Wildian, Jurusan Fisika Universitas Andalas

Phototransistor
• An alternative
photojunction device to
the photodiode is the
Phototransistor which
is basically a photodiode
with amplification and
operates by exposing its
base region to the light
source.

• Phototransistors operate the same as photodiodes except that they

can provide current gain and are much more sensitive than the
photodiode with currents are 50 - 100 times greater than that of the
standard photodiode.

wildian_unand@yahoo.com
Wildian, Jurusan Fisika Universitas Andalas

Opened Base Region

• Phototransistors consist mainly of a bipolar
NPN Transistor with the collector-base PN-junction
reverse-biased. The phototransistor´s large base region
is left electrically unconnected and uses photons of light
to generate a base current which in turn causes a
collector to emitter current to flow.

wildian_unand@yahoo.com
Wildian, Jurusan Fisika Universitas Andalas

Photo-transistor Characteristics
• In the NPN
transistor the
collector is biased
positively with
respect to the
emitter so that the
base/collector
junction is reverse
biased. therefore,
with no light on
the junction
normal leakage or
dark current flows
which is very
small.
• When light falls on the base more electron/hole pairs are formed in this
region and the current produced by this action is amplified by the transistor.
The sensitivity of a phototransistor is a function of the DC current gain of the
transistor. Therefore, the overall sensitivity is a function of collector current
and can be controlled by connecting a resistance between the base and the
emitter but for very high sensitivity optocoupler type applications, Darlington
phototransistors are generally used.
wildian_unand@yahoo.com
Wildian, Jurusan Fisika Universitas Andalas

PHOTOTRANSISTOR CIRCUITS
• The circuit shown in Figure 9
(A) is a common-emitter
amplifier. Light input at the
base causes the output (VOUT)
to decrease from high to low.
• The circuit shown in Figure 9
(B) is a common-collector
amplifier with an output (VOUT)
increasing from low to high in
response to light input.
• For the circuits in Figure 9 to
operate in the switching mode,
the load resistor (RL) should be
set in relation with the collector
current (IC) as VCC < RL × IC.

wildian_unand@yahoo.com
Wildian, Jurusan Fisika Universitas Andalas

Improving the response

• The circuit shown Figure (A)
uses a phototransistor with a
base terminal. A RBE resistor
connected between the base
and emitter alleviates the
influence of a dark current
when operating at a high
temperature.

• The circuit shown in Figure (B)

features a cascade connection
of the grounded-base
transistor (Tr1) so that the
phototransistor is virtually less
loaded, thereby improving the
response.

wildian_unand@yahoo.com
Wildian, Jurusan Fisika Universitas Andalas

Phototransistor
Configuration
• The phototransistor works like a
transistor but the base current
comes from an integral photodiode
so that we need only connect the
collector and emitter of the
transistor.

• The phototransistor can be

configured as either a Common-
Emitter or Common-collector
Amplifier. The Common-Emitter,
Figure 2, would give a transition in
the output from Low to High Voltage
on detection of IR light, while the
Common-Collector, Figure 3, would
give a High to Low transition.
wildian_unand@yahoo.com
Wildian, Jurusan Fisika Universitas Andalas

Phototransistor Operating Mode

• Both of these circuits can be used in "active" or "switch" modes.
"Active" mode means that output voltage will vary in proportion to
the light received by the component, up to a maximum level.
"Switch" mode operation gives an "On" or "Off" responce to the light
detected. These modes are selected by adjusting the load resistor in
the amplifier circuit.

•   For Active Mode V cc < R2 x Icc

   For Switch Mode Vcc > R2 x Icc

where R2 is the Resistor Load and Icc is the Collector Current of the
Phototransistor in the On state, found in the Data Sheet. While
Switch mode can be useful, and will readily interface with a
microcontrollers digital Input, Active Mode can be read through a
Microcontrollers A/D Input allowing thresholds for switching to be set
in the controlling software.
wildian_unand@yahoo.com
Wildian, Jurusan Fisika Universitas Andalas

Phototransistor in Saturated Condition

wildian_unand@yahoo.com