Kathmandu University

Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering

Analog Electronics Laboratory Work

Lab 5
BJT as inverter circuit and calculate logic parameters.

Objective
1. To calculate the logic parameter of BJT as an inverter.
2. To correctly measure and analyse the switching properties of simple BJT
inverters and verify that said circuits obey the theoretical framework governing
them.

Theory
BJT is a three-terminal semiconductor device constructed with three doped
semiconductor regions that is the base, collector, and emitter separated by two p-n
junctions. A bipolar junction transistor is a type of transistor that uses both electrons
and holes as charge carriers. BJT works in three operating regions.
1. Cut off region
2. Saturation region
3. Active region

BJT works as a switch in the cut-off and saturation region. In the inverter application
of BJT, if we provide logic one at the input, then output gives logic zero and vice-versa.
BJT amplifiers most commonly employ the common emitter (CE) configuration.

When the voltage (VBE) is low, the transistor does not conduct, there is no current
through RC, and the collector voltage (output) is pulled up to V CC. When the input
voltage is increased, the transistor begins to conduct, the voltage drops across RC
starts increasing, and the output voltage falls. Finally, when the voltage is high enough
to drive the transistor into saturation, there is a fixed small drop (V CE=0.1 to 0.2V)
across the transient, and the output voltage saturation to its low value.

By varying the input voltage and measuring the output voltage, we can construct the
noise margin for the BJT inverter and determine VIL, VIH, VOL, and VOH. These give us
a guideline for the stability of the inverter as a whole when it swings and determines
proper quantities like fan-out and fan-in.

The propagation delay of an inverter is the difference in time (calculated at 50% of

input-output transition) when output switches after the application of input. The
propagation delay from high to low (tpHL) is the delay when output switches from high
to low after input switches from low to high. The delay is usually calculated at 50%
point of input-output switching.
PROCEDURE
1. Connect the circuit as shown in Fig above.
2. From the DC supply vary the input voltage VBE is from 0-2 V.
3. Note the approximate voltage at the input when the inverter changes its state
and complete Table below.

Vin Vout

4. Find VOH, VOL, VIL, VIH, Noise Margin High and Noise Margin Low of the inverter
with the VTC curve shown in Fig below.
 5. Now give (0-5) V triangular wave.
6. See in dual mode the input and output waveform.
7. Calculate the propagation delay high to low (tpHL) and low to high (tpLH).

Result
Different logical parameters of BJT such as Noise Margin, and propagation delay are
calculated.

Topics to discuss.
1. Explain the working principle of a BJT inverter and how the input and output
voltages are related in an inverter circuit.
2. Define "saturation" and "cutoff" as they apply to a BJT. Explain how these
regions relate to the inverter's operation.
3. Draw the idealized VTC graph for the BJT inverter. Include the regions
corresponding to saturation, cutoff, and active modes. Discuss any deviations
that may occur in real-world scenarios.