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handbook of modern sensors

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414 14 Light Detectors<br />

(A) (B) (C)<br />

(D) (E) (F)<br />

Fig. 14.6. Simplified structures <strong>of</strong> six types <strong>of</strong> photodiode.<br />

2. The PIN photodiodes (Fig. 14.6D) are an improved version <strong>of</strong> low-capacitance<br />

planar diffusion diodes. The diode uses an extra high-resistance I layer between<br />

the p and n layers to improve the response time. These devices work even better<br />

with reversed bias, therefore, they are designed to have low leakage current high<br />

breakdown voltage.<br />

3. The Schottky photodiodes (Fig. 14.6E) have a thin gold coating sputtered onto<br />

the n layer to form a Schottky p-n junction. Because the distance from the outer<br />

surface to the junction is small, the UV sensitivity is high.<br />

4. The avalanche photodiodes (Fig. 14.6F) are named so because if a reverse bias<br />

is applied to the p-n junction and a high-intensity field is formed with the depletion<br />

layer, photon carriers will be accelerated by the field and collide with the<br />

atoms, producing the secondary carriers. In turn, the new carriers are accelerated<br />

again, resulting in the extremely fast avalanche-type increase in current. Therefore,<br />

these diodes work as amplifiers, making them useful for detecting extremely<br />

low levels <strong>of</strong> light.<br />

There are two general operating modes for a photodiode: the photoconductive<br />

(PC) and the photovoltaic (PV). No bias voltage is applied for the photovoltaic mode.<br />

The result is that there is no dark current, so there is only thermal noise present. This<br />

allows much better sensitivities at low light levels. However, the speed response is<br />

worst due to an increase in C j and responsivity to longer wavelengths is also reduced.<br />

Figure 14.7A shows a photodiode connected in a PV mode. In this connection, the<br />

diode operates as a current-generating device which is represented in the equivalent<br />

circuit by a current source i p (Fig. 14.7B). The load resistor R b determines the voltage<br />

developed at the input <strong>of</strong> the amplifier and the slope <strong>of</strong> the load characteristic is<br />

proportional to that resistor (Fig. 14.7C).

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