Light Sensors
A Light Sensor generates an output signal indicating the intensity of light by measuring
the radiant energy that exists in a very narrow range of frequencies basically called "light", and which ranges in frequency
from "Infrared" to "Visible" up to "Ultraviolet" light spectrum. The light sensor is a passive devices that convert this
"light energy" whether visible or in the infrared parts of the spectrum into an electrical signal output. Light sensors are
more commonly known as "Photoelectric Devices" or "Photo Sensors" becuse the convert light energy (photons) into electricity
(electrons).
Photoelectric devices can be grouped into two main categories, those which generate electricity when illuminated,
such as Photo-voltaics or Photo-emissives etc, and those which change their electrical properties in some
way such as Photo-resistors or Photo-conductors. This leads to the following classification of devices.
- • Photo-emissive Cells - These are photodevices which release free electrons from a light sensitive material such as caesium when struck by a photon of sufficient energy. The amount of energy the photons have depends on the frequency of the light and the higher the frequency, the more energy the photons have converting light energy into electrical energy.
- • Photo-conductive Cells - These photodevices vary their electrical resistance when subjected to light. Photoconductivity results from light hitting a semiconductor material which controls the current flow through it. Thus, more light increase the current for a given applied voltage. The most common photoconductive material is Cadmium Sulphide used in LDR photocells.
- • Photo-voltaic Cells - These photodevices generate an emf in proportion to the radiant light energy received and is similar in effect to photoconductivity. Light energy falls on to two semiconductor materials sandwiched together creating a voltage of approximately 0.5V. The most common photovoltaic material is Selenium used in solar cells.
- • Photo-junction Devices - These photodevices are mainly true semiconductor devices such as the photodiode or phototransistor which use light to control the flow of electrons and holes across their PN-junction. Photojunction devices are specifically designed for detector application and light penetration with their spectral response tuned to the wavelength of incident light.
The Photoconductive Cell
A Photoconductive light sensor does not produce electricity but simply changes its physical
properties when subjected to light energy. The most common type of photoconductive device is the Photoresistor which
changes its electrical resistance in response to changes in the light intensity. Photoresistors are
Semiconductor devices that use light energy
to control the flow of electrons, and hence the current flowing through them. The commonly used Photoconductive Cell
is called the Light Dependent Resistor or LDR.
The Light Dependent Resistor
Typical LDR
As its name implies, the Light Dependent Resistor (LDR) is made from a piece of exposed
semiconductor material such as cadmium sulphide that changes its electrical resistance from several thousand Ohms in the dark
to only a few hundred Ohms when light falls upon it by creating hole-electron pairs in the material.
The net effect is an improvement in its conductivity with a decrease in resistance for an increase in
illumination. Also, photoresistive cells have a long response time requiring many seconds to respond to a change in the
light intensity.
Materials used as the semiconductor substrate include, lead sulphide (PbS), lead selenide (PbSe),
indium antimonide (InSb) which detect light in the infra-red range with the most commonly used of all photoresistive light
sensors being Cadmium Sulphide (Cds). Cadmium sulphide is used in the manufacture
of photoconductive cells because its spectral response curve closely matches that of the human eye and can even be controlled
using a simple torch as a light source. Typically then, it has a peak sensitivity wavelength (λp)
of about 560nm to 600nm in the visible spectral range.
The Light Dependent Resistor Cell
The most commonly used photoresistive light sensor is the ORP12 Cadmium Sulphide photoconductive
cell. This light dependent resistor has a spectral response of about 610nm in the yellow to orange region of light. The
resistance of the cell when unilluminated (dark resistance) is very high at about 10MΩ's which falls to about 100Ω's
when fully illuminated (lit resistance).
To increase the dark resistance and therefore reduce the dark current, the resistive path forms a zigzag
pattern across the ceramic substrate. The CdS photocell is a very low cost device often used in auto dimming, darkness or
twilight detection for turning the street lights "ON" and "OFF", and for photographic exposure meter type applications.
