BJT Amplifier Biasing

A prototype is a basic circuit design that can be modified to get more advanced circuits. Base bias is a
prototype used in the design of switching circuits. Emitter bias is a prototype used in the design of
amplifying circuits. In this topic, emitter bias will be emphasized and the practical circuits that can be
derived from it.

In order for a transistor to function as an amplifier or a switch, it must first have its dc circuit conditions
set properly. This is referred to as properly biasing the transistor. Various biasing methods are possible,
with each having advantages and disadvantages.

Some of the methods used for providing bias for a transistor are:

1. base bias or fixed current bias

It is not a very satisfactory method because bias voltages and currents do not remain constant during
transistor operation.

2. base bias with emitter feedback

This circuit achieves good stability of dc operating point against changes in β with the help of emitter
resistor which causes degeneration to take place.

3. base bias with collector feedback

It is also known as collector-to-base bias or collector feedback bias. It provides better bias stability.

4. base bias with collector and emitter feedbacks

It is a combination of (2) and (3) above.

5. emitter bias with two supplies

This circuit uses both a positive and a negative supply voltage. Here, base is at approximately 0 volt i.e.
VB ≅ 0.

6. voltage divider bias

It is most widely used in linear discrete circuits because it provides good bias stability. It is also called
universal bias circuit or base bias with one supply.

Each of the above circuits will now be discussed separately.

We will begin with base bias.

Base Bias
The circuit of Figure 1 is an example of base bias, which means setting up a fixed value of base current.
Figure 1: Base bias

To operate in class A conditions, the d.c operating values must be:

𝑉𝐶𝐶 𝐼𝐶(𝑀𝐴𝑋)
𝑉𝐶𝐸 = , 𝐼𝐶 =
2 2
From the figure,
15𝑉 (15𝑉 ⁄3𝑘Ω)
𝑉𝐶𝐸 = , 𝐼𝐶 =
2 2
𝑉𝐶𝐸 = 7.5𝑉, 𝐼𝐶 = 2.5𝑚𝐴

To remain fixed, the collector current should remain constant.

𝐼𝐶 = 𝛽𝐼𝐵

For the collector to remain constant, 𝛽 should remain constant and 𝐼𝐵 should also remain
constant.
To determine the transistor 𝛽:
𝐼𝐶
𝛽=
𝐼𝐵
To determine 𝐼𝐵 ,
𝑉𝐶𝐶 − 𝑉𝐵𝐸
𝐼𝐵 =
𝑅𝐵
 15𝑉 − 0.7𝑉
𝐼𝐵 = = 14.3𝜇𝐴
1𝑀Ω
2.5𝑚𝐴
𝛽= ≅ 175.
14.3𝜇𝐴
This d.c fixed point, (𝑉𝐶𝐸 = 7.5𝑉, 𝐼𝐶 = 2.5𝑚𝐴), is called the Quiescent point or simply, the Q
point.
If 𝑅𝐵 is made variable, 𝐼𝐶 = 𝛽𝐼𝐵 , can be varied from zero to maximum value by varying 𝐼𝐵 .
Whenever, 𝐼𝐶 is varied, 𝑉𝐶𝐸 also changes. Plotting corresponding values of 𝑉𝐶𝐸 and 𝐼𝐶 , a straight line
is obtained. The equation of this straight line is:
𝑉𝐶𝐶 = 𝑉𝐶𝐸 + 𝐼𝐶 𝑅𝐶
Making 𝑉𝐶𝐸 = 0,
𝑉𝐶𝐶 = 0 + 𝐼𝐶 𝑅𝐶
𝑉𝐶𝐶 = 𝐼𝐶 𝑅𝐶
𝑉𝐶𝐶
𝐼𝐶 = = 𝐼𝐶(𝑀𝐴𝑋)
𝑅𝐶
This point will be 𝑉𝐶𝐸 = 0𝑉, 𝐼𝐶 = 5𝑚𝐴
Making 𝐼𝐶 = 0,
𝑉𝐶𝐶 = 𝑉𝐶𝐸 + 0 × 𝑅𝐶
𝑉𝐶𝐶 = 𝑉𝐶𝐸
𝑉𝐶𝐸 = 𝑉𝐶𝐶 = 𝑉𝐶𝐸(𝑀𝐴𝑋)

