Joy M.

Fullo BSEd-TLE 4D
Types of Transistors

Transistor is the proper arrangement of different semiconductor materials. General semiconductor

materials used for transistor are silicon, germanium, and gallium-arsenide. Basically the transistors
are classified depending on their structure. Each type of transistors has their own characteristics,
advantages and disadvantages.
Some transistors are designed primarily for switching purpose, other side some are designed for
amplification purpose and some transistors are designed for both amplification and switching
purposes. Depending on the structure the transistors are classified into BJT and FET.

Junction Transistors
Junction transistor is generally called as Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT). The BJT transistors have
three terminals named emitter (E), Base (B), Collector (C). The name itself indicates that it has two
junctions between p-type and n-type semiconductors. The BJT transistors are classified in to NPN
and PNP transistors depending on the construction.
Unlike FET transistors, the BJT transistors are current-controlled devices. If small amount of current
flows through the base of a BJT transistor then it causes to flow large current from emitter to collector.
The BJT transistors have low input impedance and it causes to flow large current through the
transistor. The BJT transistors are only the transistors which are turned ON by the input current which
is given to the base. Bipolar junction transistors can operate in three regions, they are

 Cut-off Region: Here the transistor is in ‘OFF’ state i.e the current flowing through the
transistor is zero.
 Active Region: Here the transistor acts as an amplifier.
 Saturation Region: Here the transistor is in fully ‘ON’ state and also works as a closed
switch.

NPN Transistor
NPN is one of the two types of Bipolar Junction Transistors (BJT). The NPN transistor consists of two
n-type semiconductor materials and they are separated by a thin layer of p-type semiconductor. Here
the majority charge carriers are electrons and holes are the minority charge carriers. The flowing of
electrons from emitter to collector forms the current flow in the transistor through the base terminal.
A small amount of current at base terminal causes to flow large amount current from emitter to
collector. Nowadays the generally used bipolar transistor is NPN transistor, because the mobility of
electrons is greater than mobility of holes. The standard equation for the currents flowing in the
transistor is
IE = I B + I C
The symbols and structure for NPN transistors are given below.

PNP Transistor
The PNP is another type of Bipolar Junction Transistors (BJT). The PNP transistors contain two p-
type semiconductor materials and are separated by a thin layer of n-type semiconductor. The majority
charge carriers in the PNP transistors are holes and electrons are minority charge carriers. The arrow
in the emitter terminal of transistor indicates the flow of conventional current. In PNP transistor the
current flows from Emitter to Collector.
The PNP transistor is ON when the base terminal is pulled to LOW with respect to emitter. The
symbol and structure for PNP transistor is shown below.

FET (Field Effect Transistor)

The Field-Effect-Transistor (FET) is another transistors type. Basically the FET transistors
have three terminals they are gate (G), Drain (D) and Source (S). FET transistors are
classified into Junction Field Effect transistors (JFET) and Insulated Gate FET (IG-FET) or
MOSFET transistors. For the connections in the circuit we also consider fourth terminal called
base or substrate. The FET transistors have control on the size and shape of a channel
between source and drain which is created by applied voltage. The FET transistors are uni-
polar transistors because they perform single channel operation where as BJT transistors are
bipolar junction transistors. The FET transistors have high current gain than BJT transistors.

JFET (Junction-Field Effect Transistor)

The Junction-Field-Effect transistor (JFET) is an earliest and simple type of FET transistors.
These JFETs are used as switches, amplifiers and resistors. This transistor is a voltage
controlled device. It doesn’t need any biasing current. The voltage applied between gate and
source controls the flow of electric current between source and drain of a transistor. The
JFET transistors are available in both N-channel and P-channel types.
N-Channel JFET

In N-channel JFET the current flow is due to the electrons. When voltage is applied between
gate and source, a channel is formed between source and drain for current flow. This channel
is called N-channel. Nowadays N-channel JFET transistor is most preferable type than P-
channel JFET. The symbols for N-channel JFET transistor are given below.

P-Channel JFET
In this JFET transistor the current flow is because of holes. The channel between source and drain is
called P-channel. The symbols for P-channel JFET transistors are given below. Here arrow marks
indicates the direction of current flow.

