Unit-1

PN Junction Diode & Special Function

Electronic Devices
 Atomic Structure
An atom is composed of :
•Nucleus ( which contains positively charged protons
and neutral neutrons)
•Electrons (which are négative charged and that orbit
the nucleus)
 Valence Electrons
•Electrons are distributed in various shells at different
distances from nucleus
• Electron energy increases as shell radius increases.
•Electrons in the outer most Shell are called as valence
electrons
•Elements in the period table are grouped according to
the number of valence electrons.
Valence Electrons
 Elemental/Compound Semiconductor
•Silicon (Si) and Germanium (Ge) are in group IV, and
are elemental semiconductors
•Galium arsenide (GaAs) is a goup III-V compound
semiconductor
 Silicon Crystal
• → At 0°K, each electron is in its lowest possible
energy state, and each covalent bounding position is
filled.

•→If a small electric field is applied, the electrons will

not move → silicon is an insulator
Silicon Atom Diagram at 0°K
 Intrinsic Silicon
• → If the temperature increases, the valence electrons
will gain some thermal energy, and breaks free from
the covalent bond → It leaves a positively charged
hole
• → In order to break from the covalent bond, a
valence electron must gain a minimun energy Eg:
Bandgap energy
Silicon Atom Diagram at Ambiant
Temp
 Insulators/Conductors
•Materials that have large bandgap energies (in the
range of 3 to 6 electron-volts (eV)) are insulators,
because at room temperature, essentially no free
electron exists in the material
•Materials that contain very large number of free
electrons at room temperature are conductors
 Semiconductors
•→ In a semiconductor, the bandgap energy is in the
order of 1 eV. The net flow of free electrons causes a
current.
•→ In a semiconductor, two types of charged particles
contribute to the current: the negatively charged
electrons and the positively charged holes
Movement of Holes Movement of Holes
 Semiconductor Constants
•The concentration of electrons and holes directly
influence the magnitde of the current
• In an intrinsic semiconductor (a single crystal
semiconductor) the densities of holes and electrons
are equal.
ni: intrinsic carrier concentration for free
electrons (same for holes)

B: constant related to specific

semiconductor material
Eg: Bandgap energy (eV)
T: Temperature (°K)
K: Boltzman Constant
(86 E-06 eV/°K)
Semiconductor Constants
 Extrinsic Semiconductor / Doping
•The electron or hole concentration can be greatly
increased by adding controlled amounts of certain
impurities
•For silicon, it is desirable to use impurities from the
group III and V.
•An N-type semiconductor can be created by adding
phosphorus or arsenic
 Extrinsic Semiconductor / Doping
• The phosphorus (group V) atom is called donor
impurity because it donates an electron that is free to
move
•The boron (group III) has accepted a valence electron
(or donated a hole), it is therefore called acceptor
impurity
N-Type Semiconductor
P-Type Semiconductor
Introduction to Semiconductor Devices
Semiconductor p-n junction diodes
 p-n junction formation

p-type material n-type material

Semiconductor material Semiconductor material
doped with acceptors. doped with donors.
Material has high hole Material has high
concentration concentration of free
electrons.
Concentration of free
electrons in p-type material Concentration of
is very low. holes in
n-type material is
very low.
 p-n junction formation

p-type material n-type material

Contains Contains POSITIVELY
NEGATIVEL charged donors
Y (immovable) and
charged acceptors NEGATIVELY
(immovable) and charged free electrons.
POSITIVELY charged
Total charge = 0
holes (free).
Total charge = 0
 Diffusion

A substance, the purple dots, in Now that the gates have been
solution. A membrane opened, the random movements of
prevents movement of the the molecules have caused,
overtime, the number of molecules
water and the molecules from
to be equal on the two sides of the
crossing from one side of the barrier.
beaker to the other.
 Diffusion

As a result of diffusion, the molecules or other free

particles distribute uniformly over the entire volume
 p- n junction formation
What happens if n- and p-type materials are in close contact?

Being free particles, electrons start diffusing from n-type material into p-material

Being free particles, holes, too, start diffusing from p-type material into n-material

Have they been NEUTRAL particles, eventually all the free electrons
and holes had uniformly distributed over the entire compound
crystal.

However, every electrons transfers a negative charge (-q) onto the p-

side and also leaves an uncompensated (+q) charge of the donor on the
n-side.
Every hole creates one positive charge (q) on the n-side and (-q) on the
 p- n junction formation
What happens if n- and p-type materials are in close contact?

p-type n-type

Electrons and holes remain staying close to the p-n junction because
negative and positive charges attract each other.
Negative charge stops electrons from further diffusion

Positive charge stops holes from further diffusion

The diffusion forms a dipole charge layer at the p-n junction

interface.

There is a “built-in” VOLTAGE at the p-n junction interface

that prevents
 p- n junction current - voltage characteristics
What happens when the voltage is applied to a p-n junction?

p-type n-type

The polarity shown, attracts holes to the left and electrons to the right.

According to the current continuity law, the current can only flow if all
the charged particles move forming a closed loop

However, there are very few holes in n-type material and there are
very few electrons in the p-type material.
There are very few carriers available to support the current through the
junction plane
For the voltage polarity shown, the current is nearly zero
 p- n junction current - voltage characteristics

What happens if voltage of opposite polarity is applied to a p-n junction?

p-type n-type

The polarity shown, attracts electrons to the left and holes to the right.

There are plenty of electrons in the n-type material and plenty of holes in
the p-type material.
There are a lot of carriers available to cross the junction.

