Bipolar Junction Transistors - II

(BJT-II )
Transistor Biasing

IC = IB+(+1)ICO
= /(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 Characteristics of CE Transistor

IC < IB
IC = IB

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 IC IB

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 * 0.0303 1.52 mA

I E 1.55 mA

VE I E RE 1.55*1.8 2.79 V
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

+
vBE

+
VCE
-

1
IC
RC

VCC
V

CE
RC

Plot of IC vs. VCE is called the Load Line

VCC

IE

IC

VCC
RC

IB6
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 i b 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

Assuming transistor in
active region

VCC 0.7
IB
RB
IC I B

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

Assuming transistor in
active region

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
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 I C tends to get stabilized?

Voltage Divider Bias

VCC

VCC

RC

R1

R1

IR1

C2

IC

A.C output signal

C1
A.C input signal
R2

RC

IB
RE

R2

IR2 IE

RE

It is convenient to replace the biasing circuit DC Equivalent

at the base by its Thevenins Equivalent
using -

VTh VCC

R2
VBB
R1 R2

RTh

R1 R2
RB
R1 R2

Assuming transistor in active region

Voltage Divider Bias

IC
IB

VTh VCC

RC
VCC

C
B
RTh

VTh

E
IE

RE

R2
R1 R2

RTh

R1 R2
R1 R2

VTh I B RTh VBE ( 1) I B RE

VCE VCC IC RC I E RE
with IC=IB and IE=(+1)IB
Solve the above to get the Qpoint 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).

Problem Verifying if a transistor is in saturation

VCC

IC

R2

RC

VBB=5 V

IB
Q

R1

If VCC=+10 V, R1=R2=100 K, RC=10 K

, RE=5 K , can the transistor Q be in
saturation? Assume VCE, Sat=0.1 V, =50

IE

RE

RB=50 K

5 = 50IB+0.7+5(IB+IC)

55IB+5IC=4.3

10=10IC+0.1+5(IC+IB)

5IB+15IC=9.9

Solving these, we get

IC=0.66 mA

IB= 0.019 mA

IC=0.66< IB=0.95, therefore transistor is indeed in saturation

If we assume transistor in active region, then we get I B=0.0143 mA, IC=0.717
mA, IE=0.731 mA. This gives VE=3.66 V, VB=4.36 V and VC=2.83 V. Since B-C
junction is forward biased, transistor CANNOT BE IN ACTIVE REGION.

Find the Bias-Point (Q-Point) of the Transistor

Assume transistor is in saturation,

i.e.VCE,sat=0.1 V
20I B 2( I B IC ) 5.3

10IC 2( I B IC ) 11.9
Solving, we get IB=0.153 mA
IC=0.967 mA
Confirm that transistor is indeed in
saturation as IC=0.967<IB=15.3 mA
Bias Point: VCE=0.1 V, IC=0.967 mA
IB=0.967 mA

Find the Bias-Point (Q-Point) of the Transistor

If we had assumed the transistor

to be in the active region

6 0.7
IB
0.024mA
20 101(2)
IC= 2.4 mA, IE= 2.424 mA
VE= 4.85 V, VB= 5.55 V
VC=12 - 2.4x10= -12 V
This is clearly impossible so
transistor cannot be in the active
region

Find the Bias-Point (Q-Point) of the Transistor

VBB =

10
1040
40=8V R B =
=8K
40+10
50

Let us assume that the transistor is in the

active region
=20
VCE,sat =0.1 V

IB =

8-0.7
=0.22mA IC =4.4mA IE =4.62mA
8+211.2

VC =10-1.24.4=4.72V
VE =1.24.62=5.54V
VB =5.54+0.7=6.24V
VBC= 1.52 V implying that the B-C
junction will then be forward biased
Our assumption of the transistor being in the active region MUST be
wrong!

Find the Bias-Point (Q-Point) of the Transistor

VBB =

10
1040
40=8V R B =
=8K
40+10
50

Let us now assume that the transistor is

in the saturation region
=20
VCE,sat =0.1 V

7.3=IBR B +(IB +IC )R E

9.9=1.2IC +(IC +IB )1.2

9.2IB +1.2IC =7.3

1.2I B 2.4IC 9.9

Solving these equations, we get

IB=0.273 mA

IC=3.99 mA

Note that IC=3.99 <IB=5.46, therefore the transistor is indeed in

saturation as assumed in the beginning

Find the Bias-Point (Q-Point) of the Transistor

=20
VCE,sat =0.1 V

We only need to consider the

saturation and active regions as
the transistor obviously cannot
be in cutoff

Find the Bias-Point (Q-Point) of the Transistor

Can the transistor be in saturation?
=20
VCE,sat =0.1 V

If it was in saturation, the B-C

junction would be forward-biased. In
that case, the current I as shown will
be negative and therefore IB will also
be negative.
If IB is negative, then the BE junction
cannot be driven into forward-bias
and therefore the transistor cannot
be in saturation!

Therefore, the transistor must be in

the active region and we can then
assume that IC=IB

Find the Bias-Point (Q-Point) of the Transistor

Transistor is in the active region
=20
VCE,sat =0.1 V

0.7+1.221I B
=I-IB
40

I = 1.63IB + 0.0175

VE=25.2IB
VB=0.7+25.2IB
VC=10-1.2(I+20IB) = 9.98-26IB

VCB VC -VB
I=
=
=0.928-5.12IB
10
10
Equating the two expressions for I, we
can solve for IB to get
IB=0.135 mA, IC=2.7 mA, IE=2.835 mA
VE=3.4V, VB=4.1V and VC=6.47V
Note that the B-C junction is reverse biased so the transistor is indeed
in the active region.