Bi l Junction

Bipolar
J
ti Transistor
T
i t
(BJT)
Sub Title :
Transistor Biasing

What Is Biasing ?

Biasing in electronics is the method of

establishing predetermined voltages
and/or currents at various points of a
circuit to set an appropriate operating
point.

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Why Transistor Needs Biasing?

Most often, bias simply refers to a fixed DC voltage applied to

the same point in a circuit as an AC signal, frequently to select
the desired operating response of a semiconductor or other
electronic component (forward or reverse bias).
bias) For example,
example a
bias voltage is applied to a transistor in an electronic amplifier
to allow the transistor to operate in a particular region of its
transconductance curve.
Bipolar transistor amplifiers must be properly biased to operate
correctly. In circuits made with individual devices (discrete
circuits), biasing networks consisting of resistors are commonly
employed. Much more elaborate biasing arrangements are used
in integrated circuits,
circuits for example,
example bandgap voltage references
and current mirrors.

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Active Mode

Linear circuits involving transistors typically require specific DC voltages

and currents to operate correctly, which can be achieved using a
biasing circuit.
As an example of the need for careful biasing, consider a transistor
amplifier. In linear amplifiers, a small input signal gives larger output
signal without any change in shape (low distortion): the input signal
causes the output signal to vary up and down about the Q-point in a
manner strictly proportional to the input. However, because a transistor
i nonlinear,
is
li
th transistor
the
t
i t amplifier
lifi only
l approximates
i t linear
li
operation.
ti
For low distortion, the transistor must be biased so the output signal
swing does not drive the transistor into a region of extremely nonlinear
operation. For a bipolar transistor amplifier, this requirement means
that the transistor must stay in the active mode, and avoid cut
cut-off
off or
saturation. The same requirement applies to a MOSFET amplifier,
although the terminology differs a little: the MOSFET must stay in the
active mode (or saturation mode), and avoid cut-off or Ohmic
operation (or triode mode).

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Q Point

The operating point of a device, also known as bias point or

quiescent point (or simply Q-point), is the point on the output
characteristics that shows the DC collector-emitter voltage (Vce)
and the collector current (Ic) with no input signal applied.
applied The
term is normally used in connection with devices such as
transistors.
For bipolar junction transistors the bias point is chosen to keep
the transistor operating in the active mode,
mode using a variety of
circuit techniques, establishing the Q-point DC voltage and
current. A small signal is then applied on top of the Q-point bias
voltage, thereby either modulating or switching the current,
depending on the purpose of the circuit.
circuit

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DC Load Line

The quiescent point of

operation is typically
Ic
near the
th middle
iddl off DC max
load line. The process of
obtaining
g certain DC
collector current at a
certain DC collector
voltage by setting up
operating point is called
biasing.
g

Ic

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DC Load Line

Ib4
Ib3
Ib2
Ib1
Vce
max

Vce

Consideration!!!

After establishing the operating point, when input signal is

applied, the output signal should not move the transistor either
to saturation or to cut-off. However, this unwanted shift still
might occur,
occur due to the following reasons:

Parameters of transistors depend on junction temperature. As

junction temperature increases, leakage current due to minority
charge carriers (ICBO) increases. As ICBO increases, ICEO also
increases, causing an increase in collector current IC. This produces
heat at the collector junction. This process repeats, and, finally, Qpoint may shift into the saturation region. Sometimes, the excess
heat produced at the junction may even burn the transistor. This is
known as thermal runaway.
When a transistor is replaced by another of the same type, the Qpoint may shift, due to changes in parameters of the transistor,
such as current gain () which varies slightly for each unique
transistor.

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Biasing Techniques For Class

A Transistor

To avoid a shift of Q-point, biasstabilization is necessary. Various

biasing circuits can be used for this
purpose :

Fixed bias
Collector-to-base bias
Fixed bias with emitter resistor
Voltage divider bias
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Fixed Bias

This form of biasing is also

called base bias. In the
example
p image
g on the right,
g
the single power source (for
example, a battery) is used for
both collector and base of
transistor although separate
transistor,
batteries can also be used.
In the given circuit,
VCC = IBRB + Vbe

Therefore,

IB = (VCC - Vbe)/RB

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Fixed Bias

For a given transistor, Vbe does not vary significantly

during use. As VCC is of fixed value, on selection of
RB, the base current IB is fixed.
fixed Therefore this type is
called fixed bias type of circuit.
Also for given circuit,
VCC = ICRC + Vce
V
Therefore,
Vce = VCC - ICRC
From this equation we can obtain Vce. Since IC = IB,
we can obtain IC as well. In this manner, operating
point given as (VCE,IIC) can be set for given transistor.
transistor
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Fixed Bias - Merits

It is simple to shift the operating point

anywhere in the active region by merely
changing the base resistor (RB).
Very few number of components are
required.

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Fixed Bias - Demerits

The collector current does not remain

constant with variation in temperature or
power supply voltage.
voltage
Therefore the
operating point is unstable.
Changes in Vbe will change IB and thus cause
RE to
t change.
h
Thi in
This
i turn
t
will
ill alter
lt the
th gain
i
of the stage.
When
e tthe
e ttransistor
a s sto iss replaced
ep aced with
t a
another
ot e
one, considerable change in the value of
can be expected. Due to this change the
operating point will shift.
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Fixed Bias - Usage

Due to the above inherent drawbacks, fixed

bias is rarely used in linear circuits, ie. those
circuits
i it which
hi h use the
th transistor
t
i t as a currentt
source. Instead it is often used in circuits
where transistor is used as a switch.
However, one application of 'fixed' bias is to
achieve crude automatic gain control in the
transistor
i
b feeding
by
f di the
h base
b
resistor
i
f
from
a
dc signal derived from the ac output of a later
stage.
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13

Colector to Base Bias

This configuration employs

negative feedback to prevent
thermal
runawayy
and
stabilize the operating point.
In this form of biasing, the
base resistor RB is connected
to the collector instead of
connecting it to the DC
source VCC. So any thermal
runaway will induce a voltage
drop across the RC resistor
that
will
throttle
the
transistor's base current.
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Colector to Base Bias

From Kirchhoff's voltage law, the voltage

across the base resistor Rb is

By the EbersMoll model, Ic = Ib, and so

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Colector to Base Bias

From Ohm's law, the base current, and

so

Hence, the base current Ib is

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Colector to Base Bias

If Vbe is held constant and temperature

increases, then the collector current Ic
i
increases.
H
However,
a larger
l
I causes the
Ic
th
voltage drop across resistor Rc to increase,
which in turn reduces the voltage
g across the
base resistor Rb. A lower base-resistor voltage
drop reduces the base current Ib, which
results in less collector current Ic.
Ic Because an
increase in collector current with temperature
is opposed,
pp
, the operating
p
gp
point is kept
p stable.
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Colector to Base Bias - Merits

Circuit stabilizes the operating point

against variations in temperature and
(ie. replacement of transistor)

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Colector to Base Bias Demerits

In this circuit, to keep Ic independent of ,

the following condition must be met:

which is the case when

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Colector to Base Bias Demerits

As -value is fixed (and generally unknown) for a

given transistor, this relation can be satisfied either
by keeping Rc fairly large or making Rb very low.
low

If Rc is large, a high Vcc is necessary, which increases cost

as well as precautions necessary while handling.
If Rb is low, the reverse bias of the collector
collector-base
base is small,
which limits the range of collector voltage swing that leaves
the transistor in active mode.

The resistor Rb causes an AC feedback,, reducing

g the
voltage gain of the amplifier. This undesirable effect
is a trade-off for greater Q-point stability.

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Colector to Base Bias - Usage

The feedback also decreases the input

impedance of the amplifier as seen
from the base, which can be
advantageous. Due to the gain
reduction from feedback, this biasing
form is used only when the trade
trade-off
off for
stability is warranted.
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Fixed Bias With Emitter

Resistor

The fixed bias circuit is

modified by attaching an
external
resistor
to
the
emitter.
This
resistor
introduces negative feedback
that stabilizes the Q-point.
From Kirchhoff
Kirchhoff'ss voltage law,
law
the voltage across the base
resistor is
VRb = VCC - IeRe - Vbe.
Vbe
From Ohm's law, the base
current is
Ib = VRb / Rb.
Rb
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Fixed Bias With Emitter

Resistor

The way feedback controls the bias point is as

follows. If Vbe is held constant and temperature
increases emitter current increases.
increases,
increases However,
However a
larger Ie increases the emitter voltage Ve = IeRe,
which in turn reduces the voltage VRb across the
base resistor.
resistor A lower base
base-resistor
resistor voltage drop
reduces the base current, which results in less
collector current because Ic = IB. Collector current
and emitter current are related by Ic = Ie with
1, so increase in emitter current with temperature is
opposed, and operating point is kept stable.
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Fixed Bias With Emitter

Resistor

Similarly, if the transistor is replaced by

g in IC
another, there mayy be a change
(corresponding to change in -value,
for example). By similar process as
above,
b
th change
the
h
i negated
is
t d and
d
operating point kept stable.
F the
For
th given
i
circuit,
i it
IB = (VCC - Vbe)/(RB + (+1)RE).
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Fixed Bias With Emitter

Resistor - Merits

The circuit has the tendency to stabilize

operating point against changes in
temperature and -value.

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Fixed Bias With Emitter

Resistor - Demerits

In this circuit, to keep IC independent of

the following condition must be met:

which is approximately the case if

( + 1 ))RE >> RB.

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Fixed Bias With Emitter

Resistor - Demerits

As -value is fixed for a given transistor, this relation

can be satisfied either by keeping RE very large, or
making RB very low.
low

If RE is of large value, high VCC is necessary. This increases

cost as well as precautions necessary while handling.
If RB is low, a separate low voltage supply should be used in
the base circuit. Using two supplies of different voltages is
impractical.

In addition to the above,, RE causes ac feedback

which reduces the voltage gain of the amplifier.

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Fixed Bias With Emitter

Resistor - Usage

The feedback also increases the input

impedance of the amplifier as seen
from the base, which can be
advantageous. Due to the above
disadvantages, this type of biasing
circuit is used only with careful
consideration of the trade-offs involved.
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Voltage Divider Bias

The voltage divider is formed using

external resistors R1 and R2. The
voltage across R2 forward biases the
emitter junction.
junction By proper selection of
resistors R1 and R2, the operating point
of the transistor can be made
independent of . In this circuit, the
voltage divider holds the base voltage
fixed independent of base current
provided the divider current is large
compared to the base current. However,
even with a fixed base voltage,
voltage collector
current varies with temperature (for
example) so an emitter resistor is added
to stabilize the Q-point, similar to the
above circuits with emitter resistor.
resistor
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Voltage Divider Bias

In this circuit the base voltage is given by:

g across =
VB = voltage
p
provided

Also
so
For the given circuit

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Voltage Divider Bias - Merits

Unlike above circuits, only one dc

supply is necessary.
Operating point is almost independent
of variation.
variation
Operating point stabilized against shift
in temperature.
temperature

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Voltage Divider Bias Demerits

In this circuit, to keep IC independent of

the following condition must be met:

which is approximately the case if

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Voltage Divider Bias Demerits

where R1 || R2 denotes the equivalent resistance of R1 and R2

connected in parallel.
As -value is fixed for a given transistor, this relation can be satisfied
either by keeping RE fairly large, or making R1||R2 very low.

If RE is of large value, high VCC is necessary. This increases cost as

well as precautions necessary while handling.

If R1 || R2 is low, either R1 is low, or R2 is low, or both are low. A

low R1 raises VB closer to VC, reducing the available swing in
collector voltage, and limiting how large RC can be made without
driving the transistor out of active mode. A low R2 lowers Vbe,
reducing the allowed collector current. Lowering both resistor
values draws more current from the power supply and lowers the
i
input
t resistance
i t
off the
th amplifier
lifi as seen from
f
th base.
the
b
AC as well as DC feedback is caused by RE, which reduces the AC
voltage gain of the amplifier. A method to avoid AC feedback while
retaining DC feedback is discussed below.

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Voltage Divider Bias - Usage

The circuit's stability and merits as

above make it widely used for linear
circuits.

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Selesai

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