Bipolar Junction Transistors - II

(BJT-II )
Transistor Biasing

IC

IC = IB+(+1)ICO

C
IB
VBB

VCC

B
E
IE

= /(1- )
Example For =0.98,
= 49

Common Emitter (CE) Transistor

increases rapidly as 1

= Common emitter current

amplification factor
= IC/IB
Current Gain of the Transistor

Output Characteristic of CE Transistor

Active Region
IC = IB
IC has a slope
due to Early
Effect

IC < IB
Saturation region

Cutoff Region

ICEO

IB = 0A

Transistor in Cutoff Region

Both the BC and the BE junctions are reverse biased
IE=0

IC=ICO0

IB=-IC=-ICO0

Transistor in Saturation Region

Both the BC and BE junctions are forward biased
and IC<IB
VBE0.7 V

VBC0.6 V

VCE0.1

When transistor is used as a switch, it will be forced

to operate either in the CUTOFF region or in the
SATURATION region.

Transistor in Active Region

The BE junction is forward biased but the BC
junction is reverse biased and ICIB
VBE=0.7 V
Transistor is operated in this region when we want to
use it as an amplifier!
RC
IC

8k

RB IB

Example

= 50
50k

IE

VBB = 5V
RE

1.8k

VCC = 20V

Example: Calculate all the relevant voltages and currents

I c = I B = 50 I B
IB
=

I E = I c + I B = 51I B

VBB VBE
5 0.7
= = 0.0303 mA
RB + ( + 1) RE 50 + 51*1.8

I C 50
I E 1.55 mA
=
=
=
* 0.0303 1.52 mA
VE I=
=
= 2.79 V
1.55*1.8
E RE
VB =VE + VBE =2.79 + 0.7 =3.49 V
VC =
VCC I C RC =
20 1.52 *8 =
7.84
VCE = VC VE = 7.84 2.79 = 5.05 V
Note that VBC = 3.49 -7.84 = -4.35 V, i.e. the B-C junction is reverse
biased, implying that the transistor is working in the Active Mode
The Bias Point is specified by (VCE, IC, IB)

Biasing the Transistor

To operate as an amplifier a transistor must be biased in
the active region. In that case, the transistor can amplify
a small ac signal faithfully.
Bias Point (or Quiescent Operating Point, i.e. Q-Point) is
decided by the DC voltages applied and the values of
the resistances used. (See earlier example.)
The Bias Point is specified by the three quantities VCE, IC
and IB. This point must be in the active region of the
transistor if we want to use the transistor (with that bias
point) as an amplifier.

Biasing the Transistor

V VCE
I C = CC
RC

IC
RC
IB
RB
VBB

Plot of IC vs. VCE is called the Load Line

+
+
vBE

VCE
-

1
VCC
IC =

V
+
CE
R
RC
C

VCC

IE

IC

IB6

VCC
RC

IB5
IB4

Bias Point

IB =

Intersection of the load line

with the IC-VCE characteristic
for the given value of IB
decides the bias point.

VBB VBE
RB

IB2
IB1
IB=0

VCC

VCE

Notation
VMN or VD

DC voltage between M-N or at D

vmn or vd

AC voltage between M-N or at D

vMN or vD

(DC+AC) voltage between M-N or at D

Note the different ways in which small and capital letters are
used to denote DC, AC or DC+AC values

Similar notation used to represent current values

IC

iC = IC+ic

RC

iB = IB+ib

IB
RB
VBB

+
+
vBE
V
BE

VCE
-

VCC

+
vi

IE

Transistor Circuit
under DC Condition

RB

+
vBE=
VBE+vbe

VBB

RC
vo
+
vCE=
VCE+vce
-

VCC

iE = IE+ie

Transistor Circuit with

AC Signal applied over
the DC bias

Transistor Circuit with AC Signal

iC = IC+ic
iB = IB+ib
+
vi

RB

+
vBE=
VBE+vbe

VBB

iB= IB+ Ib
iE = IE+ ie
iC = IC+ ic

RC
vo
+
vCE=
VCE+vce
iE = IE+ie

VCC

IB, IC,IE DC currents

ib, ic, ie AC currents
iB, iC, iE DC + AC currents

Similarly,
VBE, VCE DC Voltages
vbe, vce AC Voltages
vBE, vCE DC+ AC Voltages

Interpreting Transistor Gain (between ib and ic) from the

characteristics of the transistor
iC = iB
so (IC+ic)= (IB+ib)
But

IC= IB

so

ic= ib

AC
Current
Gain

Operating Point or Quiescent Point

A good selection of the operating point Q is essential in order
that an amplifier circuit amplifies an A.C signal without any
distortion.

VCC/RC

The selected point should be able to

accommodate the output signal swing
without distortion.
Ideally, the biasing should be done in
such a way that the Q-point does not
change even if there are some changes
in or in the temperature at which the
device is operating

Transistor Biasing - Fixed Bias

VCC
+

VCC

IC

IB
RC

RB

RC

RB

C2
A.C output signal

C1

+
VCE

A.C input signal

+ B
VBE

VCC 0.7
IB =
RB
=
I C =
IB

IE

DC Equivalent

(VCC 0.7 )
RB

VCE =VCC I C RC =VCC

RC
(VCC 0.7 )
RB

C1 and C2 will
be open circuit
under DC

VCC

Emitter and Collector Feedback Bias

IC+IB

VCC

RC

IB
RB

C
IC

RC

RB

C2

A.C output signal

C1

E
IE

A.C input signal

RE
RE

DC Equivalent
VCC = (IC+IB)RC + IBRB +VBE +(+1)IBRE
Using IC= IB, we get
and

VCC VBE
IB =
R B + ( + 1)(R C + R E )
VCE = VCC- (IC+IB)(RC+RE)

Q-Point

Emitter and Collector Feedback Bias

VCC

Typically, is large so RB<<(+1)(RC+RE)

Therefore

VCC VBE
IB =
( + 1)( RC + RE )

RB

RC
C2
A.C output signal

C1
A.C input signal

and

VCC VBE
IC I B
=

R
R
+
E
C

RE

Note the desirable feature that IC is independent of as long as

we choose a transistor which has a large . This is an example of
Bias Stabilization making the bias point insensitive to .
Can you give a qualitative argument as to why IC tends to get stabilized?

Voltage Divider Bias

VCC

R1

VCC

RC

R1

IR1

C2

IC

A.C output signal

C1
A.C input signal
R2

IB
RE

R2

It is convenient to replace the biasing

circuit at the base by its Thevenins
Equivalent using -

V=
VCC
Th

R2
R1 + R2

RC

R=
R=
Th
B

R1 R2
R1 + R2

IR2 IE

RE

DC Equivalent

Voltage Divider Bias

R2
R1 R2
=
VTh V=
RTh
CC
R1 + R2
R1 + R2

IC
IB

VTh= I B RTh + VBE + ( + 1) I B RE

RC
VCC

C
B
RTh

VTh

E
IE

RE

VCE =VCC I C RC I E RE
with IC=IB and IE=(+1)IB
Solve the above to get the Q-point where
the transistor has been biased, i.e. IC, IB
and VCE

For large , IC independent of

IB =

VTh VBE
( + 1) RE

IC =

VTh VBE
RE

This biasing also provides bias

stabilization against changes in
. It also provides stabilization
against changes in temperature
(not shown here).