Transistor Biasing

The basic function of transistor is amplification. The process of raising the

strength of weak signal without any change in its general shape is referred as
faithful amplification. For faithful amplification it is essential that:-

1. Emitter-Base junction is forward biased

2. Collector- Base junction is reversed biased
3. Proper zero signal collector current

The proper flow of zero signal collector current and the maintenance
of proper collector emitter voltage during the passage of signal is
called transistor biasing.

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 WHY BIASING?
If the transistor is not biased properly, it would work inefficiently and
produce distortion in output signal.

HOW A TRANSISTOR CAN BE BIASED?

A transistor is biased either with the help of battery or associating a circuit

with the transistor. The later method is more efficient and is frequently
used. The circuit used for transistor biasing is called the biasing circuit.

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BIAS STABILITY

 Through proper biasing, a desired quiescent operating point of the transistor

amplifier in the active region (linear region) of the characteristics is obtained. It is
desired that once selected the operating point should remain stable. The
maintenance of operating point stable is called Stabilisation.

 The selection of a proper quiescent point generally depends on the following

factors:
(a) The amplitude of the signal to be handled by the amplifier and distortion
level in signal
(b) The load to which the amplifier is to work for a corresponding supply
voltage

 The operating point of a transistor amplifier shifts mainly with changes in

temperature, since the transistor parameters — β, ICO and VBE (where the
symbols carry their usual meaning)—are functions of temperature.

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The DC Operating Point
For a transistor circuit to amplify it must be properly biased with dc
voltages. The dc operating point between saturation and cutoff is
called the Q-point. The goal is to set the Q-point such that that it
does not go into saturation or cutoff when an a ac signal is applied.

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Requirements of biasing network

• Ensuring proper zero signal collector current.

• Ensuring VcE not falling below 0.5V for Ge transistor and 1V for Silicon transistor at
any instant.
• Ensuring Stabilization of operating point. (zero signal IC and VcE)

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The Thermal Stability of Operating Point (SIco)
Stability Factor S:- The stability factor S, as the change of collector
current with respect to the reverse saturation current, keeping β and
VBE constant. This can be written as:
The Thermal Stability Factor : SIco
SIco = ∂Ic
∂Ico
Vbe, β

This equation signifies that Ic Changes SIco times as fast as Ico

Differentiating the equation of Collector Current IC = (1+β)Ico+ βIb &

rearranging the terms we can write
SIco ═ 1+β
1- β (∂Ib/∂IC)

It may be noted that Lower is the value of SIco better is the stability
140
 Various Biasing Circuits

• Fixed Bias Circuit

• Fixed Bias with Emitter Resistor
• Collector to Base Bias Circuit
• Potential Divider Bias Circuit

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The Fixed Bias Circuit
The Thermal Stability Factor : SIco
SIco = ∂Ic
15 V 15 V ∂Ico Vbe, β
General Equation of SIco Comes out to be
200 k RC 1k SIco ═ 1+β
Rb
1- β (∂Ib/∂IC)
C RC
B
Applying KVL through Base Circuit we can
Ib write, Ib Rb+ Vbe= Vcc
E
Diff w. r. t. IC, we get (∂Ib / ∂Ic) = 0
SIco= (1+β) is very large
Indicating high un-stability

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Merits:
• It is simple to shift the operating point anywhere in the active region by
merely changing the base resistor (RB).
• A very small number of components are required.

Demerits:
• The collector current does not remain constant with variation in
temperature or power supply voltage. Therefore the operating point is
unstable.
• When the transistor is replaced with another one, considerable change in
the value of β can be expected. Due to this change the operating point will
shift.
• For small-signal transistors (e.g., not power transistors) with relatively high
values of β (i.e., between 100 and 200), this configuration will be prone to
thermal runaway. In particular, the stability factor, which is a measure of
the change in collector current with changes in reverse saturation current,
is approximately β+1. To ensure absolute stability of the amplifier, a
stability factor of less than 25 is preferred, and so small-signal transistors
have large stability factors.

143
 Usage:
• Due to the above inherent drawbacks, fixed bias is rarely used in linear circuits
(i.e., those circuits which use the transistor as a current 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 by feeding
the base resistor from a DC signal derived from the AC output of a later stage.

