ECEN 1400 Introduction to Analog and Digital Electronics

Robert R. McLeod, University of Colorado

Physics
Transistor/transistor logic
CMOS logic
101
Lecture 9
Transistors
Lecture 9: Transistors
http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/164301-graphene-
transistors-based-on-negative-resistance-could-spell-the-
end-of-silicon-and-semiconductors
CA 1947
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moore's_law
ECEN 1400 Introduction to Analog and Digital Electronics
Robert R. McLeod, University of Colorado
102
The Transistor

Packages
Physics
Symbols
http://www.uobkupartnership.talktalk.net/
page13.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipolar_junction_transistor
BJT
Lecture 9: Transistors
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Diopsis.jpg
Discrete Integrated
MOSFET
PNP
NPN
P channel
N channel
ECEN 1400 Introduction to Analog and Digital Electronics
Robert R. McLeod, University of Colorado
103
NPN Bipolar Junction
(BJT) transistor
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipolar_junction_transistor
C
B
E
http://www.satcure-focus.com/tutor/page4.htm
Symbol
Construction and use
This shows the common
emitter mode which is how we
will use the BJT. Concentrate
on the BE junction which looks
like a diode. When this is
forward biased, a large current
can flow from C to E.
C = Collector
E = Emitter
B = Base
Hydraulic analogy
The BJT is a current-controlled current amplifier. That is, a
small current into the base results in a large current from
collector to emitter.
Package
Top-down view
Lecture 9: Transistors
http://www.mine-control.com/zack/transistor/transistor.html
Cool hydraulic
analogies. One error
the CE current is really
larger than the base.
Note that there are
normally on and
normally off versions.
ECEN 1400 Introduction to Analog and Digital Electronics
Robert R. McLeod, University of Colorado
104
BJT Inverter
Lecture 9: Transistors
http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/electrical-engineering-and-
computer-science/6-071j-introduction-to-electronics-signals-
and-measurement-spring-2006/lecture-notes/19_bjt_1.pdf
If we give names to the input and output
levels, we can construct a reduced
description of the plot called a truth table:
1 2
low high
high
low
Input Output
Low = 0 High = 1
High = 1 Low = 0
So the output is high if it is
NOT the case that the input is
high. We thus call this a
NOT gate or Inverter.
Input
Output
Pull up resistor causes
V
O
to be high if I
C
is ~0
but allows V
O
to be low if
the bottom of the resistor
is grounded.
Switch, either
open or short
Simplified
operation
http://jpkc.njau.edu.cn/szdzjs/ywjc2.htm
Plot of V
O
vs. V
I

Current limiting resistor
ECEN 1400 Introduction to Analog and Digital Electronics
Robert R. McLeod, University of Colorado
105
Transistor/transistor logic
(TTL) NAND gate
Consider a circuit like the previous one but now with
two BJT transistors in series:
+V
source

0 V
0 or +V
source

0 or +V
source

A current can flow from top to bottom only if both A and B are
high. The output will drop to a low voltage in this case,
otherwise it will remain high.
So the output is high if it is NOT the
case that A AND B are high. We thus
call this a NOT AND gate or NAND
for short.
http://cpuville.com/logic_gates.htm
Lecture 9: Transistors
A B Out
0 0 1
0 1 1
1 0 1
1 1 0
ECEN 1400 Introduction to Analog and Digital Electronics
Robert R. McLeod, University of Colorado
106
TTL NOR gate
OK, what if we arranged the two BJT transistors in
parallel:
http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/electrical-engineering-and-
computer-science/6-071j-introduction-to-electronics-signals-
and-measurement-spring-2006/lecture-notes/19_bjt_1.pdf
Lecture 9: Transistors
A current can flow from top to bottom only if either A or B are
high. The output will drop to a low voltage in this case,
otherwise it will remain high.
Input A
Input B
Output
A B Out
0 0 1
0 1 0
1 0 0
1 1 0
So the output is high if it is NOT the
case that A OR B are high. We thus
call this a NOT OR gate or NOR for
short.
ECEN 1400 Introduction to Analog and Digital Electronics
Robert R. McLeod, University of Colorado
107
Complementary metaloxide
semiconductor (CMOS) logic
TTL worked well, but it has a
problem. Note that when the
transistor is on and I
C
is high,
there is power dissipated in R
C
.
This is OK occasionally, but
not in a million logic gates.
The pull up resistor is thus a
bad idea in general.
Lecture 9: Transistors
Here is a complementary
inverter that happens to be
made with metal-oxide field-
effect transistors (MOSFETs).
For our purposes, they act like
s wi t c h e s b u t wi t h t wo
polarities.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CMOS
LOW HIGH HIGH LOW
By replacing the pull-up resistor
wi t h a c o mp l e me n t a r y
transistor, the power dissipation
is greatly reduced. CMOS is
t he domi nant el ect r oni cs
platform and this is a major
reason.
ECEN 1400 Introduction to Analog and Digital Electronics
Robert R. McLeod, University of Colorado
108
Quiz 9.1
A closer look at the BJT
Q: When we use the BJT as a switch, we take advantage of the fact that it
switches between cutoff (off, reverse biased) to saturation (on, forward
biased) very quickly. The intermediate region is called the active mode.
Consider using a BJT transistor in this active mode. Given the plot above
and assuming the x and y axes have the same scale, how would you
describe the output if the input is confined to operate in the active region

A. The output is an attenuated version of the input.
B. The output is an amplified version of the input.
C. The output is an inverted version of the input.
D. A and C
E. B and C



The slope is large and negative, thus E.
Lecture 9: Transistors
Active region above
cutoff and below
saturation
ECEN 1400 Introduction to Analog and Digital Electronics
Robert R. McLeod, University of Colorado
109
Quiz 9.2
A modification of the inverter
Lecture 9: Transistors
http://www.interfacebus.com/Glossary-of-Terms-bjt-
amplifier-circuits.html
Q: Assuming the BJT is ideal in that it switches between a perfect open
circuit and a perfect short circuit with an infinitesimal active region, what is
the function of this device?

A. Logical buffer the output is a binary copy of the input (1 gives 1)
B. Logical inverter - the output is a binary inversion (1 gives 0)
When input is high and BJT is on and thus nearly a short, the output is
shorted to Vcc and thus high. When the input is low and BJT is off and
thus nearly an open, the output is pulled low by the pull-down resistor RE.