Hi there,

I am an EE student studying for an upcoming final. My question pertains to a very simple circuit containing a resistor, a voltage source, and a photodiode.

The photodiode is receiving an input intensity of 500 mW/m^2. The PD has a responsivity of 0.4 A/W. The detector area is 1 mm^2. The load resistor we'll call 100 0hms. See image.

We're going to model the PD IV curve with a simple piecewise linear function, see image. Rd we'll call 10 ohms and V0 we'll call 0.5 A.

If I make the bias voltage so that the photodiode is in reverse mode, say Vb = -5V, what current am I going to see in the circuit? How can I figure this out? Please explain thoroughly because I am confused.

Cheers
Corwin S

 

MOD NODE: Thread moved from General Electronics Chat to Homework Help.

 

How can Vo, a voltage, be half an amp?

You need to show your best attempt at a solution (don't worry about getting it right, just make your best attempt and include as many questions about were you have uncertainties as you go).

This might help answer some of your questions:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photodiode