IT1916

Bipolar Junction Transistors

A transistor is a device that regulates current or voltage flow and acts as a switch or gate for electronic signals.
Transistors consist of three layers of semiconductor material, each capable of carrying a current. Transistor is short for
transfer resistor, a term which provides to how the device operates; the current flowing in the output circuit is
determined by the current flowing in the input circuit.

Types
• Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT) indicates that it has two junctions between p-type and n-type semiconductors.
The BJT transistors are classified into NPN and PNP transistors depending on the construction.
• Field-Effect-Transistor (FET) has control over the size and shape of a channel between source and drain, which
is created by applied voltage. The FET transistors are uni-polar transistors because they perform a single-channel
operation. The FET transistors have high current gain than BJT transistors.

Applications
Transistors have two (2) basic functions:
• When it works as an amplifier, it takes in a tiny electric current at one end (an input current) and produces a
much bigger electric current (an output current) at the other. In other words, it's a kind of current booster.
• Transistors can also work as switches. A tiny electric current flowing through one part of a transistor can make
a much bigger current flow through another part of it. In other words, the small current switches on the larger
one. This is essentially how all computer chips work.

BJT Characteristics and Operation

• The BJT transistor consists of two (2) p–n junctions in the same semiconductor crystal.

NPN Structure

Positive base region between two (2)

negative regions

PNP Structure

Negative base region between two

(2) negative regions

Terminals of Bipolar Junction Transistor

• The emitter is a medium-sized, heavily doped region whose primary purpose is to inject its majority carriers
(electrons for n-type, holes for p-type), through the base and into the collector.
• The collector is a thick, lightly doped region designed to collect the majority carriers injected from the
emitter.
• The base is a thin, medium doped layer whose primary purpose is to provide the control of the current
between the emitter and collector.

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BJT Operation Modes

It depends on how the junctions between the regions are biased: Emitter-base junction (EBJ) or Collector-base
junction (CBJ).
Saturation
• Saturation is the “on-mode” of a transistor.
𝑉𝑉𝐵𝐵 > 𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶
• A transistor in saturation mode acts like a short circuit between
collector and emitter. 𝑉𝑉𝐵𝐵 > 𝑉𝑉𝐸𝐸
• Current freely flows from collector to emitter.
Cut-off
• The transistor acts like an open circuit. No current flows from
collector to emitter. 𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶 > 𝑉𝑉𝐵𝐵
• A transistor in cutoff mode is off -- there is no collector current,
and therefore no emitter current. 𝑉𝑉𝐸𝐸 > 𝑉𝑉𝐵𝐵
• Cutoff mode is the opposite of saturation.
Active
• The current from collector to emitter is proportional to the
current flowing into the base. 𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶 > 𝑉𝑉𝐵𝐵 > 𝑉𝑉𝐸𝐸
• To operate in active mode, the base voltage must be less than
𝐼𝐼𝐶𝐶 = 𝛽𝛽𝐼𝐼𝐵𝐵
the collector, but greater than the emitter.
• That also means the collector must be greater than the emitter. 𝐼𝐼𝐶𝐶 = 𝛼𝛼𝐼𝐼𝐸𝐸
• 𝑉𝑉𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵 is usually around 0.7𝑣𝑣.
Reverse-Active
• Just as saturation is the opposite of cutoff, the reverse-active
mode is the opposite of active mode.
• A transistor in reverse-active mode conducts, even amplifies, but 𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶 < 𝑉𝑉𝐵𝐵 < 𝑉𝑉𝐸𝐸
current flows in the opposite direction, from emitter to collector.

Parameters (NPN)
𝐼𝐼𝐶𝐶 - Collector Current 𝑉𝑉𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵 - Base-to-emitter voltage
𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶 - Current Voltage 𝛽𝛽 – (ℎ𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹 ) Current gain
𝐼𝐼𝐵𝐵 - Base Current 𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 - Collector-to-emitter voltage
𝑉𝑉𝐵𝐵 - Base Voltage of common-emitter
𝐼𝐼𝐸𝐸 - Emitter Current 𝑉𝑉𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵 - Base-to-collector voltage.
𝑉𝑉𝐸𝐸 - Emitter Voltage configuration.

BJT Common Configurations

Common-base Common-emitter Common-collector

BJT Characteristics
Input Output

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• It is similar • 𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 exceeds a particular value

to the form known as the “knee” voltage.
of a • The collector current 𝐼𝐼𝐶𝐶 does not
forward- depend mainly on the collector-
biased p–n emitter voltage but it depends on
junction. the base current 𝐼𝐼𝐵𝐵 .

