NAME: Abdul-Hamid Opeoluwa Arowona

MATRIC NUMBER: 23120211035

GROUP NUMBER: 9
INSTRUCTOR’S NAME: DR. NORBERT EDOMAH
DATE: Tuesday, June 11th, 2024.

Junction Field-Effect Transistor (JFET) Operation

Introduction
A Junction Field-Effect Transistor (JFET) is a type of field-effect transistor (FET) that is widely
used in electronic circuits for amplification and switching. Unlike Bipolar Junction Transistors
(BJTs), which are current-controlled devices, JFETs are voltage-controlled devices. It
functions by employing a voltage provided to the gate to control the current flow between
the source and the drain. A depletion region between the source and the drain is formed in
the channel when a negative voltage is supplied to the gate in relation to the source, which
lowers the current flow. The depletion region spreads and the current flow reduces as the
gate voltage moves further to the negative side. Due to its high input impedance and
voltage control, the JFET is advantageous in applications where the input signal is weak or
the load has a high impedance.
JFETs are a popular option for many applications involving electronic switches because of
their straightforward construction and ease of fabrication.

Figure 1.0: Junction Field-Effect Transistor (JFET).

Aim
To Observe the Operation and Characteristics of a Junction Field Effect Transistor (JFET) as a
switch.

Materials:
• D.C. Power Supplies
• JFET Transistor
• LED Light
• Circuit Board
• Digital Multi-meter
• Breadboard
• Resistors of 1KΩ.
• 1KΩ Variable Resistor
• Jumper Wires.

Procedure
The circuit in Figure 2.0 was set up on a breadboard with a JFET Transistor, Identifying the
source (S), drain (D), and gate (G) terminals of the JFET. A constant power supply of 15V on
one side and a variable power supply through the 1KΩ resistor. The potentiometer was
connected across the power supply, with one end to the positive rail and the other to the
ground rail. The voltages drop; VGS (voltage drop between the gate and the source) was
adjusted until VIN gave 0V. The Value of VOUT and ID were then recorded in Table 1.0. The
above procedures were repeated for VIN of 5.0V.

Figure 2.0: Circuit setup.

Results

Table 1. VOUT and ID

VIN (V) VOUT (V) ID (µA)

0.00 5.41 12.95

3.61 14.00 0.41

Discussion

The primary aim of the experiment was to investigate the operation of a JFET transistor and
its ability to control the brightness of an LED using a potentiometer. The results show that
adjusting the gate voltage via the potentiometer effectively controls the current through
the LED, thereby adjusting its brightness.

The It can be observed that a JFET transistor would conduct current in its OFF state as the
LED light was ON at 0V VIN, hence it can be concluded that a JFET is a normally ON device.
A JFET is a normally ON device as there is current flow from source to drain at 0V. It is
voltage operated at the gate. An N-P-N BJT transistor is a normally OFF device as it requires
a small amount of current for a larger current to flow through the circuit. It can be therefore
said that a BJT transistor is a current operated device.
As there was more voltage drop at the input of the device, it was observed that the less
current was flowing from the drain to the source as the minority carriers (holes) began to
deposit between the path of current flow from source to drain due to attraction from the
negative voltage, thus blocking the flow of current from source to drain.
Potential sources of error include inaccuracies in the potentiometer settings and multi-
meter readings. To improve accuracy, use a digital potentiometer and ensure the multi-
meter is properly calibrated. Additionally, ensure stable connections on the breadboard to
avoid intermittent contact.

Conclusion
The experiment successfully demonstrated the operation of a JFET transistor as a switch in
controlling the brightness of an LED using a potentiometer. The results confirmed the
expected behaviour of the JFET in varying the current flow through the LED by adjusting the
gate voltage. It can be concluded that a JFET transistor is a normally ON device and current
would flow at the initial stage and would decrease as the input voltage is increased.
Understanding JFET operation is essential for designing and analysing analogue electronic
circuits.
References
Bird, J. (n.d.). Electrical and electronic principles and technology. Routledge.

Microelectronic Circuits, Adel S. Sedra and Kenneth C. Smith.

Electronic Devices and Circuit Theory, Robert L. Boylestad and Louis Nashelsky.