Photodetectors for your Applications
Thanks to our many years of experience in handling detectors, you can be sure that our products meet the highest quality standards. Get a comprehensive overview of our product range and the variety of applications that our photodetectors support.
Our expertise enables us to deliver advanced photodetectors that are up to the challenges of your applications. It makes no difference whether it is for use in medical imaging, optical sensors or the next generation of communication. When it comes to photodetectors, we offer you the right solution for every challenge.
Let's shape the optoelectronic future together. With our high-performance photodetectors, we lay the foundation for your innovative production. Together, we can ensure that you take advantage of these high-performance photodetectors and give your applications a decisive edge.
Optoelectronics is our expertise
- Offer of miniaturized light sources
Special requirements, for example in sensor technology or medicine, often require particularly small light sources such as point light sources. We have an idea. - Specification for your project
In our range of extensive optoelectronic components we will find the right solution for you together. - Sorting according to customer specifications
At Chips 4 Light, we have the equipment to precisely sort the required quantity in the required specification on film, gel or waffle pack with our LED chip sorters. - Long-term storage
In our dry storage cabinet we store LED chips professionally in gel- or waffle-pack for a longer period of time to support the project runtimes of our customers.
Frequently asked questions
A photodiode is a semiconductor device that can turn light into electricity. When light hits it, electron-hole pairs are created. Together, these tiny particles can generate current that can be measured. People use photodiodes, for example, in systems for fast light communication, in devices that can measure light, in cameras, and in other areas. If several photodiode chips are put together in one module, then we speak of an array. These chips can have different sensitivities to different wavelength ranges of light, depending on the requirements, and can be available in different packages and configurations.
A PIN photodiode is a special type of photodiode used in photodetection. The name "PIN" is derived from the specific structure of the photodiode. The PIN photodiode consists of three main layers:
- P-layer: this is the p- or positive-doped layer. It contains holes as charge carriers and has an excess of positively charged carriers.
- I-layer: The I-layer is an intrinsic or undoped layer. This means that it does not contain charge carriers. This layer is usually made of a semiconducting material such as silicon. It acts as a space for the absorption of light energy.
- N-layer: This is the n- or negatively-doped layer. It contains electrons as charge carriers and has an excess of negatively charged carriers.
The special design of the PIN photodiode has some advantages over normal photodiodes. The I-layer in the center makes the photodiode an "intrinsic" device. This means that it can operate without current. This reduces background electrical noise and allows the photodiode to respond faster and more sensitively.
By using PIN photodiodes, visible light can be stored and converted into electrical signals with high efficiency. This type of photodiode is often used in applications where high speeds and sensitivities are required. These include, for example, applications in optical communication technology, in fiber optic transmission systems and in high-quality optical sensors.
A phototransistor is a combination of a transistor and a photodiode. It amplifies the generated light signal, enabling better sensitivity and controllability. Phototransistors are commonly used in photoelectric sensors, automatic lighting controls, and optical sensors. They are used to detect, measure and convert various types of radiation. Radiation refers to the propagation of energy through space in the form of particles or waves. There are several types of radiation, including electromagnetic radiation such as light.
Similar to a photodiode, the main function of phototransistors is to generate light into electrical charge carriers (electrons and holes) when light strikes the light-sensitive region of the device. The difference is that a phototransistor does not generate these charge carriers directly. Instead, it amplifies them through the transistor amplification effect.
Photomultipliers also play a role in light detection and amplification. A photomultiplier is a detector capable of measuring and amplifying even the smallest amount of light. It consists of a photocathode, which converts light into electrons, and a series of dynodes, which multiply these electrons to achieve a large gain. Because of this effect, photomultipliers are often used in applications where even weak light signals must be detected. This is the case, for example, in astronomical observation or in the measurement of particle radiation. While phototransistors are also used for light detection, photomultipliers, due to their effect of amplification, are particularly suitable for uses where the lowest light intensity must be measured.
In contrast, an ambient light sensor works differently. It detects the strength of the ambient light and outputs signals that match it and adjusts brightness levels. These signals can be analog or digital and indicate how bright it is. You often find these sensors in devices like
- smartphones
- tablets
- televisions
They help to automatically adjust the brightness of the display. Phototransistors, on the other hand, are used in situations where it is more complex to detect light. For example, in photoelectric sensors, optical switches and industrial applications.