Biasing BJT Circuits

Transistor biasing largely depends on transistor beta (β).
Fixed Bias
The circuit shown is called a “fixed base 𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 − 𝑉𝑉𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵
𝐼𝐼𝐵𝐵 =
bias circuit” because the transistors 𝑅𝑅𝐵𝐵
base current, 𝐼𝐼𝐵𝐵 remains constant for 𝐼𝐼𝐶𝐶 = 𝛽𝛽 𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷 𝐼𝐼𝐵𝐵
given values of 𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 , and therefore the 𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 = 𝑉𝑉 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 − 𝐼𝐼𝐶𝐶 𝑅𝑅𝐶𝐶
transistors operating point must also 𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 = 𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶 − 𝑉𝑉𝐸𝐸
remain fixed. This two-resistor biasing 𝑉𝑉𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵 = 𝑉𝑉𝐵𝐵 − 𝑉𝑉𝐸𝐸
network is used to establish the initial ∴ 𝑉𝑉 𝐸𝐸 = 0𝑣𝑣

operating region of the transistor using 𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 = 𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶

𝑉𝑉𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵 = 𝑉𝑉𝐵𝐵
a fixed current bias.
Emitter Bias
Emitter bias is a very good and stable
way to bias transistors if both positive 𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 − 𝑉𝑉𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵
and negative power supplies are 𝐼𝐼𝐵𝐵 =
𝑅𝑅𝐵𝐵 + (𝛽𝛽 + 1)𝑅𝑅𝐸𝐸
available. Emitter bias fluctuates very
𝐼𝐼𝐶𝐶 = 𝛽𝛽𝐼𝐼𝐵𝐵
little with temperature variation and
𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 = 𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 − 𝐼𝐼𝐶𝐶 (𝑅𝑅𝐶𝐶 + 𝑅𝑅𝐸𝐸 )
transistor replacement. 𝑉𝑉𝐸𝐸 = 𝐼𝐼𝐸𝐸 𝑅𝑅𝐸𝐸
𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶 = 𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 + 𝑉𝑉𝐸𝐸 or 𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶 = 𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 − 𝐼𝐼𝐶𝐶 𝑅𝑅𝐶𝐶
𝑉𝑉𝐵𝐵 = 𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 − 𝐼𝐼𝐵𝐵 𝑅𝑅𝐵𝐵 or 𝑉𝑉𝐵𝐵 = 𝑉𝑉𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵 + 𝑉𝑉𝐸𝐸

Voltage Divider
This voltage divider biasing
configuration is the most widely used
𝑅𝑅𝑇𝑇ℎ = 𝑅𝑅𝐵𝐵 = 𝑅𝑅𝐵𝐵1 ||𝑅𝑅𝐵𝐵2
transistor biasing method. The emitter 𝑅𝑅𝐵𝐵2
diode of the transistor is forward- 𝑉𝑉𝑇𝑇ℎ = 𝑉𝑉𝐵𝐵 = 𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶
𝑅𝑅𝐵𝐵1 + 𝑅𝑅𝐵𝐵2
biased by the voltage value developed 𝑉𝑉𝑇𝑇ℎ − 𝑉𝑉𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵
across resistor 𝑅𝑅𝐵𝐵2 . Also, voltage 𝐼𝐼𝐵𝐵 =
𝑅𝑅𝑇𝑇ℎ + (𝛽𝛽 + 1)𝑅𝑅𝐸𝐸
divider network biasing makes the
𝐼𝐼𝐶𝐶 = 𝛽𝛽𝐼𝐼𝐵𝐵
transistor circuit independent of
𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 = 𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 − 𝐼𝐼𝐶𝐶 (𝑅𝑅𝐶𝐶 + 𝑅𝑅𝐸𝐸 )
changes in beta as the biasing voltages
set at the transistors base, emitter, and
collector terminals are not dependent
on external circuit values.

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Collector Feedback
This self-biasing collector feedback
configuration is another beta
dependent biasing method which
requires two resistors to provide the 𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 − 𝑉𝑉𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵
𝐼𝐼𝐵𝐵 =
necessary DC bias for the transistor. 𝑅𝑅𝐹𝐹 + 𝛽𝛽(𝑅𝑅𝐶𝐶 + 𝑅𝑅𝐸𝐸 )
The collector to base feedback 𝐼𝐼𝐶𝐶 = 𝛽𝛽𝐼𝐼𝐵𝐵
configuration ensures that the 𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 = 𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 − 𝐼𝐼𝐶𝐶 (𝑅𝑅𝐶𝐶 + 𝑅𝑅𝐸𝐸 )
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 𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶 , thus
providing good stability.

