Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE)

Faculty of Engineering (FE)

American International University- Bangladesh (AIUB)

Laboratory Report
Measurement and Instrumentation Laboratory
Semester: Spring 2020-21

Experiment No. : 05
Experiment Title : Experiment on determination of the characteristics of different light sensors.

Date of Experiment: 06-07-2021 Date of Report Submission: 15-08-2021

Group Members (only for group report submission)

Group No. ID Name
1. 18-38397-2 HANIF MD ABU
2. 18-38264-2 CHOWDHURY ASHMITA
04 3. 18-38098-2 MD RAYHAN MIA
18-38107-2 EMON ANAMUL HOQUE
4. 18-38172-2 SHIHAB

Marking Rubrics for Laboratory Report (to be filled by Faculty)

Objectives Unsatisfactory (1) Good (2-3) Excellent (4-5) Marks
The relevant theories are not Part of the relevant theories are All the relevant theories are
being described properly. described with proper included with proper descriptions,
Theory
mathematical expression and mathematical expressions and
circuit diagrams (if any) circuit diagrams. (if any)
Simulation circuits are not Partial simulation circuit results All the simulation circuits are
Simulation circuits &
included in this report. are included in this report. included in this report with
Results
appropriate results.
Cannot reach meaningful Can extract most of the accurate Can extract all relevant conclusion
Discussion,
conclusions from data. Answers to the report with appropriate answer to the
Comparison between
experimental data; Cannot questions are partially correct; report questions; Summarize
theoretical and
summarize or compare Summarize finding in an finding in a complete & specific
simulation results
findings to expected results incomplete way way
Report is not prepared as per Report format is satisfactory with Report is prepared as per the
Overall Report
the instruction. few missing sections. instructions having all mandatory
format
sections.
Comments Assessed by (Name, Sign, and Date)
Total (out of 20):
 Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE)
Faculty of Engineering (FE)
American International University- Bangladesh (AIUB)

Experiment Title: Experiment on determination of the characteristics of different light sensors.

Objective of the Experiment: The purpose of this experiment is to study the working principles
of different light sensors i.e. photovoltaic and photoconductive cell and to implement the cells in
the MATLAB Simulink software. Later, the cells will be taken for determination of their
characteristic and possible application in light measurement.

Theory: Photovoltaic Cell: Figure 1 shows the basic construction of a semiconductor

photovoltaic cell, consisting basically of a two-layer silicon device. A thin layer of p-type material
is formed on an n-type substrate. When light falls on the junction of the two materials, a voltage
is developed with the n-type material positive with respect to the p-type. The output voltage
depends on the magnitude of the light falling on the device and is a maximum of the order of
0.6V.

Figure 1: Photovoltaic cell

Basically, the Photovoltaic cell is the semiconductor device that converts the light into electrical energy.
The voltage induces by the PV cell depends on the intensity of light incident on it. The name
Photovoltaic is because of their voltage producing capability.
The electrons of the semiconductor material are joined together by the covalent bond. The
electromagnetic radiations are made of small energy particles called photons. When the photons are
incident on the semiconductor material, then the electrons become energized and starts emitting.
The energizes electron is known as the Photoelectrons. And the phenomenon of emission of electrons is
known as the photoelectric effect. The working of the Photovoltaic cell depends on the photoelectric
effect.
 Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE)
Faculty of Engineering (FE)
American International University- Bangladesh (AIUB)

Figure 2: Construction of a Photovoltaic or Solar Cell

As light is absorbed by a semiconductor material, the material's electrons begin to emit. This is
because light is made up of microscopic energizing particles known as photons. As photons are
absorbed by electrons, they become energized and begin to move through the material. The ions
travel only in one direction due to the force of an electric field, and current emerges. Metallic
electrodes are used in semiconductor materials and are used to conduct current.
Let us consider Figure 3 below, which depicts a silicon PV cell with a resistive load wired across
it. The P and N-type layers of semiconductor material make up the PV cell. The PN junction is
formed by joining these layers together [1].

