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BJT Characteristics

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Number of Variables involved

 Diode
– One current and one voltage

 BJT
– Three currents and three voltages!
– They are interdependent
– How many characteristic graphs?

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Variables in an Amplifier Configuration

BJT
Input voltage Output voltage
Input current Output current

Four Variables
Vi, Ii, Vo, Io

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Characteristics of a BJT

Static Transfer
Characteristics

BJT
Static Input Static Output
Characteristics Characteristics

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Three Characteristics of a BJT in a given

Amplifier Configuration

Static Output Characteristics

 Static Input Characteristics

 Static Transfer Characteristics

– Mutual Characteristics

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Test Circuit for CE Configuration

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Summary of BJT Characteristics

Collector
Current

Base Current

BJT

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All Characteristics
in one diagram

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BJT Amplifier Configurations

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An Amplifier

 An amplifier should have an input port and an

output port (Four wires).

Input port Amplifier Output port

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Two Ports from Three Terminals ?

Input port Amplifier Output port

 BJT is a three terminal device !

 Solution : Take one of it’s terminals as a
common terminal for both ports.

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Three Amplifier Configurations

BJT

Common Common
Common Base
Emitter Collector
Configuration
Configuration Configuration
(CB)
(CE) (CC)

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Three Amplifier Configurations

BJT

Common Common Common

Base Emitter Collector
Configuration Configuration Configuration
(CB) (CE) (CC)

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Three Amplifier Configurations

Common Common Common
Base Emitter Collector
Configuration Configuration Configuration
(CB) (CE) (CC)

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Configuration CE CC CB

Voltage Gain High <1 HIgh

Current Gain High High <1

Power Gain High Moderate Moderate

Phase Inversion Yes No No

Input Moderate High Low
Impedance (≈1K) (≈300K) (≈50 Ohm)

Output Moderate Low High

Impedance (≈50K) (≈300 Ohm) (≈1M)

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BJT in
Common Emitter Amplifier
Configuration

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Output Side is a Potential Divider…

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Kirchoff’s Voltage Law

VTRANSISTOR + VLOAD = VSUPPLY

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A Negative Resistance ?

IC

IB

IE

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An Analogy…

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Conceptualizing …
Proportional Lighting in Amplifying Mode

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Lighting Proportional to Sound

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Plotting DC Load Line

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DC Load Line
VTRANSISTOR + VLOAD = VSUPPLY

VTransistor = VCE
VLoad = IC x RL
VSupply = V+ = VCC

Using Kirchoff's Voltage Law …

VCE + IC x RL = VCC

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DC Load Line
VCE + IC x RL = VCC

IC x R L = - (VCE)+ VCC

𝑉𝐶𝐸 𝑉𝐶𝐶
𝐼𝐶 = − +
𝑅𝐿 𝑅𝐿

1 𝑉𝐶𝐶
𝐼𝐶 = − 𝑉𝐶𝐸 +
𝑅𝐿 𝑅𝐿

Y= m. X + C

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DC Load Line is KVL in Graphical Form

Collector Current (IC )

1 𝑉𝐶𝐶
VCC/RL 𝐼𝐶 = − 𝑉𝐶𝐸 +
𝑅𝐿 𝑅𝐿

VCC Collector Voltage (VCE )

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Operating Point (Q Point)

Collector Current (IC )

[VCE,Q, IC,Q]
VCC/RL

IC,Q IB,Q

Collector Voltage
(VCE )
VCE,Q VCC

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Operating Q Q

Point
(Q Point)

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BJT Biasing Techniques

1. Base Bias
2. Fixed Bias

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Will this Work ?

Amplitude 1.5 V

Frequency 1 kHz

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Output is half wave Rectified

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DC Bias on Terminals

• Transistor must be in its active mode throughout the

entire cycle of the input AC signal. This is called ‘Class
A’ operation.

• Solution :
• Superimpose the small input AC signal on a DC
voltage.

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Biasing in CE Configuration

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The Base Bias

DC bias 2.3 V
Amplitude 1.5
Frequency 1 kHz

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DC voltage 2.3 V

AC Amplitude 1.5 V

Frequency 1 kHz

PNP Needs Opposite Bias Polarity.