Examples:
1. Fixed Bias
Determine the collector current 𝐼𝐼𝐶𝐶 , base Step 1: Solve for the base current Step 2: Solve for the collector
current 𝐼𝐼𝐵𝐵 and collector-to-emitter 𝐼𝐼𝐵𝐵 . current 𝐼𝐼𝐶𝐶 .
voltage 𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 , given that the base-to- 𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 − 𝑉𝑉𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵
𝐼𝐼𝐵𝐵 = 𝐼𝐼𝐶𝐶 = 𝛽𝛽𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷 𝐼𝐼𝐵𝐵
emitter voltage 𝑉𝑉𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵 is 0.7𝑣𝑣. 𝑅𝑅𝐵𝐵 𝐼𝐼𝐶𝐶 = 50(47.08 𝜇𝜇𝜇𝜇)
12𝑣𝑣 − 0.7𝑣𝑣
𝐼𝐼𝐵𝐵 = 𝐼𝐼𝐶𝐶 = 2.35𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚
240𝑘𝑘Ω
𝐼𝐼𝐵𝐵 = 47.08 𝜇𝜇𝜇𝜇

Step 3: Solve for the collector-to-

emitter voltage 𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 .
𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 = 𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 − 𝐼𝐼𝐶𝐶 𝑅𝑅𝐶𝐶
𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 = 12𝑣𝑣 − 2.35𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚(2.2𝑘𝑘Ω)
𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 = 6.83𝑣𝑣

2. Emitter Bias
Determine 𝐼𝐼𝐵𝐵 , 𝐼𝐼𝐶𝐶 , 𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 , 𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶 , 𝑉𝑉𝐵𝐵 , and Step 1: Solve for 𝐼𝐼𝐵𝐵 . Step 2: Solve for 𝐼𝐼𝐶𝐶 .
𝑉𝑉𝐸𝐸 in the given circuit with the
base-to-emitter voltage of 0.7𝑣𝑣. 𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 − 𝑉𝑉𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵 𝐼𝐼𝐶𝐶 = 𝛽𝛽𝐼𝐼𝐵𝐵
𝐼𝐼𝐵𝐵 =
𝑅𝑅𝐵𝐵 + (𝛽𝛽 + 1)𝑅𝑅𝐸𝐸 𝐼𝐼𝐶𝐶 = (50)40.12𝜇𝜇𝜇𝜇
20𝑣𝑣 − 0.7𝑣𝑣 𝐼𝐼𝐶𝐶 = 2.01𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚
𝐼𝐼𝐵𝐵 =
430𝑘𝑘Ω + (50 + 1)1𝑘𝑘Ω
𝐼𝐼𝐵𝐵 = 40.12𝜇𝜇𝜇𝜇

Step 3: Solve for 𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 . Step 4: Solve for 𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶 , 𝑉𝑉𝐵𝐵 , and 𝑉𝑉𝐸𝐸 .

𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 = 𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 − 𝐼𝐼𝐶𝐶 (𝑅𝑅𝐶𝐶 + 𝑅𝑅𝐸𝐸 ) 𝑉𝑉𝐸𝐸 = 𝐼𝐼𝐸𝐸 𝑅𝑅𝐸𝐸 ≅ 𝐼𝐼𝐶𝐶 𝑅𝑅𝐸𝐸
𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 = 20𝑣𝑣 − 2.01𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚(2𝑘𝑘Ω + 1𝑘𝑘Ω) = 2.01𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚(1𝑘𝑘Ω) = 2.01𝑣𝑣
𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 = 13.97𝑣𝑣
𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶 = 𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 + 𝑉𝑉𝐸𝐸

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= 13.97𝑣𝑣 + 2.01𝑣𝑣 = 15.98𝑣𝑣