This point will be 𝑉𝐶𝐸 = 15𝑉, 𝐼𝐶 = 0𝐴

Plotting these two points and joining them, a straight line, called the load line is obtained
(figure 2).
Figure 2: D.C load line
The Saturation Point
When the base resistance is too small, there is too much collector current, and the collector-
emitter voltage drops to approximately zero. In this case, the transistor goes into saturation.
This means that the collector current has increased to its maximum possible value.
The saturation point is the point in Figure 2 where the load line intersects the saturation region
of the collector curves. Because the collector-emitter voltage VCE at saturation is very small,
the saturation point is almost touching the upper end of the load line. The saturation point
gives the value of the maximum possible collector current for the circuit. For instance, the
transistor of Figure 2 goes into saturation when the collector current is approximately 5 mA. At
this current, 𝑉𝐶𝐸 has decreased to approximately zero.
The Cutoff Point
The cutoff point is the point at which the load line intersects the cutoff region of the collector
curves in Figure 2. Because the collector current at cutoff is very small, the cutoff point almost
touches the lower end of the load line. The cutoff point gives the maximum possible value of
the collector-emitter voltage for the circuit.
This circuit is the worst when it comes to setting up a fixed 𝑄 point. Why? Since the base
current is fixed, the collector current varies when the current gain varies. In a circuit like this,
the 𝑄 point moves all over the load line with transistor replacement and temperature change.

Factors Affecting Bias Variations

In practice, it is found that even after careful selection, Q-point tends to shift its position. This
bias instability is the direct result of thermal instability which itself is produced by cumulative
increase in 𝐼𝐶 that may, if unchecked, lead to thermal runaway. The collector current for CE
circuit is given by
 𝐼𝐶 = 𝛽𝐼𝐵 + 𝐼𝐶𝐸𝑂 = 𝛽𝐼𝐵 + (1 + 𝛽)𝐼𝐶𝑂
This equation has three variables: 𝛽, 𝐼𝐵 and 𝐼𝐶𝑂 all of which are found to increase with
temperature. In particular, increase in 𝐼𝐶𝑂 produces significant increase in collector current 𝐼𝐶 .
This leads to increased power dissipation with further increase in temperature and hence 𝐼𝐶 .
Being a cumulative process, it can lead to thermal runaway which will destroy the transistor
itself. However, if by some circuit modification, 𝐼𝐶 is made to decrease with temperature
automatically, then decrease in the term 𝛽𝐼𝐵 can be made to neutralize the increase in the
term (1 + 𝛽)𝐼𝐶𝑂 , thereby keeping 𝐼𝐶 constant. This will achieve thermal stability resulting in
bias stability. The modification results to other forms of bias.

Emitter Bias
Digital circuits are the type of circuits used in computers. In this area, base bias and circuits
derived from base bias are useful. But when it comes to amplifiers, circuits whose Q points are
immune to changes in current gain are needed.
Figure 3 shows emitter bias. A resistor has been introduced to the emitter circuit. The Q point
of this new circuit is now rock-solid. When the current gain changes from 50 to 150, the Q point
shows almost no movement along the load line. The emitter is no longer grounded. Now the
emitter is above the ground and has a voltage given by:
𝑉𝐸 = 𝑉𝐶𝐶 − 𝑉𝐵𝐸 − 𝐼𝐵 𝑅𝐵

If 𝐼𝐵 𝑅𝐵 is more than 20 times 𝑉𝐵𝐸 , 𝑉𝐵𝐸 can be neglected.

