OBJECT 03: TO STUDY THE CHARACTERTSTTCS OF A PHOTO TRANSTSTOR

THEORY
Photo Transistor
A bipolar photo transistor (also known as a photo diode is a threeJayer device having its
base region exposed to illumination. Both n-p-n and p-n-p devices are manufactured. They
are usually connected in the common emitter conflguration, and may either have the base
connection open-circuit or be connected through a resistance to the common line. ln some
cases it is possible to forward bias the transistor. ln a basic circuit incorporating an n-p-n
photo transistor the collector current in the absence of illumination is, Ig (hpE + 1) ICBO
=
when illuminated, electron hole pairs are generated in the base region and by transistor
action the new value of collector current
Ic = (hEF + 1) (IcBo + Ip)
where Ip = photo current component of base current. The characteristics of a photo
transistor are as shown in Fig 5(a).

COLLECTOR
CURRENT

+v (voLTS)
COLLECTOR VOLTACE

FlG.5 (a) OUTPUT CHARACTERISTICS OF A PHOTO TRANSTSTOR

Note : Photo transistor is provided on the panel.
PROCEDURE FOR THE EXPERIMENT
01 Assemble the circuit as shown in Fig.S(b). Check for circuit assembled, and switch ON
the supply to the ETB.

S.N. Voltage Current (uA)

(v)
Lrl Lt2 Lt3
01

02
PHOTO
03
04
05
FrG. 5 (b) C|RCU|T FOR CHARACTERTSTTCS OF A PHOTO TRANSTSTOR
02 Repeat the STEP no. (2) of experiment no. 2.
03 Place the ETB under a table lamp so that the light falls directly on the face of the photo
transistor fitted on the panel. Switch on the table lamp.
04 Take readings of collector voltage (Vc) & corresponding collector current (lc).
05 Plot the above readings on the graph paper.
06 Now change the light intensity falling on the photo transistor by varying the voltage of
table lamp with the help of variac and again take readings of Vc & lc. Plot different sets
of readings on the same graph. The graph will be (approx.) similar to as shown in Fig
5(a).