Lecture 22

Graphical Analysis
We saw the benefit and detractions of using graphical analysis of circuits when we looked at diodes. A similar case is true with the BJT.
It is handy to understand the circuit operation But it is too much trouble if we wish to make any serious calculations

Unlike the diode, though, we have to make use of two plots together to develop the signal transfer.

Graphical Solutions
From the first graph we convert from the base-emitter voltage to the current through the base This is then the control input for the second graph The base current, as determined from the previous graph gives us the operating point on this graph. Shifts in the base current result in shifts in this operating point.

The Base current

The presence of the resistor at the base makes the problem more complicated:
The load line for the resistor shifts However this gives us a bigger range of linearity for the input

We can see the effective voltage at the gate The output we are interested in is the base current

The Output
The output is the AC component of the collector-emitter voltage
This is set by the collector current and the collector resistor We can see how larger resistances lead to large gains

In

As the base current changes, the VCE-IC curve shifts, thus moving the operating point.
Out

Effects of RC
The choice of the collector resistance is determined partially by the limits it places on the output voltage swing If we choose a small resistance (A)
The operating point is pulled towards the cutoff point This leave little head room

If we choose a large resistance (B)

The operating point is pulled towards the saturation region This leaves us with little leg room

Operation as a Switch
Used as a switch, the BJT is operated in two modes:
Saturation Cutoff

Cutoff is simple enough, we apply less than ~0.5V and there will be no collector current In this mode, the output will be equal to the positive supply voltage. To turn on, the BJT should be highly conducting
Here a BJT works very well, as we have seen the saturation resistance is very small vBE needs to be larger than 0.7V and this vI must be even larger

Its not that simple

We have a few conditions in order for the BJT to operate in saturation: We want to have the collector voltage drop below the base voltage by 0.4V or more: This puts the CBJ into forward bias and means the BJT is in saturation This means the input voltage must be: If we increase the base current more, we drive the BJT further into saturation But the collector current doesnt change much (at this point the switch is closed) A saturated BJT can be assumed to have a collector-emitter voltage of:
I B ( EOS ) = 1 VCC 0.3 RC

VI ( EOS ) = I B ( EOS ) RB + VBE

VCEsat 0.2V
I Csat = VCC VCEsat RC

Example 2
If the transistor in this circuit has a of between 50 to 150, what value of RB will put the BJT into saturation with an overdrive factor of at least 10? Recall that the overdrive factor is the ratio of the base current to the current at the edge of saturation.

Example 2
We will use the standard collector VC = VCE 0.2V voltage assumed in saturation: 10 0.2 = 9.8mA Thus we can find the collector current: I Csat = 1k To reach the saturation region, we I 9.8 need a base current of (assuming the I B ( EOS ) = Csat = 50 = 0.196mA min lowest ): The overdrive factor we want means I B = 10 0.196 = 1.96mA the base current should be at least: Thus we can find the required base 5 0. 7 RB = = 2.2k resistor: IB
sat

BJT at DC Bias
Before we consider BJT circuits for amplifier applications we must look at the way we DC bias them. The most important question to answer is what state the BJT is operating in. This may appear to be straightforward, but recall the diode. There we did not always know the state of the diode from a first glance.

11 Herbs and Spices

There is a recipe that we can follow to determine the state of the BJT. It starts with the assumption that the BJT is in the active mode The circuit is then calculated for currents and voltages These are then compared back to the requirements for active mode operation to see if they are consistent. Here we look to see that the collector-base voltage is >0.4V for a NPN (<0.4V for a PNP) Note that this is assuming amplifier applications.

Checking Saturation
Switches, because the operate the BJT at its extremes, often dont require this analysis, though ensuring operation in saturation may require a overdrive factor to ensure this. If one is interested in operation in saturation, there is also an approach to this: Calculate with the assumption of saturation Then compare the collector and base currents. If the resulting beta is smaller than the normal beta, then this indicates a forced beta which means saturation operation. The order of these assumptions (Active/Saturation) can be reversed.

Example 3
Given this circuit, we want to find all the node voltages and branch currents. We will take the Beta of the BJT to be 100 The first observation we can make is that the emitter-base junction must be forward biased. This lets us know the emitter-base voltage: 0.7V This also lets us figure out the emitter voltage easily: 4-0.7=3.3V

Example 3
Now that we know the voltage drop across RE, we can determine the emitter current: The next task is to find the collector current, because we can use alpha to do that: At this point we can determine the collector voltage: Here we can see that the collectorbase junction is reverse biased at 1.3V, so our active mode assumption is right. The last task is to find the base current (Note there are two ways to do this):
IE = VE 3.3 = = 1mA RE 3.3k

+1

= 0.99

I C = I E = 0.99mA
VC = 10 I C RC = 5.3V

IB =

IE 1 = = 0.01mA + 1 101