BME/ISE 3512 Bioelectronics

Laboratory Four - Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT)

Learning Objectives:

Know how to differentiate between PNP & NPN BJT transistors using a multimeter.
Be familiar with the operation of a common emitter amplifier.
Be familiar with the use of a BJT transistor as a switching device.

Laboratory Equipment:

NI myDAQ
Multimeter

Supplies and Components:

Breadboard
100  Resistor
1 K Resistor
10 K Resistor
100 K Resistor
33 K Resistor
.1 F Capacitor
Transistors (2N3904 and 2N3906 one each)
LED

Pre-Lab Questions

1. Name the three terminal leads of a BJT transistor.

2. List the difference between PNP and NPN BJTs.
3. What is meant by the B (hfe) of a BJT transistor?
4. What is meant by the term saturation; by the term cut-off?

Post-Lab Questions

1. Briefly explain the concept of a bipolar junction transistor.

2. Briefly explain the operation of a common emitter amplifier.
3. Explain advantages and disadvantages of using a transistor switch compared to a
mechanical switch.
 Laboratory Four - Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT)
Laboratory Procedures

There are basically two types of BJT: NPN and PNP. 2N3904 is a popular NPN transistor
and 2N3906 is a popular PNP. The maximum VCE and IC of these two kinds of transistor are
40V and 100 mA, respectively (another popular NPN transistor, 2N2222, can provide an IC
up to 500 mA)

1) Use a multimeter to identify the type of transistor (NPN or PNP) and the three terminals:
B (base), E (emitter), and C (collector).

Sometimes, the letters E, B, C are shown on the transistor. For many transistors however,
E, B, and C are not shown. The following procedure lets you identify the three terminals
as well as determine the type of transistor.

For an NPN transistor, from B to C is a forward-biased diode and from B to E is another

forward-biased diode, as shown in Figure 1. For a PNP transistor, from C to B and from
E to B are two forward-biased diodes, as shown in the figure. Based on this principle, we
can find β as well as to determine the type (NPN or PNP).

C C
B B
E E
NPN PNP

1 2 3 C C
Side view B B
E E

Figure 1. Transistors of type NPN and type PNP

a) Step 1. Name the three terminals of each transistor as 1, 2, and 3 as shown in figure 1.
(Usually the middle terminal (2) is the B, but you have to verify it). Set the multimeter
selector to <diode> (a symbol ). Place the meter leads on the transistor terminals
as shown in Table 1 and record the reading of the meter.
 Table 1

Multimeter leads to Transistor Terminals

Meter Reading
Positive (red) Negative (black)
2 1
2 3
1 2
3 2
1 3
3 1

Using the myDAQ multimeter: A reading indicates a forward-biased diode.

Therefore, if the first two rows show a reading, terminal 2 is B (base) and the
transistor is type NPN. If rows 3 and 4 show a reading, 2 is B and the transistor is
type PNP.

Using the multimeter at lab station: A low reading ( < 1.00) indicates a forward-
biased diode. Therefore, if the first two rows show low reading, terminal 2 is B
(base) and the transistor is type NPN. If rows 3 and 4 show low reading, 2 is B
and the transistor is type PNP.

b) Step 2. After identifing the type of transistor and terminal B, you need to further
identify terminals E and C. This can be done by measuring the  value of the
transistor. On the lower-left corner of the lab station multimeter, there is a blue circle
with 8 holes. The left 4 holes are for NPN transistors and the right 4 holes are for PNP
transistors. Switch the meter selector to <hfe> (which has a symbol of transistor) and
plug in the transistor. Because you already know the type of transducer and the
terminal B, there are only two ways to insert the transducer. For example, if the
transducer is NPN and the terminal 2 is B, the terminal 2 should be inserted into the
hole named B on the left side. Next, you may first insert terminal 1 into C and terminal
3 into E. If your guess is correct, the meter reading will be high (a normal  value is
greater than 100), indicating the terminal 1 is indeed the collector (C) and terminal 3 is
indeed the emitter (E). If the meter reading is very low (< 10), then reverse your
insertion (put terminal 1 into E and terminal 3 into C). You should get a high reading
now.
2) Transistor as an Amplifier

A transistor can be used to amplify an incoming signal. This is accomplished partly

because of an additional DC voltage source to drive the amplification. The circuit below
is a common emitter amplifier.