MOSFET
Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor (MOSFET) is most useful type of among all
transistors. The name itself indicates that it contains metal gate terminal. The MOSFET has four
terminals drain, source, gate and body or substrate (B). MOSFET has many advantages over BJT
and JFET, mainly it offer high input impedance and low output impedance. It is used in low power
circuits mainly in chip designing technologies.
The MOSFET transistors are available in depletion and enhancement types. Further the depletion and
enhancement types are classified into N-channel and P-channel types.

N-Channel MOSFET
The MOSFET having N-channel region between source and drain is called N-channel MOSFET. Here
the source and gate terminals are heavily doped with n-type materials and substrate is doped with p-
type semiconductor material. Here the current flow between source and drain is because of electrons.
The gate voltage controls the current flow in the circuit. N-channel MOSFET is most preferable than
P-channel MOSFET because the mobility of electrons is high than mobility of holes. The symbols for
N-channel MOSFET transistors are given below.
P- Channel MOSFET
The MOSFET having P-channel region between source and drain is called as P-channel MOSFET.
Here the source and drain terminals are heavily doped with P-type material and the substrate is
doped with N-type material. The current flow between source and drain is because of holes
concentration. The applied voltage at gate will controls the flow of current through channel region. The
symbols for P-channel MOSFET transistors in depletion and enhancement types are given below.

Transistors Based on Function

Transistors are also classified depending on the functions that mean what the transistors do.
Different types of transistors based on their function are explained below.

Small Signal Transistors

The basic function of small signal transistors is to amplify small signals even these transistors are
used for switching purpose. Small signal transistors are available in market in the form of NPN and
PNP transistors. We can see some value on the body of small signal transistor this value indicates
hFE of transistor.
Depending on this hFE value we can understand the capacity of transistor to amplify the signal. The
hFE values are present within the range of 10 to 500. The collector current value of these transistors
is 80 to 600mA. This type of transistors operates with the frequency range of 1 to 300MHz. The name
of the transistor itself indicates that these transistors amplify small signals which use small voltages
and currents, such as few milli volts and milli amperes of current.

Resource link: learningaboutelectronics.com/images/Small-signal-

transistor.png
Small signal transistors are used in almost all types of electronic equipments and also these
transistors are used in several applications, some of them are ON or OFF switches for general use,
LED diode driver, Relay driver, Audio mute function, Timer circuits, Infrared diode amplifier, Bias
supply circuits etc.

Small Switching Transistors

Small switching transistors are the transistors which are primarily used for switching after that also
used for amplification. Like small signal transistors, small switching transistors are also available in
the form of NPN and PNP and these type of transistors are also have hFE values. The hFE value
range for these transistors is from 10 to 200. At hFE value 200 the transistors are not good amplifiers
even though they act as better switches. The collector current values ranges from 10 to 1000mA.
These transistors are used mostly in switching applications.

Resource
link: learningaboutelectronics.com/images/Small-switching-
transistor.png
Power Transistors
The transistors which are used in the high power amplifiers and power supplies are called as
“power amplifiers”. The collector terminal of this transistor is connected to the base of a metal
device and this structure acts as heat sink which dissipates excess power for the
applications.
These types of transistors are available in the form of NPN, PNP and Darlington transistors. Here the
collector current values range from 1 to 100A. The operating frequency range from 1 to 100MHz. The
power values of these transistors are range from 10 to 300W. The name of the transistor itself
indicates that the power transistors are used in the applications where high power, high voltage and
high current are required.

Resource
link: learningaboutelectronics.com/images/Power-transistors.png
High Frequency Transistors
High frequency transistors are used for small signals which operate at high frequencies and these are
used in high speed switching applications. High frequency transistors are also called as RF
Transistors. These transistors have maximum frequency values of about 2000MHz. The collector
current (IC) value ranges from 10 to 600mA. These types of transistors are also available in the form
of NPN and PNP. These are mainly used in the applications of high frequency signals and also this
transistors must be ON or OFF at high speeds only. These transistors are used in HF, VHF, UHF,
CATV and MATV oscillator and amplifier circuits.

