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Aim
To learn to use PSPICE to simulate BJT transistor circuits and to
enhance your understanding of the operation of BJT circuits.

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BJT Characteristics

Load the PSPICE file bjt-dc2.sch, Figure 31.

  
Figure 31: Circuit for measuring
BJT characteristics.

Exercise:

1.
 Simulate the circuit for the given setup. Is the transistor Q1 on or
off? Why?
2.
We now want to obtain the family of characteristics, IC vs VCE for
various values of IB, (like Figure 32, which shows IC as a function of
VCE; note that in this simulation VCE=VCC). We use the nested DC
sweep feature:
VCC is set as the main sweep variable, ranging from 0 V to 5 V in
increments of 0.1 V. IB is the nested sweep variable, ranging from
0 to 20 A in increments of 5 A.

Enable DC sweep and simulate again. Determine the correct value

of IB for each of the curves.

Lecture Notes : BJT Transistor

Circuits : BJT Characteristics
3.
Find the saturation and active regions for a fixed value of IB.
4.
Obtain a graphs of IC versus IB.
5.

What is the current gain ?

Use the graphs to determine the ratio IC/IB in the active
region for several curves.

  
Figure 32: BJT characteristics (IC
versus VCE for several values of IB).
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Switching

Load the PSPICE file bjt-dc1.sch, Figure 33.

  
Figure 33: BJT switching circuit.

Exercise:

1.
Simulate the circuit for the given values of VBB and VCC and note
the DC currents and voltages. Is the transistor Q1 on or off? Why?
Lecture Notes : BJT Transistor
Circuits : Introductory BJT Circuits :
Transistor as a Switch
On or off refers to extreme operating points corresponding to
saturation or cut-off respectively. When on a substantial current
 flows (order mA), while when off only a small current flows (order
few A or less).

Note also the values of VBE and IB (add trace).

2.
Enable DC sweep and simulate again (VBB is varied, and the
resulting VCE is plotted). You should obtain the graph shown in
Figure 34.

Also graph IC versus VBE.

3.
At what range of values of VBB and VBE does switching occur?
4.
Describe the switching behaviour.

  
Figure 34: BJT switching curve (VC
versus VBB).

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DC Bias

Load the PSPICE file bjt-dc3.sch, Figure 35. This circuit will have
the same DC bias as the amplifier circuit of section 7.5.

Lecture Notes : BJT Transistor Circuits :

DC Bias

  
Figure 35: Circuit for BJT DC
operating point.

Exercise:

1.
Simulate the circuit for the given setup. Is the transistor Q1 in the
active mode? Why?
It may be helpful to refer to the transistor characteritics obtained
earlier (it is the same transistor).
2.
We now wish to investigate the effect of varying the emitter resistor
RE on the DC operating point, and in particular on IC and VCE. We
do this using DC sweep, with RE set up as a parameter, varying
between 100 and 5 k .

Enable DC sweep and simulate again. Obtain plots of IC and VCE vs

RE, (something like Figure 36). (Recall that VCE=VC-VE!)
3.
Explain what you see.
Note carefully the effect of RE on IC and VCE.
4.
Draw load lines on the characteristic graphs (IC vs VCE) for three
values of RE: 0.5, 1.0 and 3.0 k .
The horizontal intercept is VCC=5 V, and the vertical intercepts are
given by

Plot the operating point Q corresponding to item 1 (on the RE=3 k

load line).

  
Figure 36: DC operating point
varies with RE.

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Small Signal Amplifier

Load the PSPICE file bjt-amp1.sch, Figure 37. Your task is to

design values of RB1, RB2 and RE for good gain and input level.

  
Figure 37: Small signal amplifier.

Exercise:

1.
Using the relations

select (standard) values of RB1 and RB2 so that V,

k (as in the previous bias section). Set these values in

PSPICE.
2.

Now choose RE so mA (for maximum possible AC swing).

Set in PSPICE.
You may use your curves from the DC bias exercise above,
section 7.4, to find RE.
3.
Simulate and check that your DC bias point is correct. Record your
values.

Draw the load line on the characteristic graph (IC vs VCE) for your
value of RE. Plot the DC operating point Q on this load line.

Check for consistency with the DC bias exercise above,

section 7.4.
4.
Enable transient analysis and simulate. Observe the input and
output waveforms. What is the voltage gain from the source
voltage vs to the output load voltage vout (As,out)? Compare with
theory.
Lecture Notes : BJT Transistor
Circuits : Small Signal Amplifier :
AC Analysis
To measure the gain, measure the peak-to-peak values of vs
and vout and calculate the ratio vout/vs.

5.
Repeat the transient simulation for increasing magnitudes of the
source voltage vs, and determine the maximum magnitude of the
input signal before the output waveform is clipped. Note any
distortion.
6.
Set the magnitude of vs back to its original value, and now vary the
source RS (increase it) and load RL (decrease it) resistances
(individually). Note the influence on gain. Discuss.

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Amplifier Distortion - Optional

Study the distortion of the output waveform in the small signal amplifier.
Since the input is a pure sine wave, an ideal linear amplifier would
produce a pure sine wave output. However, because the amplifier has
some non-ideal nonlinearities, the output is distorted from being a pure
sine wave. This effect is more pronounced for larger signals - why? In
the frequency domain, distortion appears as harmonics, see Figure 38.

  
Figure 38: Amplifier distortion
(frequency domain).

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