HCMUT / 2024

Electronic Circuits
Chapter 2: BJT

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Content
Bipolar Junction Transistor

BJT Modes of Operation

BJT Circuits at DC

Small Signal Models

BJT Amplifier Configurations

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BJT Circuits at DC - npn

• Step 1: assume the operation mode.

• Step 2: use the conditions or model for circuit analysis.
• Step 3: verify the solution.
• Step 4: repeat the above steps with another assumption if necessary.
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BJT Circuits at DC - npn

Example 1: Analyze the following circuit to
determine all node voltages and branch currents.
Assume that β is specified to be 100.

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Active mode (npn BJT)

Example 2: In the circuit shown in image below, the voltage at the emitter was
measured and found to be – 0.7 𝑉. If 𝛽 = 50, find 𝐼! , 𝐼" , 𝐼# and 𝑉# .

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BJT Circuits at DC - npn

Example 3: Analyze the circuit in the image below to determine the mode of the BJT.
The voltage at the base is now +6V.

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BJT Circuits at DC - pnp

𝑉!" > 𝑉!"#$%

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BJT Circuits at DC
Example 4: Analyze the following circuit to
determine all node voltages and branch currents.
Assume that β is specified to be 100.

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BJT Circuits at DC
Example 5: Analyze the following circuit to determine all node voltages and branch
currents. Assume that β is specified to be 100.

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DC Bias for BJT amplifier

v The amplifiers are operating at a proper dc bias point.
v The DC bias circuit is to ensure the BJT in active mode with a proper collector current IC.

Point Q is known as the bias point

or the dc operating point.
𝐼& = 𝛽𝐼'
C

B The signal to be amplified 𝑣'( ,a

function of time 𝑡.
E
Input
Output

&!"
%&
𝑉#! = 𝑉## − 𝑅# 𝐼$ 𝑒 #

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DC Bias for BJT amplifier

The signal to be amplified 𝑣'( , a function of time 𝑡: 𝒗𝑩𝑬 𝒕 = 𝑽𝑩𝑬 + 𝒗𝒃𝒆 (𝒕)

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DC Bias for BJT amplifier

v The classical discrete-circuit bias arrangement:
Ø A single power supply and resistors are needed.

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DC Bias for BJT amplifier

v The classical discrete-circuit bias arrangement:
Ø The two-power-supply version.

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DC Bias for BJT amplifier

v Biasing using a constant-current source:
Ø RC is chosen to operate the BJT in active mode.
Ø The current source is typically implemented by a BJT current mirror.
ü Both BJT transistors Q1 and Q2 are in active mode.
üAssume current gain b is very high.

VCC + VEE - VBE

I REF =
R

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DC Bias for BJT amplifier

v Biasing using a collector-to-base feedback resistor:
Ø RB ensures the BJT in active (VCE > VBE = 0.7V)

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Obtaining a Voltage Amplifier

The output voltage 𝑣#! is given by: 𝒗𝑪𝑬 = 𝑽𝑪𝑪 − 𝒊𝑪 𝑹𝑪

𝒗𝑩𝑬
In active mode: %𝑽 (Neglect the Early effect)
𝒊𝑪 = 𝑰𝑺 𝒆 𝑻

𝒗𝑩𝑬
The result is: %𝑽
𝒗𝑪𝑬 = 𝑽𝑪𝑪 − 𝑰𝑺 𝒆 𝑻𝑹
𝑪

This is obviously a nonlinear relationship.

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Biasing the BJT

𝑽𝑩𝑬
%𝑽
A dc voltage is selected to obtain operation at a point Q: 𝑽𝑪𝑬 = 𝑽𝑪𝑪 − 𝑰𝑺 𝒆 𝑻𝑹
𝑪

Point Q is known as the Bias point or the DC operating point.

Since at Q no signal component is present, it is also known as the Quiescent point.

