Basic Electronics - Transistor Configurations

# Basic Electronics – Transistor Configurations

A Transistor has 3 terminals, the emitter, the base and the collector. Using these 3 terminals the transistor can be connected in a circuit with one terminal common to both input and output in a 3 different possible configurations.

The three types of configurations are Common Base, Common Emitter and Common Collector configurations. In every configuration, the emitter junction is forward biased and the collector junction is reverse biased.

## Common Base CBCB Configuration

The name itself implies that the Base terminal is taken as common terminal for both input and output of the transistor. The common base connection for both NPN and PNP transistors is as shown in the following figure.

For the sake of understanding, let us consider NPN transistor in CB configuration. When the emitter voltage is applied, as it is forward biased, the electrons from the negative terminal repel the emitter electrons and current flows through the emitter and base to the collector to contribute collector current. The collector voltage VCB is kept constant throughout this.

In the CB configuration, the input current is the emitter current IE and the output current is the collector current IC.

Current Amplification Factor αα

The ratio of change in collector current $ΔIC$$ΔIC to the change in emitter current ΔIE$$ΔIE$ when collector voltage VCB is kept constant, is called as Current amplification factor. It is denoted by α.

α=ΔICΔIEatconstantVCBα=ΔICΔIEatconstantVCB

### Expression for Collector current

With the idea above, let us try to draw some expression for collector current. Along with the emitter current flowing, there is some amount of base current IB which flows through the base terminal due to electron hole recombination. As collector-base junction is reverse biased, there is another current which is flown due to minority charge carriers. This is the leakage current which can be understood as Ileakage. This is due to minority charge carriers and hence very small.

The emitter current that reaches the collector terminal is

αIEαIE

Total collector current

IC=αIE+IleakageIC=αIE+Ileakage

If the emitter-base voltage VEB = 0, even then, there flows a small leakage current, which can be termed as ICBO collectorbasecurrentwithoutputopencollector−basecurrentwithoutputopen.

The collector current therefore can be expressed as

IC=αIE+ICBOIC=αIE+ICBO
IE=IC+IBIE=IC+IB
IC=α(IC+IB)+ICBOIC=α(IC+IB)+ICBO
IC(1α)=αIB+ICBOIC(1−α)=αIB+ICBO
IC=(α1α)IB+(ICBO1α)IC=(α1−α)IB+(ICBO1−α)
IC=(α1α)IB+(11α)ICBOIC=(α1−α)IB+(11−α)ICBO

Hence the above derived is the expression for collector current. The value of collector current depends on base current and leakage current along with the current amplification factor of that transistor in use.

### Characteristics of CB configuration

• This configuration provides voltage gain but no current gain.
• Being VCB constant, with a small increase in the Emitter-base voltage VEB, Emitter current IE gets increased.
• Emitter Current IE is independent of Collector voltage VCB.
• Collector Voltage VCB can affect the collector current IC only at low voltages, when VEB is kept constant.
• The input resistance ri is the ratio of change in emitter-base voltage $ΔVEB$$ΔVEB to the change in emitter current ΔIE$$ΔIE$ at constant collector base voltage VCB.
η=ΔVEBΔIEatconstantVCBη=ΔVEBΔIEatconstantVCB
• As the input resistance is of very low value, a small value of VEB is enough to produce a large current flow of emitter current IE.
• The output resistance ro is the ratio of change in the collector base voltage $ΔVCB$$ΔVCB to the change in collector current ΔIC$$ΔIC$ at constant emitter current IE.
ro=ΔVCBΔICatconstantlEro=ΔVCBΔICatconstantlE
• As the output resistance is of very high value, a large change in VCB produces a very little change in collector current IC.
• This Configuration provides good stability against increase in temperature.
• The CB configuration is used for high frequency applications.

## Common Emitter CECE Configuration

The name itself implies that the Emitter terminal is taken as common terminal for both input and output of the transistor. The common emitter connection for both NPN and PNP transistors is as shown in the following figure.

Just as in CB configuration, the emitter junction is forward biased and the collector junction is reverse biased. The flow of electrons is controlled in the same manner. The input current is the base current IB and the output current is the collector current IC here.

Base Current Amplification factor ββ

The ratio of change in collector current $ΔIC$$ΔIC to the change in base current ΔIB$$ΔIB$ is known as Base Current Amplification Factor. It is denoted by β

β=ΔICΔIBβ=ΔICΔIB

### Relation between β and α

Let us try to derive the relation between base current amplification factor and emitter current amplification factor.