𝑉𝑉𝐵𝐵 = 𝑉𝑉𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵 + 𝑉𝑉𝐸𝐸

= 0.7𝑣𝑣 + 2.01 = 2.71𝑣𝑣

3.Voltage Divider
Determine 𝑅𝑅𝑇𝑇ℎ , 𝑉𝑉𝑇𝑇ℎ , 𝐼𝐼𝐵𝐵 , Step 1: Solve for 𝑅𝑅𝑇𝑇ℎ and 𝑉𝑉𝑇𝑇ℎ . Step 2: Solve for 𝐼𝐼𝐵𝐵 and 𝐼𝐼𝐶𝐶 .
𝐼𝐼𝐶𝐶 , and 𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 .
𝑅𝑅𝑇𝑇ℎ = 𝑅𝑅𝐵𝐵1 ||𝑅𝑅𝐵𝐵2 𝑉𝑉𝑇𝑇ℎ − 𝑉𝑉𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵
𝐼𝐼𝐵𝐵 =
39𝑘𝑘Ω × 3.9𝑘𝑘Ω 𝑅𝑅𝑇𝑇ℎ + (𝛽𝛽 + 1)𝑅𝑅𝐸𝐸
= 2𝑣𝑣 − 0.7𝑣𝑣
39𝑘𝑘Ω + 3.9𝑘𝑘Ω
𝑅𝑅𝑇𝑇ℎ = 3.55𝑘𝑘Ω 𝐼𝐼𝐵𝐵 =
3.55𝑘𝑘Ω + (100 + 1)1.5𝑘𝑘Ω
𝑅𝑅𝐵𝐵2
𝑉𝑉𝑇𝑇ℎ = 𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 𝐼𝐼𝐵𝐵 = 8.38𝜇𝜇𝜇𝜇
𝑅𝑅𝐵𝐵1 + 𝑅𝑅𝐵𝐵2 𝐼𝐼𝐶𝐶 = 𝛽𝛽𝐼𝐼𝐵𝐵
3.9𝑘𝑘Ω
= 22𝑣𝑣 � � = 100(8.38𝜇𝜇𝜇𝜇)
39𝑘𝑘Ω + 3.9𝑘𝑘Ω
𝑉𝑉𝑇𝑇ℎ = 2𝑣𝑣 𝐼𝐼𝐶𝐶 = 0.84𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚
Step 3: Solve for 𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 .

𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 = 𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 − 𝐼𝐼𝐶𝐶 (𝑅𝑅𝐶𝐶 + 𝑅𝑅𝐸𝐸 )

𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 = 22𝑣𝑣 − 0.84𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚(10𝑘𝑘Ω
+ 1.5𝑘𝑘Ω)
𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 = 22𝑣𝑣 − 9.66𝑣𝑣
𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 = 12.34𝑣𝑣

4. Collector Feedback

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Determine 𝐼𝐼𝐵𝐵 , 𝐼𝐼𝐶𝐶 and 𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 in Step 1: Solve for 𝐼𝐼𝐵𝐵 . Step 2: Solve for 𝐼𝐼𝐶𝐶 .
the following circuit.
𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 − 𝑉𝑉𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵 𝐼𝐼𝐶𝐶 = 𝛽𝛽𝐼𝐼𝐵𝐵
𝐼𝐼𝐵𝐵 =
𝑅𝑅𝐹𝐹 + 𝛽𝛽(𝑅𝑅𝐶𝐶 + 𝑅𝑅𝐸𝐸 ) 𝐼𝐼𝐶𝐶 = 90(11.91𝜇𝜇𝜇𝜇)
10𝑣𝑣 − 0.7𝑣𝑣 𝐼𝐼𝐶𝐶 = 1.07𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚
𝐼𝐼𝐵𝐵 =
250𝑘𝑘Ω + 90(4.7𝑘𝑘Ω + 1.2𝑘𝑘Ω)
𝐼𝐼𝐵𝐵 = 11.91𝜇𝜇𝜇𝜇

Step 3: Solve for 𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 .

𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 = 𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 − 𝐼𝐼𝐶𝐶 (𝑅𝑅𝐶𝐶 + 𝑅𝑅𝐸𝐸 )

𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 = 10𝑣𝑣 − 1.07𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚(4.7𝑘𝑘Ω + 1.2𝑘𝑘Ω)
𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 = 10𝑣𝑣 − 6.31𝑣𝑣
𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 = 3.69𝑣𝑣

References:
Applications of Transistor in daily life. (September 24, 2018). In Pnpntransistor.com. Retrieved on November 12, 2019 from
https://pnpntransistor.com/applications-of-transistor-in-daily-life/
Boylestad, R. & Nashelsky L. (2013). Electronic Devices and Circuit Theory (11th ed.). Pearson: New Jersey.
Classification and Different Types of Transistors | BJT, FET, NPN, PNP. (April 23, 2019). In Electronicshub.org. Retrieved on
November 12, 2019 on https://www.electronicshub.org/transistors-classification-and-types/#Types_of_Transistors
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