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Biasing the BJT

The signal 𝑣'( to be amplified a
function of time 𝑡 is superimposed on
the bias voltage 𝑉"! :

𝒗𝑩𝑬 𝒕 = 𝑽𝑩𝑬 + 𝒗𝒃𝒆 (𝒕)

The resulting 𝑣#! (𝑡) can be obtained

by substituting this expression for
𝒗𝑩𝑬 𝒕 into:
𝒗𝑩𝑬
%𝑽
𝒊𝑪 = 𝑰𝑺 𝒆 𝑻

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Small-Signal Operation and Models

v The base current and the input resistance at the base:
Ø Base current:
𝒊𝑪 𝑰𝑺 𝒗 ⁄𝑽
𝒊𝑩 = = 𝒆 𝑩𝑬 𝑻 = 𝑰𝑩 𝒆𝒗𝒃𝒆⁄𝑽𝑻
𝜷 𝜷

Ø Small-signal approximation: 𝑣𝑏𝑒 << 𝑉𝑇

𝒗𝒃𝒆 𝑰𝑩
𝒊𝑩 = 𝑰𝑩 + 𝒊𝒃 ≈ 𝑰𝑩 𝟏 + = 𝑰𝑩 + 𝒗
𝑽𝑻 𝑽𝑻 𝒃𝒆

The small-signal input

𝒗𝒃𝒆 𝜷 𝑽𝑻
𝒓𝝅 =
𝒊𝒃
= =
𝒈𝒎 𝑰𝑩
resistance between base and
emitter (looking into the base)

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Small-Signal Operation and Models

We consider the DC bias conditions by setting 𝒗𝒃𝒆 = 𝟎. Then:
𝑽𝑩𝑬
%𝑽 𝑰𝑪
𝑰𝑪 = 𝑰𝑺 𝒆 𝑻 𝑰𝑩 = B𝜷

𝑰𝑪B 𝑽𝑪𝑬 = 𝑽𝑪𝑪 − 𝑰𝑪 𝑹𝑪

𝑰𝑬 = 𝜶

When 𝒗𝒃𝒆 ≠ 𝟎 , the total instantaneous base-emitter voltage

𝒗𝑩𝑬 becomes: 𝒗𝑩𝑬 = 𝑽𝑩𝑬 + 𝒗𝒃𝒆

The collector current becomes:

𝒊𝑪 = 𝑰𝑺 𝒆𝒗𝑩𝑬⁄𝑽𝑻 = 𝑰𝑺 𝒆𝑽𝑩𝑬⁄𝑽𝑻 𝒆𝒗𝒃𝒆⁄𝑽𝑻 = 𝑰𝑪 𝒆𝒗𝒃𝒆⁄𝑽𝑻

Small signal operation: 𝒗𝒃𝒆 ≪ 𝑽𝑻

𝒗𝒃𝒆 𝑰𝑪
𝒊𝑪 = 𝑰𝑪 + 𝒊𝒄 ≈ 𝑰𝑪 𝟏 + = 𝑰𝑪 + 𝒗
𝑽𝑻 𝑽𝑻 𝒃𝒆
𝛛𝒊𝑪 𝑰𝑪
𝒈𝒎 = | =
𝛛𝒗𝑩𝑬 𝒊𝑪7𝑰𝑪 𝑽𝑻
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Small-Signal Operation and Models

gm is called the trans-conductance:

𝛛𝒊𝑪 𝑰𝑪
𝒈𝒎 = | =
𝛛𝒗𝑩𝑬 𝒊𝑪7𝑰𝑪 𝑽𝑻

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Small-Signal Operation and Models

v The emitter current and the input resistance at the emitter:
Ø Emitter current:
𝒊𝑪 𝑰𝑪 𝒊𝒄
𝒊𝑬 = 𝑰𝑬 + 𝒊𝒆 = = +
𝜶 𝜶 𝜶

