phototube

/ˈfoʊtoʊˌtub/
noun
  1. An electronic device that converts light into an electrical signal, used in sensors and light detection equipment.
    • The old movie projector used a phototube to read the soundtrack from the film strip.
    • A phototube in the streetlight detects when it gets dark and turns the light on.
    • Engineers replaced the broken phototube in the automatic door sensor so it would open when someone approached.
Synonyms
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