Cut off, Active and saturation regions of a transistor:

Transistor Biasing:The application of suitable dc voltages across the transistor terminals is

called biasing. Each junction of a transistor may be forward biased or reverse biased
independently.These are following three different ways of biasing a transistor ,which is
also known as modes of transistor operation.

Forward active:Emitter-Base junction is forward biased

Collector- base junction is reverse biased.

Saturation Region:Emitter-Base junction is forward biased

Collector- base junction is forward biased
In this mode transistor has a very large value of current. The transistor is operated in this
mode, when it is used as a closed switch.

Cut- off Region:Emitter-Base junction is reverse biased

Collector- base junction is reverse biased
In this region both the junctions are Reverse Biased. In this mode transistor has zero
current. The transistor is operated in this mode, when it is used as an open switch.

Output characteristics of Common Emitter Transistor

Modes of transistor action:

S.no

Junction bias condition

1.

Mode
Forward-Active

Emitter-base
Forward

Collector-base
Reverse

2.

Saturation

Forward

Forward

3.

Cut-off

Reverse

Reverse