Resource link: learningabouelectronics.com/images/High-frequency-

transistors.jpg
Photo Transistor
Photo transistors are the transistors which operate depending on the light that means these
transistors are light sensitive. The general photo transistor is nothing but a bipolar transistor
which contains light sensitive area instead of base terminal. The photo transistors have only 2
terminals instead of general 3 terminals. The transistor operates depending on the light.
When the light sensitive area is dark then no current flows in transistor i.e. transistor is in
OFF state.

Resource
link: learningaboutelectronics.com/images/Phototransistors.jpg

When light sensitive area is exposed to light then a small amount of current generates at base
terminal and it causes to flow large current from collector to emitter. The photo transistors are
available in both BJT and FET transistor types. These are named as photo-BJTs and photo-FETs.
Unlike photo-BJTs, the photo-FETs are generating gate current by using light which controls the
current flow between drain and source terminals. Photo-FETs are more sensitive to light than photo-
BJTs. The symbols for photo-BJT and photo-FETs are shown above.
Unijunction Transistors:
 Resource link: learningaboutelectronics.com/images/Unijunction-
transistor.png

Unijunction transistors are used only as electrically controlled switches. These transistors do not
contain any amplification characteristics because of their design. These are generally three lead
transistors. Now we see the operation of unijunction transistor. If there is no potential difference
between emitter and any one of the base terminals (B1 or B2) then a small amount of current flows
between B1 and B2.
If sufficient amount of voltage is applied to the emitter terminal then high current generates at emitter
terminal and it adds to small current between B1 and B2, then it causes to flow large current in the
transistor. Here the emitter current is the primary current source for total current in the transistor. The
current between the terminals B1 and B2 is very small, due to this reason these transistors are not
suitable for amplification purpose.

REGULATED POWER SUPPLY

Regulated power supply is an electronic circuit that is designed to provide a constant dc voltage of
predetermined value across load terminals irrespective of ac mains fluctuations or load variations.
As shown in the figure, the two main parts of a regulated power supply are a simple power supply and
a voltage regulating device. The power supply output is given as input to the voltage regulating device
that provides the final output. The voltage output of the power supply remains constant irrespective of
large variations in the input AC voltage or output load current.
Given below is a circuit diagram of a regulated power supply circuit using a transistor series regulator
as a regulating device. The input AC voltage (230 Voltas Vrms), is supplied to a transformer. The
output will be a stepped down ac output appropriate for the desired dc output. This ac voltage is then
given to a bridge rectifier to produce a full-wave rectified output. This is then given to a pi-filter circuit
to produce a dc voltage. The filter output may have some ac voltage variations and ripples. This is
further filtered using a regulating circuit whose output will be a constant dc voltage. This regulated dc
voltage is then given to a voltage divider, which supplies the different dc voltages that may be needed
for different electronic circuits.
The potential divider is a single tapped resistor connected across the output terminals of the supply.
The tapped resistor may consist of two or three resistors connected in series across the supply. A
bleeder resistor may also be employed as a potential divider.
Power Supply Characteristics
The quality of the power supply is determined by various characteristics like load voltage, load
current, voltage regulation, source regulation, output impedance, ripple rejection, and so on. Some of
the characteristics are briefly explained below:
1. Load Regulation – The load regulation or load effect is the change in regulated output voltage
when the load current changes from minimum to maximum value.
Load regulation = Vno-load – Vfull-load
Vno-load – Load Voltage at no load
Vfull-load – Load voltage at full load.
From the above equation we can understand that when Vno-load occurs the load resistance is infinite, that
is, the out terminals are open circuited. Vfull-load occurs when the load resistance is of the minimum value
where voltage regulation is lost.
% Load Regulation = [(Vno-load – Vfull-load)/Vfull-load] * 100
2. Minimum Load Resistance – The load resistance at which a power supply delivers its full-load rated
current at rated voltage is referred to as minimum load resistance.
Minimum Load Resistance = Vfull-load/Ifull-load
The value of Ifull-load, full load current should never increase than that mentioned in the data sheet of the
power supply.
3. Source/Line Regulation – In the block diagram, the input line voltage has a nominal value of 230 Volts
but in practice, there are considerable variations in ac supply mains voltage. Since this ac supply mains
voltage is the input to the ordinary power supply, the filtered output of the bridge rectifier is almost directly
proportional to the ac mains voltage.
The source regulation is defined as the change in regulated output voltage for a specified rage of line
voltage.
4. Output Impedance – A regulated power supply is a very stiff dc voltage source. This means that the
output resistance is very small. Even though the external load resistance is varied, almost no change is
seen in the load voltage. An ideal voltage source has an output impedance of zero.
5. Ripple Rejection – Voltage regulators stabilize the output voltage against variations in input voltage.
Ripple is equivalent to a periodic variation in the input voltage. Thus, a voltage regulator attenuates the
ripple that comes in with the unregulated input voltage. Since a voltage regulator uses negative feedback,
the distortion is reduced by the same factor as the gain.