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DC Analysis by Simulator

DC voltage=2.3 V
AC = 0 V

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Ex. Base Bias Example

Let us analyze this circuit

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Maximum theoretical drive possible

1 𝑉𝐶𝐶
𝐼𝐶 = − 𝑉𝐶𝐸 +
𝑅𝐿 𝑅𝐿

IB,Q = 198 µA

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The Fixed Bias

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Fixed Bias Circuit

+VCC

RB RL

VBE

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Apply KVL
VBE + IB.RB = VCC

Analysis

VBE + IB.RB = VCC

0.7 V
IB.RB = VCC - VBE Typical

IB,Q = (VCC - VBE,Q) / RB

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Apply KVL
VBE + IB.RB = VCC

Designing

VBE + IB.RB = VCC

0.7 V
IB.RB = VCC - VBE Typical

RB = (VCC - VBE,Q) / IB,Q

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Feeding the Input

 Input signal is a small a.c. signal
 Eg. Audio from a microphone

 Should ride on d.c. bias levels. This is known as

superimposing.
 Use coupling capacitors
 Input coupling capacitor can superimpose small a.c.
signal on base bias.

Watch this Video…

https://youtu.be/eF8e-FmtDh4

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Signal to Ride on D.C.

 Input signal is elevated to level VBE,Q

 Output DC level (VCE,Q) is removed by
output coupling capacitor

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Common Emitter Amplifier with Fixed Bias

+VCC

RB RL

CC
CC

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An Example Design
5V

40 µA

107
KΩ 1.25
KΩ

β = 50

ri
1 KΩ
(for ac)

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Load Line on Static Output Characteristics

(2.5 V, 2 mA)

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Load Line on Output Characteristics (Cont.)

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DC voltage 0 V Saturation current 1 fA

Amplitude 16.8 mV Forward beta 50
Frequency 1 kHz Collector resistance 1Ω
Base resistance 1Ω
Emitter resistance 1Ω

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DC Analysis

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Gain of an Amplifier

• Ratio between an output parameter and the

corresponding input parameter

• Gain is specified in three ways

• Power Gain (G)
• Voltage Gain (Av)
• Current Gain (Ai)

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Current Gain of an Amplifier

• Ratio between the peak-peak output current variation

and the peak-peak input current variation

𝐼𝑜,(𝑝𝑘−𝑝𝑘)
𝐴𝑖 =
𝐼𝑖,(𝑝𝑘−𝑝𝑘)

Ex. Find the current gain of the circuit

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𝐼𝑜,(𝑝𝑘−𝑝𝑘)
𝐴𝑖 =
𝐼𝑖,(𝑝𝑘−𝑝𝑘)
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Voltage Gain of an Amplifier

• Ratio between the peak-peak output voltage variation
and the peak-peak input voltage variation

𝑉𝑜,(𝑝𝑘−𝑝𝑘)
𝐴𝑣 =
𝑉𝑖,(𝑝𝑘−𝑝𝑘)

Ex. Find the voltage gain of the circuit.

Assume input resistance as 1 KΩ

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𝑉𝑜,(𝑝𝑘−𝑝𝑘)
𝐴𝑣 =
𝑉𝑖,(𝑝𝑘−𝑝𝑘)
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Power Gain of an Amplifier

• Ratio between the output signal power and the

input signal power

𝑃𝑜
𝐺=
𝑃𝑖

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Power Gain of an Amplifier

Power = voltage x current

𝑉𝑜 . 𝐼𝑜 𝑉𝑜 𝐼𝑜
𝐺= = . = 𝐴𝑣 . 𝐴𝑖
𝑉𝑖 . 𝐼𝑖 𝑉𝑖 𝐼𝑖

𝐺 = 𝐴𝑣 . 𝐴𝑖

Ex. Find the power gain of the circuit

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Input voltage vs. Output voltage

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Phase Inversion

• Output voltage measured between emitter and collector on

a common-emitter amplifier, is 180 degrees out of phase
with the input voltage waveform.

• Common-emitter amplifier is called an inverting amplifier

circuit.

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Q Q

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Ex. Calculate Av Ai and G

Assume Ri = 1 KΩ for BE junction

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Incorrect Q Point

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Incorrect Q Point

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Q Point

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Too much drive…

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Thermal Runaway
 Power is dissipated in the collector and hence it is made
physically larger than the emitter and base region.
 As the power is dissipated the collector base junction
temperature increase.
 The reverse leakage current ICBO increases due to the
flow of thermally generated minority carriers

IC = α IE + ICBO

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Thermal Runaway
 Process is cumulative leading
eventually to the destruction
of the transistor.
 Thermal runaway can be
prevented by using a heat
sink.
 Emitter degenerative
feedback can also be used.

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