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5. Opto-Electronic Characterization

Optoelectronics is the study and application of electronic devices that source, detect and control
light. In this section we are studying the characteristics of opto-electronic components such as
solar cell, photodiode, phototransistor etc.

Components Needed :

Optical bread board

Kinematic laser mount
Diode laser with power supply
Cell mount
Polarizer rotator
Multimeters
Solar cell
LDR
LED
Photo diode
Photo transistor
Opto-coupler

Solar Cell

Aim :

To study the response characteristics of a Solar cell.

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Theory :

A solar cell is a semiconductor device, which generates an emf when illuminated by light.
When light hits the surface of a solar cell near the p-n junction, the crystal is ionized and new
electron- hole pairs are generated. These electrons and holes created in the n and p-region diffuse
towards the junction and if they have no time to recombine in the transit, they fall under the
influence of the internal electric field existing in the junction. The electric field forces the electrons
to move to n-region and holes to the p-region. This produces an excess of hole in the p-region and
electrons in the n-region. These electrons and holes buildup charges in their respective regions
and a potential difference called photo emf appear across the cell. The solar cells are usually
made of p-type Selenium and n-type Cadmium oxide. The p-type material is typically connected to
the base and top of the wafer, n-type, has a grid of electrical contacts. The n-type is exposed to the
light. The output voltage of the solar depends on the intensity of light falls on it. With the help of a
polarizer we can vary the intensity.

Experimental Set-up

1. Fix the kinematic laser mount on the optical bread board and mount the diode laser.

2. Place the cell mount on the bread board and insert the solar cell with mount into the cell mount.

3. Connect the output probes of the solar cell to the multimeter and turn the multimeter knob to
read the voltage. (2V dc range )

4. Switch on the laser and align it to fall on the solar cell. Make sure that the multimeter shows
some voltage.

5. Insert a polarizer rotator in between the laser and the solar cell.

Circuit diagram

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Procedure

1. Obtain the maximum output voltage by rotating the polarizer.

2. Note the voltage from multimeter and note down the polarizer angle as Zero.

3. Rotate the polarizer in an interval of 10° and note down the corresponding
voltage each time.

4. Plot the Polarizer angle vs. Voltage graph.

Measurements

Sl No: Angle of Polarizer Voltage across the solar cell (V)

1. 0

2. 10

3. 20

.. ..

.. ..

.. ..

37. 360

Result : Response characteristics of solar cell is studied.

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Light Dependent Resistor (LDR)

Aim : 1. To study the V - I Characteristics of LDR

2. To study the Response characteristics of LDR

Theory :

A photoresistor or Light Dependent Resistor (LDR) is a resistor whose resistance

decreases with increasing incident light intensity; in other words, it exhibits photoconductivity.
Light detection operation depends on the fact that the resistance of certain materials like
Cadmium Sulphide (CdS) varies with the intensity of light falling on the surface of the film. They
have no power and voltage handling capabilities similar to those of a conventional resistor.

V-I Characteristics :

Experimental Set-up

1. Fix the kinematic laser mount on the optical bread board and mount the diode laser.

2. Place the cell mount on the bread board and inset the LDR with mount into the cell mount.

3. Connect the output probes of the LDR to the variable power supply.

4. Connect one multimeter in series with the LDR to read the current (turn the knob to 20mA
range). A second multimeter is connected in parallel with the LDR to read the voltage (turn the
knob to 20 V range ).

Circuit diagram

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Procedure

1. Switch on the laser and variable power supply.

2. Align the laser carefully so that it strikes on the LDR.

3. Vary the voltage across LDR ranging from 0 to 5V and note down the voltage
and current from the corresponding multimeters each time.

