Transistors Chapter 21

 Definition of transistors
 Types of transistors
 Bipolar Transistor construction
 Bipolar Transistor construction Operation
 Bipolar Transistor Characteristics (Configuration)
 Bipolar Transistor Applications
 Testing BJT

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Definition 21.1

 Transistor - Semiconductor device useful for

amplifying or switching electrical signals.
 Transistor- means the transfer of resistance.

Figure 1 showing a picture of

a transistors
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Types of Transistors 21.2

1. Bipolar Transistors (BJT)

– NPN & PNP
2. Field Effect Transistors (FET)
- Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect
transistors (MOSFET)
- Junction Field Effect Transistor (JFET)
3. Unijunction Transistors

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BJT Construction

– bipolar transistors
are 3 terminal devices
 collector (c)
 base (b)
 emitter (e)
– two polarities:
npn and pnp

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BJT CONSTRUCTION CONT’D

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TRANSISTOR OPERATION

 Forward bias junction of a pnp transistor

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BJT Operation

 Transistor action

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BJT OPERATION

 Concept of BJT

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BJT Configuration 21.4

 Common-Base Configuration - The common-base

terminology is derived from the fact that the base is
common to both the input and output sides of the
configuration.

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Characteristics curve for Common-base

Fig.2 showing the input Fig. 3 showing the output

characteristics for a common- characteristics for a BJT
base transistor amplifier amplifier
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Characteristics curve for Common-base

 Transfer characteristics
– In the active region the collector-base junction is
reverse-biased, while the base-emitter junction is
forward-biased.

– In the cut-off region the collector-base and base-

emitter junctions of a transistor are both reverse-
biased.
– In the saturation region the collector-base and
base-emitter junctions are forward-biased.

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COMMON-EMITTER CONFIGURATION

Fig. 4 showing common-emtter configuration for a

pnp & npn transistor
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Transistor Characteristics 21.5

 Common-emitter configuration

Fig. 5 showing characteristic curve for a common-emitter configuration

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COMMON-COLLECTOR CONFIGURATION 21.6

Fig. 6 showing common-collector configuration for a pnp & npn

transistor
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TRANSISTOR TESTING
 As with diodes, there are three routes one can take to
check a transistor:
 curve tracer,
 digital meter, and
 ohmmeter.

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FIXED-BIAS CIRCUIT

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Fixed bias circuit cont’d

Example #1:
Find:

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EMITTER-STABILIZED BIAS CIRCUIT

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Example #2

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VOLTAGE-DIVIDER BIAS 21.7

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Voltage divider bias cont’d

 Example #3

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Key Points
 Bipolar transistors are widely used in both analogue and
digital circuits
 They can be considered as either voltage-controlled or
current-controlled devices
 Their characteristics may be described by their gain or by
their transistor conductance
 The majority of circuits use transistors in a common-emitter
configuration where the input is applied to the base and the
output is taken from the collector
 Common-collector circuits make good buffer amplifiers

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