When the voltage applied is lower than the built-in voltage,

the current is still nearly zero

When the voltage exceeds the built-in voltage, the current can flow
through the p-n junction
 Diode current - voltage (I-V) characteristics
Semiconductor diode consists of a p-n junction with two
contacts attached to the p- and n- sides

p n
V
0
qV
I exp 1
IS

kTIS ≈ 10-17 …10-13 A

IS is usually a very small current,
When the voltage V is negative (“reverse” polarity) the exponential term ≈ -1;
The diode current is ≈ IS ( very small).
When the voltage V is positive (“forward” polarity) the exponential term
increases rapidly with V and the current is high.
 Graphing the I-V characteristics of electronic
components.
The I-V plot represents is the dependence of the current I through
the component on the voltage V across it.
1
Resistor V I R; I V
R

I = V / R;
R = V/I
R

a DI tg(a) = 1/R
DV

The I-V characteristic of the resistor

The I-V characteristic of the diode

qV
I I S exp 1

kT
IS
The experimental I-V characteristic of a Si
 p- n diode circuit notation

IS ex
When “plus” is applied to the p-side,I
the current is high. This voltage
polarity is called FORWARD. IS

When “plus” is applied to the n-side,

the current is nearly zero. This voltage
polarity is called REVERSE.
 p- n diode applications
Light emitters

+ P-n junction can emit the

light when forward biased
-
p-type n-type

Electrons drift into p-material and find plenty of holes there. They
“RECOMBINE” by filling up the “empty” positions.
Holes drift into n-material and find plenty of electrons there. They
also
“RECOMBINE” by filling up the “empty” positions.

The energy released in the process of “annihilation” produces

PHOTONS - the particles of light
 p- n diode applications:
Photodetectors

P-n junction can detect light

when reverse biased

p-type n-type

When the light illuminates the p-n junction, the photons energy RELEASES free
electrons and holes.
They are referred to as PHOTO-ELECTRONS and PHOTO-HOLES

The applied voltage separates the photo-carriers attracting electrons toward

“plus” and holes toward “minus”
As long as the light is ON, there is a current flowing through the p-n junction
 NEGATIVE RESISTANCE DEVICE
•It is a device which exhibits a negative incremental
resistance over a limited range of V-I characteristic.
• It is of two types :-
1. Current controllable type : V-I curve
is a multi valued function of voltage and
single valued function of current .eg:- UJT,
p-n-p-n diode
2. Voltage controllable type : V-I curve
is a multi valued function of current and
single valued function of voltage. eg:- SCS,
Tunnel diode
-
 TUNNEL DIODE (Esaki Diode)
• It was introduced by Leo Esaki in 1958.
• Heavily-doped p-n junction
- Impurity concentration is 1 part in 10^3 as compared to
1 part in 10^8 in p-n junction diode
•Width of the depletion layer is very small
(about 100 A).
• It is generally made up of Ge and
GaAs.
• It shows tunneling phenomenon.
• Circuit symbol of tunnel diode is :
 WHAT IS
TUNNELING
•Classically, carrier must have energy at least equal
to potential-barrier height to cross the junction .
• But according to Quantum mechanics there is finite
probability that it can penetrate through the barrier for
a thin width.
•This phenomenon
called tunneling and
hence the Esaki
Diode
is know as
Tunnel Diode.
CHARACTERISTIC OF TUNNEL
DIODE Ip

Ip:- Peak Current

Iv :- Valley Current
Vp:- Peak Voltage
- Ve Resistance Region
Vv:- Valley Voltage
Vf:- Peak Forward
Voltag Iv
e

Reverse Vp Vv Vf
voltage Forward
Voltage
Energy-band diagram of pn junction in thermal equilibrium in which both the n
and p region are degenerately doped.
 AT ZERO BIAS

Simplified energy-band diagram and I-V characteristics of the tunnel diode at zero bias.

-Zero current on the I-V diagram;

-All energy states are filled below EF on both sides of the junction;
 AT SMALL FORWARD VOLTAGE

Simplified energy-band diagram and I-V characteristics of the tunnel diode at a slight forward bias.

-Electrons in the conduction band of the n region are directly opposite to

the empty states in the valence band of the p region.
-So a finite probability that some electrons tunnel directly into the empty
states resulting in forward-bias tunneling current.
 AT MAXIMUM TUNNELING CURENT

Simplified energy-band diagraam and I-V characteristics of the tunnel diode at a forward bias
producing maximum tunneling current.

-The maximum number of electrons in the n region are opposite to the

maximum number of empty states in the p region.
- Hence tunneling current is maximum.
AT DECREASING CURRENT REGION

Simplified energy-band diagram and I-V characteristics of the tunnel diode at a higher forward
bias producing less tunneling current.

-The forward-bias voltage increases so the number of electrons on the n

side,
directly opposite empty states on the p side decreases.
- Hence the tunneling current decreases.
 AT HIGHER FORWARD VOLTAGE

Simplified energy-band diagram and I-V characteristics of the tunnel diode at a forward bias
for which the diffusion current dominates.

-No electrons on the n side are directly opposite to the empty

states on the p side.
- The tunneling current is zero.
-The normal ideal diffusion current exists in the device.
 AT REVERSE BIAS VOLTAGE

-Electrons in the valence band on the p side are directly opposite to

empty states in the conduction band on the n side.
-Electrons tunnel directly from the p region into the n region.
-The reverse-bias current increases monotonically and rapidly with
reverse-bias voltage.
TUNNEL DIODE EQUIVALENT CIRCUIT
•This is the equivalent
circuit of tunnel diode rs
when biased in negative
resistance region.
Cj -R
•At higher frequencies the
series R and L can be
ignored. Ls

•Hence equivalent circuit can be reduced to parallel

combination of junction capacitance and negative
resistance.
 Zener Diode

•A Zener is a diode operated in reverse

bias at the Peak Inverse Voltage (PIV)
called the Zener Voltage (VZ).
•Common Zener Voltages: 1.8V to
200V

48
 Zener Region

The diode is in the reverse bias condition.

