BJT Characteristics BS P-III Institute of Physics

BJT Characteristics
Objects of the experiment
1. To determine transistor type (npn, pnp) , terminals, and material
using a digital multimeter (DMM).
2. To graph the. collector characteristics of a transistor
3. To determine the value of the alpha and beta ratios of a transistor.

Introduction
The word transistor has been derived from two words, "trans" means transfer of
signal and "istor" as same general family resistor, so we can say transistor simply
transfer the resistance. Transistor is a three terminal device, when these three terminals
are used in biasing arrangement they form two p-n junctions, one junction is called
emitter base junction and other is called collector base junction. Emitter base junction is
forward biased and offer very low resistance and collector base junction is reverse
biased and it offers a very high resistance. Therefore, the transistor transfers the signal
from low resistance to high resistance.
Types Of Transistors: There are two types of transistors.
1. Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT)
2. Field effect Junction Transistor (FET).
Bipolar Junction Transistor: BJT is a three terminal component, which is constructed
with three doped semiconductor regions separated by two p-n junctions; the three
regions are Emitter (E), Base (B) and collector(C).
There are two types of BJT, such as
a) NPN b) PNP

NPN transistor has N-type emitter & collector and a P-type base, while PNP has P-type
emitter & collector and a N-type base as shown in figure 1(a)and (b).

Collector Collector
iB iC
Base Base
NPN Transistor PNP Transistor
iE
Emitter Emitter

Holes
Electrons
Electrons
Holes
----- + + + iC
- - iC
E ----- + + + - - - + + +
----- + + + - - -
C E +++ ++
----- - - - + + +
----- + + + - - + + C
+ + + + - - - + + +
iE +
B VCE
iB + B VCE
- iB +
VBE -
VBE
-
-

Fig.1 (a) NPN transistor Fig.1 (b) PNP transistor

BJT Characteristics BS P-III
OUTPUT CHARACTERISTICS OF BJT:
When dealing with the transistor configurations, characteristics curves are very important
because they can predict the performance o1 a transistor. There are three curves, an
input characteristic curve. a transfer characteristic curve and an output characteristic
curve. Of these curves, the most useful for predicating the transistor performance is the
output characteristics curve. The output characteristic curves for a BJT are a graph
displaying the output voltages and currents for different input currents. It simply provides
the V-I relationship at the output terminals, with either the input current or input voltage
as parameters. For each transistor configuration, CE (Common Emitter), CC (Common
Collector) and CB (Common Base), the output curves are slightly different.
Common Emitter output characteristics curve:
in common emitter configuration, the input is applied between base and emitter and
output is taken from the collector and emitter as shown in figure 2. In CE input current
is /B and output current is IC .
In order to determine the output characteristics of CE configuration IB is maintained
constant at several convenient levels. At each fixed level of base current ( /B ), collector
emitter voltage (VCE) is adjusted in steps and corresponding values of collector-current
(/C ) are recorded. Then for each level of IB. IC is plotted v/s VCE. A typical output
characteristic for a BJT in CE mode is shown in figure 3.
(mA)

(Volts)
Figure.2 Output characteristics of BJT in CE mode
r
EQUIPMENT & COMPONENTS
EQUIPMENT:
• Power supply • A bread board
COMPONENTS: • NPN Transistor
• DMM (Digital multimeter) • 1M potentiometer
• Few connecting hard wires • 5K potentiometer
• 330 resistor
• 1 K resistor

Part I: To determine the type, terminals and material of given transistor

a. Label the transistor terminals of Fig.3 as 1, 2, and 3.

b. Set the selector switch of the multimeter to the diode scale.
c. If the meter readings between two of the terminals will read high (O.L) regardless of
the polarity of the meter leads connected then neither of these two terminals will be the base,
hence you can identify the base terminanl.
Terminal No.__________ is the base.

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 BJT Characteristics BS P-III

Figure.3.Determination of the identities of BJT leads.

Terminal no. 1 2 3

Terminal identity. Fill these boxes after compeleting all steps.

c. Connect the negative lead to the base terminal and the positive lead to either of the other terminals.
If the meter reading is low (approximately 0.7 V for Si and 0.3 V for Ge or lower resistance), the transistor
type is pnp . If the reading is high, the transistor type is npn.
The transistor type is _______.
d. For pnp type, connect the negative lead to the base terminal and the positive lead alternately to either of the
other two terminals. The lower of the two readings obtained indicates that the base and collector are connected;
thus the other terminal is the emitter.
For npn type, connect the positive lead to the base terminal and the negative lead alternately to either of the other
two terminals. The lower of the two readings obtained indicates that the base and collector are connected; thus the
other terminal is the emitter.
Terminal No.__________ is the emitter.
Terminal No.__________ is the collector.
If the readings in above step were approximately 700 mV, the transistor material is silicon. If the readings
were approximately 300 mV, the material is germanium. If the meter does not have a diode testing scale, the
material cannot be determined directly.
The transistor Material is _______.

