Transistor Configuration

City & Guild Telecommunication and Electronic Engineering (T1)

By Wasantha Kumara (C & G London)

There are plenty of texts around on basic electronics, so this is a very brief look
at the three basic ways in which a bipolar junction transistor (BJT) can be used.
In each case, one terminal is common to both the input and output signal. All
the circuits shown here are without bias circuits and power supplies for clarity.

Common Emitter Configuration

Here the emitter terminal is common to both the input and output signal. The
arrangement is the same for a PNP transistor. Used in this way the transistor
has the advantages of a medium input impedance, medium output impedance,
high voltage gain and high current gain.

Common Base Configuration

Here the base is the common terminal. Used frequently for RF applications, this
stage has the following properties. Low input impedance, high output
impedance, unity (or less) current gain and high voltage gain.
 Common Collector Configuration

This last configuration is also more commonly  known as the emitter follower.
This is because the input signal applied at the base is "followed" quite closely
at the emitter with a voltage gain close to unity. The properties are a high input
impedance, a very low output impedance, a unity (or less) voltage gain and a
high current gain. This circuit is also used extensively as a "buffer" converting
impedances or for feeding or driving long cables or low impedance load.  

Transistor Configuration Comparison Chart

      COMMON   COMMON
AMPLIFIER
COMMON COMMON EMITTER COLLECTOR
TYPE
BASE  EMITTER  (Emitter Resistor)  (Emitter Follower)

   
INPUT/OUTPUT
0° 180° 180° 0°
PHASE
RELATIONSHIP

HIGH MEDIUM MEDIUM LOW

VOLTAGE GAIN

LOW MEDIUM MEDIUM HIGH

CURRENT GAIN
 

POWER GAIN LOW HIGH HIGH MEDIUM

INPUT LOW MEDIUM MEDIUM HIGH

RESISTANCE

LOW
OUTPUT HIGH MEDIUM MEDIUM
RESISTANCE