Photo Diode

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A special type of diode, capable of producing an electric current when exposed to light.

All P-N junctions are light sensitive, but the P-N junction of Photodiodes are specifically designed to optimize this inherent photosensitivity

Photodiodes can be used two ways -- in a photovoltaic (here it becomes a current source when illuminated -- see solar cell), or photoconductive role.

To use a photodiode in its photoconductive mode, the photodiode is reverse-biased; the photodiode will then allow a current to flow when it is illuminated.

Almost any photodiode will do for BEAM bots; I'd suggest you select one based on what has a convenient "field of view" (some are sensitive to light from such a broad field that you'll need to build them "blinders" so they'll only respond to light from a given range of directions.

Also See:

Photo-bridge