DC TRANSISTOR CIRCUITS Most of us deal with electronic products on a routine basis and have some experience with personal

computers. A basic component for the integrated circuits found in these electronics and computers is the active, three-terminal device known as the transistor. Understanding the transistor is essential before an engineer can start an electronic circuit design. There are two basic types of transistors: bipolar junction transistors (BJTs) and eld-effect transistors (FETs). Here, we consider only the BJTs, which were the rst of the two and are still used today. Our objective is to present enough detail about the BJT to enable us to apply the techniques developed in this chapter to analyze dc transistor circuits. There are two types of BJTs: npn and pnp, with their circuit symbols as shown in Fig. Each type has three terminals, designated as emitter (E), base (B), and collector (C).

TO3, TO46, TO92, TO220 Packages

For the npn transistor, the currents and voltages of the transistor are specied as shown at right. Applying KCL gives IE = IB + IC where IE, IC , and IB are emitter, collector, and base currents, respectively. Similarly, applying KVL to Fig. 3.39(b) gives VCE + VEB + VBC = 0 where VCE, VEB , and VBC are collector-emitter, emitter-base, and base collector voltages. The BJT can operate in one of three modes: active,

cutoff, and saturation. When transistors operate in the active mode, typically VBE ~ 0.7 V, IC = IE where is called the common-base current gain. denotes the fraction of electrons injected by the emitter that are collected by the collector. Also, IC = IB where is known as the common-emitter current gain. The and are characteristic properties of a given transistor and assume constant values for that transistor. Typically, takes values in the range of 0.98 to 0.999, while takes values in the range 50 to 1000. It is evident that IE = (1 + )IB and = 1 These equations show that, in the active mode, the BJT can be modeled as a dependent current-controlled current source. Thus, in circuit analysis, the dc equivalent model in (b) may be used to replace the npn transistor in (a). Since is large, a small base current controls large currents in the output circuit. Consequently, the bipolar transistor can serve as an amplier, producing both current gain and voltage gain. Such ampliers can be used to furnish a considerable amount of power to transducers such as loudspeakers or control motors. Find IB , IC , and vo in the transistor circuit. Assume that the transistor operates in the active mode and that = 50. Hint: recall that Vbe = 0.7 V in active mode.

First find IB

Next find IC

IC = IB = 50 165 A = 8.25 mA Now use KVL to find v0.

vo 100IC + 6 = 0 or vo = 6 100IC = 6 0.825 = 5.175 V Note that vo = VCE in this case.