At some point the reverse bias voltage is so large the diode breaks down.
The reverse current increases dramatically.
This maximum voltage is called avalanche breakdown voltage and the
current
is called avalanche current. 49
 Resistance Levels

Semiconductors act differently to DC and AC currents.

There are 3 types of resistances.

• DC or Static Resistance
• AC or Dynamic Resistance
• Average AC Resistance

50
• DC or Static Resistance

•The resistance of a diode at a particular operating

point is called the dc or static resistance diode. It
can be determined using equation (1.1):

(1.1)
RD = VD/ID

51
Example : DC or Static Resistance - refer Figure 1.1

Ideal diode Si diode

ID(A VD(V) RD( ) ID(A) VD(V) RD( )
)
20m 0 0 20m 0.8 40

2m 0 0 2m 0.5 250

dc resistance of forward-bias region decrease when

higher currents and voltage.

52
 Ideal diode Si diode
I(DA VD(V) RD( ) ID(A) VD(V) RD( )
)
0 -10 -2 -10 5M

•dc resistance of reverse-bias region, its open-circuit

equivalent.

53
• AC or Dynamic Resistance

•Static resistance is using dc input. If the input is

sinusoidal the scenario will be change.
•The varying input will move instantaneous
operating point UP and DOWN of a region.
• Thus the specific changes in current and
voltage is
obtained. It can be determined using
equation (1.2)
(1.2)
rd = ∆VD/ ∆ID

54
 •Average AC Resistance

rav Vd
Id(point to point)

AC resistance can be determined by picking 2 points on the characteristic curve

developed
for a particular circuit. 55
 UNIT-2
RECTIFIERS, FILTERS AND REGULATORS
 Introduction

A rectifier is an electrical device that converts alternating

current (AC), which periodically reverses direction, to direct

current (DC), which is in only one direction, a process known

as rectification.
 Power Supply Circuits
• To achieve its purpose a power supply must:
- Step down the voltage supplied;
- Convert ac to dc by rectifying the ac.
•A transformer is used to step down the magnitude of
the voltages from the wall receptacle.
 Transformer
• A transformer consists of two coils of wire on a
common iron core. The voltages on these two coils
are related by the turns ratio, which is the ratio of the
number of turns of wire in the secondary coil to that
in the primary coil.
 RMS Values
•Note that the 110-120 volts and 220-240 volts are
RMS values.
•The actual amplitude of that sinusoidal signal is a
factor of √2 larger.
Types of Rectifiers

Half wave Rectifier

Full wave
Rectifier

Bridge Rectifier
 Half wave rectifier

• In half wave rectification, either the positive or negative

half of the AC wave is passed, while the other half is

blocked.

• Because only one half of the input waveform reaches

the output, it is very inefficient if used for power

transfer.
 Half-wave Rectification
• Simplest process used to
convert ac to dc.
•A diode is used to clip
the input signal
excursions of one
polarity to zero.
Half wave rectification
 Output dc voltage calculation

• The output DC voltage of a half wave rectifier can be

calculated with the following two ideal equations

 Full wave rectifier

A full-wave rectifier converts the whole of the input waveform

to one of constant polarity (positive or negative) at its output.

Full-wave rectification converts both polarities of the input

waveform to DC (direct current), and is more efficient.0

 Full-wave Rectification
• The output of a full-
wave rectifier is driven
by both the positive and
negative cycles of the
sinusoidal input, unlike
the half-wave rectifier
which uses only one
cycle.
 Full wave rectifier

• A full-wave rectifier converts the whole of the input waveform to

one of constant polarity (positive or negative) at its output.

• Full-wave rectification converts both polarities of the

input waveform to DC (direct current), and is more efficient.0

Full wave rectifier working animation
 Full wave rectification
In a circuit with a non - center tapped transformer, four

diodes are required instead of the one needed for half-

wave rectification.

For single-phase AC, if the transformer is center-tapped,

then two diodes back-to-back(i.e. anodes-to-anode or

cathode-to-cathode) can form a full-wave rectifier.

Full wave rectifier using 4 diodes
Full wave rectifier using transformer and 2 diodes
The average and root-mean-square output voltages of an

ideal single phase full wave rectifier can be calculated as:

Output voltage of the full wave rectifier
Animation
 Bridge rectifier

A bridge rectifier makes use of four diodes in a bridge

arrangement to achieve full-wave rectification.

Bridge rectifier circuit
Bridge rectifier working animation
 Filtering
•Process used to smooth
out the output of the
rectifier circuit.
• One of the most
common filter is the RC
network.
Full-wave centre-tap rectifier and capacitor filter with
load connected
Capacitor filter output waveforms
with load connected
Effect of load on the output of a
capacitor filter circuit

8
1
Inductor filter
Inductor filter output voltage
waveforms

8
3
Choke input filter (L-section
filter)

8
4
Choke input filter load
voltage waveforms

8
5
π-type filter

8
6
π-type filter output voltage
waveforms

8
7
Load characteristics for circuits with
and without voltage regulators

8
8
 Zener Diode

•Analyzing a diode operating in the reverse bias region

will show that the current through it remains
essentially constant until the breakdown voltage, also
called the avalanche or zener breakdown voltage, is
reached. At this point the current will increase very
rapidly for a small voltage change.
Zener diode symbol

