Bipolar Junction Transistors (BJT)

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Transistors

A three terminal device whose output current, voltage and/or power are controlled by its input. Two basic transistor types : (a) BJT (b) FET

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BJT

A three terminal component. The terminals are the emitter, the collector and the base. The emitter and collector are made up of the same type of semiconductor material, while the base is made of the other type of material.

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BJT

NPN BJT A BJT with n-type emitter and collector and a p-type base.

PNP BJT A BJT with p-type emitter and collector and a n-type base.

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BJT

The arrow on the schematic symbol is important because:

(a) It identifies the component terminals. The arrow is always drawn on the emitter terminal. (b) The arrow always points toward the n-type material. (c) The arrow indicates the direction of the emitter current.

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Transistor Currents

The emitter, collector and base currents are identified as IE, IC, and IB. The values of the collector and emitter currents are determined primarily by the value of the base current. The current gain () the factor by which current increases from the base of a transistor to its collector. Refer to equation 1.

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Transistor Construction and Operation

Is made up of three separate semiconductor materials. The three materials are joined together to form two pn junctions. Base emitter junction the point at which the emitter and base are joined to form a single pn junction. Collector base junction the point at which the base and colelctor are joined to form a single pn junction.
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Transistor Construction and Operation

The transistor operating regions are called cutoff, active and saturation.
Base-emitter junction Reversed biased Forward biased Forward biased Collector-base junction Reversed biased Reversed biased Forward biased Operating region Cutoff Active Saturation

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Transistor Construction and Operation

Cutoff a BJT operating state where IC is nearly zero. Saturation - a BJT operating region where IC reaches its maximum value. Active - a BJT operating region between saturation (maximum IC ) and cutoff (minimum IC ).

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