• Looking for very low threshold voltage NMOS and its PMOS counterpart

    From amal banerjee@21:1/5 to All on Wed Sep 20 08:08:08 2023
    Could some electronics guru please help ? I am looking for a very low(few milliVolts) VTO commercially available NMOS, and its corresponding PMOS.
    I am trying to use a reverse biased photodiode(very low output current) to trigger a PMOS. The output voltage could then be used to trigger ideally a
    BJT. Any hints, suggestiosn would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

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  • From John Larkin@21:1/5 to dakupoto@gmail.com on Wed Sep 20 08:21:28 2023
    On Wed, 20 Sep 2023 08:08:08 -0700 (PDT), amal banerjee
    <dakupoto@gmail.com> wrote:

    Could some electronics guru please help ? I am looking for a very low(few milliVolts) VTO commercially available NMOS, and its corresponding PMOS.
    I am trying to use a reverse biased photodiode(very low output current) to >trigger a PMOS. The output voltage could then be used to trigger ideally a >BJT. Any hints, suggestiosn would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

    What is VTO?

    I don't think such a part exists. A photodiode might just barely turn
    on a high-beta bipolar transisor.

    What's the open-circuit voltage of the photodiode? What's the current?
    Is a power supply available? If the pd is back-biased by a supply,
    you'd have lots of voltage available to turn on a mosfet.

    A lithium battery might power a micropower comparator for decades.

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  • From John Smiht@21:1/5 to John Larkin on Wed Sep 20 10:10:39 2023
    On Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at 10:21:50 AM UTC-5, John Larkin wrote:
    On Wed, 20 Sep 2023 08:08:08 -0700 (PDT), amal banerjee
    <daku...@gmail.com> wrote:

    Could some electronics guru please help ? I am looking for a very low(few milliVolts) VTO commercially available NMOS, and its corresponding PMOS.
    I am trying to use a reverse biased photodiode(very low output current) to >trigger a PMOS. The output voltage could then be used to trigger ideally a >BJT. Any hints, suggestiosn would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. What is VTO?

    I don't think such a part exists. A photodiode might just barely turn
    on a high-beta bipolar transisor.

    What's the open-circuit voltage of the photodiode? What's the current?
    Is a power supply available? If the pd is back-biased by a supply,
    you'd have lots of voltage available to turn on a mosfet.

    A lithium battery might power a micropower comparator for decades.


    VTO: Vertical Take Off

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  • From piglet@21:1/5 to John Larkin on Wed Sep 20 18:37:37 2023
    On 20/09/2023 16:21, John Larkin wrote:
    On Wed, 20 Sep 2023 08:08:08 -0700 (PDT), amal banerjee
    <dakupoto@gmail.com> wrote:

    Could some electronics guru please help ? I am looking for a very low(few milliVolts) VTO commercially available NMOS, and its corresponding PMOS.
    I am trying to use a reverse biased photodiode(very low output current) to >> trigger a PMOS. The output voltage could then be used to trigger ideally a >> BJT. Any hints, suggestiosn would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

    What is VTO?

    I don't think such a part exists. A photodiode might just barely turn
    on a high-beta bipolar transisor.

    What's the open-circuit voltage of the photodiode? What's the current?
    Is a power supply available? If the pd is back-biased by a supply,
    you'd have lots of voltage available to turn on a mosfet.

    A lithium battery might power a micropower comparator for decades.


    I think they meant V-turn-on?

    Strange sub threshold behaviors exist but I know nothing about them.

    piglet

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  • From jeroen@21:1/5 to amal banerjee on Wed Sep 20 23:39:48 2023
    On 2023-09-20 17:08, amal banerjee wrote:
    Could some electronics guru please help ? I am looking for a very low(few milliVolts) VTO commercially available NMOS, and its corresponding PMOS.
    I am trying to use a reverse biased photodiode(very low output current) to trigger a PMOS. The output voltage could then be used to trigger ideally a BJT. Any hints, suggestiosn would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.


    That's what amplifiers are for.

    Jeroen Belleman

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  • From Tabby@21:1/5 to John Smiht on Wed Sep 20 17:57:37 2023
    On Wednesday, 20 September 2023 at 18:10:44 UTC+1, John Smiht wrote:
    On Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at 10:21:50 AM UTC-5, John Larkin wrote:
    On Wed, 20 Sep 2023 08:08:08 -0700 (PDT), amal banerjee <daku...@gmail.com> wrote:

    Could some electronics guru please help ? I am looking for a very low(few milliVolts) VTO commercially available NMOS, and its corresponding PMOS.
    I am trying to use a reverse biased photodiode(very low output current) to
    trigger a PMOS. The output voltage could then be used to trigger ideally a
    BJT. Any hints, suggestiosn would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
    What is VTO?

    I don't think such a part exists. A photodiode might just barely turn
    on a high-beta bipolar transisor.

    What's the open-circuit voltage of the photodiode? What's the current?
    Is a power supply available? If the pd is back-biased by a supply,
    you'd have lots of voltage available to turn on a mosfet.

    A lithium battery might power a micropower comparator for decades.
    VTO: Vertical Take Off

    I've seen transistors do that. Just apply 100x rated power

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  • From John Smiht@21:1/5 to Tabby on Wed Sep 20 18:46:50 2023
    On Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at 7:57:41 PM UTC-5, Tabby wrote:
    On Wednesday, 20 September 2023 at 18:10:44 UTC+1, John Smiht wrote:
    On Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at 10:21:50 AM UTC-5, John Larkin wrote:
    On Wed, 20 Sep 2023 08:08:08 -0700 (PDT), amal banerjee <daku...@gmail.com> wrote:

    Could some electronics guru please help ? I am looking for a very low(few milliVolts) VTO commercially available NMOS, and its corresponding PMOS.
    I am trying to use a reverse biased photodiode(very low output current) to
    trigger a PMOS. The output voltage could then be used to trigger ideally a
    BJT. Any hints, suggestiosn would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
    What is VTO?

    I don't think such a part exists. A photodiode might just barely turn
    on a high-beta bipolar transisor.

    What's the open-circuit voltage of the photodiode? What's the current? Is a power supply available? If the pd is back-biased by a supply,
    you'd have lots of voltage available to turn on a mosfet.

    A lithium battery might power a micropower comparator for decades.
    VTO: Vertical Take Off
    I've seen transistors do that. Just apply 100x rated power


    A TO92 is what I think of as a transistor-on-the-half-shell.

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  • From John Smiht@21:1/5 to piglet on Wed Sep 20 18:49:14 2023
    On Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at 12:37:46 PM UTC-5, piglet wrote:
    On 20/09/2023 16:21, John Larkin wrote:
    On Wed, 20 Sep 2023 08:08:08 -0700 (PDT), amal banerjee <daku...@gmail.com> wrote:

    Could some electronics guru please help ? I am looking for a very low(few milliVolts) VTO commercially available NMOS, and its corresponding PMOS.
    I am trying to use a reverse biased photodiode(very low output current) to
    trigger a PMOS. The output voltage could then be used to trigger ideally a
    BJT. Any hints, suggestiosn would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

    What is VTO?

    I don't think such a part exists. A photodiode might just barely turn
    on a high-beta bipolar transisor.

    What's the open-circuit voltage of the photodiode? What's the current?
    Is a power supply available? If the pd is back-biased by a supply,
    you'd have lots of voltage available to turn on a mosfet.

    A lithium battery might power a micropower comparator for decades.

    I think they meant V-turn-on?

    Strange sub threshold behaviors exist but I know nothing about them.

    piglet


    Or maybe V-turn-off?

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  • From amal banerjee@21:1/5 to John Larkin on Wed Sep 20 21:28:49 2023
    On Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at 8:51:50 PM UTC+5:30, John Larkin wrote:
    On Wed, 20 Sep 2023 08:08:08 -0700 (PDT), amal banerjee
    <daku...@gmail.com> wrote:

    Could some electronics guru please help ? I am looking for a very low(few milliVolts) VTO commercially available NMOS, and its corresponding PMOS.
    I am trying to use a reverse biased photodiode(very low output current) to >trigger a PMOS. The output voltage could then be used to trigger ideally a >BJT. Any hints, suggestiosn would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. What is VTO?