9
0
Zener diode terminal
identification

9
1
Zener diode V-I
characteristics

9
2
Zener diode reverse-characteristic
working range of currents

9
3
Zener diode shunt regulator

9
4
 Voltage Regulation
•This characteristic of the zener diode is very useful
for voltage regulation circuits. The zener diode
provides an effective way to clamp or limit the
voltage at a relatively constant value thus creating a
voltage regulation capability.
Three-terminal integrated circuit
regulator—basic circuit

9
6
Three-terminal regulator case styles

9
7
Three-terminal regulator connections—
positive and negative regulators

9
8
 Unit-3
TRANSISTOR CHARACTERISTICS
 Introduction
• The basic of electronic system nowadays is
semiconductor device.
• The famous and commonly use of this device is BJTs
(Bipolar Junction Transistors).
• It can be use as amplifier and logic switches.
• BJT consists of three terminal:
collector : C
base : B
emitter : E
• Two types of
BJT : pnp and
npn
 Transistor Construction
• 3 layer semiconductor device consisting:
- 2 n- and 1 p-type layers of material npn
transistor
- 2 p- and 1 n-type layers of material pnp
transistor
• The term bipolar reflects the fact that holes and
electrons participate in the injection process into the
oppositely polarized material
• A single pn junction has two different types of bias:
- forward bias
- reverse bias
• Thus, a two-pn-junction device has four types of bias.
Position of the terminals and symbol of BJT.

• Base is located at the middle

and more thin from the level
of collector and emitter
• The emitter and collector
terminals are made of the
same type of semiconductor
material, while the base of the
other type of material
 Transistor currents
-The arrow is always drawn
on the emitter

-The arrow always point

toward the n-type

-The arrow indicates the

direction of the
emitter current:
pnp:E B
IC=the collector current
npn: B E
IB= the base current
IE= the emitter current
 • By imaging the analogy of diode, transistor can
be
construct like two diodes that connetecd together.
• It can be conclude that the work of transistor is base
on work of diode.
 Transistor Operation
• The basic operation will be described using the pnp transistor. The
operation of the pnp transistor is exactly the same if the roles played
by the electron and hole are interchanged.
• One p-n junction of a transistor is reverse-biased, whereas the other is
forward-biased.

Forward-biased junction Reverse-biased junction

of a pnp transistor of a pnp transistor
• Both biasing potentials have been applied to a pnp transistor and
resulting majority and minority carrier flows indicated.
• Majority carriers (+) will diffuse across the forward-biased p-n
junction into the n-type material.
• A very small number of carriers (+) will through n-type material to the
base terminal. Resulting IB is typically in order of microamperes.
• The large number of majority carriers will diffuse across the reverse-
biased junction into the p-type material connected to the collector
terminal.
• Majority carriers can cross the reverse-biased junction because
the injected majority carriers will appear as minority carriers in
the n-type material.
• Applying KCL to the transistor :
IE = IC + IB
• The comprises of two components - the majority and minority
carriers
IC = ICmajority + ICOminority
• ICO - IC current with emitter terminal open and is called
leakage
current.
 Common-Base Configuration
• Common-base terminology is derived from the fact that the :-
base is common to both input and output of the
configuration.
- base is usually the terminal closest to or at
ground potential.
• All current directions will refer to conventional (hole) flow and
the arrows in all electronic symbols have a direction defined by
this convention.
• Note that the applied biasing (voltage sources) are such as to
establish current in the direction indicated for each branch.
• To describe the behavior of common-base amplifiers requires two set
of characteristics:
- Input or driving point characteristics.
- Output or collector characteristics
• The output characteristics has 3 basic regions:
- Active region -defined by the biasing arrangements
- Cutoff region - region where the collector current is 0A
- Saturation region- region of the characteristics to the left of V CB = 0V
• The curves (output characteristics) clearly indicate that a first
approximation to the relationship between IE and IC in the active
region is given by
IC ≈IE
• Once a transistor is in the ‘on’ state, the
base-emitter voltage will be
assumed to be
VBE = 0.7V
• In the dc mode the level of IC and IE due to the majority carriers are
related by a quantity called alpha
a= I C
IE
IC = aIE + ICBO
• It can then be summarize to IC = aIE (ignore ICBO due to small
value)
• For ac situations where the point of operation moves on the
characteristics curve, an ac alpha defined by

a DIC
DIE
• Alpha a common base current gain factor that shows the efficiency
by calculating the current percent from current flow from emitter to
collector.The value of a is typical from 0.9 ~ 0.998.
 Biasing
• Proper biasing CB configuration in active region by
approximation IC IE (IB 0 uA)
Transistor as an amplifier
 Common-Emitter Configuration
• It is called common-emitter configuration since :
- emitter is common or reference to both input and output terminals.
-emitter is usually the terminal closest to or at ground
potential.
• Almost amplifier design is using connection of CE due to the high
gain for current and voltage.
• Two set of characteristics are necessary to describe the behavior
for
CE ;input (base terminal) and output (collector terminal)
parameters.
Proper Biasing common-emitter configuration in active region
 • IB is microamperes compared to
miliamperes of IC.
• IB will flow when VBE > 0.7V
for silicon and 0.3V for
germanium
• Before this value IB is very small and
• noBase-emitter
I B. junction is forward bias
• Increasing VCE will reduce IB
for different values.

Input characteristics for a

common emitter NPN transistor
 Output characteristics for a
common-emitter npn transistor

• For small VCE (VCE < VCESAT, IC increase linearly with increasing of VCE
• VCE > VCESAT IC not totally depends on VCE constant IC
• IB(uA) is very small compare to IC (mA). Small increase in IB cause big
increase in IC
• IB=0 A ICEO occur.
• Noticing the value when IC=0A. There is still some value of current flows.
 Beta (E) or amplification factor
• The ratio of dc collector current (IC) to the dc base current (IB) is dc beta
(Edc ) which is dc current gain where IC and IB are determined at a
particular operating point, Q-point (quiescent point).
• It’s define by the following equation:

30 < Edc < 300 2N3904

• On data sheet, E =hfe with h is derived from ac hybrid equivalent cct.

