Photoelectric devices

(electronics) A device which gives an electrical signal in response to visible, infrared, or ultraviolet radiation.

Devices which give an electrical signal in response to visible, infrared, or ultraviolet radiation. They are often used in systems which sense objects or encoded data by a change in transmitted or reflected light. Photoelectric devices which generate a voltage can be used as solar cells to produce useful electric power. The operation of photoelectric devices is based on any of the several photoelectric effects in which the absorption of light quanta liberates electrons in or from the absorbing material. See also Photovoltaic effect; Solar cell.

Photoconductive devices are photoelectric devices which utilize the photo-induced change in electrical conductivity to provide an electrical signal. Photoemissive systems have also been used in photoelectric applications. These vacuum-tube devices utilize the photoemission of electrons from a photocathode and collection at an anode. See also Photoconductive cell; Photoemission.

Many photoelectric systems now utilize silicon photodiodes or phototransistors. These devices utilize the photovoltaic effect, which generates a voltage due to the photoab-sorption of light quanta near a pn junction. Modern solid-state integrated-circuit fabrication techniques can be used to create arrays of photodiodes which can be used to read printed information. See also Photodiode; Phototransistor.