EEE 267: Electrical and Electronic Technology

Mohammad Asif Zaman

Lecturer,
Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering,
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka 1000.

(21th June, 2011)

Math problems regarding Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT) (DC analysis).

20 V

Problem 3: For the following circuit, determine the voltages Vo, VB,
VC and VE when,
i.
VBB = 0 V
ii.
VBB = + 5 V

5 k

Assume that = 50.

Also, assume that at saturation, VCE = 0.2 V.

Vo
VBB

Solution 3: First, we redraw the circuit and label the base voltage,
collector voltage and emitter voltage (VB, VC and VE). We also label the
base current, collector current and emitter current (IB, IC and IE).

1 k

We note that, VB = VBB and VC = VO.

When VBB = 0 V :

20 V

At this condition, VB = 0 V. No voltage is applied to the base, so

the BJT is in cut-off mode.

I B 0 A

I C 0 A (Ans.)
I E 0 A

The voltages can be easily calculated:

VB VBB 0 V

(Ans.)
Vo VC 20 5 IC 20 0 20 V

VE 1 I E 0 V

5 k

IC

So, no current will flow through the BJT, implying:

VC

Vo

IB

VBB

VB

VE

IE
1 k

[Note: The collector voltage is calculated by applying Ohms law across the 5 k resistor and the emitter voltage is
calculated by applying Ohms law across the 1 k resistor.]
20 V

When VBB = +5 V:
Now, VB VBB 5 V

5 k

IC

Assuming active mode of operation:

VBE 0.7 V VB VE

VC

Vo

IB

So, VE 0.7 VB 0.7 5 5.7 V

Applying Ohms law across the 1 k resistor,
VE 0 I E 1
V
or, I E E 5.7 mA
1

VBB

VB

VE

IE
1 k

Now,
I E I B I C I B I B (1 ) I B 51I B
So, I B

I E 5.7

0.111765 mA
51 51

So, I C I E I B 5.7 0.111765 5.588235 mA

Now, applying Ohms law across the 5 k resistor,
20 VC 5I C
or, VC 20 5I C 20 5 5.588235 7.9412 V
Now that all the voltages are calculated, using the schematic diagram shown below, we check if the
collector-base junction is reverse biased (R.B.) and the base-emitter junction is forward-biased (F.B.).

F.B.

F.B.
Collector
VC = 7.9412 V

P
Base

VB = 5 V

Emitter

VE = 5.7 V

Here, we note that both base-emitter junction and collector-emitter junction is forward biased. So the
BJT is not operating in active mode. It is operating in Saturation mode. The currents and voltages
calculated by assuming active mode is inaccurate.
We re-calculate assuming Saturation mode of operation:
20 V

[Note: The same circuit diagram is repeated in each page for convenience.]
[Note: In saturation mode, we can not use the value of . The value of
provided in the problem is only valid for active mode of operation. For saturation
mode calculation, we can not use any equation that has in it. So, Ic IB at
saturation. We use the data VCE = 0.2 V for calculation. This value is given in the
problem. Even if this data is not provided, students should always assume VCE =
0.2 V when the BJT is in saturation.]

5 k

IC

Now, VB VBB 5 V (Ans.)

VC

Vo

IB
At Saturation mode, base-emitter junction is forward biased. So,

VBB

VBE 0.7 V VB VE

VB

So, VE 0.7 VB 0.7 5 5.7 V (Ans.)

VE

IE
1 k

Applying Ohms law across the 1 k resistor,

VE 0 I E 1
V
or, I E E 5.7 mA (Ans.)
1
[Note: The calculation so far is identical to the calculations performed when assuming active mode. This does not need not
to be repeated. It is shown here for clarity.]

Now, at saturation,
VCE 0.2 V
or, VC VE 0.2
or, VC 0.2 VE 0.2 5.7 5.9 V

(Ans.)

Vo VC 5.9 V (Ans.)
Now, applying Ohms law across the 5 k resistor,
20 VC 5I C
20 VC 20 5.9
or, I C

2.82 mA (Ans.)
5
5
Now, I E I B IC
or, I B I E IC 5.7 2.82 2.18 mA (Ans.)
[Note: The high value of base current in a characteristic of saturation mode. Also note that Ic IB.]

Now that all the voltages are re-calculated, using the schematic diagram shown below, we again check
if the collector-base junction is forward biased (F.B.) and the base-emitter junction is forward-biased
(F.B.).

F.B.

F.B.
Collector
VC = 5.9 V

Emitter

VE = 5.7 V

Base

VB = 5 V
The diagram confirms saturation mode of operation. So, the calculations are accurate.