Connecting a light dependant resistor in series with a standard resistor like this across a single DC
supply voltage has one major advantage, a different voltage will appear at their junction for different levels of light.
The amount of voltage drop across series resistor, R2 is determined
by the resistive value of the light dependant resistor, RLDR. This ability to generate
different voltages produces a very handy circuit called a "Potential Divider" or Voltage Divider Network.
As we know, the current through a series circuit is common and as the LDR changes its resistive value
due to the light intensity, the voltage present at VOUT will be determined by the
voltage divider formula. An LDR’s resistance, RLDR can vary from about 100Ω's in
the sun light, to over 10MΩ's in absolute darkness with this variation of resistance being converted into a voltage
variation at VOUT as shown.
One simple use of a Light Dependent Resistor, is as a light sensitive switch as shown below.
LDR Switch
This basic light sensor circuit is of a relay output light activated switch. A potential divider
circuit is formed between the photoresistor, LDR and the resistor R1.
When no light is present ie in darkness, the resistance of the LDR is very high in the Megaohms
range so zero base bias is applied to the transistor TR1 and the relay is de-energised or "OFF".
As the light level increases the resistance of the LDR starts to decrease
causing the base bias voltage at V1 to rise. At some point determined by the potential divider
network formed with resistor R1, the base bias voltage is high enough to turn the transistor
TR1 "ON" and thus activate the relay which inturn is used to control some external circuitry.
As the light level falls back to darkness again the resistance of the LDR increases causing
the base voltage of the transistor to decrease, turning the transistor and relay "OFF" at a fixed light level determined
again by the potential divider network.
By replacing the fixed resistor R1 with a potentiometer VR1,
the
point at which the relay turns "ON" or "OFF" can be pre-set to a
particular light level. This type of simple circuit shown above has a
fairly low sensitivity and its switching point may not be consistent due
to variations in either temperature or the supply voltage.
A more sensitive precision light activated circuit can be easily made by
incorporating the LDR into a "Wheatstone Bridge" arrangement
and replacing the transistor with an Operational Amplifier
as shown.
Light Level Sensing Circuit
In this basic dark sensing circuit, the light dependent resistor LDR1 and the potentiometer
VR1 form one adjustable arm of a simple resistance bridge network, also known commomly as a Wheatstone bridge,
while the two fixed resistors R1 and R2 form the other arm. Both sides of the bridge
form potential divider networks across the supply voltage whose outputs V1 and V2
are connected to the non-inverting and inverting voltage inputs respectively of the operational amplifier.
The operational amplifier is configured as a
Differential Amplifier
also known as a voltage
comparator with feedback whose output voltage condition is determined by
the difference between the two input signals or voltages,
V1 and V2. The resistor combination R1 and
R2 form a fixed voltage reference at input V2, set by the ratio of the two resistors.
The LDR - VR1 combination provides a variable voltage input V1 proportional to the
light lvel being detected by the photoresistor.
As with the previous circuit the output from the operational amplifier is used to control a relay, which is protected
by a free wheel diode, D1. When the light level sensed by the LDR and its output voltage falls below the reference
voltage set at V2 the output from the op-amp
changes state activating the relay and switching the connected load.
Likewise as the light level increases the output will switch back
turning "OFF" the relay. The hysteresis of the two switching points is
set
by the feedback resistor Rf can be chosen to give any suitable voltage gain of the amplifier.
The operation of this type of light sensor circuit can also be reversed to switch the relay "ON" when the light
level exceeds the reference voltage level and vice versa by reversing the positions of the light sensor LDR
and the potentiometer VR1. The potentiometer can be used to "pre-set" the switching point of the differential
amplifier to any particular light level making it ideal as a simple light sensor project circuit.
Photojunction Devices
Photojunction Devices are basically
PN-Junction light sensors or detectors made
from silicon semiconductor PN-junctions which are sensitive to light and which can detect both visible light and infrared
light levels. Photo-junction devices are specifically made for sensing light and this class of photoelectric light sensors
include the Photodiode and the Phototransistor.
