Transistor is a semiconductor device which is used to amplify or switch the signals which are electrical or the electrical power. They are used to magnify the input signals and give magnified output as a result. Particularly in Physics, the graph which represents the relationship between the voltage and the current of any transistor having any configuration is known as transistor characteristics.
Characteristics of Transistor
Transistors are semiconductor devices having diodes which are p-type and n-type, p-type is anode and n-type is cathode.
A transistor is a two-port network, equivalent to the configuration of the transistors. It can be analyzed by using three types of curves which are characteristic, they are:
Input Characteristics: In this type of characteristic curve, output voltage is being kept constant and it gives the changes of values of input current as per the changes of values in output current.
Output Characteristics: In this type of characteristic curve, input current is being kept constant and it describes the characteristics of output current v/s output voltage.
Current Transfer Characteristics: This characteristic curve describes the variation in output current as per the variation in input current, and in this characteristic curve, output voltage is kept constant.
Configuration of Transistor
Any circuit of the transistor can have the three types of configuration which are
i. Common Emitter
ii. Common Base
iii. Common Collector
These configurations of transistors are based on the connection of the transistor terminal.
All these three different configurations of the transistors are having different characteristic curves. The selection of the configuration of the transistor is based upon the requirement.
All these three configurations of transistors are having three characteristics correspondingly and these characteristics are Input, Output and Current Transfer.
Common Emitter
In this type of configuration, an emitter is placed between the collector and the base, thus known as a common emitter configuration.
As discussed above, this type of configuration is also having three characteristics and discussed as mentioned below:
| Characteristics | Definition | Expression |
|---|---|---|
| Input | The collector emitter voltage is being kept constant and variation of base current as per base emitter voltage is being studied | , given |
| Output | While the base current is kept constant, the variance of collector current as per collector emitter voltage is being studied | , given |
| Current Transfer | i.e., current gain is having a value greater than one. While collector emitter voltage is kept constant, variation of collector current as per base current is being studied. | , given |
Common Base
In this type of the configuration of the transistor the base is placed in between the output and input terminals.As discussed above, this type of configuration is also having three characteristics and discussed as mentioned below:
| Characteristics | Definition | Expression |
|---|---|---|
| Input | The collector base voltage is being kept constant and variation of emitter current as per base emitter voltage is being studied. | , given |
| Output | While the emitter current is kept constant, the variance of base current as per collector base voltage is being studied | , given |
| Current Transfer | i.e., current gain is having a value lesser than one. While collector emitter voltage is kept constant, variation of collector current as per base current is being studied. | , given |
Common Collector
In this type of configuration of the semiconductor, the collector is placed between input and output terminals.As discussed above, this type of configuration is also having three characteristics and discussed as mentioned below:
| Characteristics | Definition | Expression |
|---|---|---|
| Input | The collector emitter voltage is being kept constant and variation of base current as per base collector voltage is being studied | , given |
| Output | While the base current is kept constant, the variance of emitter current as per collector emitter voltage is being studied | , given |
| Current Transfer | While collector emitter voltage is kept constant, variation of emitter current as per base current is being studied. | , given |
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Transistor is a semiconductor device which is used to amplify or switch the signals which are electrical or the electrical power. There are three different characteristics of the transistors: input, output and current transfer characteristics. The different configurations of the transistors are mentioned below: i. Common Emitter ii. Common Base iii. Common Collector In the configuration of common base, voltage gain comes as less than one. Characteristics of a Transistor FAQs
Define Transistor.
What are the different characteristics of the transistors?
Enlist the configurations of the transistors.
In which configuration, voltage gain comes out as less than one?