    I don't think such a part exists. A photodiode might just barely turn
    on a high-beta bipolar transisor.

    What's the open-circuit voltage of the photodiode? What's the current?
    Is a power supply available? If the pd is back-biased by a supply,
    you'd have lots of voltage available to turn on a mosfet.

    A lithium battery might power a micropower comparator for decades.

    Sorry for the confusion. 'VTO' means threshold voltage for the mosfet.
    The candidate photodiode is BPW31|34. The datasheet contains the following data:
    Open circuit voltage : 440 mV
    In reverse bias, the diode is open circuit, so current should flow. The dark current
    is 12 pA.

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  • From Jan Panteltje@21:1/5 to banerjee on Thu Sep 21 05:24:34 2023
    On a sunny day (Wed, 20 Sep 2023 21:28:49 -0700 (PDT)) it happened amal banerjee <dakupoto@gmail.com> wrote in <21592d6c-93a9-4852-a6d9-285c75bbd202n@googlegroups.com>:

    On Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at 8:51:50 PM UTC+5:30, John Larki=
    n wrote:
    On Wed, 20 Sep 2023 08:08:08 -0700 (PDT), amal banerjee
    <daku...@gmail.com> wrote:

    Could some electronics guru please help ? I am looking for a very low(fe= >w milliVolts) VTO commercially available NMOS, and its corresponding PMOS.=

    I am trying to use a reverse biased photodiode(very low output current) = >to
    trigger a PMOS. The output voltage could then be used to trigger ideally=
    a
    BJT. Any hints, suggestiosn would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in adva= >nce.
    What is VTO?

    I don't think such a part exists. A photodiode might just barely turn
    on a high-beta bipolar transisor.

    What's the open-circuit voltage of the photodiode? What's the current?
    Is a power supply available? If the pd is back-biased by a supply,
    you'd have lots of voltage available to turn on a mosfet.

    A lithium battery might power a micropower comparator for decades.

    Sorry for the confusion. 'VTO' means threshold voltage for the mosfet.
    The candidate photodiode is BPW31|34. The datasheet contains the following=

    data:
    Open circuit voltage : 440 mV
    In reverse bias, the diode is open circuit, so current should flow. The da= >rk current
    is 12 pA.

    Think 'current'
    the reverse photo-diode could drive the base of for exampe a NPN directly
    photo diode current amplified by beta * R1 is output.
    Note leakage etc..

    ------------------------ +
    | |
    --- R1 a few k
    / \ |
    --- |------------ out, negative going on light input
    | c
    ---- b NPN beta 200
    e
    |
    ----------------- GND

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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  • From John Larkin@21:1/5 to All on Thu Sep 21 07:14:58 2023
    On Thu, 21 Sep 2023 05:24:34 GMT, Jan Panteltje <alien@comet.invalid>
    wrote:

    On a sunny day (Wed, 20 Sep 2023 21:28:49 -0700 (PDT)) it happened amal >banerjee <dakupoto@gmail.com> wrote in ><21592d6c-93a9-4852-a6d9-285c75bbd202n@googlegroups.com>:

    On Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at 8:51:50 PM UTC+5:30, John Larki=
    n wrote:
    On Wed, 20 Sep 2023 08:08:08 -0700 (PDT), amal banerjee
    <daku...@gmail.com> wrote:

    Could some electronics guru please help ? I am looking for a very low(fe= >>w milliVolts) VTO commercially available NMOS, and its corresponding PMOS.= >>
    I am trying to use a reverse biased photodiode(very low output current) = >>to
    trigger a PMOS. The output voltage could then be used to trigger ideally= >> a
    BJT. Any hints, suggestiosn would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in adva= >>nce.
    What is VTO?

    I don't think such a part exists. A photodiode might just barely turn
    on a high-beta bipolar transisor.

    What's the open-circuit voltage of the photodiode? What's the current?
    Is a power supply available? If the pd is back-biased by a supply,
    you'd have lots of voltage available to turn on a mosfet.

    A lithium battery might power a micropower comparator for decades.

    Sorry for the confusion. 'VTO' means threshold voltage for the mosfet.
    The candidate photodiode is BPW31|34. The datasheet contains the following= >>
    data:
    Open circuit voltage : 440 mV
    In reverse bias, the diode is open circuit, so current should flow. The da= >>rk current
    is 12 pA.

    Think 'current'
    the reverse photo-diode could drive the base of for exampe a NPN directly >photo diode current amplified by beta * R1 is output.
    Note leakage etc..

    ------------------------ +
    | |
    --- R1 a few k
    / \ |
    --- |------------ out, negative going on light input
    | c
    ---- b NPN beta 200
    e
    |
    ----------------- GND

    Or drive a logic-level mosfet. Add a gate-source resistor.

    One might get 440 mV using the pd in photovoltaic mode, but it will
    make many volts in reverse-bias mode.

    ------------------------ +
    | |
    --- R1 a few k
    / \ |
    | |------------ out, negative going on light input
    | d
    |----g nfet
    | s
    R9 |
    | ----------------- GND

    Measure the pd current when illuminated and pick R9 suitably.

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  • From legg@21:1/5 to dakupoto@gmail.com on Thu Sep 21 11:17:09 2023
    On Wed, 20 Sep 2023 08:08:08 -0700 (PDT), amal banerjee
    <dakupoto@gmail.com> wrote:

    Could some electronics guru please help ? I am looking for a very low(few milliVolts) VTO commercially available NMOS, and its corresponding PMOS.
    I am trying to use a reverse biased photodiode(very low output current) to >trigger a PMOS. The output voltage could then be used to trigger ideally a >BJT. Any hints, suggestiosn would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

    Advanced Linear Devices make mos discretes with turn-on voltages
    dialable down to zero.

    http://www.aldinc.com/

    RL

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  • From amal banerjee@21:1/5 to Jan Panteltje on Thu Sep 21 23:20:09 2023
    On Thursday, September 21, 2023 at 10:54:43 AM UTC+5:30, Jan Panteltje wrote:
    On a sunny day (Wed, 20 Sep 2023 21:28:49 -0700 (PDT)) it happened amal banerjee <daku...@gmail.com> wrote in <21592d6c-93a9-4852...@googlegroups.com>:

    On Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at 8:51:50 PM UTC+5:30, John Larki=
    n wrote:
    On Wed, 20 Sep 2023 08:08:08 -0700 (PDT), amal banerjee
    <daku...@gmail.com> wrote:

    Could some electronics guru please help ? I am looking for a very low(fe=
    w milliVolts) VTO commercially available NMOS, and its corresponding PMOS.=

    I am trying to use a reverse biased photodiode(very low output current) =
    to
    trigger a PMOS. The output voltage could then be used to trigger ideally=
    a
    BJT. Any hints, suggestiosn would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in adva= >nce.
    What is VTO?

    I don't think such a part exists. A photodiode might just barely turn
    on a high-beta bipolar transisor.

    What's the open-circuit voltage of the photodiode? What's the current?
    Is a power supply available? If the pd is back-biased by a supply,
    you'd have lots of voltage available to turn on a mosfet.

    A lithium battery might power a micropower comparator for decades.

    Sorry for the confusion. 'VTO' means threshold voltage for the mosfet.
    The candidate photodiode is BPW31|34. The datasheet contains the following=

    data:
    Open circuit voltage : 440 mV
    In reverse bias, the diode is open circuit, so current should flow. The da= >rk current
    is 12 pA.

    Think 'current'
    the reverse photo-diode could drive the base of for exampe a NPN directly photo diode current amplified by beta * R1 is output.
    Note leakage etc..