The Photodiode.
Photo-diode
The construction of the Photodiode light sensor is similar to that of a conventional
PN-junction diode except that the diodes outer casing is either transparent or has a clear lens to focus the light onto
the PN junction for increased sensitivity. The junction will respond to light particularly longer wavelengths such as
red and infrared rather than visible light.
This characteristic can be a problem for diodes with transparent or glass bead bodies such as the 1N4148
signal diode. LED's
can also be used as photodiodes
as they can both emit and detect light from their junction. All
PN-junctions are light sensitive and can be used in a photo-conductive
unbiased voltage mode with the PN-junction of the photodiode always
"Reverse Biased" so that only the diodes leakage or dark current
can flow.
The current-voltage characteristic (I/V Curves) of a
photodiode with no light on its junction (dark mode)
is very similar to a normal signal or rectifying diode. When the
photodiode is forward biased, there is an exponential increase
in the current, the same as for a normal diode. When a reverse bias is
applied, a small reverse saturation current appears which
causes an increase of the depletion region, which is the sensitive part
of the junction. Photodiodes can also be connected in a
current mode using a fixed bias voltage across the junction. The current
mode is very linear over a wide range.
Photo-diode Construction and Characteristics
When used as a light sensor, a photodiodes dark current (0 lux) is about 10uA for geranium and 1uA for silicon type diodes. When light falls upon the junction more hole/electron pairs are formed and the leakage current increases. This leakage current increases as the illumination of the junction increases. Thus, the photodiodes current is directly proportional to light intensity falling onto the PN-junction. One main advantage of photodiodes when used as light sensors is their fast response to changes in the light levels, but one disadvantage of this type of photodevice is the relatively small current flow even when fully lit.
The following circuit shows a photo-current-to-voltage convertor circuit using an operational amplifier as the
amplifying device. The output voltage (Vout) is given as Vout = Ip × Rf
and
which is proportional to the light intensity characteristics of the
photodiode. This type of circuit also utilizes the characteristics
of an operational amplifier with two input terminals at about zero
voltage to operate the photodiode without bias. This zero-bias op-amp
configuration gives a high impedance loading to the photodiode resulting
in less influence by dark current and a wider linear range
of the photocurrent relative to the radiant light intensity. Capacitor Cf is used to prevent
oscillation or gain peaking and to set the output bandwidth (1/2πRC).
Photo-diode Amplifier Circuit
Photodiodes are very versatile light sensors that can turn its current flow both "ON" and "OFF" in nanoseconds and are commonly used in cameras, light meters, CD and DVD-ROM drives, TV remote controls, scanners, fax machines and copiers etc, and when integrated into operational amplifier circuits as infrared spectrum detectors for fibre optic communications, burglar alarm motion detection circuits and numerous imaging, laser scanning and positioning systems etc.
The Phototransistor
Photo-transistor
An alternative photo-junction device to the photodiode is the Phototransistor which is
basically a photodiode with amplification. The Phototransistor light sensor has its collector-base PN-junction reverse biased
exposing it to the radiant light source.
Phototransistors operate the same as the photodiode except that they can provide current gain and are
much more sensitive than the photodiode with currents are 50 to 100 times greater than that of the standard photodiode and
any normal transistor can be easily converted into a phototransistor light sensor by connecting a photodiode between the
collector and base.
Phototransistors consist mainly of a bipolar
NPN Transistor with its large base region
electrically unconnected, although some phototransistors allow a base connection to control the sensitivity, and which uses
photons of light to generate a base current which inturn causes a collector to emitter current to flow. Most phototransistors
are NPN types whose outer casing is either transparent or has a clear lens to focus the light onto the base junction for
increased sensitivity.
