Devices and Circuits Ii: I-V Characteristics of Bipolar Transistor
Devices and Circuits Ii: I-V Characteristics of Bipolar Transistor
EE 332
Defines relation between collector current and base-emitter voltage of transistor. Almost identical to transfer characteristic of pn junction diode Setting vBC =0 in the collector-current expression,
v BE i =I 1 exp C S V T
If reverse voltage across either of the two pn junctions in the transistor is too large, corresponding diode will break down. Emitter is most heavily doped region and collector is most lightly doped region. Due to doping differences, base-emitter diode has relatively low breakdown voltage (3 to 10 V). Collector-base diode can be designed to break down at much larger voltages. Transistors must be selected in accordance with possible reverse voltages in circuit.
n (0 ) = n
v n(W ) = n exp BC B bo V T
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NAB= doping concentration in base ni2= intrinsic carrier concentration (1010/cm3) nbo = ni2 / NAB
p
exp BE 1 B 2 V T
v qAD n i = n exp BE 1 T bo V W T B
qAD p n 2 i W DB B
2 W 2 Q WB B = = I 2 D n 2V n T T
Due to higher mobility of electrons than holes, npn transistor conducts higher current than pnp for given set of applied voltages.
Base transit time places upper limit on useful operating frequency of transistor.
Diffusion Capacitance
For vBE and hence iC to change, charge stored in base region must also change. Diffusion capacitance in parallel with forward-biased base-emitter diode models the change in charge with vBE.
C D =
v I 1 qAn bo W B dQ = exp BE = T F V 2 dv V T VT BE Q po int T
where -4kT/q = -0.1 V, then the transport model terminal current equations simplify to
I i =+ S C R I S i = E F I I S S i = B F R
In cutoff region both junctions are reverse-biased, transistor is said to be in off state vBE <0, vBC <0
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C E B
1+
S I
R R = 10 16 A S = 3 10 16 A R
S = 4 10 16 A
v BE V T
S exp F
v BE V T
v i = S exp BE B V T F
i = i F E C i = i F B C i = ( + 1) i E F B
BJT is often considered a current-controlled device, though fundamental forward active behavior suggests a voltage- controlled current source.
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F f T
1+
f f B
Current in base-emitter diode is amplified by common-emitter current gain F and appears at collector,base and collector currents are exponentially related to base-emitter voltage. Base-emitter diode is replaced by constant voltage drop model(VBE = 0.7 V) since it is forward-biased in forward-active region. Dc base and emitter voltages differ by 0.7 V diode voltage drop in forwardactive region.
V I exp BE V dV S BE T d
I = C V T Q po int
D gm
End of Lecture 4
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