UNIT-3 Fundamentals of Electronics Engineering
UNIT-3 Fundamentals of Electronics Engineering
Fundamentals of Electronics
Engineering
Examples of Semiconductors:
Gallium arsenide, germanium, and silicon are some of the most commonly used
semiconductors. Silicon is used in electronic circuit fabrication and gallium
arsenide is used in solar cells, laser diodes, etc.
Types of Semiconductors
Semiconductors can be classified as:
Intrinsic Semiconductor
Extrinsic Semiconductor
N-type Semiconductor
P-type Semiconductor
Let us now understand the uses of semiconductors in daily life. Semiconductors are
used in almost all electronic devices. Without them, our life would be much
different.
Their reliability, compactness, low cost and controlled conduction of electricity
make them ideal to be used for various purposes in a wide range of components
and devices. transistors, diodes, photosensors, microcontrollers, integrated chips
and much more are made up of semiconductors.
Temperature sensors are made with semiconductor devices.
They are used in 3D printing machines
Used in microchips and self-driving cars
Used in calculators, solar plates, computers and other electronic devices.
Transistor and MOSFET used as a switch in Electrical Circuits are manufactured
using the semiconductors.
When the p-type is connected to the positive terminal of the battery and
the n-type to the negative terminal then the p-n junction is said to be
forward-biased.
When the p-n junction is forward biased, the built-in electric field at
the p-n junction and the applied electric field are in opposite directions.
When both the electric fields add up, the resultant electric field has a
magnitude lesser than the built-in electric field.
This results in a less resistive and thinner depletion region.
The depletion region’s resistance becomes negligible when the applied
voltage is large.
In silicon, at the voltage of 0.6 V, the resistance of the depletion region
becomes completely negligible and the current flows across it
unimpeded.
The zener breakdown occurs in heavily doped p-n junction diodes because of their
narrow depletion region.
When reverse biased voltage applied to the diode is increased, the narrow depletion
region generates strong electric field.
When reverse biased voltage applied to the diode reaches close to zener voltage,
the electric field in the depletion region is strong enough to pull electrons from
their valence band.
The valence electrons which gains sufficient energy from the strong electric field
of depletion region will breaks bonding with the parent atom and become free
electrons.
This free electrons carry electric current from one place to another place. At zener
breakdown region, a small increase in voltage will rapidly increases the electric
current.
The symbol of the photodiode is similar to that of an LED but the arrows point inwards as opposed to outwards in the LED. The following image shows the symbol of a photodiode.
It is a form of light sensor that converts light energy into electrical energy (voltage
or current). Photodiode is a type of semi conducting device with PN junction.
Between the p (positive) and n (negative) layers, an intrinsic layer is present. The
photo diode accepts light energy as input to generate electric current.
It is also called as Photodetector, Photo Sensor or Light Detector. Photodiode
operates in reverse bias condition i.e., the p – side of the photodiode is connected
with negative terminal of battery (or the power supply) and n – side to the positive
terminal of battery.
Typical photodiode materials are Silicon, Germanium, Indium Gallium Arsenide
Phosphide and Indium gallium arsenide.
Internally, a photodiode has optical filters, built in lens and a surface area. When
surface area of photodiode increases, it results in less response time.
Photodiode operates in reverse bias condition. Reverse voltages are plotted along X
axis in volts and reverse current are plotted along Y-axis in microampere.
Reverse current does not depend on reverse voltage.
When there is no light illumination, reverse current will be almost zero.
The minimum amount of current present is called as Dark Current.
Once when the light illumination increases, reverse current also increases linearly.
Photodiodes are used in many simple day to day applications. The reason for their
use is the linear response of photodiode to a light illumination. When more amount
of light falls on the sensor, it produces high amount of current. The increase in
current will be displayed on a galvanometer connected to the circuit.
Photodiodes help to provide an electric isolation with help of optocouplers. When
two isolated circuits are illuminated by light, optocouplers is used to couple the
circuit optically. But the circuits will be isolated electrically. Compared to
conventional devices, optocouplers are fast.
Photodiodes are also used in safety electronics like fire and smoke detectors. It is
also used in TV units.
When utilized in cameras, they act as photo sensors. It is used in scintillators
charge-coupled devices, photoconductors, and photomultiplier tubes.
Photodiodes are also widely used in numerous medical applications like
instruments to analyze samples, detectors for computed tomography and also used
in blood gas monitors.
Photodiode Phototransistor
Highly sensitive
Not expensive
Less complex
It provides a high amount of current including high gain.
Disadvantages of phototransistors
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