MALVINO

Electronic
PRINCIPLES
SIXTH EDITION
Transistor Biasing

Chapter 8
Voltage divider bias +VCC

RC
R1

R1 and R2 form
a voltage divider

R2 RE
 Divider analysis: +VCC

R1

R2
VBB = VCC +VBB
R1 + R2

ASSUMPTION: The base R2

current is normally much
smaller than the divider current.
 Now the circuit can be viewed this way:
+VCC
To complete the analysis:
VBB - VBE RC
IE =
RE
IC @ IE
VC = VCC - ICRC
VCE = VC - VE VBB RE
 The six-step process
1. Calculate the base 4. Determine the drop
voltage using the across the collector
voltage divider resistor.
equation. 5. Calculate the
2. Subtract 0.7 V to get collector voltage by
the emitter voltage. subtracting.
3. Divide by emitter 6. Calculate the
resistance to get the collector-emitter
emitter current. voltage by
subtracting.
Is the divider a stiff source? +VCC

RC
R1

Find the Thevenin

resistance.

RTH = R1 R2 R2 RE
A Thevenin model of the bias circuit:
+VCC

RC

RTH

VBB RE
The 100:1 rule applied to the bias circuit:
+VCC

RC
RTH < 0.01 RIN
RTH
RIN

When the rule is met,

VBB the divider is stiff. RE
Sometimes a firm divider is chosen. +VCC

R1 R2 < 0.1 bdcRE RC

R1

A closer approximation:

VBB - VBE
IE = R2
R1 R2 RE
RE +
bdc
Two-supply stiff emitter bias:
VEE - 0.7 V 3.6 kW 10 V
IE =
RE
Assume 0 V

2.7 kW 1 kW

2 V - 0.7 V 2V
IE = = 1.3 mA
1 kW
 Find the voltages:
3.6 kW 10 V
VC = 10 V - (1.3 mA)(3.6 kW) = 5.32 V

VCE = 5.32 V - (-0.7 V) = 6.02 V

2.7 kW 1 kW

2V
 +VCC

Base bias: RC
RB

•The least predictable

•Q point moves with replacement
•Q point moves with temperature
•Not practical
 +VCC

Emitter-feedback bias: RC
RB

•Better than base bias

•Q point still moves
•Not popular RE
 +VCC

Collector-feedback bias:
RC
RB

•Better than emitter-feedback bias

•Q point still moves
•Limited application
 +VCC

Collector- and emitter

RC
-feedback bias: RB

•Better than emitter-feedback bias

•Not as good as voltage-divider bias RE
•Limited application
Two-supply emitter bias:

•Very stable
•Requires 2 supplies
 +VCC

Voltage divider bias:

RC
R1

•Very stable
•Requires 1 supply
•The most popular R2 RE
 PNP Transistors

IC IC
IB IB

IE IE

Electron flow Conventional flow

 -VCC
PNP Biasing with a
negative supply RC
R1

R2 RE
 +VEE
PNP Biasing with a
positive supply RE
R2

R1 RC