CHAPTER 5
Optoelectronics
Optoelectronics is a branch of electronics that deals with light-emitting and light-detecting devices. Light-emitting devices, such as lamps and light-emitting diodes (LEDs), create electromagnetic energy (e.g., light) by using an electric current to excite electrons into higher energy levels (when an electron changes energy levels, a photon is emitted). Light-detecting devices such as phototransistors and photoresistors, on the other hand, are designed to take incoming electromagnetic energy and convert it into electric currents and voltages. This is usually accomplished using photons to liberate bound electrons within semiconductor materials. Light-emitting devices typically are used for illumination purposes or ...
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