Transistors

These are three

terminal devices,
where the current or
voltage at one
terminal, the input
terminal, controls
the flow of current
between the two
remaining terminals.
Transistors
Can be classified as:
 FET – Field Effect Transistor;
 Majority carrier device;
 Unipolar device;
 BJT – Bipolar Junction Transistor;
 Minority carrier device;
 Bipolar device.
FETs
Two primary types:
 MOSFET, Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor FET. Also
known as IGFET – Insulated Gate FET;
 JFET, Junction FET.
MOS transistors can be:
 n-Channel;
 Enhancement mode;
 Depletion mode;
 p-Channel;
 Enhancement mode;
 Depletion mode;
MOSFET Structure
MOSFET
MOSFETs are identified by symbols like
the ones shown below:
MOSFET Operation
Voltage at gate
controls the flow of
current between
drain and source.
VGS – Voltage
between gate and
source.
VDS – Voltage
between drain and
source.
MOSFET Operation
When VGS = 0 then
no current flows
between drain and
source.
pn-Junction is
reverse biased.
Threshold Voltage
The value of VGS
where the drain
current just begins
to flow.
Typical values:
 0.3 to 0.8 volts.
MOSFET Operation
Two cases:
 Ohmic region:

VDS  VGS - VT
 Active Region:
VDS  VGS - VT
MOSFET Operation
Ohmic Region:
VDS  VGS - VT and VGS  VT

I D  K 2 VGS  VT  VDS  VDS
2

VGS  VT
ID  0
MOSFET Operation
Active Region:
VDS  VGS - VT and VGS  VT
I D  K VGS  VT 
2

VGS  VT
ID  0
K Parameter
The constant K, called the conductance
parameter, is measured in units of
mA/V2.
1 W
K   eCox
2 L
 Where:
 ox
Cox 
t ox
MOSFET Output Curves
A family of curves
representing the V-I
characteristics of
transistors.
A plot of drain
current, ID, as a
function of drain-to-
source voltage, VDS,
for several values of
VGS.
Ohmic and Active Regions
VDS  VGS - VT and VGS  VT

I D  K 2  VGS  VT  VDS  VDS
2

VGS  VT
ID  0

VDS  VGS - VT and VGS  VT

I D  K  VGS  VT 2

VGS  VT
ID  0
P-Channel Enhancement MOSFET
Note the n-type
body and the p-type
source and drain
areas.
Both VGS and VDD are
negative with
respect to ground.
Depletion Mode MOSFETs
n-Channel is built in.
VGS varies from
negative values to
positive values,
where negative
values of VGS
depletes the channel
while positive values
enhance it further.
JFETs

Depletion-mode FET with a different structure than

that of the MOSFET.
Not generally used for switching elements of digital
circuits.
Used in special applications such as analog circuits
where very high input impedance is required.
JFETs
Every p-n junction has a depletion region
devoid of carriers, and the width of the
depletion region can be controlled by the
applied voltage across the junction.
JFETs
Note the highest
value of VGS.
What happens if you
make VGS positive
with respect to
ground.
Inverter Circuit
This circuit is
designated as the
common source
configuration. It is
used in digital
circuits.
Inverter Circuit
When Vin is low the
transistor is off and
Vout is high.
When Vin is high the
transistor is on and
Vout is low.
MOSFET Circuit Model For Switching

VGS controls the

switch in the model
and ron is defined as:

1 1
ron  
g on I D
VDS V
DS 0

1
ron 
K 2VGS  VT 
Inverter Circuit

Vin  0
Vout    VDD 

Vin  VDD
 ron 
Vout      VDD 
 ron  RL 
ron  RL , Vout  VT
Inverter Circuit
For RL = 1KΩ, and
VDD=5V.
Large Signal Amplifiers
DC biasing:
 Ensuring that the transistor has the correct
dc level at its terminals.
 Termed as setting the Q-point, quiescent
operating bias point.
 Same as setting the dc voltages and
currents for the circuit with no signal
applied.
Large Signal Amplifiers
The dc bias voltages and currents must
be maintained even when the circuit is
confronted with:
 Sources variations;
 Temperature changes;
 Change in component values due to
manufacturing process inconsistencies.
Common Source Amplifier