    ------------------------ +
    | |
    --- R1 a few k
    / \ |
    --- |------------ out, negative going on light input
    | c
    ---- b NPN beta 200
    e
    |
    ----------------- GND
    I have tested your suggestion with SPICE simulations using an ordinary BJT(BC547) and two RF BJTs
    (BFR92A, BFQ790) each biased(as per Vce, Ic values listed in their respective datasheets) for beta
    values(150-200). I am using a GaAs photodiode SPICE model, which uses a third input node for an
    input voltage for the incident light. The light is pulsed, @ 1.5 MHz, 15.0 MHz and 150.0 MHz with pulse
    amplitudes in the low milliVolt(1-2) range. Of the three transistors BFQ790 performs best, but like each
    of the other two, the output voltage at the output 50.0 Ohm resistor is in the tenths of milliVolt range.

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  • From amal banerjee@21:1/5 to John Larkin on Thu Sep 21 23:28:56 2023
    On Thursday, September 21, 2023 at 7:45:16 PM UTC+5:30, John Larkin wrote:
    On Thu, 21 Sep 2023 05:24:34 GMT, Jan Panteltje <al...@comet.invalid>
    wrote:
    On a sunny day (Wed, 20 Sep 2023 21:28:49 -0700 (PDT)) it happened amal >banerjee <daku...@gmail.com> wrote in ><21592d6c-93a9-4852...@googlegroups.com>:

    On Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at 8:51:50 PM UTC+5:30, John Larki=
    n wrote:
    On Wed, 20 Sep 2023 08:08:08 -0700 (PDT), amal banerjee
    <daku...@gmail.com> wrote:

    Could some electronics guru please help ? I am looking for a very low(fe=
    w milliVolts) VTO commercially available NMOS, and its corresponding PMOS.=

    I am trying to use a reverse biased photodiode(very low output current) =
    to
    trigger a PMOS. The output voltage could then be used to trigger ideally=
    a
    BJT. Any hints, suggestiosn would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in adva=
    nce.
    What is VTO?

    I don't think such a part exists. A photodiode might just barely turn >>> on a high-beta bipolar transisor.

    What's the open-circuit voltage of the photodiode? What's the current? >>> Is a power supply available? If the pd is back-biased by a supply,
    you'd have lots of voltage available to turn on a mosfet.

    A lithium battery might power a micropower comparator for decades.

    Sorry for the confusion. 'VTO' means threshold voltage for the mosfet. >>The candidate photodiode is BPW31|34. The datasheet contains the following=

    data:
    Open circuit voltage : 440 mV
    In reverse bias, the diode is open circuit, so current should flow. The da=
    rk current
    is 12 pA.

    Think 'current'
    the reverse photo-diode could drive the base of for exampe a NPN directly >photo diode current amplified by beta * R1 is output.
    Note leakage etc..

    ------------------------ +
    | |
    --- R1 a few k
    / \ |
    --- |------------ out, negative going on light input
    | c
    ---- b NPN beta 200
    e
    |
    ----------------- GND
    Or drive a logic-level mosfet. Add a gate-source resistor.

    One might get 440 mV using the pd in photovoltaic mode, but it will
    make many volts in reverse-bias mode.
    ------------------------ +
    | |
    --- R1 a few k
    / \ |
    | |------------ out, negative going on light input
    | d
    |----g nfet
    | s
    R9 |
    | ----------------- GND

    Measure the pd current when illuminated and pick R9 suitably.
    I agree that logic level mosfets might be best. I did a SPICE simulation with BSIM 4.8.2 level=54
    NMOS-PMOS pair for an inverter. Even without a gate-source resistor, the output was 150.0 - 200 mV
    range for pulsed input to my GaAs photodiode model(please check my previous response to Jan's
    message). The pulses were at 1.5, 15 and 150 MHz respectively.

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  • From whit3rd@21:1/5 to legg on Fri Sep 22 00:22:17 2023
    On Thursday, September 21, 2023 at 8:17:31 AM UTC-7, legg wrote:
    On Wed, 20 Sep 2023 08:08:08 -0700 (PDT), amal banerjee
    <daku...@gmail.com> wrote:
    Could some electronics guru please help ? I am looking for a very low(few milliVolts) VTO commercially available NMOS, and its corresponding PMOS.
    I am trying to use a reverse biased photodiode(very low output current) to >trigger a PMOS. The output voltage could then be used to trigger ideally a >BJT. Any hints, suggestiosn would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. Advanced Linear Devices make mos discretes with turn-on voltages
    dialable down to zero.

    http://www.aldinc.com/

    Yes, but the turn-on is trimmed, not made abrupt, so 'down to zero'
    is more of a gain specification than a full switch threshold. JFETs have
    been available for zero-threshold for years, and were quite useful for low-leakage input applications.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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  • From Jan Panteltje@21:1/5 to banerjee on Fri Sep 22 08:13:35 2023
    On a sunny day (Thu, 21 Sep 2023 23:20:09 -0700 (PDT)) it happened amal banerjee <dakupoto@gmail.com> wrote in <e1f8fc46-a40d-4fb8-beda-bd960b476c44n@googlegroups.com>:

    On Thursday, September 21, 2023 at 10:54:43 AM UTC+5:30, Jan Pantel=
    tje wrote:
    On a sunny day (Wed, 20 Sep 2023 21:28:49 -0700 (PDT)) it happened amal=

    banerjee <daku...@gmail.com> wrote in
    <21592d6c-93a9-4852...@googlegroups.com>:

    On Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at 8:51:50 PM UTC+5:30, John La=
    rki=
    n wrote:
    On Wed, 20 Sep 2023 08:08:08 -0700 (PDT), amal banerjee
    <daku...@gmail.com> wrote:

    Could some electronics guru please help ? I am looking for a very low= >(fe=
    w milliVolts) VTO commercially available NMOS, and its corresponding PMO= >S.=

    I am trying to use a reverse biased photodiode(very low output curren= >t) =
    to
    trigger a PMOS. The output voltage could then be used to trigger idea= >lly=
    a
    BJT. Any hints, suggestiosn would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in a= >dva=
    nce.
    What is VTO?

    I don't think such a part exists. A photodiode might just barely turn=

    on a high-beta bipolar transisor.

    What's the open-circuit voltage of the photodiode? What's the current?=

    Is a power supply available? If the pd is back-biased by a supply,
    you'd have lots of voltage available to turn on a mosfet.

    A lithium battery might power a micropower comparator for decades.

    Sorry for the confusion. 'VTO' means threshold voltage for the mosfet.
    The candidate photodiode is BPW31|34. The datasheet contains the followi= >ng=

    data:
    Open circuit voltage : 440 mV
    In reverse bias, the diode is open circuit, so current should flow. The = >da=
    rk current
    is 12 pA.

    Think 'current'
    the reverse photo-diode could drive the base of for exampe a NPN directly=

    photo diode current amplified by beta * R1 is output.
    Note leakage etc..

    ------------------------ +
    | |
    --- R1 a few k
    / \ |
    --- |------------ out, negative going on light input
    | c
    ---- b NPN beta 200
    e
    |
    ----------------- GND
    I have tested your suggestion with SPICE simulations using an ordinary BJT(= >BC547) and two RF BJTs
    (BFR92A, BFQ790) each biased(as per Vce, Ic values listed in their respecti= >ve datasheets) for beta
    values(150-200). I am using a GaAs photodiode SPICE model, which uses a thi= >rd input node for an
    input voltage for the incident light. The light is pulsed, @ 1.5 MHz, 15.0 = >MHz and 150.0 MHz with pulse
    amplitudes in the low milliVolt(1-2) range. Of the three transistors BFQ790=
    performs best, but like each
    of the other two, the output voltage at the output 50.0 Ohm resistor is in = >the tenths of milliVolt range.