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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.

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Merits:
• The circuit has the tendency to stabilize operating point against
changes in temperature and β-value.
Demerits:
• As β-value is fixed for a given transistor, this relation can be satisfied
either by keeping RE very large, or making RB very 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.
Usage:
The feedback also increases the input impedance of the amplifier when
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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The Collector to Base Bias Circuit

VCC
This configuration employs negative
feedback to prevent thermal runaway and
RC stabilize the operating point. In this form of
biasing, the base resistor RF is connected to
the collector instead of connecting it to the
DC source Vcc. So any thermal runaway will
Ic induce a voltage drop across the Rc resistor
RF C that will throttle the transistor's base current.
Ib

B
+ V
BE EI
- E

147
 Applying KVL through base circuit
we can write (Ib+ IC) RC + Ib Rf+ Vbe= Vcc
Diff. w. r. t. IC we get
(∂Ib / ∂Ic) = - RC / (Rf + RC)
Therefore, SIco ═ (1+ β)
1+ [βRC/(RC+ Rf)]
Which is less than (1+β), signifying better thermal stability

148
Merits:
• Circuit stabilizes the operating point against variations in temperature
and β (i.e. replacement of transistor)
Demerits:
• As β -value is fixed (and generally unknown) for a given transistor, this
relation can be satisfied either by keeping R c fairly large or making Rf very
low.
 If Rc is large, a high Vcc is necessary, which increases
cost as well as
precautions necessary while handling.
If Rf is low, the reverse bias of the collector–base region is
small, which limits the range of collector voltage swing that
leaves the transistor in active mode.
•The resistor Rf causes an AC feedback, reducing the voltage
gain of the amplifier. This undesirable effect is a trade-off for
greater Q-point stability.

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-off
for stability is warranted.

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The Potential Divider Bias Circuit
This is the most commonly used arrangement for biasing as it provide good bias
stability. In this arrangement the emitter resistance ‘RE’ provides stabilization. The
resistance ‘RE’ cause a voltage drop in a direction so as to reverse bias the emitter
junction. Since the emitter-base junction is to be forward biased, the base voltage
is obtained from R1-R2 network. The net forward bias across the emitter base
junction is equal to VB- dc voltage drop across ‘RE’. The base voltage is set by Vcc
and R1 and R2. The dc bias circuit is independent of transistor current gain. In case
of amplifier, to avoid the loss of ac signal, a capacitor of large capacitance is
connected across RE. The capacitor offers a very small reactance to ac signal and so
it passes through the condensor.

150
 The Potential Divider Bias Circuit

VCC VCC
To find the stability of this circuit we have to
IC
R1 RC convert this circuit into its Thevenin’s
Equivalent circuit
Ib C
B

E Rth = R1*R2 & Vth = Vcc R2

R2
IE
RE
R1+R2 R1+R2

151
 The Potential Divider Bias Circuit
Applying KVL through input base circuit
Thevenin
Equivalent Ckt we can write IbRTh + IE RE+ Vbe= VTh
Therefore, IbRTh + (IC+ Ib) RE+ VBE= VTh
VCC Diff. w. r. t. IC & rearranging we get

RC
(∂Ib / ∂Ic) = - RE / (RTh + RE)
IC
Therefore, 1 
Ib
C
SIco 
B
 RE 
1 
RTh
 RE  RTh 
E
+
_ VTh
IE RE This shows that SIco is inversely proportional to RE
and It is less than (1+β), signifying better thermal
stability

Self-bias Resistor
Thevenin
Equivalent Voltage

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Merits:
• Operating point is almost independent of β variation.
• Operating point stabilized against shift in temperature.
Demerits:
• As β-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 input resistance of the amplifier
as seen from the base.
 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.
Usage:
The circuit's stability and merits as above make it widely used for linear
circuits. 153
 Summary
• The Q-point is the best point for operation of a
transistor for a given collector current.
• The purpose of biasing is to establish a stable
operating point (Q-point).
• The linear region of a transistor is the region of
operation within saturation and cutoff.
• Out of all the biasing circuits, potential divider bias
circuit provides highest stability to operating point.

154
Summary of Biasing Techniques