The noise performance of optoelectron coupled devices (OCDs) has been analy
zed firstly from the rate equations including Langevin noise sources (C. Ha
rder, J. Katz, S. Margalit, J. Shacham, A. Yariv. IEEE J Quant Electron 198
2; QE-18(3):333-7). The noise equivalent circuit of OCDs has been presented
in this paper and is used to explain the noise spectrum measurement result
s of OCDs. Then three noise reliability indicators used to estimate quality
and reliability of OCDs are given. These indicators are general and conven
ient for the direct industrial application for OCDs and other semiconductor
devices. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.