    R1 is supposed to be several k, 100 k would be a good start
    Add an emitter follower if you want to drive 50 Ohms
    You could also use a darlington configuration in place of the first tranistor to mutiply beta / current gain to say 200 x 200

    So the 'heavy' version:

    ------------------------------------- +
    | | | |
    --- | R1 100 k |
    / \ | | c
    --- | |--zener---b NPN TR3
    | c TR1 | | e
    -- b NPN c | |-----> out, negative going on light input
    e -------- b NPN | |
    darlington e TR2 R3 R2 50 Ohm
    | | |
    ----------------- GND
    You could add a few volt zener in the base of TR3 to lower DC level output for no signal.
    So for say 12 V supply drop the base of TR3 for no signal to about 1V.
    The possibilities are endless.

    Darlington for TR3 will let you output even more
    Yes, your 150 MHz... is bit high for those transistors.. won't work.

    Maybe a BFY90 in darlington mode with R1 220 Ohm will? Not tested.
    Or triple darlington....
    What is the photo diode reverse current with light on say a 12V supply?

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From whit3rd@21:1/5 to amal banerjee on Fri Sep 22 02:17:32 2023
    On Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at 8:08:14 AM UTC-7, amal banerjee wrote:
    Could some electronics guru please help ? I am looking for a very low(few milliVolts) VTO commercially available NMOS, and its corresponding PMOS.
    I am trying to use a reverse biased photodiode(very low output current) to trigger a PMOS. The output voltage could then be used to trigger ideally a BJT. Any hints, suggestiosn would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

    Your signal (a photocurrent) is fast? And you want to switch according to that current?

    There's very little voltage gain in a single MOS device, and what you want might be to avoid current lost to
    charging the photodiode stray capacitance (i.e. you want near-zero dV/dt); a good receiver for a photodiode
    with low current output is an op amp with resistor negative feedback, i.e. a transimpedance amplifier.
    That way, there's negligible delta-V.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Phil Hobbs@21:1/5 to amal banerjee on Fri Sep 22 10:31:25 2023
    amal banerjee <dakupoto@gmail.com> wrote:
    On Thursday, September 21, 2023 at 10:54:43/AM UTC+5:30, Jan Panteltje wrote:
    On a sunny day (Wed, 20 Sep 2023 21:28:49 -0700 (PDT)) it happened amal
    banerjee <daku...@gmail.com> wrote in
    <21592d6c-93a9-4852...@googlegroups.com>:

    On Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at 8:51:50/PM UTC+5:30, John Larki> >n wrote:
    On Wed, 20 Sep 2023 08:08:08 -0700 (PDT), amal banerjee
    <daku...@gmail.com> wrote:

    Could some electronics guru please help ? I am looking for a very low(fe= >>> w milliVolts) VTO commercially available NMOS, and its corresponding PMOS.= >>>
    I am trying to use a reverse biased photodiode(very low output current) = >>> to
    trigger a PMOS. The output voltage could then be used to trigger ideally= >>> a
    BJT. Any hints, suggestiosn would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in adva> >nce.
    What is VTO?

    I don't think such a part exists. A photodiode might just barely turn
    on a high-beta bipolar transisor.

    What's the open-circuit voltage of the photodiode? What's the current? >>>> Is a power supply available? If the pd is back-biased by a supply,
    you'd have lots of voltage available to turn on a mosfet.

    A lithium battery might power a micropower comparator for decades.

    Sorry for the confusion. 'VTO' means threshold voltage for the mosfet.
    The candidate photodiode is BPW31|34. The datasheet contains the following> >
    data:
    Open circuit voltage : 440 mV
    In reverse bias, the diode is open circuit, so current should flow. The da= >>> rk current
    is 12 pA.

    Think 'current'
    the reverse photo-diode could drive the base of for exampe a NPN directly
    photo diode current amplified by beta * R1 is output.
    Note leakage etc..

    ------------------------ +
    | |
    --- R1 a few k
    / \ |
    --- |------------ out, negative going on light input
    | c
    ---- b NPN beta 200
    e
    |
    ----------------- GND
    I have tested your suggestion with SPICE simulations using an ordinary BJT(BC547) and two RF BJTs
    (BFR92A, BFQ790) each biased(as per Vce, Ic values listed in their
    respective datasheets) for beta
    values(150-200). I am using a GaAs photodiode SPICE model, which uses a
    third input node for an
    input voltage for the incident light. The light is pulsed, @ 1.5 MHz,
    15.0 MHz and 150.0 MHz with pulse
    amplitudes in the low milliVolt(1-2) range. Of the three transistors
    BFQ790 performs best, but like each
    of the other two, the output voltage at the output 50.0 Ohm resistor is
    in the tenths of milliVolt range.

    If you don’t know how much light you’ve got, you’re probably doomed. That
    needs to be in optical terms, like “1.2 ns full width at half maximum, 1-2 picojoules, 950 nm”.

    It also matters whether the light is spatially coherent, because that
    governs how small a photodiode you can use.

    If you tell us what you’re actually trying to do, we can be a lot more helpful. Generating a sync signal from a laser beam is much easier than detecting scattered light from a matte-textured object at a distance, but
    there are tricks to make both easier.

    Something like, “I need to detect laser pulses bouncing off a microscope sample so that I can do lock-in measurements of the photoacoustic response” or “I’m going to bounce laser pulses off my cat” would help a lot.

    Cheers

    Phil Hobbs

    Cheers

    Phil Hobbs

    For instance
    Find that out, first

    --
    Dr Philip C D Hobbs Principal Consultant ElectroOptical Innovations LLC / Hobbs ElectroOptics Optics, Electro-optics, Photonics, Analog Electronics

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From John Larkin@21:1/5 to dakupoto@gmail.com on Fri Sep 22 03:55:29 2023
    On Thu, 21 Sep 2023 23:28:56 -0700 (PDT), amal banerjee
    <dakupoto@gmail.com> wrote:

    On Thursday, September 21, 2023 at 7:45:16?PM UTC+5:30, John Larkin wrote:
    On Thu, 21 Sep 2023 05:24:34 GMT, Jan Panteltje <al...@comet.invalid>
    wrote:
    On a sunny day (Wed, 20 Sep 2023 21:28:49 -0700 (PDT)) it happened amal
    banerjee <daku...@gmail.com> wrote in
    <21592d6c-93a9-4852...@googlegroups.com>:

    On Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at 8:51:50?PM UTC+5:30, John Larki=
    n wrote:
    On Wed, 20 Sep 2023 08:08:08 -0700 (PDT), amal banerjee
    <daku...@gmail.com> wrote:

    Could some electronics guru please help ? I am looking for a very low(fe=
    w milliVolts) VTO commercially available NMOS, and its corresponding PMOS.=

    I am trying to use a reverse biased photodiode(very low output current) =
    to
    trigger a PMOS. The output voltage could then be used to trigger ideally=
    a
    BJT. Any hints, suggestiosn would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in adva=
    nce.
    What is VTO?

    I don't think such a part exists. A photodiode might just barely turn
    on a high-beta bipolar transisor.

    What's the open-circuit voltage of the photodiode? What's the current? >> >>> Is a power supply available? If the pd is back-biased by a supply,
    you'd have lots of voltage available to turn on a mosfet.

    A lithium battery might power a micropower comparator for decades.

    Sorry for the confusion. 'VTO' means threshold voltage for the mosfet.
    The candidate photodiode is BPW31|34. The datasheet contains the following=

    data:
    Open circuit voltage : 440 mV
    In reverse bias, the diode is open circuit, so current should flow. The da=
    rk current
    is 12 pA.

    Think 'current'
    the reverse photo-diode could drive the base of for exampe a NPN directly >> >photo diode current amplified by beta * R1 is output.
    Note leakage etc..

    ------------------------ +
    | |
    --- R1 a few k
    / \ |
    --- |------------ out, negative going on light input
    | c
    ---- b NPN beta 200
    e
    |
    ----------------- GND
    Or drive a logic-level mosfet. Add a gate-source resistor.

