TRANSISTOR BIAS CIRCUITS

CHAPTER NO. 05

S. Hashim Bukhari

Saturday, October 15, 2022

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DC OPERATING POINT
 A transistor operate as an amplifier by proper biasing with
the dc voltage

 DC operating point must be set so that signal variation at

the input terminal are amplified and accurately reproduced
at the output terminal

 Biasing establish the dc current & voltage values, for

example at the dc operating point IC and VCE have
specified values

 DC point is often referred to as Q-point (Quiescent point)

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DC BIAS
 Bias establishes the dc operating point for proper linear
operation of an amplifier

 If an amplifier is not properly biased with correct dc

voltages it can go into saturation or cut off regions

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EFFECT OF PROPER BIASING
In proper biasing the output signal is an amplified replica of the
input signal except that it is inverted , which means that it is
180 degree out of phase with the input as shown in figure

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EFFECT OF IMPROPER BIASING
Improper biasing can cause distortion in the output illustrated
in figure (b) and (c). Figure (b) illustrates limiting of positive
portion of the output voltage as a result of Q-point being too
close to cut off

Figure (c) illustrates limiting of negative portion of the output

voltage as a result of Q-point being too close to saturation

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6
GRAPHICAL ANALYSIS
Transistor is biased with variable voltages VCC and VBB to
obtain certain values of IB, IC, IE and VCE. The collector
characteristic curves for this particular transistor are shown as

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QUIESENT POINT (Q-POINT)
By using the collector characteristic curves ,we can illustrate the
effect of dc bias. Let assign three values to IB and observe what
happens to IC and VCE
CASE # 01:
First VBB is adjusted to produce an IB of 200μA. Since Ic = βIB the
collector current is 20mA,as indicated and

The Q-point Q1, is shown on the graph in figure (a)

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QUIESENT POINT (Q-POINT)
CASE # 02:
Now VBB is increased to produce an IB of 300μA. Since Ic = βIB the
collector current is 30mA,as indicated and

The Q-point Q2, is shown on the graph in figure (b)

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QUIESENT POINT (Q-POINT)
CASE # 03:
Finally VBB is increased to produce an IB of 400μA. Since Ic = βIB the
collector current is 40mA,as indicated and

The Q-point Q3, is shown on the graph in figure (c)

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DC LOAD LINE
As from previous discussion, we notice that when IB increases, IC increases and VCE
decreases

When VBB adjusted up and down the dc operating point of the transistor moves along
a sloping straight line, called the dc load line, connecting each separate Q-point

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DC LOAD LINE
The dc load line intersects the VCE axis at 10V (point where
VCE = VCC) called the cutoff point.

VCE is slightly less than 10V because there is a small leakage

current (ICBO) at cutoff but normally this can be neglected

The dc load line intersect the IC axis at 45.5mA ideally called

the saturation point because IC is maximum at the point
where VCE = 0V and IC = (VCC/RC) less than 45.5mA

As we know that

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DC LOAD LINE

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LINEAR REGION
Definition:

“The region along the load line including all the

points between saturation and cutoff is generally
known as the linear region of the transistor
operation”

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LINEAR OPERATION

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WAVEFORM DISTORTION
(Saturation Points)

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WAVEFORM DISTORTION
(Cutoff Points)

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WAVEFORM DISTORTION
(Saturation & Cutoff Points)

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EXAMPLE 5-1

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SOLUTION

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SOLUTION (Contd…)

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SOLUTION (Contd…)

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Voltage-Divider Bias

Voltage-divider bias is
the most widely used
type of bias circuit. Only
one power supply is
needed and voltage-
divider bias is more
stable( independent)
than other bias types.
For this reason it will be
the primary focus for
study.

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Voltage-Divider Bias
Apply your knowledge of
voltage-dividers to
understand how R1 and R2
are used to provide the
needed voltage to point
A(base). The resistance to
ground from the base is not
significant enough to
consider in most cases.
Remember, the basic
operation of the transistor
has not changed.

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 Voltage-Divider Bias
If the base current is much smaller than the current through R2, the bias
current can be viewed as a voltage-divider consisting of R1 & R2.
If the base current is not small enough to neglect compared to I2, then the DC
input resistance RIN(base) must be considered.
RIN(base) is in parallel with R2

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Voltage-Divider Bias
For this circuit we will not take
the input resistance into
consideration. Essentially we are
determining the voltage across
R2(VB) by the proportional
method.
 R 2 ||  DC RE 
VB   VCC
R
 1  ( R2 ||  R )
DC E 

VB = (R2/R1 + R2)VCC

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Voltage-Divider Bias
We now take the known base
voltage and subtract VBE to find
out what is dropped across RE.
Knowing the voltage across RE
we can apply Ohm’s law to
determine the current in the
collector-emitter side of the
circuit. Remember the current in
the base-emitter circuit is much
smaller, so much in fact we can
for all practical purposes we say
that IE approximately equals IC.
IE≈ IC

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Voltage-Divider Bias

Although we have used npn transistors for most of this discussion, there is
basically no difference in its operation with exception to biasing polarities.
Analysis for each part of the circuit is no different than npn transistors.

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Example:

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Solution:

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Stability of Voltage-Divider Bias

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Base Bias
This type of circuit is very unstable since its  changes with temperature and
collector current. Base biasing circuits are mainly limited to switching
applications.

VCC  VBE
IC  ( )  DC
RB

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Example

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Solution

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Emitter Bias
This type of circuit is independent of 
making it as stable as the voltage-
divider type. The drawback is that it
requires two power supplies.
Two key equations for analysis of this
type of bias circuit are shown below.
With these two currents known we can
apply Ohm’s law and Kirchhoff's law to
solve for the voltages.

IB ≈ IE/
IC ≈ IE ≈( -VEE-VBE)/(RE + RB/DC)

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Example

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Solution

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Collector-Feedback Bias
Collector-feedback bias is kept
stable with negative feedback,
although it is not as stable as
voltage-divider or emitter. With
increases of IC, less voltage is
applied to the base. With less IB ,IC
comes down as well. The two key
formulas are shown below.

IB = (VC - VBE)/RB
IC = (VCC - VBE)/(RC + RB/DC)

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Example

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Solution

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