A light-dependent resistor, alternatively called an LDR, photoresistor, photoconductor, or photocell, is a variable resistor whose value decreases with increasing incident light intensity.
An LDR is made of a high-resistance semiconductor. If light falling on the device is of high enough frequency, photons absorbed by the semiconductor give bound electrons enough energy to jump into the conduction band. The resulting free electron (and its hole partner) conduct electricity, thereby lowering resistance.
A photoelectric device can be either intrinsic or extrinsic. In intrinsic devices, the only available electrons are in the valence band, and hence the photon must have enough energy to excite the electron across the entire bandgap. Extrinsic devices have impurities added, which have a ground state energy closer to the conduction band - since the electrons don't have as far to jump, lower energy photons (i.e. longer wavelengths and lower frequencies) are sufficient to trigger the device.
Two of its earliest applications were as part of smoke and fire detection systems and camera light meters. Because cadmium sulfide cells are inexpensive and widely available, LDRs are still used in electronic devices that need light detection capability, such as security alarms, street lamps, and clock radios (Wikipedia 2005).
| Hitec PN #55826 | |
|---|---|
| Sources | Robotshop US$ 10.70 |
| Description | Photoresistor-based light sensor. |
| Datasheet | |
| Resources | |
| Notes | Operating luminance: more than 80Lux |
| Variants | |