    One might get 440 mV using the pd in photovoltaic mode, but it will
    make many volts in reverse-bias mode.
    ------------------------ +
    | |
    --- R1 a few k
    / \ |
    | |------------ out, negative going on light input
    | d
    |----g nfet
    | s
    R9 |
    | ----------------- GND

    Measure the pd current when illuminated and pick R9 suitably.
    I agree that logic level mosfets might be best. I did a SPICE simulation with BSIM 4.8.2 level=54
    NMOS-PMOS pair for an inverter. Even without a gate-source resistor, the output was 150.0 - 200 mV
    range for pulsed input to my GaAs photodiode model(please check my previous response to Jan's
    message). The pulses were at 1.5, 15 and 150 MHz respectively.

    I don't understand this. What photodiode are you using?

    What's the optical pulse width?

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From amal banerjee@21:1/5 to All on Fri Sep 22 04:39:00 2023
    On Friday, September 22, 2023 at 2:47:37 PM UTC+5:30, whit3rd wrote:
    On Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at 8:08:14 AM UTC-7, amal banerjee wrote:
    Could some electronics guru please help ? I am looking for a very low(few milliVolts) VTO commercially available NMOS, and its corresponding PMOS.
    I am trying to use a reverse biased photodiode(very low output current) to trigger a PMOS. The output voltage could then be used to trigger ideally a BJT. Any hints, suggestiosn would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
    Your signal (a photocurrent) is fast? And you want to switch according to that current?

    There's very little voltage gain in a single MOS device, and what you want might be to avoid current lost to
    charging the photodiode stray capacitance (i.e. you want near-zero dV/dt); a good receiver for a photodiode
    with low current output is an op amp with resistor negative feedback, i.e. a transimpedance amplifier.
    That way, there's negligible delta-V.
    Totally in agreement about the op-amp transimpedance amplifier. However, the gain-bandwidth-product of
    even high end op-amps certainly would not extend beyond some 10s of MHz.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From amal banerjee@21:1/5 to Jan Panteltje on Fri Sep 22 05:00:49 2023
    On Friday, September 22, 2023 at 1:43:45 PM UTC+5:30, Jan Panteltje wrote:
    On a sunny day (Thu, 21 Sep 2023 23:20:09 -0700 (PDT)) it happened amal banerjee <daku...@gmail.com> wrote in <e1f8fc46-a40d-4fb8...@googlegroups.com>:

    On Thursday, September 21, 2023 at 10:54:43 AM UTC+5:30, Jan Pantel=
    tje wrote:
    On a sunny day (Wed, 20 Sep 2023 21:28:49 -0700 (PDT)) it happened amal=

    banerjee <daku...@gmail.com> wrote in
    <21592d6c-93a9-4852...@googlegroups.com>:

    On Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at 8:51:50 PM UTC+5:30, John La=
    rki=
    n wrote:
    On Wed, 20 Sep 2023 08:08:08 -0700 (PDT), amal banerjee
    <daku...@gmail.com> wrote:

    Could some electronics guru please help ? I am looking for a very low=
    (fe=
    w milliVolts) VTO commercially available NMOS, and its corresponding PMO=
    S.=

    I am trying to use a reverse biased photodiode(very low output curren=
    t) =
    to
    trigger a PMOS. The output voltage could then be used to trigger idea=
    lly=
    a
    BJT. Any hints, suggestiosn would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in a= >dva=
    nce.
    What is VTO?

    I don't think such a part exists. A photodiode might just barely turn=

    on a high-beta bipolar transisor.

    What's the open-circuit voltage of the photodiode? What's the current?=

    Is a power supply available? If the pd is back-biased by a supply,
    you'd have lots of voltage available to turn on a mosfet.

    A lithium battery might power a micropower comparator for decades.

    Sorry for the confusion. 'VTO' means threshold voltage for the mosfet.
    The candidate photodiode is BPW31|34. The datasheet contains the followi= >ng=

    data:
    Open circuit voltage : 440 mV
    In reverse bias, the diode is open circuit, so current should flow. The = >da=
    rk current
    is 12 pA.

    Think 'current'
    the reverse photo-diode could drive the base of for exampe a NPN directly=

    photo diode current amplified by beta * R1 is output.
    Note leakage etc..

    ------------------------ +
    | |
    --- R1 a few k
    / \ |
    --- |------------ out, negative going on light input
    | c
    ---- b NPN beta 200
    e
    |
    ----------------- GND
    I have tested your suggestion with SPICE simulations using an ordinary BJT(= >BC547) and two RF BJTs
    (BFR92A, BFQ790) each biased(as per Vce, Ic values listed in their respecti=
    ve datasheets) for beta
    values(150-200). I am using a GaAs photodiode SPICE model, which uses a thi= >rd input node for an
    input voltage for the incident light. The light is pulsed, @ 1.5 MHz, 15.0 = >MHz and 150.0 MHz with pulse
    amplitudes in the low milliVolt(1-2) range. Of the three transistors BFQ790=
    performs best, but like each
    of the other two, the output voltage at the output 50.0 Ohm resistor is in = >the tenths of milliVolt range.
    R1 is supposed to be several k, 100 k would be a good start
    Add an emitter follower if you want to drive 50 Ohms
    You could also use a darlington configuration in place of the first tranistor to mutiply beta / current gain to say 200 x 200

    So the 'heavy' version:

    ------------------------------------- +
    | | | |
    --- | R1 100 k |
    / \ | | c
    --- | |--zener---b NPN TR3
    | c TR1 | | e
    -- b NPN c | |-----> out, negative going on light input
    e -------- b NPN | |
    darlington e TR2 R3 R2 50 Ohm
    | | |
    ----------------- GND
    You could add a few volt zener in the base of TR3 to lower DC level output for no signal.
    So for say 12 V supply drop the base of TR3 for no signal to about 1V.
    The possibilities are endless.

    Darlington for TR3 will let you output even more
    Yes, your 150 MHz... is bit high for those transistors.. won't work.

    Maybe a BFY90 in darlington mode with R1 220 Ohm will? Not tested.
    Or triple darlington....
    What is the photo diode reverse current with light on say a 12V supply?
    The 'heavy' version that you have is somewhat congested. If you are saying TR3(the transistor whose base
    is connected to the photodiode anode) be a Darlington pair, I have tried that already in the SPICE simulation,
    although without the 100k (R1). The simulation results were not good - both the output current through and
    voltage across the 50 Ohm load were worse compared to the single transistor case. I will definitely try
    out it out again with the 100k(R1). I did think about the emitter follower at the TR3 output, but after
    I examined the single TR3 output(across the 50 Ohm) I did not pursue it. The last question
    about the reverse bias current for photodiode I am not sure, because so far these are all based on
    SPICE simulations. The candidate photodiode I have in mind is BPW31|34(the Google query
    for BPW31 datasheet returns the one for BPW34). The datasheet for BPW34 states that the open
    circuit voltage is 440 mV -i.e., the reverse biased diode case.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From amal banerjee@21:1/5 to Phil Hobbs on Fri Sep 22 05:14:27 2023
    On Friday, September 22, 2023 at 4:01:34 PM UTC+5:30, Phil Hobbs wrote:
    amal banerjee <daku...@gmail.com> wrote:
    On Thursday, September 21, 2023 at 10:54:43/AM UTC+5:30, Jan Panteltje wrote:
    On a sunny day (Wed, 20 Sep 2023 21:28:49 -0700 (PDT)) it happened amal >> banerjee <daku...@gmail.com> wrote in
    <21592d6c-93a9-4852...@googlegroups.com>:

    On Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at 8:51:50/PM UTC+5:30, John Larki> >n wrote:
    On Wed, 20 Sep 2023 08:08:08 -0700 (PDT), amal banerjee
    <daku...@gmail.com> wrote:

    Could some electronics guru please help ? I am looking for a very low(fe=
    w milliVolts) VTO commercially available NMOS, and its corresponding PMOS.=

    I am trying to use a reverse biased photodiode(very low output current) =
    to
    trigger a PMOS. The output voltage could then be used to trigger ideally=
    a
    BJT. Any hints, suggestiosn would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in adva> >nce.
    What is VTO?