Part II: Collector Characteristics

1 Make the connections according to the fig:4.

+20V +20V
1K
5K
VRC
C
V
330 B VCE
1M NPN V
VRB
V E

Figure 4.Common Emitter configuration.

2. Rotate both variable controls to minimum.
3. Switch ON the power supply.
4. Set 1 M potentiometer to give VRB = 3.3V.
5. Starting from 0.5 V vary VCE according to table using 5K potentiometer and note
down the corresponding values of VRC
6. Take similar readings with different values of VRB according to table.1.
7. Fill the following table and plot the graph representing the output characteristics of
NPN transistor for CE mode, it will look like fig 2.

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BJT Characteristics BS P-III
TABLE.1.
Data for Construction of Transistor Characteristic Curve and Calculations of
Transisto r Parameters

VRB IB VCE VRC IC VBE IE

(V) (uA) (V) (V) (mA) (V) (mA) Alpha Beta
(meas) (calc) (meas) (meas) (calc) (meas) (calc) (calc) (calc)
2
4
6
3.3 10 8
10
12
14
16
2
4
6
6.6 20 8
10
12
14
2
4
9.9 30 6
8
10
2
13.2 40 4
6
8
2
16.5 50 4
6

Part III: Alpha and Beta ratios of transistor.

a. For each line of Table.1 calculat e the corresponding levels of Alpha and Beta
using Alpha= I C /I E and Beta= IC /I B and complete the Table.
b. Is there a significant variation in alpha an d beta from one region of the
characteristics to another?
In which region are the largest values of found? Specify using
the relative levels of VCE and IC.
c. Find the largest and smallest levels of and m a r k their locations
on t h e plot of Fig. 8.3 using the notation and
d. In general, did increase or decrease with increase in I C ?
e. In general, did increase or decrease with increase in V CE ? Was
the effect of V CE on B greater or less t h a n the effect of I C ?

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BJT Characteristics BS P-III

REVIEW QUESTIONS:
1. How many regions of operation does a BJT have?
2. Define saturation, cutoff and Active region?
3. What is the behavior of device in active region?
4. What is the relation between IC and/ B ?
5. Give the BE and CB junction's condition in the three regions of operation.
6. Does transistor follow ohm's law?

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BJT Characteristics BS P-III

Mode measurements

VRB IB VCE VRC IC VBE IE

(V) (uA) (V) (V) (mA) (V) (mA) Alpha Beta
(meas) (calc) (meas) (meas) (calc) (meas) (calc) (calc) (calc)
2 0.24 0.238332 0.622 0.248332 0.959731 23.83317
4 0.243 0.241311 0.622 0.251311 0.960209 24.13108
6 0.245 0.243297 0.622 0.253297 0.960521 24.32969
3.3 10 8 0.247 0.245283 0.622 0.255283 0.960828 24.5283
10 0.249 0.247269 0.622 0.257269 0.96113 24.72691
12 0.251 0.249255 0.622 0.259255 0.961428 24.92552
14 0.251 0.249255 0.621 0.259255 0.961428 24.92552
16 0.254 0.252234 0.621 0.262234 0.961866 25.22344
2 0.753 0.747766 0.653 0.767766 0.97395 37.38828
4 0.758 0.752731 0.653 0.772731 0.974118 37.63654
6 0.764 0.758689 0.652 0.778689 0.974316 37.93446
6.6 20 8 0.772 0.766634 0.652 0.786634 0.974575 38.33168
10 0.779 0.773585 0.651 0.793585 0.974798 38.67925
12 0.787 0.781529 0.651 0.801529 0.975048 39.07646
14 0.794 0.788481 0.65 0.808481 0.975262 39.42403
2 1.41 1.400199 0.669 1.430199 0.979024 46.67329
4 1.432 1.422046 0.669 1.452046 0.979339 47.40152
9.9 30 6 1.453 1.4429 0.668 1.4729 0.979632 48.09666
8 1.469 1.458788 0.667 1.488788 0.979849 48.62628
10 1.482 1.471698 0.667 1.501698 0.980023 49.0566
2 2.18 2.164846 0.681 2.204846 0.981858 54.12115
13.2 40 4 2.23 2.214499 0.68 2.254499 0.982258 55.36246
6 2.26 2.24429 0.678 2.28429 0.982489 56.10725
8 2.32 2.303873 0.678 2.343873 0.982934 57.59682
2 3.08 3.05859 0.689 3.10859 0.983916 61.1718
16.5 50 4 3.14 3.118173 0.688 3.168173 0.984218 62.36346
6 3.19 3.167825 0.686 3.217825 0.984462 63.3565