Optical power of Smartphone (Galaxy S20) torch

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around estimating the optical power of a smartphone torch, specifically the Galaxy S20, for a project involving phototransistors. Participants explore methods to determine the effective optical power and surface power density of the light emitted by the smartphone's torch.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Experimental/applied

Main Points Raised

  • One participant seeks information on the effective optical power of the smartphone torch to calculate the responsivity of a phototransistor.
  • Another participant suggests using a light meter as a potential solution for measuring light intensity.
  • A participant mentions using a Thorlabs photodetector to measure light, noting the challenge of wavelength-dependent responsivity due to the smartphone torch's broad spectrum.
  • One participant reports an estimated surface power density of 1.92 mW/cm² at a distance of 2.5 cm from the torch.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

There is no consensus on the exact optical power of the smartphone torch, and participants present different methods and estimates without resolving the uncertainty.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes limitations related to the wavelength dependence of the photodetector's responsivity and the assumptions made in estimating the surface power density.

Techni
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TL;DR
Looking for effective optical power of smartphone torch
In doing a project on phototransistors I am using my smartphone as illumination source.

In order to find the responsivity of the induced current from the light, I need to know the surface power density, which I could estimate, if I knew the effective optical power of the light from the smartphone torch.

I have scoured the internet (and even contacted Samsung tech support) with no luck, and am hoping someone can help me find a source for the info.
 
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Algr said:
Perhaps a light meter would help? They used to be a critical tool in photography.

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=light+meter&atb=v314-1&ia=web
Thank you for the response.

I ended up using a Thorlabs photodetector (https://www.thorlabs.com/thorproduct.cfm?partnumber=PDA100A-EC).

While I ran into the problem with the responsivity of the photodetector being wavelength dependent, due to the smartphone torch covering a wide spectrum, choosing an average responsivity of the photodetector gives a decent enough order of magnitude estimation.
 
Techni said:
average responsivity of the photodetector gives a decent enough order of magnitude estimation.
And what number did you get?
 
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I ended up with a rough estimate for the surface power density of the optical light of 1.92 mW/cm^2 at a distance of 2.5 cm normal to the torch plane (backside of the phone)
 
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