Definitions [7]
AC Current Gain is defined as the ratio of the change in the collector-current to the change in the base-current at a constant collector-to-emitter voltage and is denoted by β (AC). Thus,
\[\beta(AC)=\left(\frac{\Delta I_{C}}{\Delta I_{B}}\right)_{V_{CE}}\]
Transconductance is defined as the ratio of the change in the collector-current to the change in the base- to-emitter voltage at constant collector-to-emitter voltage and is denoted by 8m. Thus,
\[g_{m}=\frac{\beta\left(AC\right)}{R_{in}}\]
It is defined as the ratio of the change in the output voltage to the change in the input voltage and is denoted by AV.
A junction transistor is a three-element semiconductor device consisting of two p-n junctions formed by sandwiching a thin layer of doped semiconductor (n-type or p-type) between two thick similar layers of the opposite type (p or n).
The current-amplification is defined as the ratio of change in the collector-current to the change in the base-current for a constant collector to emitter voltage.
Mathematically, β = \[\left(\frac{\Delta I_{C}}{\Delta I_{B}}\right)_{V_{CE}}\]
DC Current Gain is defined as the ratio of the collector current to the base current and is denoted by β (DC). Thus,
β(DC) = \[\frac {I_C}{I_B}\]
AC Power Gain is defined as the ratio of the change in the output power to the change in the input power.
Formulae [2]
IE = IC + IB
VCE = VCC − ICRL
Key Points
- A transistor has two p–n junctions and can be p–n–p or n–p–n type.
- The base is thin and lightly doped, the emitter is heavily doped, and the collector is moderately doped.
- For normal operation, the emitter–base junction is forward-biased, and the collector–base junction is reverse-biased.
- Most charge carriers from the emitter reach the collector; only a small fraction recombine in the base.
- In common-emitter mode, the emitter is common; the base is the input, and the collector is the output.
- Base current increases quickly after VBE crosses barrier voltage; input resistance is low (kΩ range).
- The output curve has three regions: cut-off, saturation and active.
- In the active region, IC is almost independent of VCE and depends mainly on IB; this region is used for amplification.
