DC Biasing of BJTs
DC Biasing of BJTs
BiasingBiasing
Biasing:Biasing: T The DC voltages applied to a transistor in order to turn it on so that it can amplify the AC signal.
Operating PointOperating Point
The DC input establishes an operating or quiescent point called the Q-pointQ-point.
The Three States of OperationThe Three States of Operation
• Active or Linear Region OperationActive or Linear Region OperationBase–Emitter junction is forward biased
Base–Collector junction is reverse biased
• Cutoff Region OperationCutoff Region OperationBase–Emitter junction is reverse biased
• Saturation Region OperationSaturation Region OperationBase–Emitter junction is forward biasedBase–Collector junction is forward biased
No matter what type of configuration a transistor is used in, the basic relationships between the currents are always the same, and the base-to-emitter voltage is the threshold value if the transistor is in the “on” state
BC
CBE
BE
IIIII
VV
)1(
7.0
• The operating point defines where the transistor will operate on its characteristics curves under dc conditions.
• For linear (minimum distortion) amplification, the dc operating point should not be too close to the maximum power, voltage, or current rating and should avoid the regions of saturation and cutoff
DC Biasing CircuitsDC Biasing Circuits
• Fixed-bias circuit• Emitter-stabilized bias circuit• Voltage divider bias circuit• DC bias with voltage feedback
I. Fixed BiasI. Fixed Bias
• The fixed-bias configuration is the simplest of transistor biasing arrangements, but it is also quite unstable•For most configurations the dc analysis begins with a determination of the base current
•For the dc analysis of a transistor network, all capacitors are replaced by an open-circuit equivalent
Fixed-bias circuit
The dc equivalent circuit of the fixed bias circuit where the capacitor is replaced with an open-circuit
The Base-Emitter LoopThe Base-Emitter Loop
From Kirchhoff’s voltage law:
+VCC – IBRB – VBE = 0
Solving for base current:
B
BECCB R
VVI
Collector-Emitter LoopCollector-Emitter Loop
Collector current:
BIIC
CCCCCE RIVV
From Kirchhoff’s voltage law:
0 CCCCCE VRIV
Example: Determine the following for the fixed-bias configuration of the figure shown:
(a) IBQ and ICQ (b) VCEQ (c) VB and VC (d) VBC
= 75
SaturationSaturation• Saturation conditions are normally avoided because the base-collector junction is no longer reverse-biased and the output amplified signal will be distorted
•For a transistor operating in the saturation region, the current is a maximum value for the particular design. Change the design and the corresponding saturation level may rise or drop
•The highest saturation level is defined by the maximum collector current as provided by the specification sheet
SaturationSaturation
00
satCC
CECE I
VIVR
C
CCC R
VIsat
SaturationSaturation
When the transistor is operating in saturation, current through the transistor is at its maximum possible value.
CRCCV
CsatI
V 0CEV
In the previous example, the saturation level for the network is given by:
mAkV
RVIC
CCCsat
45.52.2
12
Load Line AnalysisLoad Line Analysis
CCCCCE RIVV
The variables IC and VCE are related by the equation:
Load Line AnalysisLoad Line Analysis
IICsatCsat
ICC = VCCCC / RCC
VCECE = 0 V
VVCEcutoffCEcutoff
VCECE = VCCCC
ICC = 0 mA
The Q-point is the operating point:• where the value of RB sets the value of IB
• that sets the values of VCE and IC
The end points of the load line are:
Circuit Values Affect the Q-PointCircuit Values Affect the Q-Point
[Movement of the Q-point with increasing level of IB]
Circuit Values Affect the Q-PointCircuit Values Affect the Q-Point
[Effect of an increasing level of RC on the load line the Q-point]
Circuit Values Affect the Q-PointCircuit Values Affect the Q-Point
[Effect of lower values of VCC on the load line the Q-point]
II. Emitter-Stabilized Bias CircuitII. Emitter-Stabilized Bias Circuit
Adding a resistor (RE) to the emitter circuit stabilizes the bias circuit.
Base-Emitter LoopBase-Emitter Loop
From Kirchhoff’s voltage law:
0 RI-V-RI- EEBEBBCC V
0R1)I(-V-RI-V EBBEBBCC Since IE = ( + 1)IB:
EB
BECCB 1)R(R
V-VI
Solving for IB:
Collector-Emitter LoopCollector-Emitter Loop
From Kirchhoff’s voltage law:
0 CCVCRCI CEV EREI
Since IE IC:
)R (RI– V V ECCCCCE
Also:
EBEBRCCB
CCCCECEC
EEE
V V RI– V VRI - V V V V
RI V
Example: Determine the following for the emitter bias network of the figure shown:
(a) IB (b) IC (c) VCE (d) VC (e) VE (f) VB (g) VBC
+16 V
= 75
Improved Biased StabilityImproved Biased Stability Stability refers to a circuit condition in which the currents and voltages will remain fairly constant over a wide range of temperatures and transistor Beta () valuesAdding RE to the emitter improves the stability of a transistor
IB(A) IC(mA) VCE(V)75 30.24 2.27 9.91
100 28.81 3.63 9.11
[For Emitter Bias Case]
IB(A) IC(mA) VCE(V)75 47.08 3.53 4.23
100 47.08 4.71 1.64
[For Fixed Bias Case]
Saturation LevelSaturation Level
EC
CCC RR
VIsat
Load-line AnalysisLoad-line Analysis
VCEcutoff:: ICsat:
The endpoints can be determined from the load line.
mA 0 IV V
C
CCCE
ERCRCCV
CI
CE V 0V
)( ECCCCCE RRIVV
III. Voltage Divider BiasIII. Voltage Divider Bias
This is a very stable bias circuit.
