Quadrant Photodiodes
Accurate Position Tracking
Our standard InGaAs Quadrant Photodiode consists of four separate active regions within a single detector. Each segment provides a current output proportional to the location of the light on the detector. This configuration is ideal for precise position detection and alignment applications.
Quadrant position sensing works by comparing the photocurrent output from each of the four segments. When a beam is centered, the signals are balanced. As the beam shifts, the differential between segments changes, allowing a control system to calculate X-Y displacement with high precision. This approach delivers fast, analog feedback without the complexity of imaging systems or scanning mechanisms. Our InGaAs Quadrant Photodiodes are optimized for near-infrared applications, with a spectral response from 800 nm to 1700 nm and peak sensitivity at 1550 nm.
Download our datasheet and white paper, Free Space Optical Communications in Terrestrial Satellite Systems, to learn more.
Features
- Standard packages (TO-46, TO-5, and LCC)
- Spectral response from 800 nm to 1700 nm
- Chip active diameters: 0.5 mm, 1.0 mm, 1.5 mm, 2.0 mm, 3.0 mm and 5 mm
- High sensitivity
- Low crosstalk
- High shunt resistance
- Low dark current
- Low capacitance for high segment bandwidth
- Custom configurations available with tailored packaging, coatings, filters, and more
- Double quad configurations
Applications
- Laser Guidance for Free Space Optical Communication
- Optical Tweezers
- Beam Profiling
Datasheet
White Paper
Optoelectronic Characteristics @ 23 ºC ± 2 ºC
| Active Diameter | 0.5 mm | 1 mm | 1.5 mm | 2 mm | 3 mm | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part Number | N17S4x0MC-50-T46 N17S4x0MC-50-LCC6 |
N17S4x0MC-100-T46 N17S4x0MC-100-T5 N17S4x0MC-100-LCC6 |
N17S4x0MC-150-T46 N17S4x0MC-150-T5 N17S4x0MC-150-LCC6 |
N17S4x0MC-200-T5 N17S4x0MC-200-LCC6 |
N17S4x0MC-300-T5 N17S4x0MC-300-LCC28 |
|
| Legacy Part Number | GAP500Q | GAP1000Q | GAP1500Q | GAP2000Q | GAP3000Q | |
| Spectral Response Range | 800–1700 | 800–1700 | 800–1700 | 800–1700 | 800–1700 | nm |
| Peak Wavelength (typ) | 1550 | 1550 | 1550 | 1550 | 1550 | nm |
| Responsivity @ 850 nm (min/typ) | 0.2 / 0.27 | 0.2 / 0.27 | 0.2 / 0.27 | 0.2 / 0.27 | 0.2 / 0.27 | A/W |
| Responsivity @ 1300 nm (min/typ) | 0.85 / 1.0 | 0.85 / 1.0 | 0.85 / 1.0 | 0.85 / 1.0 | 0.85 / 1.0 | A/W |
| Responsivity @ 1550 nm (min/typ) | 0.93 / 1.1 | 0.93 / 1.1 | 0.93 / 1.1 | 0.93 / 1.1 | 0.93 / 1.1 | A/W |
| Dark Current @ VR (typ) | 0.1 / 2 @ 5 V | 0.2 / 2 @ 5 V | 0.4 / 4 @ 5 V | 0.5 / 5 @ 5 V | 1 / 8 @ 2 V | nA |
| Shunt Resistance @ 10 mV (min/typ) | Not available | 200 typ | 145 typ | 50 / 80 | 20 / 60 | MΩ |
| Capacitance @ 0 V (typ/max) | 10 typ | 20 / 45 | 85 / 95 | 120 / 140 | 220 / 400 | pF |
| Capacitance @ VR (typ/max) | 4 / 6 @ 5 V | 10 / 15 @ 5 V | 20 / 30 @ 5 V | 45 / 80 @ 5 V | 100 / 200 @ 2 V | pF |
| NEP @ λPEAK @ VR (typ) | 5.2 | 7.3 | 10.3 | 11.5 | 16.3 | fW/Hz¹ᐟ² |
| Linearity (±0.2 dB) @ 0 V | +6 | +6 | +6 | +6 | +6 | dBm |
| TO Packages | TO-46 | TO-46, TO-5 | TO-46, TO-5 | TO-5 | TO-5 | |
| Leadless Ceramic Packages | LCC-6 | LCC-6 | LCC-6 | LCC-6 | LCC-28 | |
| Storage Temperature | -40 to 125 | -40 to 125 | -40 to 125 | -40 to 125 | -40 to 125 | ºC |
| Operating Temperature | -40 to 85 | -40 to 85 | -40 to 85 | -40 to 85 | -40 to 85 | ºC |
| Max Reverse Voltage | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | V |
| Max Reverse Current | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | mA |
| Max Forward Current | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | mA |
Custom multi-element quads are also available.