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Module1

BSECE

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4 views4 pages

Module1

BSECE

Uploaded by

alvinjemsalimbot20
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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MODULE 1

VACUUM TUBE DEVICES

Objectives:

1. To familiarize the operation of vacuum tube devices


2. To determine the different elements of vacuum tube devices
3. To learn on how to properly bias the vacuum tube devices
4. To pinpoint certain applications of vacuum tube devices

What are Vacuum Tube Devices (VTDs)?

These are devices wherein the terminals or electrodes are confined in an evacuated space
called vacuum. Vacuum is any space wherein there is an absence of air or total evacuation of
air.

Purpose of using a vacuum:

 The purpose is to minimize the irregular interferences between air molecules which can
cause blackening of the bulb and shortens its shelf life.
Brief History:

1904 – John Ambrose Fleming invented the “Thermionic Valve” or “Fleming


Valve”. It was then considered as the first vacuum tube device.

1907 – Lee de Forest invented the “vacuum tube triode”.

ELEMENTS OF VACUUM TUBE DEVICES:

1. Cathode – It is the source of electrons. Electrons are initially residing in the cathode and are
in the so called “quiescent” state. Thus, it is considered as the negative terminal of the vacuum
tube device.

2. Plate – It serves as the collector of electrons as produced by the cathode. It is made of a thin
metallic plate which attracts the electrons from the cathode once properly biased. Thus, it is
considered as the positive terminal of a vacuum tube device.

3. Grid – It serves as the controller of electron flow from cathode to the plate. It is physically
closer to the cathode than the plate. Proper grid biasing is needed so as to efficiently control the
plate current.

4. Filament – It serves as the heater of the cathode. An AC supply which is roughly 6V is


needed to achieve thermionic emission.

Key Terms:

Thermionic Emission – It is the process of emitting electrons from a heated surface.


Plate Current – The current flowing from the cathode to the plate for once the vacuum tube is
fully conducting.
Plate Voltage - The external voltage supplied to the plate relative to
the cathode.
Bias – The application of an external voltage in order to operate the
device.

Disclaimer: The professor does not own some contents and all the pictures of this module. Full credits are given
to all sources. This module is intended to maximize the learnings of the students. 1
TYPES OF VACUUM TUBE DEVICES

The type of vacuum tube device is determined by the number of terminals or electrodes.
These are the following:

1. Diode – A vacuum tube device with two (2) terminals:


a. Cathode b. plate
2. Triode – A vacuum tube device with three (3) terminals:

a. Cathode c. control grid


b. plate
3. Tetrode – A vacuum tube device with four (4) terminals:

a. Cathode c. control grid


b. Plate d. screen grid
4. Pentode – A vacuum tube device with five (5) terminals:

a. Cathode c. control grid e. suppressor grid


b. Plate d. screen grid
APPLICATIONS OF VACUUM TUBE DEVICES

Before the invention of solid state devices, the


vacuum devices dominated the electronic industries.
However, these are considered obsolete nowadays because
of the following disadvantages:

a. High power consumption


b. Very bulky and not portable
c. It occupies more space in the circuit
d. It needs heating period before efficient usage
e. Glass envelope cannot withstand extreme forces Picture
thus breakage is a possibility.
tube
f. It needs two supplies: AC for heating and DC for biasing.
The following are the common applications of vacuum tube devices:

1. Rectifier – a circuit which converts pure AC to pulsating DC


2. Modulator- a circuit which combines the information signal and the carrier signal.
3. Demodulator – a circuit which is used for detection. It extracts the intelligence from the
its carrier at the receiver side
4. Amplifier – a circuit which can boost up signal levels.
BIASING THE VACUUM TUBE DIODE

The vacuum tube diode can be biased in two ways:

1. Forward Bias – It can be achieved by applying a


positive potential to the plate and a negative potential
at the cathode. The purpose of such is to TURN ON
the device.
Note:
 The plate current varies proportionally with the
plate voltage.
 It will be TURN ON if the sufficient heating
period is reached.

2. Reverse Bias – It can be done by applying a negative


potential to the plate and a positive potential to the
cathode. The purpose is to TURN OFF the device. Forward
Bias

Disclaimer: The professor does not own some contents and all the pictures of this module. Full credits are given
to all sources. This module is intended to maximize the learnings of the students. 2
BIASING THE VACUUM TUBE TRIODE

 An AC potential is needed for the filament for it to heat the cathode in order to bring the
electrons from the dormant state to the excitation state.
 A positive potential must be applied to the plate with respect to the cathode for the plate
to attract the electrons.
 A negative potential must be applied to the control
grid with respect to the cathode for the grid to directly
control the plate current.

The figure below shows the proper biasing of a triode:

STATIC CHARACTERISTICS OF A TRIODE:

These are characteristics wherein one of the parameters is held constant and the other
parameters are made variable:

1. PLATE CHARACTERISTIC:
A curve which shows the relationship between the plate voltage and plate current when
the grid voltage is constant.

2. MUTUAL OR TRANSFER CHARACTERISTIC:


A curve which shows the relationship between the plate current and the grid voltage
when the plate voltage is constant.

DYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF A TRIODE:

Dynamic characteristics are those characteristics of a triode wherein the parameters are
made variable.

1. Amplification Factor (𝛍) – it is the ratio of the change in plate voltage to the change in grid
voltage.

𝛍 = 𝛥Vp/𝛥Vg

Disclaimer: The professor does not own some contents and all the pictures of this module. Full credits are given
to all sources. This module is intended to maximize the learnings of the students. 3
2. Plate Resistance (Rp) – It is the ratio of the change in plate voltage to the change in plate
current. It indicated the degree of opposition of the plate to the flow of plate current.

Rp = 𝛥Vp/𝛥Ip

3. Transconductance (G)- It is the ratio of the change in plate current to the change in grid
voltage. It is the reciprocal of plate resistance. The unit is expressed in Siemens (S).

G= 𝛥Ip/𝛥Vg

Disclaimer: The professor does not own some contents and all the pictures of this module. Full credits are given
to all sources. This module is intended to maximize the learnings of the students. 4

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