Phototransistors

Phototransistors are solid-state light detectors with internal gain that are used to provide analog or digital signals. They detect visible, ultraviolet and near-infrared light from a variety of sources and are more sensitive than photodiodes, semiconductor devices that require a pre-amplifier. Phototransistors feed a photocurrent output into the base of a small signal transistor. For each illumination level, the output is defined by the area of the exposed collector-base junction and the DC current gain of the transistor. The base current from the incident photons is amplified by the gain of the transistor, resulting in current gains that range from hundreds to several thousands. Response time is a function of the capacitance of the collector-base junction and the value of the load resistance. Photodarlingtons, a common type of phototransistor, have two stages of gain and can provide net gains greater than 100,000. Because of their ease of use, low cost and compatibility with transistor-transistor logic (TTL), phototransistors are often used in applications where more than several hundred nanowatts (nW) of optical power are available.  

Selecting phototransistors requires an analysis of performance specifications. Collector current is the total amount of current that flows into the collector terminal. Collector dark current is the amount of collector current for which there is no optical input. Typically, both collector current and collector dark current are measured in milliamps (mA). Peak wavelength, the wavelength at which phototransistors are most responsive, is measured in nanometers (nm). Rise time, the time that elapses when a pulse waveform increases from 10% to 90% of its maximum value, is expressed in nanoseconds (ns). Collector-emitter breakdown voltage is the voltage at which phototransistors conduct a specified (nondestructive) current when biased in the normal direction without optical or electrical inputs to the base. Power dissipation, a measure of total power consumption, is measured in milliwatts (mW). Other performance specifications for phototransistors include spectral range, fall time, acceptance angle, and operating temperature. 

Phototransistors vary in terms of mounting and features. Surface mount technology (SMT) adds components to a printed circuit board (PCB) by soldering component leads or terminals to the top surface of the board. Typically, the PCB pad is coated with a paste-like formulation of solder and flux. Elevated temperatures, usually from an infrared oven, melt the paste and solder the component leads to the PCB pads. Through hole technology (THT), another commonly used mounting style, mounts components by inserting component leads through holes in the board and then soldering the leads in place on the opposite side of the board. In terms of features, some phototransistors include a cutoff filter that blocks visible light. Others have an anti-reflective coating to improve light detection. Devices with a rounded dome lens instead of a flat lens are also available.

• Modeling Phototransistor Optocouplers Using PSPICE Simulation Software
  While designed for measurement parameters like Voltage and Current, PSPICE programs are not comfortable with evaluating or simulating components in photometric units. This application note provides...
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• Optical Level Switch Selection and Wiring Notes (.pdf)
  The optical liquid level sensors incorporate a phototransistor trigger, which provides a digital output that denotes the presence or absence of liquid. The mode of operation is derived from the...
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• How Does an Optical Encoder Work?
  The Optical Encoders typically consist of a rotating and a stationary member. The rotor is usually a metal, glass, or a plastic disc mounted on the encoder shaft. The disc has some kind of optical...
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Part Numbers for Phototransistors