FE are derived from forward-current amplification and common-emitter
configuration respectively.
• For ac conditions an ac beta has been defined as the changes of
collector current (IC) compared to the changes of base current (IB)
where IC and IB are determined at operating point.
• On data sheet, Eac=hfe
• It can defined by the following equation:
 Example
From output characteristics of common
emitter configuration, find Eac and Edc with
an
Operating point at IB=25 A and VCE =7.5V.
Solution:
Relationship analysis between α and β
 Common - Collector Configuration
• Also called emitter-follower (EF).
• It is called common-emitter configuration since both the
signal source and the load share the collector terminal as a common
connection point.
• The output voltage is obtained at emitter terminal.
• The input characteristic of common-collector configuration is similar
with common-emitter. configuration.
• Common-collector circuit configuration is provided with the load
resistor connected from emitter to ground.
• It is used primarily for impedance-matching purpose since it has high
input impedance and low output impedance.
Notation and symbols used with the common-collector configuration:
(a) pnp transistor ; (b) npn transistor.
• For the common-collector configuration, the output characteristics are a plot
of IE vs VCE for a range of values of IB.
 Limits of Operation
• Many BJT transistor used as an amplifier. Thus it is
important to notice the limits of operations.
• At least 3 maximum values is mentioned in data
sheet.
• There are:
a) Maximum power dissipation at collector:
PCmax
or PD
b)Maximum collector-emitter voltage: VCEmax
sometimes named as VBR(CEO) or VCEO.
c) Maximum collector current: ICmax
• There are few rules that need to be followed for BJT
transistor used as an amplifier. The rules are:
i) transistor need to be operate in active
region!
ii) IC < ICmax
Note: VCE is at maximum and IC is at minimum (ICMAX=ICEO) in the cutoff region.
IC is at maximum and VCE is at minimum
(VCE max = Vcesat = VCEO) in the saturation region. The operates in the
transistor
active region between saturation and cutoff.
Refer to the fig.
Step1:
The maximum collector
power dissipation,
PD=ICMAX x VCEmax (1)
= 18m x 20 = 360
mW
Step 2:
At any point on the characteristics the
product of and must be equal to 360 mW.
Ex. 1. If choose ICmax= 5 mA, substitute
into the (1), we get
VCEmaxICmax= 360 mW
VCEmax(5 m)=360/5=7.2 V

Ex.2. If choose
VCEmax=18 V, substitute
into (1), we get
VCEmaxICmax= 360 mW
(10) ICMAX=360m/18=20
mA
 Derating PDmax

• PDMAX is usually specified at 25°C.

• The higher temperature goes, the less is PDMAX
• Example;
- A derating factor of 2mW/°C indicates the power dissipation is
reduced 2mW each degree centigrade increase of temperature.
 UNIT 4
Transistor Biasing and Stabilization

134
Transistor Biasing
The basic function of transistor is amplification. The process of raising the
strength of weak signal without any change in its general shape is referred as
faithful amplification. For faithful amplification it is essential that:-

1. Emitter-Base junction is forward biased

2. Collector- Base junction is reversed biased
3. Proper zero signal collector current

The proper flow of zero signal collector current and the maintenance
of proper collector emitter voltage during the passage of signal is
called transistor biasing.

135
 WHY BIASING?
If the transistor is not biased properly, it would work inefficiently and
produce distortion in output signal.

HOW A TRANSISTOR CAN BE BIASED?

A transistor is biased either with the help of battery or associating a circuit

with the transistor. The later method is more efficient and is frequently
used. The circuit used for transistor biasing is called the biasing circuit.

136
BIAS STABILITY

Through proper biasing, a desired quiescent operating point of the transistor

amplifier in the active region (linear region) of the characteristics is obtained. It is
desired that once selected the operating point should
remain stable. The maintenance of operating point stable is called
Stabilisation.

The selection of a proper quiescent point generally depends on the following

factors:
(a) The amplitude of the signal to be handled by the amplifier and distortion
level in signal
(b) The load to which the amplifier is to work for a corresponding supply
voltage

The operating point of a transistor amplifier shifts mainly with changes in

temperature, since the transistor parameters— β, ICO and VBE (where the
symbols carry their usual meaning)—are functions of temperature.

137
The DC Operating Point
For a transistor circuit to amplify it must be properly biased
with dc voltages. The dc operating point between
saturation and cutoff is called the Q-point. The goal is to
set the Q-point such that that it does not go into
saturation or cutoff when an a ac signal is applied.

138
Requirements of biasing network

• Ensuring proper zero signal collector current.

• Ensuring VcE not falling below 0.5V for Ge transistor and 1V for Silicon transistor at
any instant.
• Ensuring Stabilization of operating point. (zero signal IC and VcE)

139
The Thermal Stability of Operating Point (SIco)
Stability Factor S:- The stability factor S, as the change of collector
current with respect to the reverse saturation current, keeping β and
VBE constant. This can be written as:
The Thermal Stability Factor : SIco
SIco =
co
V β
This equation signifies that Changes SIco times as fast as co

Differentiating the equation of Collector Current I βI

=
rearrangin the terms w can write
SIco ═

1+β
It may be noted that Lower is the value of SIco better is the stability
140
 Various Biasing Circuits

• Fixed Bias Circuit

• Fixed Bias with Emitter
Resistor
• Collector to Base Bias Circuit
• Potential Divider Bias Circuit

141
The Fixed Bias Circuit
The Thermal Stability Factor : SIco
SIco =
co
15 V 15
V
Vbe, β
k RC 1k General Equation of S
SIco ═Ico Comes out to be
R
1
C R
B
Applying KVL through Base Circuit we
I can write, R+
E Vbe= Vcc
Diff w. r. t. , we get / ∂I ) =
SIco= (1 is very
large Indicating high un
stability

142
Merits:
• It is simple to shift the operating point anywhere in the active region by
merely changing the base resistor (RB).
• A very small number of components are required.

