{"id":10418,"date":"2021-09-09T09:00:54","date_gmt":"2021-09-09T17:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.linquip.com\/blog\/?p=10418"},"modified":"2023-01-08T06:51:03","modified_gmt":"2023-01-08T14:51:03","slug":"photoelectric-transducer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.linquip.com\/blog\/photoelectric-transducer\/","title":{"rendered":"Photoelectric Transducer: Application &#038; Working Principles"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linquip.com\/blog\/photoelectric-transducer\/#What_is_a_photoelectric_transducer\" >What is a photoelectric transducer?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linquip.com\/blog\/photoelectric-transducer\/#How_does_a_photoelectric_transducer_work\" >How does a photoelectric transducer work?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linquip.com\/blog\/photoelectric-transducer\/#Different_photoelectric_transducer_types\" >Different photoelectric transducer types<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p>Photoelectric transducers are among the elements used to convert light energy into electrical one. In this article from Linquip, we want to talk about these useful elements and explain how they work as well as their application. If you are curious to know more about them, then keep on reading\u2026<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_a_photoelectric_transducer\"><\/span>What is a photoelectric transducer?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>This transducer type has been designed to convert light energy into electrical energy. Photoelectric transducers are made from semiconductor materials. They use a photosensitive element that is capable of ejecting electrons. This process happens when the photoelectric transducer absorbs a beam of light that shines on the semiconductor material. This discharge results in inducing the current in the system. The total absorbed light is equal to the current\u2019s magnitude.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_does_a_photoelectric_transducer_work\"><\/span>How does a photoelectric transducer work?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Photoelectric transducers absorb the beam of light and hence, the material\u2019s electrons are energized. This process results in the movement of the electrons. This movement creates different situations depending on the desired process:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-10420\" src=\"https:\/\/www.linquip.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Photoelectric-Transducer-2.jpg\" alt=\"Photoelectric Transducer\" width=\"655\" height=\"408\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.linquip.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Photoelectric-Transducer-2.jpg 655w, https:\/\/www.linquip.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Photoelectric-Transducer-2-300x187.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 655px) 100vw, 655px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A change in the output voltage of the semiconductor may be one of the effects that the mobility of electrons produces.<\/li>\n<li>A change in the semiconductor\u2019s output current is among the effects that can be the result of the electron\u2019s movement.<\/li>\n<li>The final result that can be seen because of the movement of the electrons is a change in the material\u2019s resistance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Photo emissive devices work when a beam of light shines on a cathode, separating the electrons from the surface of the cathode. The photoconductive systems work when the illumination causes the resistance of the material to change. And the last principle is for the photovoltaic cells. They generate an output voltage that is related to the radiation intensity. This radiation can be visible light, infrared, gamma rays, ultraviolet, or X-rays.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Different_photoelectric_transducer_types\"><\/span>Different photoelectric transducer types<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Transducers have different types, each suitable for specific applications. They include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>PhotoJunction<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>PhotoConductive Cell<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Photovoltaic Cell<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>PhotoEmissive Cell or Tubes<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These four types are the most popular ones available on the market, each of them unique in their own way. Now, we\u2019ll dive into each one to get to know them in detail.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>PhotoJunction<\/h3>\n<p>This photoelectric transducer type contains forms: phototransistors and photodiodes.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Phototransistors<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Phototransistor transducers contain 3 semi-conducting layers created by two back-to-back diodes. The difference between this transducer and the regular ones is that this type the light intensity is the parameter that triggers the conduction. As soon as the photons meet the base structure, they will be converted to a current flow, resulting in the enabling of the transistor. Their design is in a way that a transparent casing hosts the phototransistor, allowing the light to easily enter the element. They are great for devices with light sensitivities since the light in these elements act as a switch when it\u2019s a bipolar phototransistor.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Photodiodes<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Photodiodes are among photoelectric transducers that are reverse-biased PN junction diodes. These transducers convert light into an electrical current with the absorption of the photons in the photodiode. The surface area of these transducers may be small or large. The larger the surface area, the slower the response time. They might also consist of built-in lenses and optical filters. They have a window or optical fiber connection allowing the light to get to the device\u2019s sensitive parts.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-10421\" src=\"https:\/\/www.linquip.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/double-photoelectric-transducer-phototransistor-ra-rr-for-enel-arduino.jpg\" alt=\"Photoelectric Transducer\" width=\"700\" height=\"372\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.linquip.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/double-photoelectric-transducer-phototransistor-ra-rr-for-enel-arduino.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.linquip.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/double-photoelectric-transducer-phototransistor-ra-rr-for-enel-arduino-300x159.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.linquip.