    I don't think such a part exists. A photodiode might just barely turn >>>> on a high-beta bipolar transisor.

    What's the open-circuit voltage of the photodiode? What's the current? >>>> Is a power supply available? If the pd is back-biased by a supply,
    you'd have lots of voltage available to turn on a mosfet.

    A lithium battery might power a micropower comparator for decades.

    Sorry for the confusion. 'VTO' means threshold voltage for the mosfet. >>> The candidate photodiode is BPW31|34. The datasheet contains the following> >
    data:
    Open circuit voltage : 440 mV
    In reverse bias, the diode is open circuit, so current should flow. The da=
    rk current
    is 12 pA.

    Think 'current'
    the reverse photo-diode could drive the base of for exampe a NPN directly >> photo diode current amplified by beta * R1 is output.
    Note leakage etc..

    ------------------------ +
    | |
    --- R1 a few k
    / \ |
    --- |------------ out, negative going on light input
    | c
    ---- b NPN beta 200
    e
    |
    ----------------- GND
    I have tested your suggestion with SPICE simulations using an ordinary BJT(BC547) and two RF BJTs
    (BFR92A, BFQ790) each biased(as per Vce, Ic values listed in their respective datasheets) for beta
    values(150-200). I am using a GaAs photodiode SPICE model, which uses a third input node for an
    input voltage for the incident light. The light is pulsed, @ 1.5 MHz,
    15.0 MHz and 150.0 MHz with pulse
    amplitudes in the low milliVolt(1-2) range. Of the three transistors BFQ790 performs best, but like each
    of the other two, the output voltage at the output 50.0 Ohm resistor is
    in the tenths of milliVolt range.

    If you don’t know how much light you’ve got, you’re probably doomed. That
    needs to be in optical terms, like “1.2 ns full width at half maximum, 1-2 picojoules, 950 nm”.

    It also matters whether the light is spatially coherent, because that governs how small a photodiode you can use.

    If you tell us what you’re actually trying to do, we can be a lot more helpful. Generating a sync signal from a laser beam is much easier than detecting scattered light from a matte-textured object at a distance, but there are tricks to make both easier.

    Something like, “I need to detect laser pulses bouncing off a microscope sample so that I can do lock-in measurements of the photoacoustic response”
    or “I’m going to bounce laser pulses off my cat” would help a lot.

    Cheers

    Phil Hobbs

    Cheers

    Phil Hobbs

    For instance
    Find that out, first

    --
    Dr Philip C D Hobbs Principal Consultant ElectroOptical Innovations LLC / Hobbs ElectroOptics Optics, Electro-optics, Photonics, Analog Electronics
    So far all my results are based on SPICE simulations. The candidate photodiode is BPW34 whose datasheet
    states that it is for high speed light detection for visible and near infra red with half angle of sensitivity +/-65
    degree. Reverse light current is 75 mA(typical).
    I am experimenting with line of sight light detection at high frequency. No I would not want to bounce light
    off my kitty, esepecially now that it has a kitten to take care of.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Phil Hobbs@21:1/5 to amal banerjee on Fri Sep 22 12:49:03 2023
    amal banerjee <dakupoto@gmail.com> wrote:
    On Friday, September 22, 2023 at 4:01:34 PM UTC+5:30, Phil Hobbs wrote:
    amal banerjee <daku...@gmail.com> wrote:
    On Thursday, September 21, 2023 at 10:54:43/AM UTC+5:30, Jan Panteltje wrote:
    On a sunny day (Wed, 20 Sep 2023 21:28:49 -0700 (PDT)) it happened amal >>>> banerjee <daku...@gmail.com> wrote in
    <21592d6c-93a9-4852...@googlegroups.com>:

    On Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at 8:51:50/PM UTC+5:30, John Larki> >n wrote:
    On Wed, 20 Sep 2023 08:08:08 -0700 (PDT), amal banerjee
    <daku...@gmail.com> wrote:

    Could some electronics guru please help ? I am looking for a very low(fe=
    w milliVolts) VTO commercially available NMOS, and its corresponding PMOS.=

    I am trying to use a reverse biased photodiode(very low output current) =
    to
    trigger a PMOS. The output voltage could then be used to trigger ideally=
    a
    BJT. Any hints, suggestiosn would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in adva> >nce.
    What is VTO?

    I don't think such a part exists. A photodiode might just barely turn >>>>>> on a high-beta bipolar transisor.

    What's the open-circuit voltage of the photodiode? What's the current? >>>>>> Is a power supply available? If the pd is back-biased by a supply, >>>>>> you'd have lots of voltage available to turn on a mosfet.

    A lithium battery might power a micropower comparator for decades.

    Sorry for the confusion. 'VTO' means threshold voltage for the mosfet. >>>>> The candidate photodiode is BPW31|34. The datasheet contains the following> >
    data:
    Open circuit voltage : 440 mV
    In reverse bias, the diode is open circuit, so current should flow. The da=
    rk current
    is 12 pA.

    Think 'current'
    the reverse photo-diode could drive the base of for exampe a NPN directly >>>> photo diode current amplified by beta * R1 is output.
    Note leakage etc..

    ------------------------ +
    | |
    --- R1 a few k
    / \ |
    --- |------------ out, negative going on light input
    | c
    ---- b NPN beta 200
    e
    |
    ----------------- GND
    I have tested your suggestion with SPICE simulations using an ordinary
    BJT(BC547) and two RF BJTs
    (BFR92A, BFQ790) each biased(as per Vce, Ic values listed in their
    respective datasheets) for beta
    values(150-200). I am using a GaAs photodiode SPICE model, which uses a
    third input node for an
    input voltage for the incident light. The light is pulsed, @ 1.5 MHz,
    15.0 MHz and 150.0 MHz with pulse
    amplitudes in the low milliVolt(1-2) range. Of the three transistors
    BFQ790 performs best, but like each
    of the other two, the output voltage at the output 50.0 Ohm resistor is
    in the tenths of milliVolt range.

    If you don’t know how much light you’ve got, you’re probably doomed. That
    needs to be in optical terms, like “1.2 ns full width at half maximum, 1-2 >> picojoules, 950 nm”.

    It also matters whether the light is spatially coherent, because that
    governs how small a photodiode you can use.

    If you tell us what you’re actually trying to do, we can be a lot more
    helpful. Generating a sync signal from a laser beam is much easier than
    detecting scattered light from a matte-textured object at a distance, but
    there are tricks to make both easier.

    Something like, “I need to detect laser pulses bouncing off a microscope >> sample so that I can do lock-in measurements of the photoacoustic response”
    or “I’m going to bounce laser pulses off my cat” would help a lot.

    Cheers

    Phil Hobbs

    Cheers

    Phil Hobbs

    For instance
    Find that out, first

    --
    Dr Philip C D Hobbs Principal Consultant ElectroOptical Innovations LLC /
    Hobbs ElectroOptics Optics, Electro-optics, Photonics, Analog Electronics
    So far all my results are based on SPICE simulations. The candidate photodiode is BPW34 whose datasheet
    states that it is for high speed light detection for visible and near
    infra red with half angle of sensitivity +/-65
    degree. Reverse light current is 75 mA(typical).
    I am experimenting with line of sight light detection at high frequency.
    No I would not want to bounce light
    off my kitty, esepecially now that it has a kitten to take care of.



    That’s way too vague for me to be able to help much, except to say that the difficulty ranges from trivial to impossible, depending on the details.

    The BPW34 isn’t great for bandwidths over 50 MHz or so, but with a better detector and a decent front end it isn’t hard to reproduce nanosecond
    pulses. Even op amps can have gain bandwidths in the gigahertz.

