Electronic Circuits

Introduction to BJT
• A Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT) is a three terminal circuit or device that amplifies flow
of current.
• It is solid state device that flows current in two terminals, i.e., collector and emitter and
controlled by third device known as terminal or base terminal.
• Unlike a normal p-n junction diode, this transistor has two p-n junctions.
• The Transistor is a three terminal solid state device which is formed by connecting two
diodes back to back.
 Types of Bipolar Junction Transistors

NPN Junction Transistors

• In this transistor, a single p-type semiconductor layer is sandwiched between two n-type semiconductor
layers.

PNP Junction Transistors

• In this transistor, a single n-type semiconductor layer is sandwiched between two p-type semiconductor
layers.
npn Transistor
Terminals of Bipolar Junction Transistors
There are three terminals in bipolar junction transistors are explained below.
Emitter −
• This has a moderate size and is heavily doped as its main function is to supply a number of majority carriers,
i.e. either electrons or holes.
• As this emits electrons, it is called as an Emitter.
• This is simply indicated with the letter E.
Base − Base is middle layer in BJT which is thin compared to emitter and collector.
• Base is very lighted doped.
• Its main function is to pass the majority carriers from the emitter to the collector.
• This is indicated by the letter B.
Collector − It collects charge carriers.
• Its doped between emitter and base means moderately doped, but it is always greater than emitter and base
in size.
• This is indicated by the letter C.
Symbols of PNP and NPN transistors

The arrow-head in the above figures indicated the emitter of a transistor. As the collector of a
transistor has to dissipate much greater power, it is made large. Due to the specific functions of
emitter and collector, they are not interchangeable. Hence the terminals are always to be kept in mind
while using a transistor.
BJT operation modes
• A transistor is a combination of two diodes, we have two junctions here.
• As one junction is between the emitter and base, that is called as Emitter-
Base junction and likewise, the other is Collector-Base junction.
• There are three modes:
• Cut-off mode
• saturated mode
• active mode
• We need supply dc voltage to npn or pnp transistors in order to operate
transistor in one of these regions.
• Transistor operates in any of these regions based on polarity of dc voltage.
 The emitter base junction is always forward biased as the emitter resistance is very small. The collector base
junction is reverse biased and its resistance is a bit higher.A small forward bias is sufficient at the emitter
junction whereas a high reverse bias has to be applied at the collector junction.
Operation NPN Transistor