TRANSISTOR

A transistor is a type of semiconductor device that can be used to conduct and insulate electric
current or voltage. A transistor basically acts as a switch and an amplifier. Transistors are one of
the key components in most of the electronic devices that are present today.
Parts of a Transistor
A typical transistor is composed of three layers of semiconductor materials or, more specifically,
terminals which help to make a connection to an external circuit and carry the current. A voltage
or current that is applied to any one pair of the terminals of a transistor controls the current
through the other pair of terminals. A transistor consists of three terminals which are listed
below:

1. Base: This is used to activate the transistor.

2. Collector: It is the positive lead of the transistor.
3. Emitter: It is the negative lead of the transistor

Figure 1. Transistor Symbol

Types of Transistors
There are mainly two types of transistors, based on how they are used in a circuit.
Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT)
The three terminals of BJT are the base, emitter and collector. A very small current flowing
between the base and emitter can control a larger flow of current between the collector and
emitter terminal.

Furthermore, there are two types of BJT, and they include:

• P-N-P Transistor: It is a type of BJT where one n-type material is introduced or placed
between two p-type materials. In such a configuration, the device will control the flow of
current. PNP transistor consists of 2 crystal diodes which are connected in series. The right
side and left side of the diodes are known as the collector-base diode and emitter-base
diode, respectively.

• N-P-N Transistor: In this transistor, we will find one p-type material that is present
between two n-type materials. N-P-N transistor is basically used to amplify weak signals
to strong signals. In an NPN transistor, the electrons move from the emitter to the
collector region, resulting in the formation of current in the transistor. This transistor is
widely used in the circuit.

Figure 2. Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT)

Transistors configuration
There are three types of configuration, which are common base (CB), common collector (CC) and
common emitter (CE).
Common Base (CB)
In common base (CB) configuration, the base terminal of the transistor is common between input
and output terminals.

Common Collector (CC)

In common collector (CC) configuration, the collector terminals are common between the input
and output terminals
Common Emitter (CE)
In common emitter (CE) configuration, the emitter terminal is common between the input and
the output terminals

Field Effect Transistor (FET)

Field-Effect Transistor (FET) is a semiconductor device that consists of a channel made of a
semiconductor material, with two electrodes connected at either end, namely the drain and the
source. The flow of current between the source and the drain terminals is controlled by a third
electrode, known as the gate, which is placed in close proximity to the channel. By applying a
voltage at the gate terminal, the number of charge carriers in the channel can be modulated,
leading to a corresponding change in the current flow between the source and the drain
terminals. FETs have three terminals:

1. The first terminal is the source (S), through which current enters the device, denoted by
IS.
2. The second terminal is the drain (D), through which current leaves the device, denoted
by ID. The voltage between drain and source is VDS.
3. The third terminal is the gate (G), which modulates the channel conductivity. By applying
a voltage at the gate, ID can be controlled.

Types of FETs
There are two types of Field Effect Transistors:
• Junction Field Effect Transistor (JFET)
• Metal oxide semiconductor Field Effect Transistor (MOSFET)

Junction Field Effect Transistor (JFET)

JFET is one of the most basic forms of field-effect transistors. They are three-terminal
semiconductor electrical devices that can act as electronically controlled resistors or switches.
Unlike a BJT (bipolar junction transistor), a JFET is voltage-controlled and does not require a
biasing electrical current. The JFET controls the current flow between the source and the drain
terminals by varying the voltage applied to the gate terminal. When a voltage is applied to the
gate terminal, it creates an electric field that controls the width of the depletion region in the
channel between the source and the drain terminals.
 Figure 3. Junction Field Effect Transistor (JFET)

Metal-Oxide Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor (MOSFET)

The MOSFET is another type of field-effect transistor (FET) that can switch electronic signals or
amplify them. It is made of an insulated gate that controls the device’s conductivity per the
voltage applied. This nature makes it useful for switching electronic signals or amplifying by
adjusting its conductivity with changing voltage levels.
The crucial advantage of MOSFET is that they require almost no input current to regulate the load
current relative to bipolar transistors (BJTs or bipolar junction transistors). There are two types
of MOSFETs:
1. Enhancement mode: In the case of an enhancement mode MOSFET, the exerted voltage
at the gate increases the conductivity
2. Depletion mode. In depletion mode transistors, the voltage exerted at the gate decreases
the conductivity.
 Figure 4. Metal-Oxide Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor (MOSFET)

Other Types of Transistors

Apart from these, there are many other types of transistors which include; insulated-gate bipolar
transistor, thin-film transistor, high electron mobility transistor, Inverted-T field-effect transistor
(ITFET), fast-reverse epitaxial diode field-effect transistor (FREDFET), Schottky transistor, tunnel
field-effect transistor, organic field-effect transistor (OFET), diffusion transistor, etc.

Application of Transistors
Common transistor applications are as follows.

1. It can be used as amplification device to amplify current or voltage.

2. It can be used as switching device in analog or digital circuits.
3. It is used as regulator for voltage or current or power.
4. It is used as building blocks of ICs.
5. It is used as buffer or impedance matching purpose between mismatched circuits