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Bipolar Junction
Transistors (BJTs)
Objectives
• Describe the basic structure of the bipolar junction
transistor (BJT)
I E I B IC (4.1)
IB << IE and IC
The capital letter – dc value
4-3 Transistor Characteristic &
Parameters
• DC-Beta (DC)
The ratio of the dc collector current (IC) to the dc base
current (IB) is the dc beta
Other name = dc current gain of transistor
Range: 20 < DC < 200
Usually designed as an equivalent hybrid (h)
parameter, hFE on transistor datasheet
hFE = DC
IC
DC (4.2)
IB
4-3 Transistor Characteristic &
Parameters (cont.)
• DC Alpha (DC)
The ratio of the dc collector current (IC) to the dc
emitter current (IE) is the dc alpha (DC) – less used
parameter in transistor circuits
Range value: 0.95< DC <0.99 or greater , but << 1
(IC< IE )
IC
DC
IE
4-3 Transistor Characteristic &
Parameters (cont.)
Current Voltage
• dc base current, IB • dc voltage at base with
• dc emitter current, IE respect to emitter, VBE
• dc collector current, IC • Dc voltage at collector with
respect to base, VCB
• Dc voltage at collector with
respect to emitter, VCE
4-3 Transistor Characteristic &
Parameters (cont.)
Short Quiz: Draw location and direction of IB, IC, IE,
VBE, VCB & VCE.
• 5 minutes
4-3 Transistor Characteristic & Parameters (cont.)
Current and Voltage Analysis:
When the BE junction is forward-biased, like a forward biased
diode and the voltage drop is
VBE 0.7V (4-3)
Since the emitter is at ground (0V), by Kirchhoff’s voltage law, the
voltage across RB is: VR VBB VBE …….(1)
B
VBB VBE
IB (4-4)
RB
4-3 Transistor Characteristic & Parameters (cont.)
Current and Voltage Analysis:
The voltage across resistor RC is
VRC VCC VCE
Since the drop across RC is: VRC I C RC
The dc voltage at the collector with respect to the emitter is:
VCE VCC I C RC (4-5)
where I C DC I B
The dc voltage at the collector with
respect to the base is:
VCB VCE VBE (4-6)
4-3 Transistor Characteristic & Parameters (cont.)
Collector Characteristic Curve:
Using a circuit as shown in below, we can generate a set of
collector characteristic curve that show how the collector current,
Ic varies with the VCE voltage for specified values of base current,
IB.
variable voltage
4-3 Transistor Characteristic &
Parameters (cont.)
Assume that VBB is set
to produce a certain value
of IB and VCC is zero.
At this condition, BE
junction and BC junction
are forward biased
because the base is
approximately 0.7V while
the emitter and the
collector are zero.
4-3 Transistor Characteristic &
Parameters (cont.)
The IB is through the BE
junction because of the
low impedance path to
ground, therefore IC is
zero.
When both junctions are
forward biased –
transistor operate in
saturation region.
4-3 Transistor Characteristic &
Parameters (cont.)
As VCC is increase
gradually, IC increase –
indicated by point A to B.
IC increase as VCC is
increased because VCE
remains less than 0.7V
due to the forward biased
BC junction.
4-3 Transistor Characteristic &
Parameters (cont.)
When VCE exceeds 0.7V,
the BC becomes reverse
biased and the transistor
goes into the active or
linear region of its
operation.
In this time, IC levels off
and remains constant for
given value of IB and VCE
continues to increase.
4-3 Transistor Characteristic &
Parameters (cont.)
Actually, IC increase very
slightly as VCE increase
due to widening of the BC
depletion region
This result in fewer holes
for recombination in the
base region which
effectively caused a slight
increase in I C DC I B
4-3 Transistor Characteristic &
Parameters (cont.)
When VCE reached a
sufficiently high voltage,
the reverse biased BC
junction goes into
breakdown.
The collector current
increase rapidly – as
indicated at the right point
C
4-3 Transistor Characteristic &
Parameters (cont.)
The transistor cannot
operate in the breakdown
region.
When IB=0, the transistor
is in the cutoff region
although there is a very
small collector leakage
current as indicated –
exaggerated on the graph
for purpose of illustration.
4-3 Transistor Characteristic &
Parameters (cont.)
4-3 Transistor Characteristic & Parameters (cont.)
Transistor Operating Regions: leakage current is
neglected
1.Cutoff region:
• Both transistor junctions are reverse biased
• All terminal current are approximately equal
to zero
2.Active region:
• The BE junction is forward biased and the BC junction is reverse biased
• All terminal currents have some measurable value
• The magnitude of IC depends on the values of and IB
• VCE is approximately 0.7V and VCE falls in ranges VBE<VCE<VCC
3.Saturation:
• Both transistor junctions are forward biased
• IC reaches its maximum values- determine by
the component in the CE circuit, and independent
of the values of and IB
• VBE is approximately 0.7V and VCE < VBE
4-3 Transistor Characteristic & Parameters (cont.)
DC Load Line:
Cutoff and saturation can be illustrated in relation to
the collector characteristic curves by the use of a load line.
DC load line drawn on the connecting
cutoff and saturation point.
The bottom of load line is ideal
cutoff where IC=0 & VCE=VCC.
The top of load line is saturation
where IC=IC(sat) & VCE =VCE(sat)
In between cutoff and saturation
is the active region of transistor’s
operation.
4-3 Transistor Characteristic & Parameters (cont.)
More About beta, DC , hFE:
-Important parameter for BJT
-Varies both IC & temperature
-Keeping the junction temperature
constant, IC cause DC
-Further increase in IC beyond this
max. point cause DC to decrease
RC
AV
re '
4.5 Transistor as a switch
A transistor when used as a switch is simply being biased so
that it is in
1. cutoff (switched off)
2. saturation (switched on)
Conditions in Cutoff
Conditions in Saturation
VCC VCE ( sat)
IC ( sat)
RC
IC ( sat)
IB (min)
DC
Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting a live transistor circuit
requires us to be familiar with known good
voltages, but some general rules do apply.
Certainly a solid fundamental understanding
of Ohm’s law and Kirchhoff’s voltage
and current laws is imperative. With live
circuits it is most practical to troubleshoot
with voltage measurements.
Troubleshooting
Opens in the external resistors or connections of the base or the
circuit collector circuit would cause current to cease in the collector
and the voltage measurements would indicate this.