β=ΔICΔIBβ=ΔICΔIB
α=ΔICΔIEα=ΔICΔIE
IE=IB+ICIE=IB+IC
ΔIE=ΔIB+ΔICΔIE=ΔIB+ΔIC
ΔIB=ΔIEΔICΔIB=ΔIE−ΔIC

We can write

β=ΔICΔIEΔICβ=ΔICΔIE−ΔIC

Dividing by $$β=ΔICΔIEΔIEΔIEΔICΔIEβ=ΔICΔIEΔIEΔIE−ΔICΔIE α=ΔICΔIEα=ΔICΔIE We have α=ΔICΔIEα=ΔICΔIE Therefore, β=α1αβ=α1−α From the above equation, it is evident that, as α approaches 1, β reaches infinity. Hence, the current gain in Common Emitter connection is very high. This is the reason this circuit connection is mostly used in all transistor applications. ### Expression for Collector Current In the Common Emitter configuration, IB is the input current and IC is the output current. We know IE=IB+ICIE=IB+IC And IC=αIE+ICBOIC=αIE+ICBO =α(IB+IC)+ICBO=α(IB+IC)+ICBO IC(1α)=αIB+ICBOIC(1−α)=αIB+ICBO IC=α1αIB+11αICBOIC=α1−αIB+11−αICBO If base circuit is open, i.e. if IB = 0, The collector emitter current with base open is ICEO ICEO=11αICBOICEO=11−αICBO Substituting the value of this in the previous equation, we get IC=α1αIB+ICEOIC=α1−αIB+ICEO IC=βIB+ICEOIC=βIB+ICEO Hence the equation for collector current is obtained. ### Knee Voltage In CE configuration, by keeping the base current IB constant, if VCE is varied, IC increases nearly to 1v of VCE and stays constant thereafter. This value of VCE up to which collector current IC changes with VCE is called the Knee Voltage. The transistors while operating in CE configuration, they are operated above this knee voltage. ### Characteristics of CE Configuration • This configuration provides good current gain and voltage gain. • Keeping VCE constant, with a small increase in VBE the base current IB increases rapidly than in CB configurations. • For any value of VCE above knee voltage, IC is approximately equal to βIB. • The input resistance ri is the ratio of change in base emitter voltage ΔVBE$$ΔVBE$to the change in base current$ΔIB$$ΔIB at constant collector emitter voltage VCE. ri=ΔVBEΔIBatconstantVCEri=ΔVBEΔIBatconstantVCE • As the input resistance is of very low value, a small value of VBE is enough to produce a large current flow of base current IB. • The output resistance ro is the ratio of change in collector emitter voltage ΔVCE$$ΔVCE$to the change in collector current$ΔIC$$ΔIC at constant IB. ro=ΔVCEΔICatconstantIBro=ΔVCEΔICatconstantIB • As the output resistance of CE circuit is less than that of CB circuit. • This configuration is usually used for bias stabilization methods and audio frequency applications. ## Common Collector CCCC Configuration The name itself implies that the Collector terminal is taken as common terminal for both input and output of the transistor. The common collector connection for both NPN and PNP transistors is as shown in the following figure. Just as in CB and CE configurations, the emitter junction is forward biased and the collector junction is reverse biased. The flow of electrons is controlled in the same manner. The input current is the base current IB and the output current is the emitter current IE here. Current Amplification Factor γγ The ratio of change in emitter current ΔIE$$ΔIE$to the change in base current$ΔIBΔIB\$ is known as Current Amplification factor in common collector CCCC configuration. It is denoted by γ.

γ=ΔIEΔIBγ=ΔIEΔIB
• The current gain in CC configuration is same as in CE configuration.
• The voltage gain in CC configuration is always less than 1.

### Relation between γ and α

Let us try to draw some relation between γ and α

γ=ΔIEΔIBγ=ΔIEΔIB
α=ΔICΔIEα=ΔICΔIE
IE=IB+ICIE=IB+IC
ΔIE=ΔIB+ΔICΔIE=ΔIB+ΔIC
ΔIB=ΔIEΔICΔIB=ΔIE−ΔIC

Substituting the value of IB, we get

γ=ΔIEΔIEΔICγ=ΔIEΔIE−ΔIC

Dividing by ΔIEΔIE

γ=ΔIEΔIEΔIEΔIEΔICΔIEγ=ΔIEΔIEΔIEΔIE−ΔICΔIE
11α11−α
γ=11αγ=11−α

### Expression for collector current

We know

IC=αIE+ICBOIC=αIE+ICBO
IE=IB+IC=IB+(αIE+ICBO)IE=IB+IC=IB+(αIE+ICBO)
IE(1α)=IB+ICBOIE(1−α)=IB+ICBO
IE=IB1α+ICBO1αIE=IB1−α+ICBO1−α
ICIE=(β+1)IB+(β+1)ICBOIC≅IE=(β+1)IB+(β+1)ICBO

The above is the expression for collector current.

### Characteristics of CC Configuration

• This configuration provides current gain but no voltage gain.
• In CC configuration, the input resistance is high and the output resistance is low.
• The voltage gain provided by this circuit is less than 1.
• The sum of collector current and base current equals emitter current.
• The input and output signals are in phase.
• This configuration works as non-inverting amplifier output.
• This circuit is mostly used for impedance matching. That means, to drive a low impedance load from a high impedance source.