ECE005

Duarte, John Paul D. Electronics 3

BSEE – 31A Assignment No.1

1. Enumerate the different biasing techniques in BJT and JFET. (Include circuit diagram)

Fixed Base Biasing a Transistor

The circuit shown is called as a “fixed base bias circuit”, because the transistors base
current, IB remains constant for given values of Vcc, and therefore the transistors operating point must
also remain fixed. This two resistor biasing network is used to establish the initial operating region of
the transistor using a fixed current bias.
This type of transistor biasing arrangement is also beta dependent biasing as the steady-state
condition of operation is a function of the transistors beta β value, so the biasing point will vary over a
wide range for transistors of the same type as the characteristics of the transistors will not be exactly
the same.
The emitter diode of the transistor is forward biased by applying the required positive base bias
voltage via the current limiting resistor RB. Assuming a standard bipolar transistor, the forward base-
emitter voltage drop would be 0.7V. Then the value of RB is simply: (VCC – VBE)/IB where IB is defined
as IC/β.
With this single resistor type of biasing
arrangement the biasing voltages and currents do
not remain stable during transistor operation and
can vary enormously. Also the operating
temperature of the transistor can adversely affect
the operating point.

Advantages:
 It is simple to shift the operating point
anywhere in the active region by merely
changing the base resistor (Rb).
 A very small number of components are
required.
Disadvantages:
 The collector current does not remain constant with variation in temperature or power supply
voltage. Therefore, the operating point is unstable.
 Changes in Vbe will change IB and thus cause IE to change. This in turn will alter the gain of the
stage.
 When the transistor is replaced with another one, considerable change in the value of β can be
expected. Due to this change the operating point will shift.
 For small-signal transistors (e.g., not power transistors) with relatively high values of β (i.e.,
between 100 and 200), this configuration will be prone to thermal runaway. In particular,
the stability factor, which is a measure of the change in collector current with changes in
reverse saturation current, is approximately β+1. To ensure absolute stability of the amplifier, a
stability factor of less than 25 is preferred, and so small-signal transistors have large stability
factors.
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Collector Feedback Biasing a Transistor

This self biasing collector feedback configuration is another beta dependent biasing method which
requires two resistors to provide the necessary DC bias for the transistor. The collector to base
feedback configuration ensures that the transistor is always biased in the active region regardless of
the value of Beta (β). The DC base bias voltage is derived from the collector voltage VC, thus
providing good stability.

In this circuit, the base bias resistor, RB is connected to the transistors collector C, instead of to the
supply voltage rail, Vcc. Now if the collector current increases, the collector voltage drops, reducing
the base drive and thereby automatically reducing the collector current to keep the transistors Q-point
fixed. Therefore this method of collector feedback biasing produces negative feedback round the
transistor as there is a direct feedback from the output terminal to the input terminal via resistor, RB.

Since the biasing voltage is derived from the voltage drop across the load resistor, RL, if the load
current increases there will be a larger voltage drop across RL, and a corresponding reduced collector
voltage, VC. This effect will cause a corresponding
drop in the base current, IB which in turn,
brings IC back to normal.

The opposite reaction will also occur when the

transistors collector current reduces. Then this
method of biasing is called self-biasing with the
transistors stability using this type of feedback
bias network being generally good for most
amplifier designs.

Fixed bias with emitter resistor

The fixed bias circuit is modified by attaching an external
resistor to the emitter. This resistor introduces negative
feedback that stabilizes the Q-point. From Kirchhoff's voltage
law, the voltage across the base resistor is from Ohm's law,
the base current is the way feedback controls the bias point is
as follows. If Vbe is held constant and temperature increases,
emitter current increases. However, a larger I e increases the
emitter voltage Ve = IeRe, which in turn reduces the voltage
VRb across the base resistor. A lower base-resistor voltage
drop reduces the base current, which results in less collector
current because Ic = β Ib. Collector current and emitter current
are related by Ic = α Ie with α ≈ 1, so the increase in emitter
current with temperature is opposed, and the operating point
is kept stable. Similarly, if the transistor is replaced by
another, there may be a change in I c (corresponding to
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change in β-value, for example). By similar process as above, the change is negated and operating
point kept stable.
Voltage divider biasing or emitter bias

