Electronics I for M.E.

ECE 09-311 2 Load Line Exercises

James K. Beard, Ph.D.
Rowan Hall 238A beard@rowan.edu http://rowan.jkbeard.com
April 24, 2007

The Load Line

Definition: v-i curve of Thvenin equivalent of a linear circuit Purpose: To provide a graphical interface with a nonlinear circuit element such as a diode or transistor Usage:
Draw Draw

v-i curve of the nonlinear element, load line over it, and Intersection of the lines is the operating point.

Examples follow for BJT, MOSFET, and diode

Electronics I for M.E. Slide 2

April 24, 2007

0.1 0.09 0.08 0.07 0.06 0.05 0.04 0.03 0.02 0.01 0
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Electronics I for M.E.

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25

20

Collector Current, mA

15

10

0.0 uA 10.0 uA 20.0 uA 30.0 uA 40.0 uA 50.0 uA 60.0 uA

0 0
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10 Collector Voltage, Volts Electronics I for M.E.

15

20
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50 45 40 Bound 2.0 V 3.0 V 4.0 V 5.0 V 6.0 V 7.0 V 8.0 V

Drain Current, mA

35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 0 5 10 Drain Voltage, Volts

Electronics I for M.E.

15

20
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Input-Output Voltage Curve

Called the voltage transfer characteristic curve A plot of the output voltage versus the input voltage The voltage transfer characteristic from load line:
Draw the family of transistor v-i curves Draw the collector load line Find the proper transistor v-i curve from

an input

voltage, Read the output voltage from the load line intersection Construct a table of input voltages versus output voltages and plot the table
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Electronics I for M.E.

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The Voltage Transfer Characteristic From Load Line

Draw the family of transistor v-i curves Draw the collector load line For each of a set of input voltages
Find

the proper transistor v-i curve for this voltage, Read the output voltage from the load line intersection with the v-i plot, and Add the result to a table.

Plot the table

Electronics I for M.E. Slide 7

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iC

Saturation line

iB 500 A iB 400 A iB 300 A iB 200 A

Load line

iB 100 A iB 0 A
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Cutoff line

vCE
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Electronics I for M.E.

Exercise 1: The Diode v-i Curve

Draw a load line for a 6 V source and a 75 Ohm resistor over the diode v-i curve Read the voltage and current at the intersection Check the results by using a constant voltage drop model for the diode, Vf = 0.7 Volts

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Electronics I for M.E.

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Exercise 2: The BJT v-i Curves

Draw a load line for a 15 Volt source and a 750 Ohm collector load resistor For a base series resistance of 1 kOhms and Vf equal to 0.7 Volts:
Find

the base current for input voltages of 1.7 Volts, 2.7 Volts, etc. and Find the output voltages from the intersections of the proper v-i curves with the load line and put them in a table

Plot the table

April 24, 2007

Electronics I for M.E.

Slide 10

Exercise 3: The MOSFET v-i Curves

Draw a load line for a 20 Volt source and a 400 Ohm drain load resistor For a threshold voltage VTR of 2 Volts:
Find

the drain current for input voltages of 2 Volts, 3 Volts, etc. and Find the output voltages from the intersections of the proper v-i curves with the load line and put them in a table

Plot the table

April 24, 2007

Electronics I for M.E.

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