Figure 3: Emitter bias.
Circuit analysis
𝐼𝐸 = 𝐼𝐶 + 𝐼𝐵
𝐼𝐶
𝐼𝐸 = 𝐼𝐶 +
𝛽
1
𝐼𝐸 = 𝐼𝐶 (1 + )
𝛽
(1 + 𝛽)
𝐼𝐸 = 𝐼𝐶
𝛽
Let 𝛽 = 100
101
∴ 𝐼𝐸 = 𝐼𝐶 ( ) = 1.01𝐼𝐶
100
And

𝐼𝐶 = 0.1𝐼𝐵
Any change in 𝐼𝐵 has little effect on 𝐼𝐶 hence on 𝐼𝐸 .

Considering the input KVL expression:

𝑉𝐶𝐶 = 𝑉𝐸 + 𝑉𝐵𝐸 + 𝐼𝐵 𝑅𝐵 ,
Historically, the first attempt at stabilizing the Q point was the emitter bias also called emitter feedback
bias. The basic idea is this: If 𝐼𝐶 increases, 𝑉𝐸 increases, causing 𝑉𝐵 to increase. More 𝑉𝐵 means less
voltage across 𝑅𝐵 . This results in less 𝐼𝐵 , which opposes the original increase in 𝐼𝐶 . It’s called feedback
because the change in emitter voltage is being fed back to the base circuit. Also, the feedback is called
negative because it opposes the original change in collector current.

The intent of emitter-feedback bias is to swamp out the variations in 𝛽𝑑.𝑐 ; that is, 𝑅𝐸 should be much
greater than 𝑅𝐵 ⁄𝛽𝑑.𝑐 . If this condition is satisfied, the equation,
𝑉𝐶𝐶 − 𝑉𝐵𝐸
𝐼𝐸 =
𝑅𝐸 + 𝑅𝐵 ⁄𝛽𝑑𝑐
will be insensitive to changes in 𝛽𝑑𝑐 . In practical circuits, however, a designer cannot select 𝑅𝐸 large
enough to swamp out the effects of 𝛽𝑑𝑐 without cutting off the transistor.

Here are the equations for analyzing the emitter-feedback bias:

Voltage-Divider Bias
Figure 4 shows the most widely used biasing circuit. The base circuit contains a voltage divider (R1 and
R2). Because of this, the circuit is called voltage-divider bias (VDB).

Circuit Analysis

In any well-designed VDB circuit, the base current is much smaller than the current through the voltage
divider. Since the base current has a negligible effect on the voltage divider, the connection between the
voltage divider and the base can be mentally opened to get the equivalent circuit in Figure 5a. In this
circuit, the output of the voltage divider is:
𝑅2
𝑉𝐵𝐵 = 𝑉
𝑅1 + 𝑅2 𝐶𝐶
Figure 4: Voltage-divider bias

Looking back into the voltage divider with (figure 5b) 𝑉𝐶𝐶 grounded (figure 6), 𝑅1 is seen to be in parallel
with 𝑅2 . As an equation:

𝑅𝑇𝐻 = 𝑅1 ∥ 𝑅2
The emitter current is calculated using the following formula:
𝑉𝐵𝐵 − 𝑉𝐵𝐸
𝐼𝐸 =
𝑅𝐸 + (𝑅1 ∥ 𝑅2 )⁄𝛽𝑑𝑐
Figure 6.

As a rule 𝑅1 ∥ 𝑅2 < 0.1𝑅𝐸 𝛽𝑑.𝑐 .

If this rule is observed, the maximum value of 𝑅1 ∥ 𝑅2 is equal to 0.1𝑅𝐸 𝛽𝑑𝑐 .

Therefore,
𝑉𝐵𝐵 − 𝑉𝐵𝐸
𝐼𝐸 =
𝑅𝐸 + (0.1𝑅𝐸 𝛽𝑑.𝑐 )⁄𝛽𝑑.𝑐
𝑉𝐵𝐵 − 𝑉𝐵𝐸 𝑉𝐵𝐵 − 𝑉𝐵𝐸
𝐼𝐸 = =
𝑅𝐸 + 0.1𝑅𝐸 1.1𝑅𝐸

If
𝑉𝐵𝐸 ≪ 𝑉𝐵𝐵
Then,
𝑉𝐵𝐵
𝐼𝐸 =
1.1𝑅𝐸
And 𝑉𝐵𝐵 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑅𝐸 are constants.

