
Computer interfacing
Optical transducers
The photo-conductive cell
One of the most useful of optical transducers is the cad-
mium sulphide (CdS) photo-conductive cell. This has a
clear plastic case containing a resistance element whose
value depends upon strength of light falling on it. Enor-
mous variations in resistance are possible, from tens of
kilohms down to a few hundred ohms being typical. The
coefficient of resistance change with light level is a nega-
tive one but is sufficiently constant to give reasonable
linearity between the two quantities.
Optically coupled isolators
An optical coupler (Figure 2.8) consists of a gallium
arsenid