EGE217: Electronics 1

Lecturer: Siti Hamimah Sh. Ismail

January 2009

ELECTRONICS 1

CHAPTER 5: BIPOLAR TRANSISTOR

BIASING

Introduction

There are two basic ways to set up the operating point of a transistor:
base bias and emitter bias. Base bias produces a fixed value of base
current whereas emitter bias produces a fixed values of emitter
current. Base bias is most useful in switching circuits while emitter
bias is important in amplifying circuits.

5.1 The Load Line (Graphical Solution)

Figure below shows the CE connection mentioned in previous chapter,
which is also an example of base bias (which means setting up a fixed
value of base current).

Figure 1

We can find the Q point using a graphical solution based on the

transistor load line, a graph of IC versus VCE.

Based on the equation:

VCE = VCC − I C RC
VCC − VCE
IC =
RC

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EGE217: Electronics 1
Lecturer: Siti Hamimah Sh. Ismail
January 2009
If we graph this equation, (IC versus VCE) we will get a straight line.
This line is called a load line, because it represents the effect of load
on IC and VCE.

Substituting the values:

15 V − VCE
IC =
3 kΩ

Note that the equation is linear. So, when VCE = 0; IC = 5 mA.

When IC = 0, VCE = 15 V.

The load line is :

Figure 2

5.1.1 The Saturation Point

The saturation point is where the load intersects the saturation region
of the collector curves. Because the VCE at saturation is very small, the
saturation point is almost touching the upper end of the load line.

The saturation point tells us the maximum possible collector current

for the circuit.

To find the current at the saturation point, visualise a short between

the collector and emitter to get figure below:

Figure 3

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EGE217: Electronics 1
Lecturer: Siti Hamimah Sh. Ismail
January 2009
Then VCE drops to zero. All the 15V from collector supply will be across
3 kΩ. Thus the current:

15
IC = = 5 mA
3000

and the formula:

VCC
I C ( sat ) =
RC

5.1.2The Cutoff Point

The cutoff point is the point where the load line intersects the cutoff
region of the collector curves. Because the collector current at the
cutoff is very small, the cutoff point almost touches the lower end of
the load line.

The cutoff point tells us the maximum possible collector-emitter

voltage for the circuit.

To find the cutoff point, visualise the transistor as an open circuit

between the collector and the emitter, as shown below:

Figure 4

Since there is no current through the collector resistor, all the 15 V

from the collector supply will appear between the collector emitter
terminals. Thus, it is equals to 15 V.

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EGE217: Electronics 1
Lecturer: Siti Hamimah Sh. Ismail
January 2009

The formula:

VCE ( cutoff ) = VCC

Tips: Every transistor circuit has a load line. Given any circuit,
workout the saturation current and the cutoff voltage. These values
are plotted on the vertical and horizontal axes. Then draw a line
through these two points to get the load line.

5.2 The Operating Point

If RB = 1 MΩ the base current is 14.3 µA. If β dc = 100, the collector
current is about 1.43mA and the collector-emitter voltage is:

VCE = VCC − I C RC
= 15 V − (1.43 mA)(3 kΩ)
= 10.7 V

Therefore the quiescent point or Q point is:

IC = 1.43 mA and VCE = 10.7 V

5.2.1The variation of Q point

By using the same circuit as in figure 1, let’s now assume an ideal

transistor.

The base current is :

15
IB = = 30 µA
500000

Suppose the gain is 100, the collector current:

I C = 100 (30 µA) = 3 mA

and;

VCE = 15 − ( 3 mA )( 3 kΩ ) = 6V

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EGE217: Electronics 1
Lecturer: Siti Hamimah Sh. Ismail
January 2009

The operating point is marked as Q below:

Figure 5

Your Idea!!!
Now, assume the current gain of 50 and 150. Can you guess which is
the operating point for gain of 50 and which one is for 150, QL or QH?

Example:

Suppose the base resistance is now 1M (based on previous figure).

What happens to the VCE if dc gain is 100?

Solution

Ideally the base current would decrease to 15μA, the collector current
would decrease to 1.5mA, and the collector emitter voltage would
increase to:

VCE = 15 – (1.5mA)(3K) = 10.5 V

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EGE217: Electronics 1
Lecturer: Siti Hamimah Sh. Ismail
January 2009
To a second approximation, the base current would decrease to
14.3μA, and the collector current would decrease to 1.43mA. The
collector emitter voltage would increase to

VCE = 15 – (1.43mA)(3K) = 10.7 V

5.3 Emitter Bias

Figure below, shows emitter bias. As you can see the resistor has been
moved from the base circuit to the emitter circuit. The Q point of this
new circuit is now immune to changes in current gain. When the
current gain changes from 50 to 150, the Q point shows almost no
movement along the load line.