Photo-transistor Construction and Characteristics
In the NPN transistor the collector is biased positively with respect to the emitter so that the base/collector junction is reverse biased. therefore, with no light on the junction normal leakage or dark current flows which is very small. When light falls on the base more electron/hole pairs are formed in this region and the current produced by this action is amplified by the transistor.
Usually the sensitivity of a phototransistor is a function of the DC current gain of the transistor.
Therefore, the overall sensitivity is a function of collector current and can be controlled by connecting a resistance
between the base and the emitter but for very high sensitivity optocoupler type applications, Darlington phototransistors
are generally used.
Photo-darlington
Photodarlington transistors use a second bipolar NPN transistor to provide additional
amplification or when higher sensitivity of a photodetector is required due to low light levels or selective sensitivity,
but its response is slower than that of an ordinary NPN phototransistor.
Photo darlington devices consist of a normal phototransistor whose emitter output is coupled to the base
of a larger bipolar NPN transistor. Because a darlington transistor configuration gives a current gain equal to a product of
the current gains of two individual transistors, a photodarlington device produces a very sensitive detector.
Typical applications of Phototransistors light sensors are in opto-isolators, slotted opto switches, light beam sensors,
fibre optics and TV type remote controls, etc. Infrared filters are sometimes required when detecting visible light.
Another type of photojunction semiconductor light sensor worth a mention is the Photo-thyristor.
This is a light activated thyristor or Silicon Controlled Rectifier, SCR that can be used as a light activated
switch in AC applications. However their sensitivity is usually very low compared to equivalent photodiodes or phototransistors.
To increase their sensitivity to light photo-thyristors are made thinner around the gate junction. The downside to this process
is that it limits the amount of anode current that they can switch. Then for higher current AC applications they are used as
pilot devices in opto-couplers to switch larger more conventional thyristors.
Photovoltaic Cells.
The most common type of photovoltaic light sensor is the Solar Cell. Solar cells convert
light energy directly into DC electrical energy in the form of a voltage or current to a resistive load such as a light,
battery or motor. Then photovoltaic cells are similar to a battery because they supply DC power. Unlike the other photo
devices above which use light intensity even from a torch to operate, photvoltaic cells work best using the suns radiant
energy.
Solar cells are used in many different types of applications to offer an alternative power source from
conventional batteries, such as in calculators, satellites and now in homes offering a form of renewable power.
Photovoltaic Cell
Photovoltaic cells are made from single crystal silicon PN junctions, the same as
photodiodes with a very large light sensitive region but are used without the reverse bias. They have the same
characteristics as a very large photodiode when in the dark. When illuminated the light energy causes electrons to flow
through the PN junction and an individual solar cell can generate an open circuit voltage of about 0.58v (580mV). Solar
cells have a "Positive" and a "Negative" side just like a battery.
Individual solar cells can be connected together in series to form solar panels which increases the
output voltage or connected together in parallel to increase the available current. Commercially available solar panels
are rated in Watts, which is the product of the output voltage and current (Volts times Amps) when fully lit.
Characteristics of a typical Photovoltaic Solar Cell.
The amount of available current from a solar cell depends upon the light intensity, the size of the cell and its efficiency which is generally very low at around 15 to 20%. To increase the overall efficiency of the cell commercially available solar cells use polycrystalline silicon or amorphous silicon, which have no crystalline structure, and can generate currents of between 20 to 40mA per cm2.
Other materials used in the construction of photovoltaic cells include Gallium Arsenide, Copper
Indium Diselenide and Cadmium Telluride. These different materials each have a different spectrum band response, and so
can be "tuned" to produce an output voltage at different wavelengths of light.
In this tutorial about Light Sensors, we have looked at several examples of devices that
are classed as Light Sensors. This includes those with and those without PN-junctions that can be used to
measure the intensity of light. In the next tutorial we will look at output devices called Actuators.
Actuators convert an electrical signal into a corresponding physical quantity such as movement, force, or sound. One such
commonly used output device is the Electromagnetic Relay.
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