Measurements

Sl No: Voltage (V) Current (mA)

Response Characteristics :

Experimental Set-up

1. The experimental set up is same as above. Insert a polarizer rotator in between the laser and
the LDR.

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Circuit diagram

Procedure

1. Switch on the laser and variable power supply.

2. Align the laser carefully so that it strikes on the LDR.

3. Set the voltage across LDR at 5V.

4. Rotate the polarizer to obtain the maximum o/p current. Note down the angle
of the polarizer as zero degree.

5. Rotate the polarizer in an interval of 10° and note down the corresponding
current each time.

6. Plot the Polarizer angle vs. current graph.

Measurements

Sl No: Angle of Polarizer Current through the LDR (mA)

1. 0

2. 10

3. 20

.. ..

.. ..

.. ..

37. 360

Result : V-I and response characteristics of LDR is studied.

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Light Emitting Diode (LED)

Aim : To study the V-I characteristics of an LED.

Theory :

A light-emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor light source. When a light-emitting

diode is forward biased, electrons are able to recombine with holes within the device, releasing
energy in the form of photons. This effect is called electroluminescence and the color of the light is
determined by the energy gap of the semiconductor.

Here we are finding the relationship between the input voltage V and forward current I.
The biasing voltage is increased from zero to V in suitable steps by varying the biasing supply. The
corresponding reading in the ammeter connected to the LED is noted at each step. A graph plotted
between V and I, which represents the V-I characteristics.

Experimental Set-up

1. Fix the cell mount on the optical bread board and mount the LED on the cell mount.

2. Connect the probes of the LED to the variable power supply.

3. Connect one multimeter in series with the LED to read the current (turn the knob to 2mA range
for red LED and to 20mA for blue LED). A second multimeter is connected in parallel with the
LED to read the voltage (turn the knob to 2V range for red LED and to 20V for blue LED).

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Circuit diagram

Procedure

1. Switch on the variable power supply.

2. Vary the voltage across the LED in a step of 0.1V.

Caution: Don’t increase the voltage beyond 2V for Red LED and 3V for Blue LED.

3. Note the voltage from voltmeter and corresponding current from the ammeter.

4. Plot the V-I graph.

Measurements

Sl No: Voltage (V) Current (mA)

Result : V-I characteristics of LED is studied.

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Photo transistor

Aim : 1. To study the V - I Characteristics of phototransistor.

2. To study the Response characteristics of phototransistor.

Theory :

In a phototransistor, the base region is enlarged and generally does not have a lead
attached to it. The collector-base junction is sensitive to light falling on it. When light falls on the
base junction, a base current proportional to light intensity is produced. This initiates a collector
current proportional to the light intensity. Phototransistors have a higher responsivity for light but
they are not able to detect low levels of light.

V-I Characteristics :

Experimental Set-up

1. Fix the kinematic laser mount on the optical bread board and mount the diode laser.

2. Place the cell mount on the bread board and inset the phototransistor with mount into the cell
mount.

3. Connect the output probes of the phototransistor to the variable power supply.

4. Connect one multimeter in series with the phototransistor to read the current (turn the knob to
20mA range). A second multimeter is connected in parallel with the phototransistor to read the
voltage (turn the knob to 20 V range).

Circuit diagram

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Procedure

1. Switch on the laser and variable power supply.

2. Align the laser carefully so that it strikes on the phototransistor.

3. Vary the voltage across phototransistor ranging from 0 to 5 V and note down the
voltage and current from the corresponding multimeters each time.

Measurements

Sl No: Voltage (V) Current (mA)

Response Characteristics :

Experimental Set-up

1. The experimental set up is same as above. Insert a polarizer rotator in between the laser and
the phototransistor.

Turn the knob of the ammeter to 200mA range and voltmeter knob to 20V.

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Circuit diagram

Procedure

1. Switch on the laser and variable power supply.

2. Align the laser carefully so that it strikes on the phototransistor.

3. Set the voltage across phototransistor at 5V.

4. Rotate the polarizer to obtain the maximum o/p current. Note down the angle of the
polarizer as zero degree.

5. Rotate the polarizer in an interval of 10° and note down the corresponding
current each time.

6. Plot the Polarizer angle vs. current graph.

Measurements

Angle of Polarizer Current through the

Sl No:
Phototransistor (mA)

1. 0

2. 10

3. 20

.. ..

