiode can be perated in either the photovoltaic or photoconductive mode 6. Mention the applications of LDR. There are many applications for Light Dependent Resistors. These include. Lighting switch: The most obvious application for an LDR is to automatically turn on a light at certain light level. An example of this could be a street light. Camera shutter control: LDRs can be used to control the shutter speed on a camera. The LDR would be used the measure the light intensity and the set the camera shutter speed to the appropriate level. 7. What happens if the photodiode is biased with a voltage larger than the specified maximum reverse bias? A device may experience reverse bias breakdown if biased over the maximum value we specify, a highcurrent will flow through the device which could lead to the destruction of the photodiode. We do notrecommend that you operate this device in this manner.

8. Mention the applications of photodiodes. Camera Automatic Shutter Control Photographic Flash Control Medical CAT Scanners - X ray Detection Blood Particle Analyzers Safety Equipment Smoke Detectors Flame Monitors Automotive Headlight Dimmer Climate Control - Sunlight Detector 9. Mention the advantages and disadvantages of phototransistors. Advantages of Photo transistors:

Phototransistors produce a higher current than photo diodes. Phototransistors are relatively inexpensive, simple, and small enough to fit several of them onto a single integrated computer chip.

Phototransistors are very fast and are capable of providing nearly instantaneous output. Phototransistors produce a voltage, that photo-resistors (LDR) cannot do so.

Disadvantages of Photo transistors:

Phototransistors that are made of silicon are not capable of handling voltages over 1,000 Volts. Phototransistors are also more vulnerable to surges and spikes of electricity as well as electromagnetic energy.

Phototransistors also do not allow electrons to move as freely as other devices do, such as electron tubes.

10. List the various applications of Phototransistors.

Security systems Lighting control (highways etc) Counting systems Coin counters Margin controls printers Read finger position touch screen