1. Chapter 5 Transistor Bias Circuits
By: Dr Rosemizi Abd Rahim
Click here to watch the semiconductor animation video

2. Objectives
Discuss the concept of dc biasing of a transistor for linear operation
Analyze voltage-divider bias, base bias, and collector-feedback bias circuits.
Basic troubleshooting for transistor bias circuits

3. Lecture’s outline Objectives Introduction DC operating point
Voltage-divider bias
Other bias methods
Base bias
Emitter bias
Collector-feedback bias
Troubleshooting
Summary

4. Introduction
The term biasing is used for application of dc voltages to establish a fixed level of current and voltage.
Transistor must be properly biased with dc voltage to operate as a linear amplifier.
If amplifier is not biased with correct dc voltages on input and output, it can go into saturation or cutoff when the input signal applied.
There are several methods to establish DC operating point.
We will discuss some of the methods used for biasing transistors.

5. DC OPERATING POINT

6. The DC Operating Point
The goal of amplification in most cases is to increase the amplitude of an ac signal without altering it.
Improper biasing can cause distortion in the output signal.
Fig 5-1a, b, & c

7. The DC Operating Point
The purpose of biasing a circuit is to establish a proper stable dc operating point (Q-point). 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 ac signal is applied.
Fig 5-2a & Fig 5-4

9. Q-point of a circuit: dc operating point of amplifier specified by voltage and current values (VCE and IC). These values are called the coordinates of Q-point.
Refer to figure a, given IB = 200μA and βDC=100. IC=βDCIB so IC=20mA and
Figure b, VBB is increased to produce IB of 300μA and IC of 30mA.
Figure c, VBB is increased to produce IB of 400μA and IC=40mA. So, VCE is:

10. DC Operating Point-DC load line
Recall that the collector characteristic curves graphically show the relationship of collector current and VCE for different base currents.
When IB increases, IC increases and VCE decreases or vice-versa. Each separate Q-point is connected through dc load line. At any point along line, values of IB, IC and VCE can be picked off the graph.
Dc load line intersect VCE axis at 10V, where VCE=VCC. This is cutoff point because IB and IC zero. Dc load line also intersect IC axis at 45.5mA ideally. This is saturation point because IC is max and VCE=0.
Fig 5-2a & Fig 5-4

11. DC Operating Point-Linear operation
Let’s look at the effect a superimposed ac voltage has on the circuit. IB vary sinusoidally 100μA above and below Q-point of 300μA. IC vary up and down 10mA of its Q-point(30mA). VCE varies 2.2V above and below its Q-point of 3.4V.
However, apply too much ac voltage to the base, the collector current might go into saturation or cutoff, resulting in a distorted or clipped waveform.
Fig 5-5 circuit and load line w/signals

12. Variations in IC and VCE as a result of variation in IB.

13. Graphical load line illustration of transistor being driven into
saturation or cutoff
When +ve IBQ peak is limited, transistor is in saturation.
When –ve IBQ peak is limited, transistor is in cutoff.

14. Graphical load line for transistor in saturation and cutoff

15. Example 1
Determine Q-point in figure below and find the maximum peak value of base current for linear operation. Assume βDC=200.

16. Solution Q-point is defined by values of IC and VCE.
Q-point is at IC=39.6mA and VCE=6.93V. Since IC(cutoff)=0, we need to know IC(sat) to determine variation in IC can occur and still in linear operation.
Before saturation is reached, IC can increase an amount equal to: IC(sat) – ICQ = 60.6mA – 39.6mA = 21mA.

17. Solution cont..
However, IC can decrease by 39.6mA before cutoff (IC=0) is reached. Since the gap of Q-point with saturation point is less than gap between Q-point and cutoff, so 21mA is the max peak variation of IC.
The max peak variation of IB is:

18. VOLTAGE-DIVIDER BIAS

19. Voltage-Divider Bias
Voltage-divider bias is the most widely used type of bias circuit. Only one power supply is needed and voltage-divider bias is more stable( independent) than other bias types. For this reason it will be the primary focus for study.
dc bias voltage at base of transistor is developed by a resistive voltage-divider consists of R1 and R2.
Vcc is dc collector supply voltage. 2 current path between point A and ground: one through R2 and the other through BE junction and RE.
Fig 5-9 Voltage-Div. Bias

20. Voltage divider bias If IB is much smaller than I2, bias
circuit is viewed as voltage divider
of R1 and R2 as shown in Figure a.
If IB is not small enough to be
neglected, dc input resistance
RIN(base) must be considered.
RIN(base) is in parallel with R2 as
shown in figure b.

21. Input resistance at transistor base
VIN is between base and ground and IIN is the current into base.
By Ohm’s Law,
RIN(base) = VIN / IIN
Apply KVL, VIN=VBE+IERE
Assume VBE<<IERE, so VIN≈IERE
Since IE≈IC=βDCIB,
VIN≈ βDCIBRE
IN=IB, so
RIN(base)= βDCIBRE / IB
RIN(base) = DCRE
Fig 5-10a & b

22. Analysis of Voltage-Divider Bias Circuit
Fig 5-9 Voltage-Div. Bias

23. Analysis of voltage divider bias circuit
Total resistance from base to ground is:
A voltage divider is formed by R1 and resistance from base to ground in parallel with R2.
If DCRE >>R2, (at least ten times greater), then the formula simplifies to