Figure 2. Common Emitter Amplifier

A. Measure the value of the resistors and capacitors to be used in the circuit
B. Build the Common Emitter Amplifier Circuit
C. Increase the sine wave input voltage as follows: 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8,
0.9, 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, and 1.5. At each input voltage, record the peak to peak
voltage of the output signal.
D. Save a file of the output signal without distortion to be plotted in Matlab or Excel.
E. As you increase the voltage, observe the signal and answer the following questions:
a. Does any signal distortion occur and if so when? Any thoughts on why this signal
distortion occurs?
b. Is the output signal in phase with the input signal?
c. Is there a DC offset in the output signal?
4) Using 2N3904 to build a transistor switch or non-linear driver circuit in digital logic
applications

The circuit shown in Figure 2 is called linear amplifiers because one of the most
important requirements for the circuit is that the output signal keeps exactly the same
waveform of the input signal (no waveform distortion). In digital application, the output
of the circuit has only two levels: zero level (logic 0, or logic No) and full-voltage level
(logic 1, or logic Yes). For example, depending on the input, the circuit may turn on/off
an LED, activate/de-activate a solenoid which opens or closes a valve, energize/de-
energize a relay which in turn turns on/off a motor, light, or alarm. In design such a
circuit, one mainly needs to consider the current required for driving the output device.
For example, if the solenoid needs 150 mA to be activated, one has to use 2N2222
instead of 2N3904. Build the circuit shown in Figure 4. The LED normally is off. When
the switch S is closed, it should be turned on.
+ 5V

S R2 = 100 

2N3904
R1
10 K LED

Figure 3. A circuit for drive an LED

A. Measure the value of the resistors to be used in the circuit

B. Build the circuit in figure 3
C. Measure the values of VCE, VBE, VBC, IB, IC, IE when LED is OFF
D. Measure the values of VCE, VBE, VBC, IB, IC, IE when LED is ON
 Grading Rubric: Bipolar Junction Transistor (Lab 4)

Name:__________________________________________________
Points
Cover Page __/ 3

I) Introduction
Discuss the following principles of a Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT):
 Discuss a Bipolar Junction Transistor __ / 6
 What are the three terminals of a BJT
 Discuss NPN and PNP transistors
I) Circuit Diagrams (Circuit Maker Only)
1) Experiment 2 –Common-Emitter Amplifier __ / 4
A. Label measured resistor and capacitor values. Label the transistor with the part number
(2N3904). Label input voltage. Label Vout
2) Experiment 3- Transistor Switch or Non-Linear Driver __/ 4
A. Label the resistors with measured values. Label the transistor with the part number (2N3904).
Label the voltage input.
II) Data and Results
1) Experiment 1- Identifying E, B and C for NPN/PNP Transistors
a. Table 1 (See Lab Manual) for NPN Transistor (2N3904) __ / 3
b. Measured Value of β (hfe) for NPN Transistor __ / 2
c. Based on your analysis of the NPN transistor, identify the Base (B), Emitter (E)
and Collector (C) using the pin notation (1, 2 and 3) shown in Figure 1 of the
lab manual. __ / 3
d. Table 1 (See Lab Manual) for PNP Transistor (2N3906) __ / 3
e. Measured Value of β (hfe) for PNP Transistor __ / 2
f. Based on your analysis of the PNP transistor, identify the Base (B), Emitter (E)
and Collector (C) using the pin notation (1, 2 and 3) shown in Figure 1 of the __ / 3
lab manual.
2) Experiment 2- Simple Common-Emitter Amplifier
a. Table of Measured Values for Resistors and Capacitor __ / 3
b. Equation for Gain, G (Based on Vin and Vout) __ / 3
c. Vin when Vout Starts to Show Distortion __ / 2
d. Graph of VIN and VOUT (Without Signal Distortion) __ / 5
e. Table of each Input Voltage, Output Voltage, and Gain of Common Emitter
Amplifier. Make sure to include Units __ / 5
3) Experiment 3- Transistor Switch or Non-Linear Driver
a. Table of Measured Values for all Components __ / 5
b. Table of Measured values of VCE, VBE, VBC, IB, IC, IE when LED is ON __ / 8
c. Table of Measured values of VCE, VBE, VBC, IB, IC, IE when LED is OFF __ / 8
III) Discussion
1) Experiment 2
a. Discuss observations made of the output signal
a. Does any signal distortion occur and if so when? Any thoughts on
why this signal distortion occurs? __ / 5
b. Is the output signal in phase with the input signal?
c. Is there a DC offset in the output signal?
2) Experiment 3
a. Discuss how the measured results explain how the transistor functions and how __ / 5
the transistor switch works
IV) Post-Lab Questions
a. Post Lab Question #1 __ / 5
b. Post Lab Question #2 __ / 5
c. Post Lab Question #3 __ / 5
V) References __ / 3