    Cheers

    Phil Hobbs

    --
    Dr Philip C D Hobbs Principal Consultant ElectroOptical Innovations LLC / Hobbs ElectroOptics Optics, Electro-optics, Photonics, Analog Electronics

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Jan Panteltje@21:1/5 to banerjee on Sat Sep 23 05:31:54 2023
    On a sunny day (Fri, 22 Sep 2023 05:00:49 -0700 (PDT)) it happened amal banerjee <dakupoto@gmail.com> wrote in <5dafb884-2b86-4c19-ad66-5985532e19c8n@googlegroups.com>:

    What is the photo diode reverse current with light on say a 12V supply?
    The 'heavy' version that you have is somewhat congested. If you are saying = >TR3(the transistor whose base
    is connected to the photodiode anode) be a Darlington pair, I have tried th= >at already in the SPICE simulation,
    although without the 100k (R1). The simulation results were not good - both=
    the output current through and
    voltage across the 50 Ohm load were worse compared to the single transistor=
    case. I will definitely try
    out it out again with the 100k(R1). I did think about the emitter follower = >at the TR3 output, but after
    I examined the single TR3 output(across the 50 Ohm) I did not pursue it. Th= >e last question
    about the reverse bias current for photodiode I am not sure, because so far=
    these are all based on
    SPICE simulations. The candidate photodiode I have in mind is BPW31|34(the = >Google query
    for BPW31 datasheet returns the one for BPW34). The datasheet for BPW34 sta= >tes that the open
    circuit voltage is 440 mV -i.e., the reverse biased diode case.

    I am looking at the BWP34 datasheet fig 3 reverse light current vesus irradiance
    it is as much as 100 uA for 2 mW / cm^2

    For a beta of even as low as 100 that gives 10 mA Ic in the first transistor With say a 220 Ohm resistor that makes 2.2V
    Add an emitter follower or any other buffer (PNP reverse is better) to get 50 Ohm driving capability,
    and it should work.
    Less light less output, higher collector resistor more output, higher beta more output.
    The collector resistor of the first stage should not be too high if you want 100 MHz (effects of Cce Ccb).
    You will need to specify light source , pulse width, etc
    The only spices I use are pepper, chili and salt.

    Mr Hobbs who post here has written a book IIRC about driving an opamp into the invering input
    using feedback?
    Whatever you do, you need a low impedance termination for your photo-diode in reverse mode
    as the impedance is high and any capacitance will limit speed.

    You can also type
    BWP34 circuit diagram
    in google, then select 'pictures' from top screen,
    and plenty of examples and I even see the circuit I described :-)

    Often faster than waiting here for replies.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From amal banerjee@21:1/5 to Jan Panteltje on Sat Sep 23 00:28:23 2023
    On Saturday, September 23, 2023 at 11:02:03 AM UTC+5:30, Jan Panteltje wrote:
    On a sunny day (Fri, 22 Sep 2023 05:00:49 -0700 (PDT)) it happened amal banerjee <daku...@gmail.com> wrote in <5dafb884-2b86-4c19...@googlegroups.com>:
    What is the photo diode reverse current with light on say a 12V supply? >The 'heavy' version that you have is somewhat congested. If you are saying =
    TR3(the transistor whose base
    is connected to the photodiode anode) be a Darlington pair, I have tried th= >at already in the SPICE simulation,
    although without the 100k (R1). The simulation results were not good - both=
    the output current through and
    voltage across the 50 Ohm load were worse compared to the single transistor=
    case. I will definitely try
    out it out again with the 100k(R1). I did think about the emitter follower = >at the TR3 output, but after
    I examined the single TR3 output(across the 50 Ohm) I did not pursue it. Th=
    e last question
    about the reverse bias current for photodiode I am not sure, because so far=
    these are all based on
    SPICE simulations. The candidate photodiode I have in mind is BPW31|34(the =
    Google query
    for BPW31 datasheet returns the one for BPW34). The datasheet for BPW34 sta= >tes that the open
    circuit voltage is 440 mV -i.e., the reverse biased diode case.
    I am looking at the BWP34 datasheet fig 3 reverse light current vesus irradiance
    it is as much as 100 uA for 2 mW / cm^2

    For a beta of even as low as 100 that gives 10 mA Ic in the first transistor With say a 220 Ohm resistor that makes 2.2V
    Add an emitter follower or any other buffer (PNP reverse is better) to get 50 Ohm driving capability,
    and it should work.
    Less light less output, higher collector resistor more output, higher beta more output.
    The collector resistor of the first stage should not be too high if you want 100 MHz (effects of Cce Ccb).
    You will need to specify light source , pulse width, etc
    The only spices I use are pepper, chili and salt.

    Mr Hobbs who post here has written a book IIRC about driving an opamp into the invering input
    using feedback?
    Whatever you do, you need a low impedance termination for your photo-diode in reverse mode
    as the impedance is high and any capacitance will limit speed.

    You can also type
    BWP34 circuit diagram
    in google, then select 'pictures' from top screen,
    and plenty of examples and I even see the circuit I described :-)

    Often faster than waiting here for replies.
    Which Web site did you find the circuit diagram for the BWP34 ? I got my datasheet from "www.alldatasheets.com"
    I have used the op-amp based transimpedance amplifier(with resistive feedback) some years ago for a low
    frequency(3.5 MHz) automotive application. A low value capacitor(some pF), parallel to the feedback resistor, curbs
    the effects of the capacitance of the reversed biased photodiode.

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  • From amal banerjee@21:1/5 to Phil Hobbs on Sat Sep 23 00:17:58 2023
    On Friday, September 22, 2023 at 6:19:12 PM UTC+5:30, Phil Hobbs wrote:
    amal banerjee <daku...@gmail.com> wrote:
    On Friday, September 22, 2023 at 4:01:34 PM UTC+5:30, Phil Hobbs wrote:
    amal banerjee <daku...@gmail.com> wrote:
    On Thursday, September 21, 2023 at 10:54:43/AM UTC+5:30, Jan Panteltje wrote:
    On a sunny day (Wed, 20 Sep 2023 21:28:49 -0700 (PDT)) it happened amal >>>> banerjee <daku...@gmail.com> wrote in
    <21592d6c-93a9-4852...@googlegroups.com>:

    On Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at 8:51:50/PM UTC+5:30, John Larki> >n wrote:
    On Wed, 20 Sep 2023 08:08:08 -0700 (PDT), amal banerjee
    <daku...@gmail.com> wrote:

    Could some electronics guru please help ? I am looking for a very low(fe=
    w milliVolts) VTO commercially available NMOS, and its corresponding PMOS.=

    I am trying to use a reverse biased photodiode(very low output current) =
    to
    trigger a PMOS. The output voltage could then be used to trigger ideally=
    a
    BJT. Any hints, suggestiosn would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in adva> >nce.
    What is VTO?

    I don't think such a part exists. A photodiode might just barely turn >>>>>> on a high-beta bipolar transisor.

    What's the open-circuit voltage of the photodiode? What's the current?
    Is a power supply available? If the pd is back-biased by a supply, >>>>>> you'd have lots of voltage available to turn on a mosfet.

    A lithium battery might power a micropower comparator for decades. >>>>>
    Sorry for the confusion. 'VTO' means threshold voltage for the mosfet. >>>>> The candidate photodiode is BPW31|34. The datasheet contains the following> >
    data:
    Open circuit voltage : 440 mV
    In reverse bias, the diode is open circuit, so current should flow. The da=
    rk current
    is 12 pA.

    Think 'current'
    the reverse photo-diode could drive the base of for exampe a NPN directly
    photo diode current amplified by beta * R1 is output.
    Note leakage etc..

    ------------------------ +
    | |
    --- R1 a few k
    / \ |
    --- |------------ out, negative going on light input
    | c
    ---- b NPN beta 200
    e
    |
    ----------------- GND
    I have tested your suggestion with SPICE simulations using an ordinary >>> BJT(BC547) and two RF BJTs
    (BFR92A, BFQ790) each biased(as per Vce, Ic values listed in their
    respective datasheets) for beta
    values(150-200). I am using a GaAs photodiode SPICE model, which uses a >>> third input node for an
    input voltage for the incident light. The light is pulsed, @ 1.5 MHz, >>> 15.0 MHz and 150.0 MHz with pulse
    amplitudes in the low milliVolt(1-2) range. Of the three transistors
    BFQ790 performs best, but like each
    of the other two, the output voltage at the output 50.0 Ohm resistor is >>> in the tenths of milliVolt range.