20 V

Problem 4: For the following circuit, calculate the currents IB, IC

and IE. Also calculate the voltages VB, VC and VE. Assume = 100.
Which mode is the BJT operating in?
100 k

10 k

Solution 4: Let us assume active mode of operation.

Under this assumption:
VBE 0.7 V VB VE
We redraw the circuit so that a loop is created involving the baseemitter junction. We label the base voltage, collector voltage and
emitter voltage (VB, VC and VE). We also label the base current,
collector current and emitter current (IB, IC and IE).

2 k

Now,
I C I B 100 I B

And,
I E I B I C I B I B (1 ) I B 101I B

IC

100 k

Now, applying KVL in the base-emitter loop,

20 V
we get:

10 k

VC

IB
VB

20 100 I B VBE 2 I E 0
or, 20 100 I B VBE 2 (101 I B ) 0
or, 20 100 I B 0.7 202 I B 0
or, 302 I B 19.3
9.3
or, I B
0.030795 mA
302

VE

IE

2 k

And,
I C I B 100 I B 100 0.030795 3.0795 mA
And, I E I B I C 0.037095 3.7095 3.7466 mA
To calculate the emitter voltage, let us apply Ohms law across the 2 k resistor:
VE 0 I E 2
or, VE 2 I E 2 3.7466 7.4932 V
Now,
VB VE VBE 0.7 V
So, VB 0.7 VE 0.7 7.4932 8.1932 V
Now, applying Ohms law across the 10 k resistor we get:
20 VC I C 10
or, VC 20 10 IC 20 10 3.0795 10.795 V

Now that all the voltages are calculated, using the schematic diagram shown below, we check if the
collector-base junction is reverse biased (R.B.) and the base-emitter junction is forward-biased (F.B.).

F.B.

F.B.
Collector
VC = 10.795 V

Emitter

VE = 7.4932 V

Base

VB = 8.1932 V

Here, we note that both base-emitter junction and collector-emitter junction is forward biased. So the
BJT is not operating in active mode. It is operating in Saturation mode. The currents and voltages
calculated by assuming active mode is inaccurate.

We re-calculate
operation:

assuming

Saturation

mode

of

[Note: In saturation mode, we can not use the value of . The

value of provided in the problem is only valid for active mode of
operation. For saturation mode calculation, we can not use any
equation that has in it. So, Ic IB at saturation.]
[We use the data VCE = 0.2 V for calculation. This value is not 20 V
specifically mentioned in the problem. But for saturation mode of
operation we always assume that VCE = 0.2 V.]

Let us apply Ohms law across the 2 k resistor:

VE 0 I E 2
or, VE 2 I E

(A)

Now, applying Ohms law across the 10 k resistor we get:

20 VC I C 10
or, VC 20 10 I C .(B)

IC

100 k

10 k

VC

IB
VB

VE

IE

2 k

Similarly, applying Ohms law across the 100 k

resistor we get:
20 VB I B 100
or, VB 20 100 I B (C)
But, I E I B IC
or, I B I E IC

20 V

At Saturation mode, base-emitter junction is forward biased. So,

VBE 0.7 V VB VE
VB VE 0.7
or, 20 100 I E 100 I C 2 I E 0.7 [putting values from equation (A) and (D)]
or, 102 I E 100 I C 19.3 .(E)
Now, at saturation,
VCE 0.2 V
or, VC VE 0.2
or, 20 10 I C 2 I E 0.2 [putting values from equation (B) and (A)]
or, 2 I E 10 I C 19.8
or, 2 I E 10 I C 19.8 ..(F)

I E 1.7811 mA
(Ans.)
I C 1.6238 mA

I B I E IC 1.7811 1.6238 0.1573 mA (Ans.)

Putting value of IB in equation (C):
VB 20 100 I B 20 100 0.1573 4.27 V (Ans.)

10 k

VC

IB

So, from equation (C), we get:

VB 20 100 I B 20 100( I E IC )
VB 20 100 I E 100 IC ..(D)

Solving equation (E) and (F) using a calculator:

IC

100 k

VB

VE

IE

2 k

Putting value of IC in equation (B):

VC 20 10 I C 20 10 1.6238 3.762 V (Ans.)
Putting value of IE in equation (A):
VE 2 I E 2 1.7811 3.5622 V (Ans.)

Now that all the voltages are re-calculated, using the schematic diagram shown below, we again check
if the collector-base junction is forward biased (F.B.) and the base-emitter junction is forward-biased
(F.B.).

F.B.

F.B.
Collector
VC = 3.762 V

Emitter

VE = 3.5622 V

Base

VB = 4.27 V
The diagram confirms saturation mode of operation. So, the calculations are accurate.