AA1208 - Transistors
Bipolar Junction Transistors
1) Sketch the relationship between the base current and the collector current in a bipolar transistor (when the
device is in normal operating condition, i.e. Active Region)
Ans:
2) What is meant by the symbols 𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 , 𝑉𝑉𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 , 𝑉𝑉𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵 , 𝑣𝑣𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏 and 𝑖𝑖𝑐𝑐 ?
3) Explain the terms ℎ𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 and ℎ𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹 and describe their relative magnitudes?
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4) Label the various voltages, currents and components in the following BJT model diagram, to produce a simple
equivalent circuit for a bipolar transistor. Justify why the model makes sense by sketching the relevant input and
output characteristics of the BJT and relate the parameters of the graphs that you sketched to the BJT model
diagram.
Input Characteristics Output Characteristics
Ans:
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5) What are the primary advantages/disadvantages of the hybrid-𝜋𝜋 equivalent circuit?
6) What is meant the transition frequency of the device?
7) Determine quiescent collector current and the quiescent output voltage of the following circuit, given that the ℎ𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹
of the transistor is 100. Assume now that the transistor has a forward current gain ℎ𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹 = 200, can this current
biasing circuit for an amplifier application continue to work? Give relevant reasons … (Ans: 0.93 mA, 4.792V, No,
Bottom Cycle will be totally clipped.)
VCC = 10V
RB RC
= 1 MΩ = 5.6 kΩ
vo
vi
VEE (0 V)
Ans:
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6) Comment on the suitability of the Bias condition for the following transistor amplifier. Derive a simple small-signal
equivalent circuit for the following circuit, then deduce the small signal voltage gain, input and output resistance,
given that ℎ𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹 = ℎ𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 = 175 and ℎ𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 = 15 𝜇𝜇𝜇𝜇. How is the small signal voltage gain related to the queiscent voltage
across 𝑅𝑅𝐶𝐶 ? (Ans: Yes, ideally suitable; gain = -236.144 ; input resistance = 728.4 ohms; output resistance = 985.2
ohms, gain is approximately 40x the quiescent 𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣 across 𝑅𝑅𝐶𝐶 )
Ans:
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7) A resistive load of 𝑅𝑅𝐿𝐿 = 1 𝑘𝑘Ω is now connected to the output of the amplifier circuit of Q6 via a coupling capacitor
𝐶𝐶2 . Draw the resulting amplifier circuit and comment on the following.
a) Is the bias conditions the same as before, (Ans: Yes)
b) what is the small signal gain and the input and output resistance of the new amplifier circuit? (Ans: -118.956,
728.4 Ω, 496.272 Ω )
c) Is the addition of 𝑅𝑅𝐿𝐿 a significant influence in the amplifier characteristics? What is this 𝑅𝑅𝐿𝐿 -effect frequently
referred to as?
Ans:
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8) Perform a DC OP analysis on the following circuit, and then determine the small signal voltage gain, the input
resistance and the output resistance. You may assume the transistor has a current gain of 200. (Ans: -234, 1.167 𝑘𝑘Ω ,
3.9 𝑘𝑘Ω)
Ans:
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9) Calculate the quiescent collector current, quiescent output voltage and small-signal voltage gain of the following
circuit (Ans: 5.185 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚, 5.185 𝑉𝑉, 1)
Ans:
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10) Determine the quiescent output voltage, voltage gain and input and output resistance of the following circuit
(Ans: 6.759V, 89.64, 11.03 Ω, 1 𝑘𝑘Ω)
𝑅𝑅𝐶𝐶
𝐶𝐶1
𝐶𝐶2
𝑅𝑅1
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11) Describe the general characteristics of the following circuit and estimate its voltage gain and input resistance.
(Ans: 5 𝑀𝑀Ω)
Ans:
12) Explain briefly how a BJT can be used to form a constant current source.
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13) Explain the purpose of a current mirror? How does one use a current mirror?
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14) What are the majority carriers in a PNP transistor and in a NPN transistor
15) Why is the collector wider than the emitter and base?
16) Why is the base made thin?
17) Name and explain the three amplifier configurations.
18) What is the 𝛼𝛼 and 𝛽𝛽 parameter of the transistor, define them and show how they are related to each other
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19) How can an ohmmeter be used to check if a transistor is functional?
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20) What is transistor gain testing and how is it conducted?
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21) State three differences between a FET and a BJT
22) What are the types of FETs and draw their symbols?
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23) What is the difference between Class A, Class B and Class C amplifiers?
24) Explain class AB amplifier and why is it popular?
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25) Explain DC Bias Stability for a transistor
26) What are the advantages of negative feedback?
27) What are the three methods of transistor coupling in a multi-stage amplifier design:
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