Demerits:
• The collector current does not remain constant with variation
in
temperature or power supply voltage. Therefore the operating point is
unstable.
• When the transistor is replaced with another one, considerable change
in
the value of β can be expected. Due to this change the operating
point will
shift.
• For small-signal transistors (e.g., not power transistors) with relatively high
values of β (i.e., between 100 and 200), this configuration will be prone to
thermal runaway. In particular, the stability factor, which is a measure of the
change in collector current with changes in reverse saturation current, is
approximately β+1. To ensure absolute stability of the amplifier, a stability
factor of less than 25 is preferred, and so small-signal transistors have
large stability factors. 143
 Usage:
• Due to the above inherent drawbacks, fixed bias is rarely used in linear circuits
(i.e., those circuits which use the transistor as a current source). Instead, it is often
used in circuits where transistor is used as a switch. However, one application of
fixed bias is to achieve crude automatic gain control in the transistor by feeding
the base resistor from a DC signal derived from the AC output of a later stage.

144
 Fixed bias with emitter resistor

The fixed bias circuit is modified

by attaching an external
resistor
to the emitter. This resistor
introduces negative feedback
that stabilizes the Q-point.

145
Merits:
• The circuit has the tendency to stabilize operating point
against
changes in temperature and β-value.
Demerits:
• As β-value is fixed for a given transistor, this relation can be satisfied
either by keeping RE very large, or making RB very low.
If RE is of large value, high VCC is necessary. This increases cost
as well as precautions necessary while handling.
If RB is low, a separate low voltage supply
should be
used in the base circuit. Using two supplies of
different
voltages is impractical.
• In addition to the above, RE causes ac feedback which reduces
the voltage gain of the amplifier.
Usage:
The feedback also increases the input impedance of the amplifier
when seen from the base, which can be advantageous. Due to the
above disadvantages, this type of biasing circuit is used only with
careful consideration of the trade-offs involved. 146
The Collector to Base Bias Circuit

VC C
This configuration employs negative
feedback to prevent thermal runaway
RC and stabilize the operating point. In this
biasing,
form of the base resistor RF is connected to
the collector instead of connecting it to the
DC source Vcc. So any thermal runaway will
I induce a voltage drop across the Rc resistor
RF C that will throttle the transistor's base current.
I

B
I

147
 Applying KVL through base circuit
we can write (I + ) +I R+
R Vbe= Vcc we get
Diff. w. r. t.
/ ∂I ) = R
Therefore SIco (R + R (1
═ 1+ (R + R
Which is less than (1 , signifying better thermal stability

148
Merits:
• Circuit stabilizes the operating point against variations in temperature
and β (i.e. replacement of transistor)
Demerits:
•As β -value is fixed (and generally unknown) for a given transistor, this
relation can be satisfied either by keeping Rc fairly large or making Rf very
low.
If Rc is large, a high Vcc is necessary,
which increases
cost as well as
precautions necessary while handling.
If Rf is low, the reverse bias of the collector-base region is
small, which limits the range of collector voltage swing that
leaves the transistor in active mode.
•The resistor Rf causes an AC feedback, reducing the
voltage
gain of the amplifier. This undesirable effect is a trade-off for
greater Q-point stability.

Usage: The feedback also decreases the input impedance of the amplifier
as seen from the base, which can be advantageous. Due to the gain
reduction from feedback, this biasing form is used only when the trade-off
for stability is warranted. 149
The Potential Divider Bias Circuit
This is the most commonly used arrangement for biasing as it provide good bias
stability. In this arrangement the emitter resistance ‘RE’ provides stabilization. The
resistance E’ ause a voltage drop in a direction so as to reverse bias the emitter
junction. Since the emitter-base junction is to be forward biased, the base voltage
is obtained from R1-R2 network. The net forward bias across the emitter base
junction is equal to VB- dc voltage drop across ‘RE’. The base voltage is set by Vcc
and R1 and R2. The dc bias circuit is independent of transistor current gain. In case
of amplifier, to avoid the loss of ac signal, a capacitor of large capacitance is
connected across RE. The capacitor offers a very small reactance to ac signal and so
it passes through the condensor.

150
 The Potential Divider Bias Circuit

VCC VCC
T find the stability of this circuit we have to
R1 RC conve this circuit into Thevenin’s
Equivalent circuit
C
B

E
R R & Vth = Vcc R
R2 RE
+R R +R

151
 The Potential Divider Bias Circuit
Applying KVL through input base circuit
Thevenin
Equivalent Ckt we can write RTh + R + Vbe= VTh
Therefore, RTh + (I + ) RE+ VBE= VTh
VCC Diff. w. r. t. & rearranging we get
/ ∂I ) = RE (RTh +
RC
R
I
I
C Therefore SIco 1 E
B
RE
1 E
RTh RE
E RTh
+ VTh
IE
_
RE This shows that is inversely proportional to RE
an It is less than (1 ), signifying better thermal
stability

