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Basic Electronics - Transistors -
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7-9 minutes
After having a good knowledge on the working of the diode, which is a
single PN junction, let us try to connect two PN junctions which make
a new component called Transistor. A Transistor is a three terminal
semiconductor device that regulates current or voltage flow and acts
as a switch or gate for signals.
Why Do We Need Transistors?
Suppose that you have a FM receiver which grabs the signal you
want. The received signal will obviously be weak due to the
disturbances it would face during its journey. Now if this signal is read
as it is, you cannot get a fair output. Hence we need to amplify the
signal. Amplification means increasing the signal strength.
This is just an instance. Amplification is needed wherever the signal
strength has to be increased. This is done by a transistor. A transistor
also acts as a switch to choose between available options. It also
regulates the incoming current and voltage of the signals.
Constructional Details of a Transistor
The Transistor is a three terminal solid state device which is formed
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by connecting two diodes back to back. Hence it has got two PN
junctions. Three terminals are drawn out of the three semiconductor
materials present in it. This type of connection offers two types of
transistors. They are PNP and NPN which means an N-type material
between two Ptypes and the other is a P-type material between two
N-types respectively.
The construction of transistors is as shown in the following figure
which explains the idea discussed above.
The three terminals drawn from the transistor indicate Emitter, Base
and Collector terminals. They have their functionality as discussed
below.
Emitter
The left hand side of the above shown structure can be understood
as Emitter.
This has a moderate size and is heavily doped as its main function
is to supply a number of majority carriers, i.e. either electrons or
holes.
As this emits electrons, it is called as an Emitter.
This is simply indicated with the letter E.
Base
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The middle material in the above figure is the Base.
This is thin and lightly doped.
Its main function is to pass the majority carriers from the emitter to
the collector.
This is indicated by the letter B.
Collector
The right side material in the above figure can be understood as a
Collector.
Its name implies its function of collecting the carriers.
This is a bit larger in size than emitter and base. It is moderately
doped.
This is indicated by the letter C.
The symbols of PNP and NPN transistors are as shown below.
The arrow-head in the above figures indicated the emitter of a
transistor. As the collector of a transistor has to dissipate much
greater power, it is made large. Due to the specific functions of
emitter and collector, they are not interchangeable. Hence the
terminals are always to be kept in mind while using a transistor.
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In a Practical transistor, there is a notch present near the emitter lead
for identification. The PNP and NPN transistors can be differentiated
using a Multimeter. The following figure shows how different practical
transistors look like.
We have so far discussed the constructional details of a transistor,
but to understand the operation of a transistor, first we need to know
about the biasing.
Transistor Biasing
As we know that a transistor is a combination of two diodes, we have
two junctions here. As one junction is between the emitter and base,
that is called as Emitter-Base junction and likewise, the other is
Collector-Base junction.
Biasing is controlling the operation of the circuit by providing power
supply. The function of both the PN junctions is controlled by providing
bias to the circuit through some dc supply. The figure below shows
how a transistor is biased.
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By having a look at the above figure, it is understood that
The N-type material is provided negative supply and P-type material is
given positive supply to make the circuit Forward bias.
The N-type material is provided positive supply and P-type material is
given negative supply to make the circuit Reverse bias.
By applying the power, the emitter base junction is always forward
biased as the emitter resistance is very small. The collector base
junction is reverse biased and its resistance is a bit higher. A small
forward bias is sufficient at the emitter junction whereas a high
reverse bias has to be applied at the collector junction.
The direction of current indicated in the circuits above, also called as
the Conventional Current, is the movement of hole current which is
opposite to the electron current.
Operation PNP Transistor
The operation of a PNP transistor can be explained by having a look
at the following figure, in which emitter-base junction is forward
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biased and collector-base junction is reverse biased.
The voltage VEE provides a positive potential at the emitter which
repels the holes in the P-type material and these holes cross the
emitter-base junction, to reach the base region. There a very low
percent of holes recombine with free electrons of N-region. This
provides very low current which constitutes the base current IB. The
remaining holes cross the collector-base junction, to constitute
collector current IC, which is the hole current.
As a hole reaches the collector terminal, an electron from the battery
negative terminal fills the space in the collector. This flow slowly
increases and the electron minority current flows through the emitter,
where each electron entering the positive terminal of VEE, is replaced
by a hole by moving towards the emitter junction. This constitutes
emitter current IE.
Hence we can understand that −
The conduction in a PNP transistor takes place through holes.
The collector current is slightly less than the emitter current.
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The increase or decrease in the emitter current affects the collector
current.
Operation NPN Transistor
The operation of an NPN transistor can be explained by having a look
at the following figure, in which emitter-base junction is forward
biased and collector-base junction is reverse biased.
The voltage VEE provides a negative potential at the emitter which
repels the electrons in the N-type material and these electrons cross
the emitter-base junction, to reach the base region. There a very low
percent of electrons recombine with free holes of P-region. This
provides very low current which constitutes the base current IB. The
remaining holes cross the collector-base junction, to constitute the
collector current IC.
As an electron reaches out of the collector terminal, and enters the
positive terminal of the battery, an electron from the negative terminal
of the battery VEE enters the emitter region. This flow slowly
increases and the electron current flows through the transistor.
Hence we can understand that −
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The conduction in a NPN transistor takes place through electrons.
The collector current is higher than the emitter current.
The increase or decrease in the emitter current affects the collector
current.
Advantages
There are many advantages of a transistor such as −
High voltage gain.
Lower supply voltage is sufficient.
Most suitable for low power applications.
Smaller and lighter in weight.
Mechanically stronger than vacuum tubes.
No external heating required like vacuum tubes.
Very suitable to integrate with resistors and diodes to produce ICs.
There are few disadvantages such as they cannot be used for high
power applications due to lower power dissipation. They have lower
input impedance and they are temperature dependent.
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