photocell

photocell
/foh"toh sel'/, n. Electronics.
a solid-state device that converts light into electrical energy by producing a voltage, as in a photovoltaic cell, or uses light to regulate the flow of current, as in a photoconductive cell: used in automatic control systems for doors, lighting, etc. Also called electric eye, photoelectric cell.
[1890-95; PHOTO- + CELL1]

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Solid-state device with a photosensitive cathode that emits electrons when illuminated and an anode for collecting the emitted electrons.

Illumination excites electrons, which are attracted to the anode, producing current proportional to the intensity of the illumination. In a photovoltaic cell, light is used to produce voltage. In a photoconductive cell, light is used to regulate the flow of current. Photocells are used in control systems, where interrupting a beam of light opens a circuit, actuating a relay that supplies power to a mechanism to bring about a desired operation, such as opening a door or setting off a burglar alarm. Photocells are also used in photometry and spectroscopy.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • photocell — [fōt′ō sel΄] n. PHOTOELECTRIC CELL …   English World dictionary

  • photocell — fotoelementas statusas T sritis automatika atitikmenys: angl. photocell; photoelectric cell; photoelement vok. Fotozelle, f; lichtelektrische Zelle, f; Photoelement, n; Photozelle, f rus. фотоэлемент, m pranc. cellule photo électrique, f; élément …   Automatikos terminų žodynas

  • photocell — fotoelementas statusas T sritis Standartizacija ir metrologija apibrėžtis Fotoelektrinis įtaisas, kuris veikiamas optinės spinduliuotės sukuria elektrovarą arba elektros srovę. atitikmenys: angl. photocell vok. Fotozelle, f; lichtelektrische… …   Penkiakalbis aiškinamasis metrologijos terminų žodynas

  • photocell — fotoelementas statusas T sritis chemija apibrėžtis Prietaisas, kuris optinės spinduliuotės veikiamas sukuria elektros srovę. atitikmenys: angl. photocell; photoelectric cell rus. фотоэлемент …   Chemijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

  • photocell — fotoelementas statusas T sritis fizika atitikmenys: angl. photocell; photoelectric cell vok. lichtelektrische Zelle, f; Photoelement, n; Photozelle, f rus. фотоэлемент, m pranc. cellule photo électrique, f; photocellule, f; photopile, f …   Fizikos terminų žodynas

  • photocell relay — fotorelė statusas T sritis automatika atitikmenys: angl. photocell relay; photoelectric relay; photorelay vok. fotoelektrisches Relais, n; Photorelais, n rus. фотореле, n pranc. photorelais, m; relais photoélectrique, m; relais photosensible, m …   Automatikos terminų žodynas

  • photocell matrix — fotoelementų matrica statusas T sritis automatika atitikmenys: angl. photocell matrix vok. Photozellenmatrix, f rus. матрица фотоэлементов, f pranc. matrice photo électrique, f; matrice photovoltaïque, f …   Automatikos terminų žodynas

  • photocell — noun Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary Date: 1891 photoelectric cell …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • photocell — noun A photoelectric cell …   Wiktionary

  • Photocell — Фотоэлемент …   Краткий толковый словарь по полиграфии

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