Se bias
Thevenin
Resisto
Equivalent Voltage

152
Merits:
• Operating point is almost independent of β variation.
• Operating point stabilized against shift in temperature.
Demerits:
•As β-value is fixed for a given transistor, this relation can be satisfied either
by keeping RE fairly large, or making R1||R2 very low.
If RE is of large value, high VCC is necessary. This increases
cost as well
as precautions necessary while handling.
If R1 || R2 is low, either R1 is low, or R2 is low, or both are
low. A low R1 raises VB closer to VC, reducing the available
swing in collector voltage, and limiting how large RC can be
made without driving the transistor out of active mode. A low
R2 lowers Vbe, reducing the allowed
collector current. Lowering both resistor values
draws more current from the power supply and lowers the
input resistance of the amplifier as seen from the base.
AC as well as DC feedback is caused by RE, which
reduces
the AC voltage gain of the amplifier. A method to avoid AC
Usage: feedback while retaining DC feedback is discussed below.
The circuit's stability and merits as above make it widely used for linear
circuits. 153
 Summary
•The Q-point is the best point for operation of a
transistor for a given collector current.
•The purpose of biasing is to establish a
stable operating point (Q-point).
•The linear region of a transistor is the region of
operation within saturation and cutoff.
•Out of all the biasing circuits, potential divider bias
circuit provides highest stability to operating point.

154
Summary of Biasing Techniques
 UNIT V
Field Effect Transistor and
FET
Amplifiers
 The Field Effect Transistor
(FET)
• In 1945, Shockley had an idea for making a solid state device out of
semiconductors.

• He reasoned that a strong electrical field could cause the flow of electricity
within a nearby semiconductor.

• He tried to build one, but it didn't work.

• Three years later, Brattain & Bardeen built the first working transistor, the
germanium point-contact transistor, which was designed as the junction
(sandwich) transistor.

• In1960 Bell scientist John Atalla developed a new design based on

Shockley's original field-effect theories.

• By the late 1960s, manufacturers converted from junction type integrated

circuits to field effect devices.
 The Field Effect Transistor
(FET)
• Field effect devices are those in which current is controlled by
the action of an electron field, rather than carrier injection.
• Field-effect transistors are so named because a weak electrical
signal coming in through one electrode creates an electrical
field through the rest of the transistor.

• The FET was known as a “unipolar” transistor.

• The term refers to the fact that current is transported by
carriers
of one polarity (majority), whereas in the conventional bipolar
transistor carriers of both polarities (majority and minority) are
involved.
 The Field Effect Transistor (FET)
The family of FET devices may be divided into :
• Junction FET
• Depletion Mode MOSFET
• Enhancement Mode MOSFET
 Junction FETs (JFETs
• JFETs consists of a piece of high-resistivity
semiconductor material (usually Si) which constitutes
a channel for the majority carrier flow.
•Conducting semiconductor channel between two
ohmic contacts - source & drain
 Junction FETs
• JFET is a high-input resistance device, while the BJT is
comparatively low.
• If the channel is doped with a donor impurity, n-type
material is formed and the channel current will consist of
electrons.
• If the channel is doped with an acceptor impurity, p-type
material will be formed and the channel current will
consist of holes.
• N-channel devices have greater conductivity than
p- channel types, since electrons have higher mobility
than do holes; thus n-channel JFETs are approximately
twice as efficient conductors compared totheir
p-channel counterparts.
 Junction FETs (JFETs
• The magnitude of this current is controlled by a voltage
applied to a gate, which is a reverse-biased.
• The fundamental difference between JFET and BJT
devices: when the JFET junction is reverse-biased the
gate current is practically zero, whereas the base current
of the BJT is always some value greater than zero.
 Basic structure of JFE
• In addition to the
channel, a JFET
contains two ohmic
contacts: the source and
the drain.
•The JFET will conduct
current equally well in
either direction and the
source and drain
leads
are usually
interchangeable.
 Gate

p+ G G
Basic structure
Circuit symbol
for n-channel
Source Drain FET S D
S n n-channel D
S G D
Metal electrode
p+ p +

Insulation
Depletion
Depletion n
region
regions (SiO2)
Cross section p+ G
p
n-
n n channel
S n-channel D

Channel (b)

