Introduction – Biasing

The analysis or design of a transistor amplifier requires knowledge of both the

dc and ac response of the system. In fact, the amplifier increases the strength
of a weak signal by transferring the energy from the applied DC source to the
weak input ac signal The analysis or design of any electronic amplifier therefore
has two components:
• The dc portion and
• The ac portion
During the design stage, the choice of parameters for the required dc levels
will affect the ac response.

What is biasing circuit?

Biasing: Application of dc voltages to establish a fixed level of current and

voltage.
Purpose of the DC biasing circuit
• To turn the device “ON”
• To place it in operation in the region of its characteristic where the device
operates most linearly .
• Proper biasing circuit which it operate in linear region and circuit have
centered Q-point or midpoint biased
• Improper biasing cause Improper biasing cause
 „Distortion in the output signal
 „Produce limited or clipped at output signal

Important basic relationship

I E  IC  I B
IC
 
IB
IE 
 1)I  IC
( B

VCB V V
CE BE
FIXED BIAS CIRCUIT

 This is common emitter (CE)

configuration
 1st step: Locate capacitors and
replace them with an open
circuit
 2nd step: Locate 2 main loops
which;
 BE loop (input loop)
 CE loop(output loop)
 FIXED BIAS CIRCUIT

1st step: Locate capacitors and replace them with an

open circuit
FIXED BIAS CIRCUIT
 2nd step: Locate 2 main loops.

BE Loop CE Loop

2
1 2
FIXED BIAS CIRCUIT
 BE Loop Analysis
■ From KVL;
1 V CC  IB V BE  0
RB
IB
I B 
FIXED BIAS CIRCUIT
CE Loop Analysis
■ From KVL;
V CC IC VCE  0

RC
IC V 
CE
■ As we known;
2 IC   IB B
■ Substituting A with B

Note RC does not affect the value of Ic

that
EMITTER-STABILIZED BIAS CIRCUIT
 An emitter resistor, RE is
added to improve stability
1st step: Locate capacitors
and replace them with an
open circuit
2nd step: Locate 2 main loops
which;
 BE loop
Resistor, RE  CE loop
added
 EMITTER-STABILIZED BIAS CIRCUIT

1st step: Locate capacitors and replace them with an

open circuit
 EMITTER-STABILIZED BIAS CIRCUIT

2nd step: Locate 2 main loops.

BE Loop CE Loop

2
1 2
EMITTER-STABILIZED BIAS CIRCUIT
BE Loop Analysis
1
■ From kvl;
V CC  I B RB V  I E RE  0
BE

Recall; IE  ( 1)IB
Substitute for IE
EMITTER-STABILIZED BIAS CIRCUIT
 CE Loop Analysis
■ From KVL;
V CC  I C RC V I E RE  0
CE 
■ Assume;
2 I E  IC
■ Therefore;
VCE 
 VOLTAGE DIVIDER BIAS CIRCUIT
 Provides good Q-point stability with a single polarity supply voltage
 This
beta.
is the biasing circuit wherein, ICQ and VCEQ are almost independent of

 The level of IBQ will change with beta so as to maintain the values of ICQ and
VCEQ almost same, thus maintaining the stability of Q point.
 Two methods of analyzing a voltage divider bias circuit are:
 Exact method : can be applied to any voltage divider circuit
 Approximate method : direct method, saves time and energy,
st
 step: Locate capacitors and replace them with an open circuit
1
nd
 step: Simplified circuit using Thevenin Theorem
2
rd
 step: Locate 2 main loops which;
3
 BE loop
 CE loop
 VOLTAGE DIVIDER BIAS CIRCUIT
■ 2nd step: : Simplified circuit using Thevenin Theorem
Thevenin Theorem; From Thevenin Theorem;
R  R // R R1  R2
TH 1 2 
R1  R2
R2
V  V
TH CC
R1  R2

Simplified Circuit
 VOLTAGE DIVIDER BIAS CIRCUIT
2nd step: Locate 2 main loops.

BE Loop CE Loop

2
2

1 1
VOLTAGE DIVIDER BIAS CIRCUIT
BE Loop Analysis
■ From KVL;
V TH V
 IB  I E RE  0
BE
RTH

Recall; IE  ( 1)IB
Substitute for IE
1
VOLTAGE DIVIDER BIAS CIRCUIT
 CE Loop Analysis
■ From KVL;
V CC VCE  I E R E  0
 IC
RC
■ Assume;
IE  IC
2
■ Therefore;
VCE 
 Approximate Analysis
When RE > 10R2 , Then IB << I2 and I1  I2 :
 VB 
R V V V
2VCC
E B BE
R1  R 2
VE
IE 
RE
From Kirchhoff’s voltage law:
E
VC 
IE  IC
This is a very stable bias
VC  circuit. The currents
E and voltages are nearly
independent of any
variations in .
 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, .
 Base-Emitter Loop
From Kirchhoff’s voltage law:
 -VCC + I R +I R +V +I R  0
C C B B BE E E

Where IB << IC:

I'  I
C C  IB  IC

Knowing IC = IB and IE  IC, the loop

equation becomes:
VCC – I R
B C  I B R B  VBE  I B R E  0

Solving for IB:

IB 
 Collector-Emitter Loop

Applying Kirchoff’s voltage law:

IE + VCE + I’CRC – VCC = 0

Since IC  IC and IC = IB:

IC(RC + RE) + VCE – VCC =0

Solving for VCE:

VCE =