In electronics a diode is a two terminal electronic component with asymmetric conductance'it has low (ideally zero) resistance to current

flow in one direction ,and high (ideally infinite) resistance in the other.Diodes were the first semiconductor electronics devices.The discovery of crystals rectifying abilities was made by erman physicist !erdinand "raun in #$%&.Today most diodes are made of silicon ,but other semiconductors such as selenium or germanium are sometimes used.' semiconductor diode ,the most common type today,is acrystalline piece of semiconductor material with p(n )unction connected to two electrical terminals. The most common function of a diode is to allow an electric current to pass in one direction ,while bloc*ing the current in the opposite direction.This unidirctional behaviour is called rectification,and is used to convert alternating current to direct current,including e+traction of modulation from radio signals in radio receivers (these diodes are forms of rectifiers. Diodes can have more complicated behaviour than this simple on (off action.,emiconductor diodes begin conducting electricity only if a certain cut(in voltage is present in the forward bias.The voltage drop across aforward biased diode varies only a little with the current and is a function of temperature - this effect can be used as a temperature sensor or voltage reference. ' photodiode is a type of photodetector capable of converting light into either current .voltage,depending upon the mode of operation.The common traditional solar cell used to generate electric solar power is a large area photodiode . /hotodiodes are similar to regular semiconductor diodes e+cept that they may be either e+posed or pac*aged with a window or optical fiber connection to allow light to reach the sensitive part of the device.' photodiode is designed to operate in reverse bias. ' photodiode is a p(n )unction.0hen aphoton of sufficient energy stri*es the diode ,it e+cites an electron,thereby creating a free electron.This mechanism is also *nown as the inner photoelectric effect.If the absorption occurs in the )unction's depletion region ,or one diffusion length away from it,these carriers are swept from the )unction by the built(in electric field of the depletion region.Thus holes move toward the anode and electrons toward the cathode and a photocurrent is produced. ' phototransistor is in essence a bipolar transistor encased in a transparent case so that light can reach the base (collector )unction.The electrons that are generated by photons in the base (collector )unction are in)ected into the base ,and this photodiode current is amplified by the transistors current gain .If the emitter is left unconnected ,the phototransistor becomes a photodiode .0hile phototransistors have a higher responsivity for light they are not able to detect low levels of light they are not able to detect low levels of light any better than photodiodes./hototransistors also have significantly longer response times. /(1 photodiode are used in similar applications to other photodetectors,such as photoconductors,charge(coupled devices and photomultiplier tubes.They may be used to generate an output which is dependent upon the illumination or to change the state of circuitry. /hotodiodes are used in consumer electronics devices such as cd players,smo*e detectors and the receivers for infrared remote control devices used to control e2uipment from tv's to ac's.!or many applications either photodiode or photoconductors may be used.3ither type of photosensor may be used for light measurement,as in camera light meters or to respond to light levels ,as in switching on street lighting after dar*.photodiodes are often used for accurate measurement of light intensity in science and industry.