Analog Electronics - I

Voltage Transfer Characteristics

Basic Application of BJT– As Switch
• Load may be an LED (in series with a Resistor)or a Motor
• If Vi< VBE(on)
then IB=0 and IC=0 and Vo=0
• Power Dissipation=…..?
• If Vi=VCC, (RB and RC are chosen
so that BJT enters Saturation)
Then IB=…………………
IC= ……………….. & VO = VCE(sat)
BJT Application: Digital Logic Circuits

(a) inverter (b) NOR logic gate

circuit
BJT Application: Digital Logic Circuits
• Positive Logic System
• Larger Voltage: Logic 1 and Lower Voltage: Logic 0
• NOR Logic Circuit Response is as follows
NOR Logic circuit
 DC Load Line
• DC Load Line for a BJT Circuit is a
straight line drawn on the BJT
Characteristics for the given values of
other circuit elements

• For the Common Emitter (CE) Circuit

1. The input load line is a graph of IB Vs
VBE for the given values of RB and VBB
2. The output load line is a graph of IC Vs β= 200
VCE for the given values of RC and VCC
(a) Common-emitter circuit with npn transistor and (b) dc equivalent circuit.
Application of BJT:: Linear Amplifier
Determination of Amplification factor
• β= 120 and VBE(on)=0.7 V
The transistor is biased in the forward-active
mode

and the output voltage is given by

• Biasing the BJT in the centre of the

active region with an input voltage of
VI= VBB = 1.3 V. The dc output
voltage is VO= 2.6 V.
 Biasing of BJT
The method by which the BJT is put in the proper dc state to be ready for AC
amplification. Biasing is needed to ensure proper state of input, output and for the βdc
value relating the Collector and and Base current.

Biasing serves two purposes:

1. To ensure that the transistor acts in amplification state, the state in which I c is varying
linearly with Ib. So biasing is needed to ensure that B-E junction is forward biased
and B-C junction is reverse biased. This will ensure that small base current variations
are allowed to occur due to a driving ac voltage signal source as well as a
corresponding amplified variation in collector current.

2. The selection of the DC operating point of the output is to ensure that the variation in
the AC superimposed on the DC level (Ic) does not drive the output to either
Saturation (Ic=Vcc/Rc) or Cutoff by careful selection of the operating point and the
dc supply to suit the input variation and the required output variation.
Proper Biasing
 Proper Vs Improper Biasing

• It indicates Improper
Biasing because the
output Signal is not a
replication of input Signal
• Input Signal is a
Symmetrical Sine Signal
whereas the output signal
is not at all symmetrical.
Improper Biasing
 Biasing of BJT
• In order to create a Linear Amplifier
1. BJT must be kept in the forward active mode
2. Establish Q-point at the Centre of the (Output) DC Load Line
3. Couple the time-varying input signal to the base

• Difficulties With the Earlier Circuit:

1. the signal source is not connected to ground, and
2. we do not want a dc base current flowing through the signal source.
 Single Base Resistor Biasing

(a) CE circuit with a single bias resistor in the base (b) dc

equivalent circuit
 Example Problem
Design a circuit with a single-base resistor to meet the below specifications.

The transistor used in the design has nominal values of β= 100 and VBE(on) = 0.7 V, but
the current gain for this type of transistor is assumed to be in the range 50≤ β ≤150
because of fairly wide fabrication tolerances.
Effects of the variation in transistor current gain β on Q-Point:

Assume that Resistor Values are Fixed

Difficulties
1. Q-Point is not Stabilized against the variation in ‘β’
i.e., As ‘β’ changes, Q-Point varies Significantly
2. In the example, RB=1.13MΩ is used to establish base current.
This resistance is too large to be used in Integrated Circuits.
Voltage Divider Bias
1. For a 3 : 1 ratio in β , the collector current
and collector–emitter voltage change by
only a 1.29 : 1 ratio. i.e., the change in Q-
Point with Change in ‘β’ was reduced.
2. Including RE resistor has tended to
stabilize the Q-Point (with respect to
variations in ‘β’) – Negative Feedback
(Negative feedback improves Stability)
3. R1 and R2 are in kilo-ohm range
Advantages of Voltage Divider Bias Circuit:
• Stabilization Against Changes in β
• Suitable for all the three configurations of BJT
• Stabilization Against Changes in Temperature & avoids Thermal Runaway
Reference:
Chapter 5 from
Microelectronics Circuit and analysis, 4th edition
by
Donald Neamen,

• Go through the Design Example 5.16 on Page No: 359 of the Reference