Figure 3: P-N junction Solar cell with resistive load

 Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE)
Faculty of Engineering (FE)
American International University- Bangladesh (AIUB)

The operational principles for a photovoltaic cell are briefly described below:
• One of the PN regions is made very thin (1 micron). Light can easily pass through this without
much loss of energy.
• When light reaches the depletion layer, it is absorbed and the released energy creates electron-
hole pairs which diffuse across the junction.
• A voltage is set up and a current will flow if a resistance is connected across the terminals.
• When used as an energy source, they are known as solar cells.

Photoconductive Cell: Figure 4 shows the basic construction of a photoconductive cell, consisting
of a semiconductor disc base with a gold overlay pattern making contact with the semiconductor
material. The resistance of the semiconductor material between the gold contacts varies when
light falls on it. With no light on the material, the resistance is high. Light falling on the material
produces hole electron pairs and reduces the resistance.

Figure 4: Photoconductive cell (LDR)

It is a two terminal semiconductor device whose terminal resistance will vary (linearly) with the
intensity of the inci•dent light. For obvious reasons, it is frequently called a photo-resistive device.

Figure 5: Circuit of Photoconductive cell [2]

 Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE)
Faculty of Engineering (FE)
American International University- Bangladesh (AIUB)

Simulation Circuits and Results:

Case-01

Figure 6: Simulation model for Photovoltaic Cell

Following the Simulation steps of the Lab Manual, the above design prepared for the I-V
characteristics curve is given below after running the simulation for 5 seconds:

Figure 7: I-V characteristic curve of the solar cell

 Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE)
Faculty of Engineering (FE)
American International University- Bangladesh (AIUB)

Description of the graph: In fig. 7, a linear relationship of the current and voltage is portrayed for the
optical transducer. It is observed that the slope has started to increase after applying a voltage of 0.495
V. and the peak current of 1.172 is availed at 0.585 V. So, this mechanism is not very suitable for the
scenarios where a higher value of current is required.

Figure 8: Output power of the solar cell

 Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE)
Faculty of Engineering (FE)
American International University- Bangladesh (AIUB)

Case-02

Figure 9: Simulation model for Photovoltaic Cell using constant input

Figure10: I-V characteristics curve for the constant input

 Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE)
Faculty of Engineering (FE)
American International University- Bangladesh (AIUB)

Description:
In case -02 we have to draw I-V characteristics curve for the constant input and vary load resistance from o.oo1
to 5 ohm and each time we record output voltage and current. After recording value, we plot all recorded in
command window and finally we find I-V characteristics curve.

Discussion:
In this experiment, the implementation of the PV cells was practiced after gaining a detailed theoretical
knowledge on it. Different light sensors were also designed in the respective simulations. The I-V characteristics
curve of the Optical transducer showing the linear relation of V & I in fig. 4 implies the proportionate increase of
voltage and current at the same time. And, the output power is also increasing linearly with the increase of both
voltage & current. Observing the output graphs, it can be said that using the PV cell of fig is not suitable below
05.V where a negligible amount of current is very negligible. Again, using the PV cell of fig. 6 in Part-B, the
light level is not stable, which is increasing non-linearly with the possession of several drifts. All the blocks were
placed in the Simulink and the necessary changes were made in the particular parameters for achieving the
correct output. To get the output in the MATLAB, ‘To workspace’ block was used with the selection of Array in
the Save format. Fig10. plot i-v curve for the different values of current and voltage when load resistance is
varying. Therefore, the experiment was conducted successfully with all the satisfactory results.

References:
[1] C. Globe, “What is Photovoltaic or Solar Cell? - Definition, Construction, Working & Installation - Circuit
Globe,” Circuit Globe, Feb. 05, 2018.
[2] C. Today, “Photoconductive cells,” Electronic Circuits and Diagrams-Electronic Projects and
Design, Aug. 24, 2009.
[3] Mathworks, “Photovoltaic solar cell - Simulink,” www.mathworks.com.