Information Sheet 1.
1-4
Transistor as a Switch
Learning Objectives:
After reading this INFORMATION SHEET, YOU MUST be able to:
1. Identify the characteristic of a transistor when it is in cut-off
region.
2. Identify the characteristic of a transistor when it is in saturation
region.
The NPN & PNP type bipolar transistors can be made to operate as
“ON/OFF” type solid state switch by biasing the transistors Base
terminal differently to that for a signal amplifier.
Solid state switches are one of the main applications for the use of
transistor to switch a DC output “ON” or “OFF”. Some output devices,
such as LED’s only require a few milliamps at logic level DC voltages and
can therefore be driven directly by the output of a logic gate. However,
high power devices such as motors, solenoids or lamps, often require
more power than that supplied by an ordinary logic gate so transistor
switches are used.
If the circuit uses the Bipolar Transistor as a Switch, then the biasing
of the transistor, either NPN or PNP is arranged to operate the transistor
at both sides of the “ I-V ” characteristics curves. The areas of operation
for a transistor switch are known as the Saturation Region and the Cut-
off Region. This means then that we can ignore the operating Q-point
biasing and voltage divider circuitry required for amplification, and use
the transistor as a switch by driving it back and forth between its “fully-
OFF” (cut-off) and “fully-ON” (saturation) regions as shown.
Date Developed: Document No.
Date Revised: Transistor as a
Elex 231 Switch
Page 1
Developed by:
Lauria, Eljon T.
Revision # 00
Operating Regions
The shaded area at the bottom of the curves represents the “Cut-off”
region while the shaded area to the left represents the “Saturation” region
of the transistor. Both these transistor regions are defined as:
1. Cut-off Region
Here the operating conditions of the transistor are zero input base
current ( IB ), zero output collector current ( IC ) and maximum collector
voltage ( VCE ) which results in a large depletion layer and no current
flowing through the device. Therefore the transistor is switched “Fully-
OFF”.
Cut-off Characteristics
• The input and Base are
grounded ( 0v )
• Base-Emitter
voltage VBE < 0.7v
• Base-Emitter junction is
reverse biased
• Base-Collector junction
is reverse biased
• Transistor is “fully-OFF”
Date Developed: Document No.
Date Revised: Transistor as a
Elex 231 Switch
Page 2
Developed by:
Lauria, Eljon T.
Revision # 00
( Cut-off region )
• No Collector current
flows ( IC = 0 )
• VOUT = VCE = VCC = ”1″
• Transistor operates as
an “open switch”
Then we can define the “cut-off region” or “OFF mode” when using a
bipolar transistor as a switch as being, both junctions reverse
biased, VB < 0.7v and IC = 0. For a PNP transistor, the Emitter potential
must be negative with respect to the Base.
2. Saturation Region
Here the transistor will be biased so that the maximum amount of base
current is applied, resulting in maximum collector current resulting in
the minimum collector emitter voltage drop which results in the depletion
layer being as small as possible and maximum current flowing through
the transistor. Therefore the transistor is switched “Fully-ON”.
Saturation Characteristics
• The input and Base are
connected to VCC
• Base-Emitter
voltage VBE > 0.7v
• Base-Emitter junction is
forward biased
• Base-Collector junction
is forward biased
• Transistor is “fully-ON” (
saturation region )
• Max Collector current
flows ( IC = Vcc/RL )
• VCE = 0 ( ideal saturation
Date Developed: Document No.
Date Revised: Transistor as a
Elex 231 Switch
Page 3
Developed by:
Lauria, Eljon T.
Revision # 00
)
• VOUT = VCE = ”0″
• Transistor operates as a
“closed switch”
Then we can define the “saturation region” or “ON mode” when using a
bipolar transistor as a switch as being, both junctions forward
biased, VB > 0.7v and IC = Maximum. For a PNP transistor, the Emitter
potential must be positive with respect to the Base.
Then the transistor operates as a “single-pole single-throw” (SPST) solid
state switch. With a zero signal applied to the Base of the transistor it
turns “OFF” acting like an open switch and zero collector current flows.
With a positive signal applied to the Base of the transistor it turns “ON”
acting like a closed switch and maximum circuit current flows through
the device.
The simplest way to switch moderate to high amounts of power is to use
the transistor with an open-collector output and the transistors Emitter
terminal connected directly to ground. When used in this way, the
transistors open collector output can thus “sink” an externally supplied
voltage to ground thereby controlling any connected load.
Date Developed: Document No.
Date Revised: Transistor as a
Elex 231 Switch
Page 4
Developed by:
Lauria, Eljon T.
Revision # 00
