
7
Figure 4-2 shows the photocurrent output example from
electrodes of a one-dimensional PSD with a resistance
length of 3 mm (S4583-04, etc.), measured when a light
beam is scanned over the active surface. The position de-
tection error estimated from the obtained data is also
shown in the lower graph.
The light beam position can be detected over the entire ac-
tive area of PSD. However, if part of the light beam strikes
outside the active area, a positional shift in the center-of-
gravity occurs between the entire light beam and the light
spot falling within the active area, making the position
measurement unreliable. It is therefore necessary to select
a PSD whose active area matches the incident spot light.
Figure 4-1 Cross section of PSD
KPSDB0005EA
Figure 4-2 Photocurrent output example of one-
dimensional PSD (S4583-04, etc.)
Position detection error example of one-
dimensional PSD (S4583-04, etc)
Specific area for position detection error
KPSDC0071EA
Position detection capability is the most important charac-
teristic of a PSD. The position of a spot light incident on the
PSD surface can be measured by making calculations
based on the photocurrent extracted from each electrode.
The position obtained here with the PSD is the center-of-
gravity of the spot light, and is independent of the spot light
size, shape and intensity.
However, the calculated position usually varies slightly in
each PSD from the actual position of the incident light. This
difference is referred to as the “position detection error” and
is explained below.
If a light beam strikes the electrical center of a PSD, the
signal currents extracted from the output electrodes are
equal. When this electrical center is viewed as the origin,
the position detection error is defined as the difference be-
tween the position at which the light is actually incident on
the PSD and the position calculated from the PSD outputs.
Characteristic and use
4. Position detection error
KPSDC0073EA
Figure 4-3 Center-of-gravity of incident spot light
In Figure 4-1 above, if the actual position of incident light
is Xi and the position calculated by the photocurrents
(IX1 and IX2) from electrodes X1 and X2 is Xm, then the
difference in distance between Xi and Xm is defined as
the position detection error as calculated below.
Position detection error E = Xi - Xm [m] ........ (4-1)
Xi : Actual position of incident light (m)
Xm: Calculated position of incident light (m)
The position detection error is measured under the follow-
ing conditions.
Light source
:
λ=890 nm
Spot light size
:
φ200 m
Total photocurrent: 10 A
Reverse voltage
: Specified value (listed in data sheets)
Xm =
.
IX2 - IX1
IX1 + IX2
LX
2
........ (4-2)
POSITION ON PSD (mm)
+1.5
0
-1.5
0
0.5
1.0
RELATIVE
PHOTOCURRENT
OUTPUT
IX2
IX1
+50
0
-50
-1.5
-1.0
-0.5
+0.5
+1.0
0
+1.5
POSITION ON PSD (mm)
POSITION
DETECTION
ERROR
(
m
)
OUTPUT
ELECTRODE X1
OUTPUT
ELECTRODE X2
CENTER-OF-GRAVITY
OF SPOT LIGHT FALLING
WITHIN ACTIVE AREA
CENTER-OF-GRAVITY
OF ENTIRE SPOT LIGHT
SPOT
LIGHT
ACTIVE
AREA
COMMON ELECTRODE
RESISTANCE LENGTH LX
SPOT
LIGHT
Xm
Xi
X1
X2
CALCULATED POSITION Xm
ACTUAL POSITION Xi
ELECTRICAL
CENTER B
N LAYER
I LAYER
P-TYPE
RESISTIVE LAYER