Richardcavell
Member
Hi, everyone.
1. Should I think of a photodiode as being like a solar cell, that generates current from light, or should I think of it as a light-sensitive transistor, that conducts current only if a threshold amount of light is falling on it?
2. I have been told that it makes sense to connect a photodiode in reverse bias. Can someone explain what the point of this is? Wouldn't it make sense only to connect a photodiode in forward bias, and to have the rest of the circuit respond to light falling on the photodiode?
Richard
1. Should I think of a photodiode as being like a solar cell, that generates current from light, or should I think of it as a light-sensitive transistor, that conducts current only if a threshold amount of light is falling on it?
2. I have been told that it makes sense to connect a photodiode in reverse bias. Can someone explain what the point of this is? Wouldn't it make sense only to connect a photodiode in forward bias, and to have the rest of the circuit respond to light falling on the photodiode?
Richard