Transistor Current Component | Analog and Digital Electronics - Electrical Engineering (EE) PDF Download

TRANSISTOR CURRENT COMPONENTS:

FIG 2

The above fig 2 shows the various current components, which flow across the forward biased emitter junction and reverse- biased collector junction. The emitter current I_E consists of hole current I_PE (holes crossing from emitter into base) and electron current I_nE (electrons crossing from base into emitter).The ratio of hole to electron currents, I_{pE /} I_nE   , crossing the emitter junction is proportional to the  ratio of the conductivity of the p material to that of the n material. In a transistor, the doping of the emitter is made much larger than the doping of the base. This feature ensures (in p-n-p transistor) that the emitter current consists of holes in a larger proportion. Such a situation is desired since the current which results from electrons crossing the emitter junction from base to emitter does not contribute carriers, which can reach the collector.

Not all the holes crossing the emitter junction J_E reach the the collector junction J_C because some of them combine with the electrons in n-type base. If I_pC   is hole current at junction J_C there must be a bulk recombination current ( I_pE- I_pC ) leaving the base.

Actually, electrons enter the base region through the base lead to supply those charges, which have been lost by recombination with the holes injected into the base across J_E. If the emitter was open circuited so that I_E=0 then I_pC would be zero. Under these circumstances, the base current I_B and collector current I_C would equal the reverse saturation current I_CO. If I_E≠0 then

I_C= I_CO- I_pC

For a p-n-p transistor, I_CO consists of holes moving across J_C from left to right (base to collector) and electrons crossing J_C   in opposite direction, assuming reference direction for I_CO,  i.e. from right to left, then for a p-n-p transistor, I_CO is negative. For a n-p-n transistor, I_CO  is positive.The basic operation will be described using the pnp transistor. The operation of the npn transistor is exactly the same if the roles played by the electron and hole are interchanged.

One p-n junction of a transistor is reverse-biased, whereas the other is forward-biased.

Forward-biased junction of a pnp transistor

Reverse-biased junction of a pnp transistor

Both biasing potentials have been applied to a pnp transistor and resulting majority and minority carrier flows indicated.

Majority carriers (+) will diffuse across the forward-biased p-n junction into the n-type material.

A very small number of carriers (+) will through n-type material to the base terminal. Resulting I_B , typically in order of microamperes.

The large number of majority charge carriers will diffuse across the reverse-biased junction into the p-type material connected to the collector terminal.

Applying KCL to the transistor :

I_E = I_C + I_B

I_C comprises of two components – the majority and minority carriers

I_C = I_Cmajority + I_COminority 

I_CO – I_C current with emitter terminal open and is called leakage current.

Various parameters which relate the current components are given below:

Emitter efficiency:

Transport Factor:

Large signal current gain:

The ratio of the negative of collector current increment to the  emitter current change from zero (cut-off)to I_E. The large signal current gain of a common base transistor.

Since I_{C and} I_E have opposite signs, then α, as defined, is always positive. Typically numerical values of α lies in the range of 0.90 to 0.995.

The transistor alpha is the product of the transport factor and the emitter efficiency. This statement assumes that the collector multiplication ratio α is unity. α is the ratio of total current crossing J_C to hole arriving at the junction.