The currents and voltages are nearly independent of any any variations in .
Exact Analysis:
21 || RRRTh 21
22 RR
VRVE CCRTh
)( ECCCCCE RRIVV
0 EEBEThBTh RIVRIE
Applying Kirchhoff’s voltage law in the clockwise direction in the Thevenin network,
ETh
BEThB RR
VEI)1(
(Substituting IE = (+1)IB)
Approximate Analysis:
Approximate AnalysisApproximate Analysis Where IB << I1 and I1 I2 :
Where RE > 10R2:
From Kirchhoff’s voltage law:
21
CC2B RR
VRV
E
EE R
VI
BEBE VVV
EECCCCCE RI RI V V
)R (RIV VII
ECCCCCE
CE
Voltage Divider Bias AnalysisVoltage Divider Bias Analysis
Transistor Saturation LevelTransistor Saturation Level
EC
CCCmaxCsat RR
VII
Load Line AnalysisLoad Line Analysis
Cutoff:Cutoff: Saturation:Saturation:
mA0IVV
C
CCCE
V0VCE
ERCRCCV
CI
IV. DC Bias with Voltage Feedback IV. DC Bias with Voltage Feedback
Another way to improve the stability of a bias circuit is to add a feedback path from collector to base.
In this bias circuit the Q-point is only slightly dependent on the transistor beta, .
Base-Emitter LoopBase-Emitter Loop
)R(RRVV
IECB
BECCB
From Kirchhoff’s voltage law:From Kirchhoff’s voltage law:
0RI–V–RI–RI– V EEBEBBCCCC
Where IWhere IBB << I << ICC::
CIBICICI'
Knowing IKnowing ICC = = IIBB and I and IEE I ICC, the loop , the loop equation becomes: equation becomes:
0RIVRIRI– V EBBEBBCBCC
Solving for ISolving for IBB::
Collector-Emitter LoopCollector-Emitter Loop
Applying Kirchoff’s voltage law:Applying Kirchoff’s voltage law:
IERE + VCE + I’CRC – VCC = 0
Since ISince ICC I ICC and I and IEE I ICC::
IC(RC + RE) + VCE – VCC =0
Solving for VSolving for VCECE::
VCE = VCC – IC(RC + RE)
Base-Emitter Bias AnalysisBase-Emitter Bias Analysis
Transistor Saturation LevelTransistor Saturation Level
EC
CCCmaxCsat RR
VII
Load Line AnalysisLoad Line Analysis
Cutoff:Cutoff: Saturation:Saturation:
mA 0IVV
C
CCCE
V 0VCE
ERCRCCV
CI
Bias Stabilization Bias Stabilization The stability of a system is a measure of the sensitivity of a network to variations in its parametersIn any amplifier employing a transistor the collector current IC is sensitive to each of the following parameters:• : increase with increase in temperature• |VBE| : decrease about 2.5 mV per oC
increase in temperature• ICO (reverse saturation current): doubles in value for every 100 increase in tempearture
Shift in dc-bias point (Q-point) due to change in temperature: (a) 250C; (b) 1000C
A better bias circuit is one that will stabilize or maintain the dc-bias initially set, so that the amplifier can be used in a changing-temperature environment
Stability Factors: S(ICO), S(VBE), and S()
CO
CCO I
IIS
)(BE
CBE V
IVS
)(
CIS )(
Networks that are quite stable and relatively insensitive to temperature variations have low stability factorsThe higher the stability factor, the more sensitive is the network to variations in that parameter
S(ICO):
Emitter-Bias Configuration
)/()1()/(1)1()(EB
EBCO RR
RRIS
)1()( COIS
1)1(
1)1()(
COIS
E
BCO R
RIS )(
For RB/RE >> (+1),
For RB/RE << 1,
For the range where RB/RE ranges between 1 and (+1),
[Variation of stability factor with the resistor ratio RB/RE for the emitter-bias configuration]
)1()( COIS
)/()1()/(1)1()(ETh
EThCO RR
RRIS
)/()1()/(1)1()(CB
CBCO RR
RRIS
Fixed-Bias Configuration:
Voltage-Divider Bias Configuration:
Feedback-Bias Configuration:
S(VBE):
EBBE RRVS
)1()(
Emitter-bias configuration:
Fixed-Bias Configuration:B
BE RVS
)(
EBBE RRVS
)1()(
)1(//)(
EB
EBE RR
RVS
E
EEBE R
RRVS 1/)1(
/)(
For (+1)>>RB/RE
This shows that the larger the resistance RE, the lower is the stability factor and the more stable is the system
S():
Emitter-bias configuration:
)/1()/1(
)(21
1
EB
EBCC
RRRRIIS
1
1)(
CIS
)/1()/1(
)(21
1
ETh
EThC
RRRRI
S
Fixed-Bias Configuration:
Voltage-Divider Bias Configuration:
Feedback-Bias Configuration:
))1(()(
)(21
1
CB
CBC
RRRRI
S
SummaryThe total effect on the collector current can be determined using the following equation:
)()()( SVVSIISI BEBECOCOC