24. Analysis of Voltage-Divider Bias Circuit
Now, determine emitter voltage VE.
VE=VB – VBE
Using Ohm’s Law, find emitter current IE.
IE = VE / RE
All the other circuit values
IC ≈ IE
VC = VCC – ICRC
To find VCE, apply KVL:
VCC – ICRC – IERE – VCE =0
Since IC ≈ IE,
VCE ≈ VCC – IC (RC + RE)
Fig 5-9 Voltage-Div. Bias

25. Example 2
Determine VCE and IC in voltage-divider biased transistor circuit below if βDC=100.

26. Solution
Determine dc input resistance at base to see if it can be neglected.
RIN(base)=10R2, so neglect RIN(base). Then, find base voltage
So, emitter voltage
And emitter current
Thus,
And VCE is

27. Voltage-Divider Bias for PNP Transistor
Pnp transistor has opposite polarities from npn. To obtain pnp, required negative collector supply voltage or with a positive emitter supply voltage. The analysis of pnp is basically the same as npn.
Fig 5-16

28. Analysis of voltage bias for pnp transistor
Base voltage
Emitter voltage
By Ohm’s Law,
And,

29. BASE BIAS EMITTER BIAS COLLECTOR-FEEDBACK BIAS
OTHER BIAS METHODS
BASE BIAS
EMITTER BIAS
COLLECTOR-FEEDBACK BIAS

30. Other bias methods - Base Bias
KVL apply on base circuit.
VCC – VRB – VBE = 0 or VCC – IBRB – VBE =0
Solving for IB,
Then, apply KVL around collector
circuit. VCC – ICRC – VCE = 0
We know that IC = βDCIB,
Fig 5-19 Base bias circuit

31. Base bias
From the equation of IC, note that IC is dependent on DC. When DC vary, VCE also vary, thus changing Q-point of transistor.
This type of circuit is beta-dependent and very unstable. Recall that DC changes with temperature and collector current. Base biasing circuits are mainly limited to switching applications.

32. Npn transistor with emitter bias
Fig 5-21a npn emitter bias
Npn transistor with emitter bias

33. Emitter base

34. Collector-Feedback Bias
Collector-feedback bias is kept stable with negative feedback, although it is not as stable as voltage-divider or emitter. With increases of IC, VC decrease and causing decrease in voltage across RB, thus IB also decrease. With less IB ,IC go down as well.
Fig 5-23 collector feedback

35. Analysis of collector-feedback circuit
By Ohm’s Law,
Collector voltage with assumption IC>>IB.
VC = VCC – ICRC
And IB = IC / DC
So, collector current equation
Since emitter is ground, VCE = VC.
VCE = VCC - ICRC

36. TROUBLESHOOTING

37. Troubleshooting
Figure below show a typical voltage divider circuit with correct voltage readings. Knowing these voltages is a requirement before logical troubleshooting can be applied. We will discuss some of the faults and symptoms.
Fig 5-25

38. All indicated faults

39. Troubleshooting Fault 2: Resistor RE Open Fault 1: R1 Open
Transistor is in cutoff.
Base reading voltage will stay approximately the same.
Since IC=0, collector voltage goes up to 10 V(VCC).
Emitter voltage will be approximately the base voltage V.
Fault 1: R1 Open
With no bias the transistor is in cutoff.
Base voltage goes down to 0 V.
Collector voltage goes up to10 V(VCC).
Emitter voltage goes down to 0 V.
Fig 5-25

40. Troubleshooting Fault 3: Base lead internally open
Transistor is nonconducting (cutoff), IC=0A .
Base voltage stays approximately the same, 3.2V.
Collector voltage goes up to 10 V(VCC).
Emitter voltage goes down to 0 V because no emitter current through RE.
Fault 4: BE junction open
Transistor is in cutoff.
Base voltage stays approximately the same,3.2V.
Collector voltage goes up to 10 V(VCC)
Emitter voltage goes down to 0 V since no emitter current through RE.
Fig 5-25

41. Troubleshooting Fault 5: BC junction open
Base voltage goes down to 1.11 V because of more base current flow through emitter.
Collector voltage goes up to 10 V(VCC).
Emitter voltage will drop to 0.41 V because of small current flow from forward-biased base-emitter junction.
Fig 5-25

42. Troubleshooting Fault 6: RC open
Base voltage goes down to 1.11 V because of more current flow through the emitter.
Collector voltage will drop to 0.41 V because of current flow from forward-biased collector-base junction.
Emitter voltage will drop to 0.41 V because of small current flow from forward-biased base-emitter junction.
Fig 5-25

43. Troubleshooting Fault 7: R2 open
Transistor pushed close to or into saturation.
Base voltage goes up slightly to 3.83V because of increased bias.
Emitter voltage goes up to 3.13V because of increased current.
Collector voltage goes down because of increased conduction of transistor.
Fig 5-25

44. SUMMARY

45. Summary
The purpose of biasing is to establish a stable operating point (Q-point).
The Q-point is the best point for operation of a transistor for a given collector current.
The dc load line helps to establish the Q-point for a given collector current.
The linear region of a transistor is the region of operation within saturation and cutoff.

46. Summary
Voltage-divider bias is most widely used because it is stable and uses only one voltage supply.
Base bias is very unstable because it is  dependent.
Emitter bias is stable but require two voltage supplies.
Collector-back is relatively stable when compared to base bias, but not as stable as voltage-divider bias.