Bipolar Transistor

The basic of electronic system nowadays is semiconductor device.

The famous and commonly use of this device is BJTs (Bipolar
Junction Transistors). A Transistor is often called a Bipolar
Junction (BJT) or bipolar transistor. The name bipolar is adopted
from its structure whereby it has two junction and consist o three
doped region either n-p-n or p-n-p combination.
A bipolar junction transistor (bipolar transistor or BJT) is a type of
transistor that uses both electron and hole charge carriers. In
contrast, unipolar transistors, such as field-effect transistors, only
use one kind of charge carrier. For their operation, BJTs use two
junctions between two semiconductor types, n-type and p-type.
BJTs are manufactured in two types, NPN and PNP, and are
available as individual components, or fabricated in integrated
circuits, often in large numbers. The basic function of a BJT is to
amplify current. This allows BJTs to be used as amplifiers or
switches, giving them wide applicability in electronic equipment,
including computers, televisions, mobile phones, audio amplifiers,
industrial control, and radio transmitters.
BJT consists of three terminal:
The base is physically located between the emitter and the
collector and is made from lightly doped, high resistivity
material. The collector surrounds the emitter region, making it
almost impossible for the electrons injected into the base region
to escape without being collected, thus making the resulting
value of very close to unity, and so, giving the transistor a large
. A cross section view of a BJT indicates that the collectorbase
junction has a much larger area than the emitterbase junction.
Two types of BJT
NPN is one of the two types of bipolar transistors, consisting of a
layer of P-doped semiconductor (the "base") between two N-

doped layers. A small current entering the base is amplified to

produce a large collector and emitter current
PNP, consisting of a layer of N-doped semiconductor between two
layers of P-doped material. A small current leaving the base is
amplified in the collector output
Bias for NPN and PNP Transistors
Bipolar Transistor Configuration
The Common-Emitter circuit of Figure 5-5A has a
common connection between the base input and the
collector output.
The Common-Collector circuit of Figure 5-5B has the
collector commonly connected to the base input and the
emitter output.
The Common-Base circuit of Figure 5-5C has the base
commonly connected to the emitter input and the collector
output.
Comparison of Bipolar Transistor Configuration
Transistor as an Amplifier
Amflication is the process of linearly increasing the
amplitude of electrical signal and is one of the major
properties of transistor.
A transistor amplifies current because the collector current is
equal to the base current multiplied by the current gain . The
base current in a transistor is very small compared to the
collector and emitter currents . Because of this the collector
current is approximately equal to the emitter current .
Classifications of Amplifiers
Transistor as a Switch
When used as an electronic switch , a transistor is normally
operated alternately in cut-off and saturation . Digital Circuits
make use of the switching characteristics of transistor .

Application of Transistor as a Switch

Thyristors
Thyristors refer to a class of solid state silicon switching
devices made-up of four layer PNPN structure . These
devices are used to control large amount of current on
industrial electrical equipment
Thyristors are switching devices that dont require any
control current once they are turned on . All they require to
snap them on is a quick pulse of control current . When the
pulse current stops , thyristors keep going as through
nothing happened.
Thyristors are mostly used in the act stage of systems , to
control power to a working device such as motor . As you
would suspect , they are generally high-power devices they
can handle great deal of power without reaching harmful
temperature .
Kinds of Thyristors
Silicon Controlled Rectifier (SCR) is a semiconductor
device that normally blocks conventional current attempting
to pass either way between the anode and cathode . But
when current is attempting to flow from anode to cathode , a
quick pulse of current into the gate will turn the SCR on . And
the most important , the SCR stays on even after the control
gate current has stopped , as long as working current is
being supplied .
Triac is a three terminal semiconductor for controlling
current in either direction . The symbol looks like two SCRs in
parallel (opposite direction) with one trigger or gate terminal
. The main or power terminals are designated as MT1 and
MT2 .