The voltage divider is formed using external resistors R1 and R2. The

voltage across R2 forward biases the emitter junction. By proper selection
of resistors R1 and R2, the operating point of the transistor can be made
independent of β. In this circuit, the voltage divider holds the base voltage
fixed independent of base current, provided the divider current is large
compared to the base current. However, even with a fixed base voltage,
collector current varies with temperature (for example) so an emitter
resistor is added to stabilize the Q-point, similar to the above circuits with
emitter resistor. The voltage divider configuration achieves the correct
voltages by the use of resistors in certain patterns. By manipulating the
resistors in certain ways you can achieve more stable current levels
without having β value affect it too much.

Emitter bias

When a split supply (dual power supply) is

available, this biasing circuit is the most effective, and provides zero bias
voltage at the emitter or collector for load. The negative supply V ee is used to
forward-bias the emitter junction through R e. The positive supply Vcc is used
to reverse-bias the collector junction. Only two resistors are necessary for
the common collector stage and four resistors for the common emitter or
common base stage.

2. Differentiate differential amplifier with operational amplifiers

A differential amplifier, by definition, also functions with the relationship
Vout=A*(V+ - V-), but A can be a much smaller number than in an op amp
operating in open loop, and the currents into the inputs are not necessarily
zero. The input impedance can be relatively low, and the input impedance to
each input does not need to be the same. A differential amplifier can be built
out of one or more operational amplifiers and some resistors, or it can be made out of more basic
parts, like transistors.

An operational amplifier is an integrated circuit, and somewhat of a building block. The inputs (V+
and V-) of an op amp are very high impedance, and very little current goes into these inputs because
of that. The general formula for the performance of an op amp is Vout=A*(V+ - V-), and A is a very
large number. When wired up in feedback modes, the op amp can have many different configurations
(even though the "open loop" gain is a very big number.

3. What are the different types of Op amp?

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Inverting Amplifier:

The circuit shown is an inverting amplifier with the Non inverting input connected to the ground. Two
resistors R1 and R2 are connected in the circuit in such a fashion that R1 feeds the input signal while
R2 returns the output to the Inverting input.
Here when the input signal is positive the
output will be negative and vice versa. The
voltage change at the output relative to the
input depends on the ratio of the resistors
R1 and R2. R1 is selected as 1K and R2
as 10K. If the input receives 1 volt, then
there will be 1 mA current through R1 and
the output will have to become – 10 volts in
order to supply 1 mA current through R2
and to maintain zero voltage at the
Inverting input. Therefore the voltage gain
is R2/R1. That is 10K/1K = 10

Non-inverting Amplifier:

The circuit shown above is a Non inverting

amplifier. Here the Non inverting input
receives the signal while the Inverting input
is connected between R2 and R1. When the
input signal moves either positive or
negative, the output will be in phase and
keeps the voltage at the inverting input same
as that of Non inverting input. The voltage
gain in this case will be always higher than 1
so (1+R2/R1).

Voltage Follower

The circuit above is a voltage follower. Here

it provides high input impedance, low output impedance .When the
input voltage changes, the output and the inverting input will
change equally.
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Differential Amplifier

The inverting operational amplifier (see circuit

number 2) amplified a voltage that was
applied on the inverting pin, and the output
voltage was out of phase. The non-inverting
pin is connected to ground with this
configuration.

If the above circuit is modified by applying a

voltage through a voltage divider on the non-
inverting, we end up with a differential
amplifier as shown below.

An amplifier is useful not just because it lets

you add, subtract, or compare voltages. Many
circuits allow you to modify signals. Let’s see
the most basic ones.