AbstractsEngineering

A study of phototransistors.

by Hugh. J. Goldie




Institution: McGill University
Department: Department of Engineering.
Degree: Master of Engineering.
Year: 1956
Keywords: Electrical Engineering.
Record ID: 1557724
Full text PDF: http://digitool.library.mcgill.ca/thesisfile110202.pdf


Abstract

A photoconductive diode can be constructed from a bar of semi-conducting material containing a region of p type conductivity and one of n type conductivity. However, a more sensitive device is realized if three regions are used alternately n,p,n. The npn structure, a phototransistor, provides a current approximately fifty times greater than that obtained from a pn photodiode illuminated by the same light source. Several of these npn units were constructed and the performance of each as a two-terminal phototransistor was evaluated.