And, 𝐼𝐶 ≅ 𝐼𝐸 which also is a constant.

𝑉𝐶𝐸 = 𝑉𝐶𝐶 − 𝐼𝐶 𝑅𝐶 − 𝐼𝐸 𝑅𝐸
Since all the terms on the right have been proven to be constants, 𝑉𝐶𝐸 is also constant. By proving that
𝑉𝐶𝐸 and 𝐼𝐶 , it has been shown that the Q point for this type of biasing is stable.

Here are the equations for analyzing the voltage divider bias:
Two-Supply Emitter Bias
In some electronics equipment, power supplies produce both positive and negative supply voltages.
Figure 7 shows this type of biasing. The negative supply forward-biases the emitter diode and the
positive supply reverse-biases the collector diode. This circuit is derived from emitter bias. For this
reason, we refer to it as two-supply emitter bias (TSEB).

Figure 7: Two-supply emitter bias.

In this circuit, a negative supply voltage −𝑉𝐸𝐸 is applied to the bottom of 𝑅𝐸 , and a positive supply
voltage +𝑉𝐶𝐶 is applied to the top of 𝑅𝐶 resistor. When this type of circuit is correctly designed, the base
current will be small enough (≅ 0𝑉) to ignore.

The voltage across the emitter diode is 0.7 𝑉, which is why −0.7 V is shown on the emitter node. There
is a plus-to-minus drop of 0.7 𝑉 going from the base to the emitter. If the base voltage is 0 𝑉, the
emitter voltage must be −0.7 𝑉.

The emitter resistor plays the key role in setting up the emitter current. To find this current, Ohm’s law
is applied to the emitter resistor as follows:
The top of the emitter resistor has a voltage of −0.7 𝑉, and the bottom has a voltage of −𝑉𝐸𝐸 .
Therefore, the voltage across the emitter resistor equals the difference between the two voltages. To
get the right answer, subtract the more negative value from the more positive value.

𝑉𝑅𝐸 = −0.7𝑉 − (−𝑉𝐸𝐸 )

𝑉𝑅𝐸 = 𝑉𝐸𝐸 − 0.7𝑉
Once the voltage across the emitter resistor is determined, the emitter current is calculated using Ohm’s
law thus:
𝑉𝐸𝐸 − 0.7𝑉
𝐼𝐸 =
𝑅𝐸
This current flows through the collector resistor 𝑅𝐶 and produces a voltage drop that we subtract from
𝑉𝐶𝐶 as follows:

𝑉𝐶 = 𝑉𝐶𝐶 − 𝐼𝐶 𝑅𝐶
The collector-emitter voltage is the difference between the collector voltage and the emitter voltage:

𝑉𝐶𝐸 = 𝑉𝐶 − (−0.7)

When two-supply emitter bias is well designed, it is similar to voltage divider bias and satisfies this 100 ∶
1 rule:

𝑅𝐵 < 0.01𝛽𝑑.𝑐 𝑅𝐸
Here are the equations for analyzing the two-supply emitter bias:

𝐕𝐁 ≈ 𝟎
𝐕𝐄𝐄 − 𝟎. 𝟕𝐕
𝐈𝐄 =
𝐑𝐄
𝐕𝐂 = 𝐕𝐂𝐂 − 𝐈𝐂 𝐑 𝐂
𝐕𝐂𝐄 = 𝐕𝐂 + 𝟎. 𝟕𝐕

Collector- and Emitter-Feedback Bias

Emitter-feedback bias and collector-feedback bias were the first steps toward a more stable bias for
transistor circuits. Even though the idea of negative feedback is sound, these circuits fall short because
there is not enough negative feedback to do the job. This is why the next step in biasing was the circuit
shown in Figure 8.

The basic idea is to use both emitter and collector feedback to try to improve the operation. As it turns
out, more is not always better. Combining both types of feedback in one circuit helps, but still falls short
of the performance needed for mass production.
Figure 8: Collector-emitter feedback bias.

If you come across this circuit, here are the equations for analyzing it: