Transistor as a switch

Transistor can be configured as a switch to connect and disconnect the load from the source. It
exhibits the same function as that of a mechanical switch expect that it is operated electrically
and may be used to respond more rapidly. The mechanical switch arrangement allows no current
to flow when the switch is open, but when the switch is closed, all the source voltage appears
across the load. Ideally the transistor switch should have same properties like mechanical switch.
When a transistor is used as a switch it should operate only in two regions.
i)
ii)

Cut- off region

Saturation region

In cut off region both the emitter junction and collector junction are reverse biased and only
very small reverse saturation current flows across the junction i.e. I C =0, I E=O(CB) .
It is required that the transistor must be in the cut-off region at times when it is to behave as
an open switch.
In saturation region both the emitter junction and collector junction are forward biased. The
voltages across the individual junction or across the combination of junctions are small (
V range). It is required that the transistor must be in saturation region at times when it is
to behave as a closed switch.

Note:
i)

ii)
iii)

When a transistor is used as a switch in C.B. configuration the input emitter current
required to operate the switch is nominally as large as the collector current being
switched.
In the C.C configuration, the input voltage required to operate the switch is nominally
as large as supply voltage.
In CE. Configuration, the input switching signal, current or voltage in comparison
with the switched output current or voltage are small. Hence common emitter is most
generally used for transistor switch.

Transistor at cut-off
Cut off in a transistor is defined by the condition
For C.B configuration at the point of cut off.
I C = I E + I C 0

I E =0

Where,
is the C.B short circuit current gain.
I E =0

Since,
I C =I C 0

Therefore

. (For C.B)

For C.E configuration the transistor will be at cut-off. If the base is open
circuited. Then
I C =I E

Circuit consideration at cut-off

Because of temperature effects, available multiplication, and the wise variability encountered
from sample to sample of particular transistor type we consider the transistor just at the point of
I =O
I =I CBO
cut-off, with E
. So that B
(for C.E configuration). Since, at cut-off.
V BE 0.1 V then the condition of cut-off requires.
V BE =V BB + RB I CB0 0.1 V

Transistor switch in saturation

i)

In saturation the transistor current is nominally

necessary to keep

V CC

V CC / R L

Since

RL

is small, it is

correspondingly small in order to stay within the

ii)

limitations imposed by the transistor on maximum current and dissipation.

V CE V CE(sat)'
The total voltage swing at the transistor switch is

iii)

If

V CC

is fixed, then in order to make the output swing as large as possible it is

necessary that
iv)

V CE(sat)

be as small as possible.

The largest possible output swing is needed because

a) To reduce the sensitivity of the switching circuit to noise, supply voltage
fluctuations, transistor aging and replacement etc.

b) When the output of one switch is dc- coupled to the input of other switches, a
V CE(sat)
small change in
will determine whether the succeeding switches are
v)

cut off or driven to saturation.

V CE(sat)
The
depends not only on the operating point but also on the
semiconductor material and on the type of transistor construction.