Load line of transistor question

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of drawing the load line for a transistor, including the conditions for saturation current and the necessary biasing of the transistor's junctions. Participants explore the relationships between collector current, collector-emitter voltage, and the impact of circuit configuration on the load line.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that to find the saturation current, the base-emitter must be forward biased while the base-collector is reverse biased, questioning if this is correct.
  • Others argue that the base-emitter junction is always forward biased unless the transistor is in full cut-off, typically at about 0.6 to 0.7 volts.
  • One participant states that there is not a single load line for a transistor; rather, multiple load lines exist depending on the circuit configuration.
  • Another participant describes how to draw a load line for a resistive load, emphasizing the need to find two points based on supply voltage and current through resistance.
  • A later reply introduces the equation relating collector current and collector-emitter voltage, suggesting that the load line is derived from the rest of the circuit.
  • There is a mention of the impact of including an emitter resistor in the load line calculations, raising further questions about the relationship between collector current and base current.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the voltage values for the base-emitter junction and the conditions for drawing the load line. The discussion includes multiple competing perspectives and remains unresolved on certain technical details.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference specific voltage values (0.6V vs. 0.7V) and the conditions under which to apply certain equations, indicating potential limitations in assumptions about circuit configurations and biasing conditions.

Outrageous
Messages
373
Reaction score
0
In order to draw the load line of transistor, we have to find out the saturation current (where the voltage is minimum or zero) and voltage of collector-base when collector current is zero.

In order to calculate maximum saturation current, we have to forward biased the base-emitter, and reverse biased the base -collector and then get the voltage of collector-emitter to be zero(V of collector minus voltage of emitter equals to zero), right??


Thank you
 
Engineering news on Phys.org
I think 'we have to forward biased the base-emitter, and reverse biased the base' instead of both forward because when we forward both we can't get a constant curve at saturation region, correct?
 
the base-emitter junction is always forward biased as long as the transistor is not in full "cut-off" (where the collector current is zero). so, from the POV of the load line, the base-emitter is forward biased, usually by about 0.6 volts.
 
rbj said:
the base-emitter junction is always forward biased as long as the transistor is not in full "cut-off" (where the collector current is zero). so, from the POV of the load line, the base-emitter is forward biased, usually by about 0.6 volts.


what is POV?
The base-emitter is usually 0.7V.
How to draw a load line?
 
Outrageous said:
what is POV?
The base-emitter is usually 0.7V.
How to draw a load line?

POV = "point of view"
 
Maybe this will help:



.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
First of all there is not one load line for a transistor.

There are many and they depend upon the circuit configuration.

Having said that, for a resistive load the load line is a straight line so you only need to find two points and join them to be able to draw one.

To draw a load line for R ohms on the collector current (y axis) v collector voltage (x axis) curves:

1)Locate the point of the voltage axis corresponding to the supply voltage.

2)Locate the point on the current axis which the supply voltage would drive through R ohms.

3) Join these two points to form the load line for R ohms.

go well
 
Thank you, understand already.

berkeman said:
Maybe this will help:



Studiot said:
First of all there is not one load line for a transistor.

There are many and they depend upon the circuit configuration.

Having said that, for a resistive load the load line is a straight line so you only need to find two points and join them to be able to draw one.

To draw a load line for R ohms on the collector current (y axis) v collector voltage (x axis) curves:

1)Locate the point of the voltage axis corresponding to the supply voltage.

2)Locate the point on the current axis which the supply voltage would drive through R ohms.

3) Join these two points to form the load line for R ohms.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Outrageous said:
The base-emitter is usually 0.7V.

okay. whatever. from long ago, when i was a graduate teaching assistant (and i was teaching a lab), it was most often 0.6v for silicon.

How to draw a load line?

well, your transistor curve is that of a function I_c as a function of V_{ce} for various I_b. so given an I_b, you still don't know what I_c is without also knowing V_{ce}. the load line is another equation that relates I_c and V_{ce}. and that equation comes from the rest of the circuit (assuming no R_e:

V_{cc} = V_{ce} + I_c R_c

or

I_c = \frac{1}{R_c} ( V_{cc} - V_{ce} )

plotting that equation on top of the transistor curves is your load line.
 
  • #10
rbj said:
okay. whatever. from long ago, when i was a graduate teaching assistant (and i was teaching a lab), it was most often 0.6v for silicon.



well, your transistor curve is that of a function I_c as a function of V_{ce} for various I_b. so given an I_b, you still don't know what I_c is without also knowing V_{ce}. the load line is another equation that relates I_c and V_{ce}. and that equation comes from the rest of the circuit (assuming no R_e:

V_{cc} = V_{ce} + I_c R_c

or

I_c = \frac{1}{R_c} ( V_{cc} - V_{ce} )

plotting that equation on top of the transistor curves is your load line.

Understand.
when there is R_e ,we can use the equation in this (transistor load line)
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electronic/loadline.html
But for this case , our Ic=Ib, correct?
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
4K
Replies
10
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
3K
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
8K
Replies
2
Views
2K
Replies
68
Views
7K