 R2 
VGS  VDD  
 R1  R2 
VDD  I D RD  VDS
Common Source Amplifier

vo
Av 
vi
Self-Bias Circuit
Useful for devices that require a
negative gate-to-source voltage
(depletion mode n-channel devices).
Negative gate-to-source voltages are
achieved by raising the source voltage
higher than the gate voltage.
Self-Bias Circuit

VS  I D RS
VGS   I D RS
VDD  I D  RD  RS   VDS
Self-Bias Circuit
Procedure
Draw load line on the output curves of the
transistor.
Locate the Q-point on the load line.
If there is a bypass capacitor in the circuit,
then construct an ac load line with slope:
1
slope 
total resistance within S-D loop not shorted by C

Calculate the large signal voltage gain.

Other FET Configurations
BJTs
Invented in 1947 in the Bell
Laboratories.
It revolutionized electronics, by
replacing the vacuum tubes.
Standard for the TTL (Transistor-
Transistor-Logic) and ECL (Emitter-
Coupled-Logic) families of logic devices.
BJT Structure
Three-layer sandwich of
alternating semiconductor
materials.
Two types:
 NPN;
 PNP.
Terminals:
 Emitter;
 Base;
 Collector.
BJT Structure
Two p –n junction
diodes built very close
together.
The junction between
base and emitter is
called emitter junction,
and the junction
between base and
collector is called
collector junction.
BJT Structure
The emitter is
placed on top of the
collector with a very
thin base between
them, and the
primary carrier flow
is from the emitter
to the collector.
Modes of Operation
Cutoff – Both junctions
are reverse biased and
the transistor appears
as an open switch.
Saturation – Both
junctions are forward
biased and the
transistor appears as a
closed switch.
These two bias
conditions are
important for digital
circuits.
BJT Working as a Switch
Note the simplified
interpretation of the
BJT working as a
switch in cutoff and
saturation.
BJT Models for Switching

IB(SAT) - the minimum base current to be

exceeded for the transistor to be considered
in saturation mode.
Modes of Operation
Active – The emitter
junction is forward
biased and the collector
junction is reverse
biased.
Reverse active – The
emitter junction is
reverse biased and the
collector junction is
forward biased.
Active Region

Forward alpha
I E  I B  IC Forward commom base current transfer ratio.
IC
F 
IE active region
Active Region
Forward common emitter current transfer ratio.
IC   F I E
IC   F  I B  IC 
IC   F I B   F IC
IC   F IC   F I B
I C 1   F    F I B
IC F
  F
IB active region
1   F 
Ebers-Moll Model
Reverse alpha
Reverse commom base current transfer ratio.
IE
R 
IC reverse active bias

 qVBE


I E  I ES  e
' kT
 1
 
 qVkTBC 

I  I CS  e
'
C  1
 
Ebers-Moll Model
 qVBE


I E  I ES  e
' kT
 1
 
 qVkTBC 

I  I CS  e
'
C  1
 
 qVkTBE   qVkTBC 
I E  I ES  e  1   R I CS  e  1
   
 qVkTBC   qVkTBE 
I C  I CS  e  1   F I ES  e  1
   
Common Emitter Amplifier

VCC  VBE I C
IB  
RB 
VCC  I C RC  VCE
Common Source Amplifier
Non-linear.
Large variations in beta.
Thermal runaway.
Self-Bias Circuit
Useful to control the effects discussed in the
previous slide.
This circuit stabilizes collector current instead
of base current, thus reducing the effects of
beta variations and temperature on the
quiescent operating point.
Collector current is determined by the voltage
across a resistor, RE, placed in series with the
emitter.
Self-Bias Circuit

VCC IE
 I B 
R1  R2  1
R2
VB  VCC  VBE  I E RE
R1  R2
Procedure
Draw load line on the output curves of the
transistor.
Locate the Q-point on the load line.
If there is a bypass capacitor in the circuit,
then construct an ac load line with slope:
1
slope 
total resistance within S-D loop not shorted by C

Calculate the large signal voltage gain.

Other BJT Configurations