.. ..

.. ..

37. 360

Result : V-I and response characteristics of phototransistor is studied.

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Photodiode

Aim : To study the response characteristics of Photodiode.

Theory :

A photodiode is a type of photodetector capable of converting light into either current

or voltage, depending upon the mode of operation. A photodiode is a p-n junction or PIN structure.
When a photon of sufficient energy strikes the diode, it excites an electron, thereby creating a free
electron and a positively charged electron hole.. If the absorption occurs in the junction's depletion
region, or one diffusion length away from it, these carriers are swept from the junction by the built-
in field of the depletion region. Thus holes move toward the anode, and electrons toward the
cathode, and a photocurrent is produced. This photocurrent is the sum of both the dark current
(without light) and the light current, so the dark current must be minimized to enhance the
sensitivity of the device. The mechanism of the photodiode is like that of a (miniaturized) solar cell.
They are not as sensitive as a phototransistor but their linearity can make them useful in simple
light meters.

Experimental Set-up

1. Fix the kinematic laser mount on the optical bread board and mount the diode laser.

2. Place the cell mount on the bread board and insert the photodiode with mount into the cell
mount.

3. Connect the output probes of the photodiode to the variable power supply.

4. Connect one multimeter in series with the photodiode to read the current (turn the knob to 2mA
range). A second multimeter is connected in parallel with the photodiode to read the voltage
(turn the knob to 20V range).

5. Insert a polarizer rotator in between the laser and the photodiode.

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Circuit diagram

Procedure

1. Switch on the laser and variable power supply.

2. Align the laser carefully so that it strikes on the photodiode.

3. Set the voltage across photodiode at 5V.

4. Rotate the polarizer to obtain the maximum o/p current. Note down the angle of
the polarizer as zero degree.

5. Rotate the polarizer in an interval of 10° and note down the corresponding
current each time.

6. Plot the Polarizer angle vs. current graph.

Measurements

Angle of Polarizer Current through the

Sl No:
Photodiode (mA)

1. 0

2. 10

3. 20

.. ..

.. ..

.. ..

37. 360

Result : Response characteristics of photodiode is studied.

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Opto-Coupler

Aim : To study characteristics of an opto-coupler.

Theory :

The opto-coupler or optoisolator is essentially a device that uses a short optical path
to couple an electrical signal from one area to another. Typically the opto coupler is housed within
a single small package, often around the size of a small integrated circuit, although sizes vary
according to the application and the specification.

The opto-coupler is a component that contains the two elements required for an opto-isolator :

Light emitter : The light emitter is on the input side and takes the incoming signal and
converts it into a light signal. Typically the light emitter is a light emitting diode.

Light detector : The light detector within the opto-coupler detects the light from the emitter
and converts it back into an electrical signal. The light detector can be any one of a number of
different types of device from a photodiode to a phototransistor, photodarlington, etc.

The MCT 2E opto isolator (opto coupler) consists of a Gallium Arsenide infrared emitting diode
driving a silicon phototransistor in a 6- pin dual in- line package.

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SCHEMATIC

PIN 1 ANODE
2 CATHODE
3 NO CONNECTION
4 EMITTER
5 COLLECTOR
6 BASE

Experimental Set-up

1. Place the cell mount on the bread board and insert the optocoupler with mount into the cell
mount.

2. Identify LED probe and phototransistor probe. Connect the LED probe to the variable output of
the power supply with a multimeter in series (turn the knob to 20mA range) and one in parallel
(turn the knob to 20V range).

3. Connect the photo transistor probe to the 5V DC in series (turn the knob to 20mA range) with a
multimeter.

Circuit diagram

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Procedure

1. Vary the input voltage of the LED (from 0 - 3V) and note down the input voltage,
input current and output current from the corresponding multimeters connected.

2. Plot the graph input current verses input voltage.

3. Also plot the graph input current verses output current.

Measurements

Sl No: Input Voltage Input Current Output current

Result : The Characteristics of an opto-coupler is studied.

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