ABSTRACT
Optical detector converts an optical signal into more convenient form for signal extraction and further processing. As an example of an imaging optical system can serve the camera where at the end one has a two-dimensional array of optical detector that converts the image into electrical signal that is more convenient for further processing. In the case of a nonimaging optics, one can refer to the collectors of the solar radiation where at the end there is a photovoltaic solar cell that converts the captured optical energy into electrical energy that is, once again, more convenient for further distribution. Fiber-optic communication and optical sensing systems always at their end have an optical detector where the optical data stream is converted into an electrical data stream or an electrical signal proportional to the measured physical quantity, respectively.
Roughly speaking, we can place an arbitrary optical system into several categories such as imaging optics, nonimiaging optics, and fiber-optics. Regardless of the purpose of the particular optical system, at the end, there is an optical detector. Typically, optical detector converts an optical signal into more convenient form for signal extraction and further processing. As an example of an imaging optical system can serve the camera where at the end one has a two-dimensional array of optical detector that converts the image into electrical signal that is more convenient for further processing. In the case of a nonimaging optics, we can refer to the collectors of the solar radiation where at the end there is a photovoltaic solar cell that converts the captured optical energy into electrical energy that is, once again, more convenient for further distribution. Fiber-optic communication and optical sensing systems always at their end have an optical detector where the optical data stream is converted into an electrical data stream or an electrical signal proportional to the measured physical quantity, respectively. However, the captured light isn’t always transformed in its 56electrical counterpart; yet again, most detectors employ this type of optical detection. Table 3.1 lists the most common detection techniques that are associated with the detection of optical signals.