Ø Small-signal approximation: 𝑣𝑏𝑒 << 𝑉𝑇

𝒊𝒄 𝒈𝒎 𝑰𝑬
𝒊𝒆 = = 𝒗𝒃𝒆 = 𝒗
𝜶 𝜶 𝑽𝑻 𝒃𝒆
𝒗𝒃𝒆 𝑽𝑻 𝜶 𝟏
𝒓𝒆 ≡ = = ≈
𝒊𝒆 𝑰𝑬 𝒈𝒎 𝒈𝒎

The relation between resistance

𝒓𝝅 = 𝟏 + 𝜷 𝒓𝒆
at base and resistance at emitter
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Small-Signal Operation and Models

There are two type of equivalent circuit model of and BJT in small-signal operation:
§ The Hybrid-Pi model.
§ The T model.

Two models are exchangeable and does not affect the analysis result.
The hybrid-π model: typically used as the emitter is grounded.

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Small-Signal Operation and Models

The T model: typically used as the emitter is not grounded.

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Small-Signal Operation and Models

The analysis above indicates that every current and voltage in the amplifier circuit
is composed of two components: a dc component and a small-signal component.
• DC analysis:
• Remove all ac sources (short for voltage source and open for current source).
• All capacitors are considered open-circuit.
• DC analysis of BJT circuits for all nodal voltages and branch currents.
• Find the dc current 𝑰𝑪 and make sure the BJT is in active mode.

• AC analysis:
• Remove all dc sources (short for voltage source and open for current source).
• All large capacitors are considered short-circuit.
• Replace the BJT with its small-signal model for ac analysis.
• The circuit parameters in the small-signal model are obtained based on the
value of 𝑰𝑪.
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Small-Signal Operation and Models

Example 6:
9*
Analyze the following transistor amplifier to determine its voltage gain ⁄9+ .
Assume β = 100.

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Small-Signal Operation and Models

Example 7: Calculate the overall voltage gain (𝑣𝑜/𝑣𝑠𝑖𝑔) of the following circuit. What is
the input resistance 𝑅𝑖𝑛. Assume 𝛽 = 200.

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Small-Signal Operation and Models

Example 8: Find the input resistance 𝑅𝑖𝑏 and 𝑅𝑖𝑛 and the overall voltage gain (𝑣𝑜/𝑣𝑠𝑖𝑔).
Assume 𝛽 = 200.

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Small-Signal Analysis – Summary

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Basic BJT Amplifier Configurations

§ Three basic configurations

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Basic BJT Amplifier Configurations

Characterizing amplifiers:
𝒗
• Input resistance: 𝑹𝒊𝒏 = 𝒊 . Together
𝒊𝒊

with the resistance 𝑹𝒔𝒊𝒈 forms a

voltage divider that reduces 𝒗𝒔𝒊𝒈.
𝑅:=
𝑣: = 𝑣;:<
𝑅:= + 𝑅;:<

• Open circuit voltage gain:

𝒗𝒐
𝑨𝒗𝟎 = M
𝒗𝒊 𝑹
𝑳 7A

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Basic BJT Amplifier Configurations

𝒗𝒙
• Output resistance: 𝑹𝟎 =
𝒊𝒙

𝑹𝑳
The output voltage can be found from: 𝒗𝟎 = 𝑨 𝒗
𝑹𝑳 + 𝑹𝒐 𝒗𝒐 𝒊

𝒗𝒐 𝑹𝒊𝒏 𝑹𝑳
The overall voltage gain 𝑮𝒗: 𝑮𝒗 ≡ = 𝑨
𝒗𝒔𝒊𝒈 𝑹𝒊𝒏 + 𝑹𝒔𝒊𝒈 𝒗𝒐 𝑹𝑳 + 𝑹𝒐

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Basic BJT Amplifiers - CE Amplifier