    If you don’t know how much light you’ve got, you’re probably doomed. That
    needs to be in optical terms, like “1.2 ns full width at half maximum, 1-2
    picojoules, 950 nm”.

    It also matters whether the light is spatially coherent, because that
    governs how small a photodiode you can use.

    If you tell us what you’re actually trying to do, we can be a lot more >> helpful. Generating a sync signal from a laser beam is much easier than >> detecting scattered light from a matte-textured object at a distance, but >> there are tricks to make both easier.

    Something like, “I need to detect laser pulses bouncing off a microscope
    sample so that I can do lock-in measurements of the photoacoustic response”
    or “I’m going to bounce laser pulses off my cat” would help a lot. >>
    Cheers

    Phil Hobbs

    Cheers

    Phil Hobbs

    For instance
    Find that out, first

    --
    Dr Philip C D Hobbs Principal Consultant ElectroOptical Innovations LLC / >> Hobbs ElectroOptics Optics, Electro-optics, Photonics, Analog Electronics
    So far all my results are based on SPICE simulations. The candidate photodiode is BPW34 whose datasheet
    states that it is for high speed light detection for visible and near infra red with half angle of sensitivity +/-65
    degree. Reverse light current is 75 mA(typical).
    I am experimenting with line of sight light detection at high frequency. No I would not want to bounce light
    off my kitty, esepecially now that it has a kitten to take care of.


    That’s way too vague for me to be able to help much, except to say that the
    difficulty ranges from trivial to impossible, depending on the details.

    The BPW34 isn’t great for bandwidths over 50 MHz or so, but with a better detector and a decent front end it isn’t hard to reproduce nanosecond pulses. Even op amps can have gain bandwidths in the gigahertz.

    Cheers

    Phil Hobbs
    --
    Dr Philip C D Hobbs Principal Consultant ElectroOptical Innovations LLC / Hobbs ElectroOptics Optics, Electro-optics, Photonics, Analog Electronics
    I know that the BPW34 is inappropriate for very high frequencies, but since I have
    not worked with optoelectronic circuits for a while, I am trying to get my "feet wet"
    before plunging into the real stuff. Yes, I have seen documentation on GHz op-amps,
    but have not used them before.

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  • From John Larkin@21:1/5 to dakupoto@gmail.com on Sat Sep 23 08:17:36 2023
    On Sat, 23 Sep 2023 00:17:58 -0700 (PDT), amal banerjee
    <dakupoto@gmail.com> wrote:

    On Friday, September 22, 2023 at 6:19:12?PM UTC+5:30, Phil Hobbs wrote:
    amal banerjee <daku...@gmail.com> wrote:
    On Friday, September 22, 2023 at 4:01:34?PM UTC+5:30, Phil Hobbs wrote:
    amal banerjee <daku...@gmail.com> wrote:
    On Thursday, September 21, 2023 at 10:54:43/AM UTC+5:30, Jan Panteltje wrote:
    On a sunny day (Wed, 20 Sep 2023 21:28:49 -0700 (PDT)) it happened amal >> >>>> banerjee <daku...@gmail.com> wrote in
    <21592d6c-93a9-4852...@googlegroups.com>:

    On Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at 8:51:50/PM UTC+5:30, John Larki> >n wrote:
    On Wed, 20 Sep 2023 08:08:08 -0700 (PDT), amal banerjee
    <daku...@gmail.com> wrote:

    Could some electronics guru please help ? I am looking for a very low(fe=
    w milliVolts) VTO commercially available NMOS, and its corresponding PMOS.=

    I am trying to use a reverse biased photodiode(very low output current) =
    to
    trigger a PMOS. The output voltage could then be used to trigger ideally=
    a
    BJT. Any hints, suggestiosn would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in adva> >nce.
    What is VTO?

    I don't think such a part exists. A photodiode might just barely turn >> >>>>>> on a high-beta bipolar transisor.

    What's the open-circuit voltage of the photodiode? What's the current?
    Is a power supply available? If the pd is back-biased by a supply,
    you'd have lots of voltage available to turn on a mosfet.

    A lithium battery might power a micropower comparator for decades.

    Sorry for the confusion. 'VTO' means threshold voltage for the mosfet. >> >>>>> The candidate photodiode is BPW31|34. The datasheet contains the following> >
    data:
    Open circuit voltage : 440 mV
    In reverse bias, the diode is open circuit, so current should flow. The da=
    rk current
    is 12 pA.

    Think 'current'
    the reverse photo-diode could drive the base of for exampe a NPN directly
    photo diode current amplified by beta * R1 is output.
    Note leakage etc..

    ------------------------ +
    | |
    --- R1 a few k
    / \ |
    --- |------------ out, negative going on light input
    | c
    ---- b NPN beta 200
    e
    |
    ----------------- GND
    I have tested your suggestion with SPICE simulations using an ordinary >> >>> BJT(BC547) and two RF BJTs
    (BFR92A, BFQ790) each biased(as per Vce, Ic values listed in their
    respective datasheets) for beta
    values(150-200). I am using a GaAs photodiode SPICE model, which uses a >> >>> third input node for an
    input voltage for the incident light. The light is pulsed, @ 1.5 MHz,
    15.0 MHz and 150.0 MHz with pulse
    amplitudes in the low milliVolt(1-2) range. Of the three transistors
    BFQ790 performs best, but like each
    of the other two, the output voltage at the output 50.0 Ohm resistor is >> >>> in the tenths of milliVolt range.

    If you dont know how much light youve got, youre probably doomed. That >> >> needs to be in optical terms, like 1.2 ns full width at half maximum, 1-2
    picojoules, 950 nm.

    It also matters whether the light is spatially coherent, because that
    governs how small a photodiode you can use.

    If you tell us what youre actually trying to do, we can be a lot more
    helpful. Generating a sync signal from a laser beam is much easier than >> >> detecting scattered light from a matte-textured object at a distance, but >> >> there are tricks to make both easier.

    Something like, I need to detect laser pulses bouncing off a microscope >> >> sample so that I can do lock-in measurements of the photoacoustic response
    or Im going to bounce laser pulses off my cat would help a lot.

    Cheers

    Phil Hobbs

    Cheers

    Phil Hobbs

    For instance
    Find that out, first

    --
    Dr Philip C D Hobbs Principal Consultant ElectroOptical Innovations LLC / >> >> Hobbs ElectroOptics Optics, Electro-optics, Photonics, Analog Electronics >> > So far all my results are based on SPICE simulations. The candidate
    photodiode is BPW34 whose datasheet
    states that it is for high speed light detection for visible and near
    infra red with half angle of sensitivity +/-65
    degree. Reverse light current is 75 mA(typical).
    I am experimenting with line of sight light detection at high frequency. >> > No I would not want to bounce light
    off my kitty, esepecially now that it has a kitten to take care of.


    Thats way too vague for me to be able to help much, except to say that the >> difficulty ranges from trivial to impossible, depending on the details.

    The BPW34 isnt great for bandwidths over 50 MHz or so, but with a better
    detector and a decent front end it isnt hard to reproduce nanosecond
    pulses. Even op amps can have gain bandwidths in the gigahertz.

    Cheers

    Phil Hobbs
    --
    Dr Philip C D Hobbs Principal Consultant ElectroOptical Innovations LLC /
    Hobbs ElectroOptics Optics, Electro-optics, Photonics, Analog Electronics
    I know that the BPW34 is inappropriate for very high frequencies, but since I have
    not worked with optoelectronic circuits for a while, I am trying to get my "feet wet"
    before plunging into the real stuff. Yes, I have seen documentation on GHz op-amps,
    but have not used them before.

    Phil's book, Designing Electro-Optical Systems, has a lot of good
    stuff on the subject.

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