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/double-photoelectric-transducer-phototransistor-ra-rr-for-enel-arduino-696x370.jpg 696w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>PhotoConductive Cell<\/h3>\n<p>Another photoelectric transducer type is called a photoconductive cell. They, too, convert solar radiation into conductivity. When the beam of light shines on a photoconductive material (Ge, Cadmium Selenide, Si), the resistance of the element changes. When the amount of sunlight reaches a sufficient level for the photoconductive cell, it results in an increase in its conductivity which doubles as a closed switch. When there\u2019s no light to shine on the element, it will work as an open switch.<\/p>\n<h3>Photovoltaic Cell<\/h3>\n<p>This transducer type is also known by the name solar cell. This active transducer generates electricity when it is irradiated by the sunlight. The photovoltaic cell is formed by an N-type material and P-type silicon that are diffused together. \u00a0The semiconductor crystal absorbs the photons of the light rays whenever it is exposed to the light, resulting in the photovoltaic effect. This process will generate current throughout the semiconductor which is taken across the positive and negative terminal (the PN junction).<\/p>\n<h3>PhotoEmissive Cell or Tubes<\/h3>\n<p>This transducer type contains a glass envelope, anode, cathode, and some connecting pins. The cathode part of this transducer is a curved plate that is coated with photoemissive material and the anode part is a rode. They are both sealed inside an evacuated envelope. The current that flows in this element is produced throughout the anode and the cathode. This photoelectric transducer also releases electrons when a beam of light shines on the cathode. These electrons will be drawn to the anode part of the element which is kept at a specific positive potential resulting in the rise of a photoelectric current.<\/p>\n<p>These were the four most important types of photoelectric transducers, each tailored for specific needs and applications. You can choose the one that suits your needs the best.<\/p>\n<p>Now that you are at the end of this article, you know all there is to know about photoelectric transducers, how they work, and their different types. What is your opinion about these electronic elements? Comment below and let us know what you think. And if you have any questions about these elements, feel free to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linquip.com\/sign-up?client_redirect=\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">sign up on Linquip<\/a> to talk to our experts. We will help you get all the answers you need and expand your knowledge about this field.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b>Buy Equipment or Ask for a Service<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>By using Linquip RFQ Service, you can expect\u00a0to receive quotations from various suppliers across multiple industries and regions.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/linquip.com\/get-quote?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=content&amp;utm_campaign=product_list&amp;utm_term=product_list&amp;utm_content=rfq\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Click Here to Request a Quotation From Suppliers and Service Providers<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Read More In Linquip<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;\"><strong><a title=\"What are the Main Benefits of an Ultrasonic Transducer?\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linquip.com\/blog\/ultrasonic-transducer-benefits\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">What are the Main Benefits of an Ultrasonic Transducer?<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;\"><strong><a title=\"Piezoelectric Transducer and Its Impressive Applications in Electric Circuits\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linquip.com\/blog\/piezoelectric-transducer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Piezoelectric Transducer and Its Impressive Applications in Electric Circuits<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;\"><strong><a title=\"Ultrasonic Thickness Gauge, Advantages and Applications\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linquip.com\/blog\/ultrasonic-thickness-gauge-advantages-and-applications\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ultrasonic Thickness Gauge, Advantages, and Applications<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;\"><strong><a title=\"Important Detailed Information About The Types of Transducers\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linquip.com\/blog\/types-of-transducers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Important Detailed Information About The Types of Transducers<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linquip.com\/blog\/types-of-sensors-detectors-transducers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Types of Sensors Detectors\/Transducers: An Entire Guide<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linquip.com\/blog\/what-is-a-pressure-transducer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">What Is a Pressure Transducer? 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In this article from Linquip, we want to talk about these useful elements and explain how they work as well as their application. If you are curious to know more about them, then keep on reading\u2026 What is a photoelectric transducer? &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":10419,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10418","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-electrical-component"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.linquip.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10418","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.linquip.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.linquip.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.linquip.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.linquip.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10418"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.linquip.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10418\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25625,"href":"https:\/\/www.linquip.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10418\/revisions\/25625"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.linquip.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10419"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.linquip.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10418"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.linquip.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10418"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.linquip.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10418"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}