Publication

Semiconductor photodiode and method of making

Radivoje Popovic, Zhen Xiao
2006
Patents

Abstract

A semiconductor photodiode (18) is formed as a pn-junction between a region (2) of a first conductivity type and a region (6) of a second conductivity type. The region (6) of the second conductivity type is approximately hemispherical. A mini guard ring (8), i.e. a ring of the second conductivity type having a junction depth that is much smaller than the junction depth of the region (6) preferably surrounds the region (6) in order to prevent surface trapping. The photodiode (18) is operated with a high reverse bias so that light falling on the photodiode (18) produces the avalanche effect.

Official source

https://infoscience.epfl.ch/entities/publication/764245b2-f1a7-4fb4-9488-54e5cd969608

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Radivoje Popovic, Zhen Xiao
2006
Patents

Abstract

Official source

https://infoscience.epfl.ch/entities/publication/764245b2-f1a7-4fb4-9488-54e5cd969608

About this result

Related concepts (26)

P–n junction

A p–n junction is a boundary or interface between two types of semiconductor materials, p-type and n-type, inside a single crystal of semiconductor. The "p" (positive) side contains an excess of holes, while the "n" (negative) side contains an excess of electrons in the outer shells of the electrically neutral atoms there. This allows electric current to pass through the junction only in one direction.

Avalanche photodiode

An avalanche photodiode (APD) is a highly sensitive semiconductor photodiode detector that exploits the photoelectric effect to convert light into electricity. From a functional standpoint, they can be regarded as the semiconductor analog of photomultiplier tubes. The avalanche photodiode (APD) was invented by Japanese engineer Jun-ichi Nishizawa in 1952. However, study of avalanche breakdown, microplasma defects in silicon and germanium and the investigation of optical detection using p-n junctions predate this patent.

Photodiode

A photodiode is a light-sensitive semiconductor diode. It produces current when it absorbs photons. The package of a photodiode allows light (or infrared or ultraviolet radiation, or X-rays) to reach the sensitive part of the device. The package may include lenses or optical filters. Devices designed for use specially as a photodiode use a PIN junction rather than a p–n junction, to increase the speed of response. Photodiodes usually have a slower response time as their surface area increases.

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