Optoelectronics

Optoelectronics is the technology that combines optics and electronics and the devices based on this technology are known as optoelectronic devices.These devices include emitters,sensors and optocouplers or optoisolators.These devices may be categorised as follows:

1.Devices that detect optical signals through electronic processes,such as photodetectors.

2.devices that convert optical radiation into electrical energy,such as photovoltaic device or solar cell.

3.Devices that convert electrical energy into optical radiation,such as light-emitting diodes(LEDs) and the LASER(Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation) diode.

The devices that convert electrical energy into optical radiations are known as emitters.The devices that convert optical radiations into electrical energy or detect optical signals through electronic process fall under the category of sensors.The optocouplers combine light generating and light sensitive units in a signal package.The present-day family tree of optoelectronic devices is shown in fig.

solar cells

The characteristics of photodetectors and solar cells are dependent on optical energy,which is absorbed in a semiconductor and creates excess EHPs generating photocurrents. photodetectors are the semiconductor devices that can be used to detect the presence of photons and convert optical signals into electrical signals.

example of  optoelectronic