This cadmium sulfide (CdS) or light dependent resistor (LDR) whose resistance is inversely dependent on the amount of light falling on it is known by many names including the photo resistor, photoresistor, photoconductor, photoconductive cell, or simply the photocell. The 5539 has the following characteristics:
Photo Resistance (30 ~ 90 KΩ)
Dark Resistance (5 MΩ) min
Vmax - 150VDC
Pmax - 100mW
5mm PackageThis cadmium sulfide (CdS) or light dependent resistor (LDR) whose resistance is inversely dependent on the amount of light falling on it is known by many names including the photo resistor, photoresistor, photoconductor, photoconductive cell, or simply the photocell.
A typical structure for a photoresistor uses an active semiconductor layer that is deposited on an insulating substrate. The semiconductor is normally lightly doped to enable it to have the required level of conductivity. Contacts are then placed either side of the exposed area. The photo-resistor, CdS, or LDR finds many uses as a low cost photo sensitive element and was used for many years in photographic light meters as well as in other applications such as smoke, flame and burglar detectors, card readers and lighting controls for street lamps.