• Input resistance: 𝑹𝒊𝒏 = 𝒓𝝅

• OC voltage gain: 𝑨𝒗𝒐 = −𝒈𝒎 𝑹𝑪 ∥ 𝒓𝒐

• Output resistance: 𝑹𝒐 = 𝑹𝑪 ∥ 𝒓𝒐

𝒗𝒐 𝒓𝝅
• Overall voltage gain: 𝑮𝒗 = =− 𝒈 𝑹𝑪 ∥ 𝑹𝑳 ∥ 𝒓𝒐
𝒗𝒔𝒊𝒈 𝒓𝝅 +𝑹𝒔𝒊𝒈 𝒎

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Basic BJT Amplifiers - CE Amplifier

CE Amplifier with Emitter Resistance:

• Input resistance:
𝑹𝒊𝒏 = 𝜷 + 𝟏 𝒓𝒆 + 𝑹𝒆

• OC voltage gain:
𝑹𝑪
𝑨𝒗𝒐 = −𝜶
𝒓𝒆 + 𝑹𝒆
• Overall voltage gain:
𝑹𝒊𝒏 𝑹𝑪 ∥ 𝑹𝑳
𝑮𝒗 = − 𝜶
𝑹𝒊𝒏 + 𝑹𝒔𝒊𝒈 𝒓𝒆 + 𝑹𝒆

1. 𝑹𝒊𝒏 is increased by 𝟏 + 𝒈𝒎𝑹𝒆

2. 𝑨𝒗 is decreased by 𝟏 + 𝒈𝒎𝑹𝒆

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Basic BJT Amplifiers - CB Amplifier

• Input resistance: 𝑅/0 = 𝑟1

• OC voltage gain: 𝐴23 = 𝑔4 𝑅5

• Output resistance: 𝑅3 = 𝑅5

2. 62
• Overall voltage gain: 𝐺2 = = 𝑔 𝑅5 ∥ 𝑅8
2/01 62 +7/01 4

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Basic BJT Amplifiers - CC Amplifier

The need for voltage buffers: the amplifier has
• High input resistance.
• Low output resistance.

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Basic BJT Amplifiers - CC Amplifier

• Input resistance: 𝑅/0 = 𝛽 + 1 𝑟1 + 𝑅8

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• Voltage gain: 𝐴2 = ≈1
73 +62

• Output resistance: 𝑅3 = 𝑟1

2. 9+: 73
• Overall voltage gain: 𝐺2 = =
2/01 9+: 73 + 9+: 62 +7/01

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Basic BJT Amplifiers - Summary

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Basic BJT Amplifiers

Example 9: For the following

circuit, let 𝑉𝐶𝐶 = 9V, 𝑅1 =
27𝑘Ω , 𝑅2 = 15𝑘Ω , 𝑅𝐸 =
1.2𝑘Ω, and 𝑅𝐶 = 2.2𝑘Ω. The
transistor has 𝛽 = 100 .
Calculate the DC bias current
𝐼𝐸 . If the amplifier operates
between a source for which
𝑅𝑠𝑖𝑔 = 10𝑘Ω and a load
of 2𝑘Ω. Find the value of 𝑅𝑖𝑛,
the voltage gain 𝑣𝑜/𝑣𝑠𝑖𝑔.

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Exercises
Exercise 1: In the following circuit, 𝑣;:< is a small sine wave signal with zero average.
The transistor β is 100.
a. Find the value of 𝑅! to establish a dc emitter current of about 0.5 mA.
b. Find 𝑅# to establish a dc collector voltage of about +0.5 V.

c. For𝑅G = 10 𝑘Ω and 𝑟H = 200𝑘Ω, draw the

small-signal equivalent circuit of the amplifier
and determine its overall voltage gain.

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Exercises
Exercise 2: For the following emitter-follower circuit, the BJT used is specified to have
β values in the range of 40 to 200 (a distressing situation for the circuit designer). For
the two extreme values of β (β = 40 and β = 200), find:
a. 𝐼! , 𝑉! , and 𝑉" .
b. The input resistance 𝑅:= .
c. The voltage gain 9*B9-+..

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