Chapter 3(ii)

BJT (DC analysis)

 definitions
 Biasing refers to the DC voltages applied to a transistor in
order to turn it on so that it can amplify the AC signal.

 The DC input establishes an operating or quiescent point called the

Q-point
point.

• Active or Linear Region Operation

Base–Emitter junction is forward biased
Base–Collector junction is reverse biased

• Cutoff Region Operation

Base–Emitter junction is reverse biased

• Saturation Region Operation

Base–Emitter junction is forward biased
Base–Collector junction is forward biased
 DC biasing circuits
• Fixed-bias circuit
• Emitter-stabilized bias circuit
• Voltage divider bias circuit
• DC bias with voltage feedback
Fixed-bias circuit
 DC analysis
Base--Emitter Loop
Base Collector--Emitter Loop
Collector

From Kirchhoff’s voltage law: The collector current is given by:

+VCC – IBRB – VBE = 0

I C = βI B

Solving for the base current:

From Kirchhoff’s voltage law:
V CC − V BE
IB = VCE = VCC − I C R C
RB
 Load Line for Fixed-
Fixed-bias circuit

The end points of the load line

are:
VCC
IC =
ICsat RC
VCE = 0 V

VCE = VCC
VCEcutoff
I C = 0 mA
The Q-point is the particular operating point:
• where the value of RB sets the value of IB
• where IB and the load line intersect
• that sets the values of VCE and IC
 Circuit Values Affect the Q-
Q-Point

Increasing level of IB
Increasing level of RC

Decreasing
value of VCC
 Emitter--Stabilized Bias Circuit
Emitter
Adding a resistor (RE) to the emitter circuit stabilizes the
bias circuit.
 DC analysis
Base--Emitter Loop
Base Collector-
Collector-Emitter Loop

From Kirchhoff’s voltage law :

From Kirchhoff’s voltage law :
+ VCC - I E R E - VBE - I E R E = 0
+ I E R E + VCE + I C R C − VCC = 0

Since IE = (b + 1)IB: Since IE ≅ IC:

VCC - I B R B - (β + 1)I B R E = 0 VCE = VCC – I C (R C + R E )

Solving for IB: Also: VE = I E R E

VC = VCE + VE = VCC - I C R C
VCC - VBE
IB = VB = VCC – I R R B = VBE + VE
R B + (β + 1)R E
 Improved Biased Stability

Adding RE to the emitter improves the stability of a

transistor.

Stability refers to a bias circuit in which the

currents and voltages will remain fairly
constant for a wide range of temperatures and
transistor Beta (β
β) values.
 Load Line for Emitter-
Emitter-bias circuit

The end points of the load line

are:
VCC
IC =
ICsat RC + RE
VCE = 0 V

VCE = VCC
VCEcutoff
I C = 0 mA
 Voltage Divider Bias

 This is a very stable

bias circuit.

 The currents and

voltages are almost
independent of
variations in β.

 There are two ways

of analyzing the
voltage divider bias
circuit :-
1. Exact analysis
2. Approximate
analysis
 Exact Analysis

R2VCC
RTh = R1 R2 ETh = VR2 =
R1 + R2

ETh − VBE
IB =
RTh + (β + 1)RE

VCE = VCC − I C (RC + RE )

 Approximate analysis
Where IB << I1 and I2 and I1 ≅ I2 :

R 2 VCC
VB =
R1 + R 2

Where βRE > 10R2:

VE
IE =
RE
VE = VB − VBE

From Kirchhoff’s voltage law:

VCE = VCC - I C R C - I E R E
IE ≅ IC
VCE = V CC -I C (R C + R E )
 DC Bias with Voltage Feedback

Another way to
improve the
stability of a bias
circuit is to add a
feedback path from
collector to base.

In this bias circuit

the Q-point is only
slightly dependent
on the transistor
beta, β.
 Base-Emitter loop

From Kirchhoff’s voltage law:

VCC – I ′C R C – I B R B – VBE – I E R E = 0

Where IB << IC:

I ′C = I C + I B = I C

Knowing IC = βIB and IE ≅ IC, the

loop equation becomes:

VCC – β I B R C − I B R B − VBE − β I B R E = 0

Solving for IB:

VCC − VBE
IB =
R B + β(R C + R E )
 Collector-emitter loop

Applying Kirchoff’s voltage law:

IERE + VCE + IC′RC – VCC = 0

Since IC′ ≅ IC and IC = βIB:

IC(RC + RE) + VCE – VCC =0

Solving for VCE:

VCE = VCC – IC(RC + RE)