thickness p+
(a)
 N-channel JFET
• This transistor is
made by forming a
channel of N-type
material in a P-type
substrate.
• Three wires are then
connected to the
device.
• One at each end of
the channel.
• One connected to the
substrate.
• In a sense, the device
is a bit like a PN-
junction diode,
except that there are
two wires connected
to the N-type side.
 How JFET Function
• The gate is connected to the
source.
• Since the pn junction is
reverse-biased, little current
will flow in the gate
connection.
• The potential
gradient
established will form a
almost all the
depletion electrons
layer, where
present in the n-type
channel will be swept
away.
• The most depleted portion
is in the high field between
the G and the D, and the
least-depleted area is
between the G and the S.
 How JFET Function
• Because the flow of
current along the
channel from the (+ve)
drain to the (-ve) source
is really a flow of free
electrons from S to D
in the n-type Si, the
magnitude of this
current will fall as
moreelectrons.
free Si becomes
• depleted of
There is a limit to the
drain current (ID) which
increased VDS can drive
through the channel.
• This limiting current is
known as IDSS (Drain-
the-
S o u r ce c u r r e
g a t e sh o r t e d
n w i ht
to t h e source).
• The output characteristics of an n-channel
JFET with the gate short-circuited to the
source.
• The initial rise in ID is related to the buildup
of the depletion layer as VDS increases.
• The curve approaches the level of the
limiting current IDSS when ID begins to be
pinched off.
• The physical meaning of this term leads to
one definition of pinch-off voltage, VP ,
which is the value of VDS at which the
maximum IDSS flows.
• With a steady gate-source
voltage of 1 V there is always
1 V across the wall of the
channel at the source end.
• A drain-source voltage of 1 V
means that there will be 2 V
across the wall at the drain
end. (The drain is ‘up’ 1V
from the source potential and
the gate is 1V ‘down’, hence
the total difference is 2V.)
• The higher voltage difference
at the drain end means that
the electron channel is
squeezed down a bit more at
this end.
• When the drain-source
voltage is increased to 10V
the voltage across the
channel walls at the drain
end increases to 11V, but
remains just 1V at the
source end.
• The field across the walls
near the drain end is now a
lot larger than at the source
end.
• As a result the channel
near the drain is squeezed
down quite a lot.
• Increasing the source-drain
voltage to 20V
down this end of the
squeezes
channel still more.
• As we
we increasethe
increase thiselectric
voltage
field which drives
electrons along the
part
openof the channel.
• However,
down thealso squeezes
channel near the
drain end.
• This reduction
channel widthinmakes
the open
it
harder for electrons to pass.
• As a result the drain-
source current tends
remain
to constant when we
increase the drain-source
voltage.
• Increasing VDS increases the widths of
depletion layers, which penetrate more into
channel and hence result in more channel
narrowing toward the drain.
• The resistance of the n-channel, RAB therefore
increases with VDS.
• The drain current: IDS = VDS/RAB
• ID versus VDS exhibits a sub linear behavior,
see figure for VDS < 5V.
• The pinch-off voltage, VP is the magnitude of
reverse bias needed across the p+n junction
to make them just touch at the drain end.
• Since actual bias voltage across p+n junction
at drain end is VGD, the pinch-off occur
whenever: VGD = -VP.
• Beyond VDS = VP,
there is a short pinch-
off channel of length,
ℓpo.
• As VDS increases, most
of additional voltage
simply drops across
as this region is
depleted of carriers and
hence highly resistive.
• Voltage drop across
channel length, Lch
remain as VP.
• Beyond pinch-off
then
ID = VP/RAP
(VDS>VP).
• What happen
when negative
voltage, says VGS
= -2V, is applied
to gate with
respect to source
(with VDS=0).
• The p+n junction
are now reverse
biased from the
start, the channel
is narrower, and
channel
resistance is
now larger than
in the VGS = 0
case.
• The drain current that flows when a small
VDS applied (Fig b) is now smaller than in
VGS= 0 case.
• Applied VDS= 3 V to pinch-off the channel
(Fig c).
• When VDS= 3V, VGD across p+n junction at
drain end is -5V, which is -VP, so channel
becomes pinch-off.
• Beyond pinch-off, ID is nearly saturated just
as in the VGS=0 case.
• Pinch-off occurs at VDS= VDS(sat),
VDS(sat)= VP+VGS, where VGS is -ve
voltage (reducing VP).
• For VDS>VD(SAT), ID becomes nearly
saturated at value as IDS.
• Beyond pinch-of, with -ve VGS, IDS is

• Where RAP(VGS) is the effective

resistance of the conducting n-channel
from A to P, which depends on channel
thickness and hence VGS.
• When VGS= -VP= -5V with VDS= 0, the
two depletion layers touch over the
entire channel length and the whole
channel is closed.
• The channel said to be off.
• There is a convenient
relationship between IDS and
VGS.
2
• Beyond pinch-off
V GS
ID S 1
IDSS

• Where IDSS is drain current when VGS= V0SG(off

and VGS(off) is defined as -VP, that is )
gate-source voltage that just pinches off
the channel.
• The pinch off voltage VP here is a +ve
quantity because it was introduced
through VDS(sat).
• VGS(off) however is negative, -VP.
I-V characteristics
I-V characteristics
JFET: I-V characteristics
 The transconductance curve

• The process for plotting

transconductance curve for a
given JFET:
• Plot a point that corresponds
to value of VGS(off).
• Plot that corresponds to value
of IDSS.
• Select 3 or more values of VGS
between 0 V and VGS(off). For
value of VGS, determine the
corresponding value of ID from

• Plot the point from (3) and

connect all the plotted point
with a smooth curve.
MOSFETs and Their Characteristics
• The metal-oxide semiconductor field effect transistor has a
gate, source, and drain just like the JFET.
• The drain current in a MOSFET is controlled by the
gate- source voltage VGS.
• There are two basic types of MOSFETS: the enhancement-
type and the depletion-type.
• The enhancement-type MOSFET is usually referred to as an E-
MOSFET, and the depletion-type, a D-MOSFET.
• The MOSFET is also referred to as an IGFET because the gate
is insulated from the channel.
MOSFETs and Their Characteristics
MOSFETs and Their Characteristics
MOSFETs and Their Characteristics

Fig. 30-20 (a) shows the

construction of an n-channel,
enhancement-type MOSFET.
The p-type substrate makes
contact with the SiO2 insulator.
Because of this, there is no
channel for conduction
between the drain and source
terminals.
 Unijunction Transistor (UJT)

• Simple two layer transistor

•Operates using the principle of avalanche breakdown
producing a saw tooth output
• Used to trigger an SCR or TRIAC
• Also used within pulse circuitry
•Output from photocells, thermistors, and
other transducers can be used to trigger
Unijunction Transistor (UJT)
Silicon Controlled Rectifier (SCR)
SCR - Continued

Three terminals
anode - P-layer
cathode - N-layer (opposite
end)
gate - P-layer near
the cathode
Three junctions - four
layers
Connect power such that the
anode is positive with respect to
the cathode - no current will flow
NOTE: Blocked by the reverse
bias of junction 2
 SCR - Continued
• Positive potential applied to the gate
• Current will flow - TURNED-ON
• Once turned on, gate potential can be
removed and the SCR still conducts
CALLED LATCHING
• Holding current maintains latch
Silicon Controlled Rectifier