Figure 6

Note that the emitter voltage is now:

VE = VBB – VBE

5.3.1Finding the Q point

Given the parameters below:

VBB=5V, Rc=1K, RE=2.2K, Vcc=15V, βdc=100

Assuming second approximation, the emitter voltage equals:

VE = 5 V – 0.7 V = 4.3 V

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EGE217: Electronics 1
Lecturer: Siti Hamimah Sh. Ismail
January 2009

Use Ohm’s Law to find the emitter current:

4.3
IE = = 1.95 mA
2200

We know that the collector current is approximately the same as the

emitter current, thus:

VC = 15 − (1.95 mA )(1 kΩ ) = 13.1V

VCE = VC − V E = 13.1 − 4.3 = 8.8 V

Thus the Q point is at IC = 1.95 mA and VCE = 8.8 V.

5.3.1.1 Why the circuit is immune to changes in current gain?

Notice the step we used in finding the Q point:

1. Get the emitter voltage
2. Calculate the emitter current
3. Find the collector voltage
4. Subtract the emitter from the collector voltage to get the VCE.

We do not need to use the current gain to find the Q point, thus the
exact values for the current gain no longer matters.

By moving the resistor from base to emitter, we force the base to

ground voltage to equals to the base supply voltage. This supply
voltage minus 0.7 V is the voltage across the emitter setting up a
fixed emitter current.

5.4 Voltage Divider Bias

Figure below shows a voltage divider bias. Notice that the base circuit
contains a voltage divider R1 and R2.

Figure 7

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EGE217: Electronics 1
Lecturer: Siti Hamimah Sh. Ismail
January 2009

Since the base current is small and has a negligible effect on the
voltage divider , we can mentally open the connection between the
voltage divider and the base to get the equivalent circuit in Figure
below. In this circuit the output of the voltage divider is :

R2
V BB = Vcc
R1 + R 2

Ideally, this is the base supply voltage as shown in figure below:

Figure 8

As you can see, voltage divider bias is really emitter bias in

disguise.This is why VDB sets up a fixed value of emitter current,
resulting in a solid Q point that is independent of a current gain.
The equations that can be used to analyze VDB are:

R2
V BB = Vcc
R1 + R 2
V E = V BB − V BE
VE
IE = , IC ≈ IE
RE
VC = VCC − I C RC
VCE = VC − V E

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EGE217: Electronics 1
Lecturer: Siti Hamimah Sh. Ismail
January 2009
Example:

What is the collector-emitter voltage in figure below?

Solution:

5.4.1 VDB Load Line and Q Point

Given the collector current of 1.1mA and a collector-emitter voltage of

4.94 V. These values are plotted to get the Q point shown below:

Figure 9

Since VDB is derived from emitter bias, the Q point is virtually

immune to changes in current gain. One way to move the Q point is
by varying the emitter resistor.

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EGE217: Electronics 1
Lecturer: Siti Hamimah Sh. Ismail
January 2009

For instance, if the emitter resistor is changed to 2.2kΩ, the collector

current decreases to:

1.1
IE = = 0.5mA
2.2 K

The voltages change as follows:

Vc = 10 − (0.5mA)(3.6 K ) = 8.2V
VCE = 8.2 − 1.1 = 7.1V

Therefore the new Q point will be QL and will have coordinates of 0.5
mA and 7.1 V.

On the other hand, if we decrease the emitter resistance to 510Ω, the

emitter current increases to:
1 .1
IE = = 2.15mA
510

And the voltage change to:

Vc = 10 − (2.15mA)(3.6 K ) = 2.26V
VCE = 2.26 − 1.1 = 1.16V

In this case, the Q point shifts to a new position at Q with coordinates

of 2.15 mA and 1.16 V.

5.5 Collector Feedback Bias

Figure below shows collector-feedback bias (also called self bias).

Figure 10

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EGE217: Electronics 1
Lecturer: Siti Hamimah Sh. Ismail
January 2009

Historically, this was another attempt at stabilizing the Q point. Again

the basic idea is to feedback a voltage to the base in an attempt to
neutralize any change in collector current. For instance, suppose the
collector current increases. This decreases the collector voltage which
decreases the voltage across the base resistor. In turn this decreases
the base current , which opposes the original increase in collector
current.

These are the equations used for analysing collector feedback bias:

Vcc − V BE
IE =
RC + R B / β dc
V B = 0.7V
VC = VCC − I C RC

Example:

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EGE217: Electronics 1
Lecturer: Siti Hamimah Sh. Ismail
January 2009

Tutorial 4

1. What is the emitter voltage and the collector voltage in figure below?
Find the Q point and the load line and mark it on a graph.
+15V

150Ω 39Ω

33Ω
10Ω

2. Using second approximation, β = 300, calculate IB, IC, VCE and PD.

2K

1M 10V
10V

3. Draw the load line for this circuit.

3K

500K
15V
15V

(a) Find the Q point for the circuit above, when β = 100. Draw this point on your
load line obtained.

(b) Change the value of Vcc to 9V. On the same graph, draw the load line for this
new value and compare.

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