REGULATED POWER SUPPLY

Regulated power supply is an electronic circuit that is designed to provide a constant dc voltage of
predetermined value across load terminals irrespective of ac mains fluctuations or load variations.

Regulated Power Supply – Block Diagram

A regulated power supply essentially consists of an ordinary power supply and a voltage regulating device,
as illustrated in the figure. The output from an ordinary power supply is fed to the voltage regulating device
that provides the final output. The output voltage remains constant irrespective of variations in the ac input
voltage or variations in output (or load) current.
Figure given below shows the complete circuit of a regulated power supply with a transistor series
regulator as a regulating device. The ac voltage, typically 230 Vrms is connected to a transformer which
transforms that ac voltage to the level for the desired dc output. A bridge rectifier then provides a full-wave
rectified voltage that is initially filtered by a ∏ (or C-L-C) filter to produce a dc voltage. The resulting dc
voltage usually has some ripple or ac voltage variation. A regulating circuit use this dc input to provide a dc
voltage that not only has much less ripple voltage but also remains constant even if the input dc voltage
varies somewhat or the load connected to the output dc voltage changes. The regulated dc supply is
available across a voltage divider.

Regulated Power Supply – Diagram

Often more than one dc voltage is required for the operation of electronic circuits. A single power supply
can provide as many as voltages as are required by using a voltage (or potential) divider, as illustrated in
the figure. As illustrated in the figure, a potential divider is a single tapped resistor connected across the
output terminals of the supply. The tapped resistor may consist of two or three resistors connected in
series across the supply. In fact, bleeder resistor may also be employed as a potential divider.
Power Supply Characteristics
There are various factors that determine the quality of the power supply like the load voltage, load current,
voltage regulation, source regulation, output impedance, ripple rejection, and so on. Some of the
characteristics are briefly explained below:
1. Load Regulation – The load regulation or load effect is the change in regulated output voltage when the
load current changes from minimum to maximum value.
Load regulation = Vno-load – Vfull-load
Vno-load – Load Voltage at no load
Vfull-load – Load voltage at full load.
From the above equation we can understand that when Vno-load occurs the load resistance is infinite, that
is, the out terminals are open circuited. Vfull-load occurs when the load resistance is of the minimum value
where voltage regulation is lost.
% Load Regulation = [(Vno-load – Vfull-load)/Vfull-load] * 100
2. Minimum Load Resistance – The load resistance at which a power supply delivers its full-load rated current
at rated voltage is referred to as minimum load resistance.
Minimum Load Resistance = Vfull-load/Ifull-load
The value of Ifull-load, full load current should never increase than that mentioned in the data sheet of the
power supply.
3. Source/Line Regulation – In the block diagram, the input line voltage has a nominal value of 230 Volts but in
practice, here are considerable variations in ac supply mains voltage. Since this ac supply mains voltage is the
input to the ordinary power supply, the filtered output of the bridge rectifier is almost directly proportional to the
ac mains voltage.
The source regulation is defined as the change in regulated output voltage for a specified rage of lie
voltage.
4. Output Impedance – A regulated power supply is a very stiff dc voltage source. This means that the
output resistance is very small. Even though the external load resistance is varied, almost no change is
seen in the load voltage. An ideal voltage source has an output impedance of zero.
5. Ripple Rejection – Voltage regulators stabilize the output voltage against variations in input voltage. Ripple
is equivalent to a periodic variation in the input voltage. Thus,a voltage regulator attenuates the ripple that
comes in with the unregulated input voltage. Since a voltage regulator uses negative feedback, the distortion is
reduced by the same factor as the gain.