Basic Electronics - Book

Fifth Edition, last update July 02, 2007
2
Lessons In Electric Circuits, Volume III –
Semiconductors
By Tony R. Kuphaldt
Fifth Edition, last update July 02, 2007

i
c
2000-2008, Tony R. Kuphaldt
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• Fith Edition: Printed in July 2007. New sections added, and error corrections made,
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ii
Contents
1 AMPLIFIERS AND ACTIVE DEVICES 1

1.1 From electric to electronic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.2 Active versus passive devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1.3 Amplifiers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1.4 Amplifier gain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
1.5 Decibels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
1.6 Absolute dB scales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
1.7 Attenuators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
2 SOLID-STATE DEVICE THEORY 27

2.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
2.2 Quantum physics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
2.3 Valence and Crystal structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
2.4 Band theory of solids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
2.5 Electrons and “holes” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
2.6 The P-N junction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
2.7 Junction diodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
2.8 Bipolar junction transistors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
2.9 Junction field-effect transistors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
2.10 Insulated-gate field-effect transistors (MOSFET) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
2.11 Thyristors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
2.12 Semiconductor manufacturing techniques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
2.13 Superconducting devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
2.14 Quantum devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
2.15 Semiconductor devices in SPICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
3 DIODES AND RECTIFIERS 97

3.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
3.2 Meter check of a diode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
3.3 Diode ratings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
3.4 Rectifier circuits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
3.5 Peak detector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
3.6 Clipper circuits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
iii
iv CONTENTS
3.7 Clamper circuits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121

3.8 Voltage multipliers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
3.9 Inductor commutating circuits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
3.10 Diode switching circuits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
3.11 Zener diodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
3.12 Special-purpose diodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
3.13 Other diode technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
3.14 SPICE models . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
4 BIPOLAR JUNCTION TRANSISTORS 175

4.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
4.2 The transistor as a switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
4.3 Meter check of a transistor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
4.4 Active mode operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
4.5 The common-emitter amplifier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
4.6 The common-collector amplifier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
4.7 The common-base amplifier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
4.8 Biasing techniques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
4.9 Input and output coupling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
4.10 Feedback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
4.11 Amplifier impedances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
4.12 Current mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
4.13 Transistor ratings and packages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
4.14 BJT quirks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
5 JUNCTION FIELD-EFFECT TRANSISTORS 259

5.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
5.2 The transistor as a switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
5.3 Meter check of a transistor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
5.4 Active-mode operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
5.5 The common-source amplifier – PENDING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
5.6 The common-drain amplifier – PENDING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
5.7 The common-gate amplifier – PENDING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
5.8 Biasing techniques – PENDING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
5.9 Transistor ratings and packages – PENDING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
5.10 JFET quirks – PENDING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
6 INSULATED-GATE FIELD-EFFECT TRANSISTORS 279

6.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
6.2 Depletion-type IGFETs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
6.3 Enhancement-type IGFETs – PENDING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
6.4 Active-mode operation – PENDING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
6.5 The common-source amplifier – PENDING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
6.6 The common-drain amplifier – PENDING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
6.7 The common-gate amplifier – PENDING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
CONTENTS v
6.8 Biasing techniques – PENDING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290

6.9 Transistor ratings and packages – PENDING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
6.10 IGFET quirks – PENDING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
6.11 MESFETs – PENDING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
6.12 IGBTs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
7 THYRISTORS 295
7.1 Hysteresis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
7.2 Gas discharge tubes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
7.3 The Shockley Diode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
7.4 The DIAC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
7.5 The Silicon-Controlled Rectifier (SCR) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
7.6 The TRIAC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
7.7 Optothyristors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 321
7.8 The Unijunction Transistor (UJT) – PENDING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
7.9 The Silicon-Controlled Switch (SCS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
7.10 Field-effect-controlled thyristors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324
Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
8 OPERATIONAL AMPLIFIERS 327

8.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
8.2 Single-ended and differential amplifiers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328
8.3 The ”operational” amplifier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332
8.4 Negative feedback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 338
8.5 Divided feedback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 341
8.6 An analogy for divided feedback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 344
8.7 Voltage-to-current signal conversion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350
8.8 Averager and summer circuits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 352
8.9 Building a differential amplifier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 354
8.10 The instrumentation amplifier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 356
8.11 Differentiator and integrator circuits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 357
8.12 Positive feedback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360
8.13 Practical considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 364
8.14 Operational amplifier models . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 380
8.15 Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 385
9 PRACTICAL ANALOG SEMICONDUCTOR CIRCUITS 387

9.1 ElectroStatic Discharge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 387
9.2 Power supply circuits – INCOMPLETE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 392
9.3 Amplifier circuits – PENDING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 394
9.4 Oscillator circuits – INCOMPLETE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 395
9.5 Phase-locked loops – PENDING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 396
9.6 Radio circuits – INCOMPLETE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 396
9.7 Computational circuits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 402
9.8 Measurement circuits – INCOMPLETE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 423
9.9 Control circuits – PENDING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 424
vi CONTENTS
Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 424
10 ACTIVE FILTERS 425
11 DC MOTOR DRIVES 427
12 INVERTERS AND AC MOTOR DRIVES 429
13 ELECTRON TUBES 431

13.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 431
13.2 Early tube history . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 432
13.3 The triode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 435
13.4 The tetrode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 437
13.5 Beam power tubes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 438
13.6 The pentode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 440
13.7 Combination tubes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 440
13.8 Tube parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 443
13.9 Ionization (gas-filled) tubes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 445
13.10Display tubes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 449
13.11Microwave tubes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 452
13.12Tubes versus Semiconductors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 455
A-1 ABOUT THIS BOOK 459
A-2 CONTRIBUTOR LIST 463
A-3 DESIGN SCIENCE LICENSE 467
INDEX 471
Chapter 1
AMPLIFIERS AND ACTIVE

DEVICES
Contents
1.1 From electric to electronic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.2 Active versus passive devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1.3 Amplifiers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1.4 Amplifier gain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
1.5 Decibels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
1.6 Absolute dB scales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
1.7 Attenuators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
1.7.1 Decibels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
1.7.2 T-section attenuator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
1.7.3 PI-section attenuator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
1.7.4 L-section attenuator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
1.7.5 Bridged T attenuator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
1.7.6 Cascaded sections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
1.7.7 RF attenuators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
1.1 From electric to electronic

This third volume of the book series Lessons In Electric Circuits makes a departure from the
former two in that the transition between electric circuits and electronic circuits is formally
crossed. Electric circuits are connections of conductive wires and other devices whereby the
uniform flow of electrons occurs. Electronic circuits add a new dimension to electric circuits
in that some means of control is exerted over the flow of electrons by another electrical signal,
either a voltage or a current.
1
2 CHAPTER 1. AMPLIFIERS AND ACTIVE DEVICES
In and of itself, the control of electron flow is nothing new to the student of electric cir-
cuits. Switches control the flow of electrons, as do potentiometers, especially when connected
as variable resistors (rheostats). Neither the switch nor the potentiometer should be new to
your experience by this point in your study. The threshold marking the transition from electric
to electronic, then, is defined by how the flow of electrons is controlled rather than whether or
not any form of control exists in a circuit. Switches and rheostats control the flow of electrons
according to the positioning of a mechanical device, which is actuated by some physical force
external to the circuit. In electronics, however, we are dealing with special devices able to con-
trol the flow of electrons according to another flow of electrons, or by the application of a static
voltage. In other words, in an electronic circuit, electricity is able to control electricity.
The historic precursor to the modern electronics era was invented by Thomas Edison in
1880 while developing the electric incandescent lamp. Edison found that a small current
passed from the heated lamp filament to a metal plate mounted inside the vacuum envelop.
(Figure 1.1 (a)) Today this is known as the “Edison effect”. Note that the battery is only neces-
sary to heat the filament. Electrons would still flow if a non-electrical heat source was used.
control
e-1 e-1 e-1
- + - +
(a) (b) (c)
Figure 1.1: (a) Edison effect, (b) Fleming valve or vacuum diode, (c) DeForest audion triode
vacuum tube amplifier.
By 1904 Marconi Wireless Company adviser John Flemming found that an externally ap-
plied current (plate battery) only passed in one direction from filament to plate (Figure 1.1 (b)),
but not the reverse direction (not shown). This invention was the vacuum diode, used to con-
vert alternating currents to DC. The addition of a third electrode by Lee DeForest (Figure 1.1
(c)) allowed a small signal to control the larger electron flow from filament to plate.
Historically, the era of electronics began with the invention of the Audion tube, a device
controlling the flow of an electron stream through a vacuum by the application of a small
voltage between two metal structures within the tube. A more detailed summary of so-called
electron tube or vacuum tube technology is available in the last chapter of this volume for those
who are interested.
Electronics technology experienced a revolution in 1948 with the invention of the tran-
sistor. This tiny device achieved approximately the same effect as the Audion tube, but in
a vastly smaller amount of space and with less material. Transistors control the flow of elec-
1.2. ACTIVE VERSUS PASSIVE DEVICES 3
trons through solid semiconductor substances rather than through a vacuum, and so transistor
technology is often referred to as solid-state electronics.
1.2 Active versus passive devices

An active device is any type of circuit component with the ability to electrically control electron
flow (electricity controlling electricity). In order for a circuit to be properly called electronic,
it must contain at least one active device. Components incapable of controlling current by
means of another electrical signal are called passive devices. Resistors, capacitors, inductors,
transformers, and even diodes are all considered passive devices. Active devices include, but
are not limited to, vacuum tubes, transistors, silicon-controlled rectifiers (SCRs), and TRIACs.
A case might be made for the saturable reactor to be defined as an active device, since it is able
to control an AC current with a DC current, but I’ve never heard it referred to as such. The
operation of each of these active devices will be explored in later chapters of this volume.
All active devices control the flow of electrons through them. Some active devices allow a
voltage to control this current while other active devices allow another current to do the job.
Devices utilizing a static voltage as the controlling signal are, not surprisingly, called voltage-
controlled devices. Devices working on the principle of one current controlling another current
are known as current-controlled devices. For the record, vacuum tubes are voltage-controlled
devices while transistors are made as either voltage-controlled or current controlled types. The
first type of transistor successfully demonstrated was a current-controlled device.
1.3 Amplifiers
The practical benefit of active devices is their amplifying ability. Whether the device in ques-
tion be voltage-controlled or current-controlled, the amount of power required of the control-
ling signal is typically far less than the amount of power available in the controlled current.
In other words, an active device doesn’t just allow electricity to control electricity; it allows a
small amount of electricity to control a large amount of electricity.
Because of this disparity between controlling and controlled powers, active devices may be
employed to govern a large amount of power (controlled) by the application of a small amount
of power (controlling). This behavior is known as amplification.
It is a fundamental rule of physics that energy can neither be created nor destroyed. Stated
formally, this rule is known as the Law of Conservation of Energy, and no exceptions to it have
been discovered to date. If this Law is true – and an overwhelming mass of experimental data
suggests that it is – then it is impossible to build a device capable of taking a small amount of
energy and magically transforming it into a large amount of energy. All machines, electric and
electronic circuits included, have an upper efficiency limit of 100 percent. At best, power out
equals power in as in Figure 1.2.
Usually, machines fail even to meet this limit, losing some of their input energy in the form
of heat which is radiated into surrounding space and therefore not part of the output energy
stream. (Figure 1.3)
Many people have attempted, without success, to design and build machines that output
more power than they take in. Not only would such a perpetual motion machine prove that the
Pinput Perfect machine Poutput
Poutput
Efficiency = = 1 = 100%
Pinput
Figure 1.2: The power output of a machine can approach, but never exceed, the power input
for 100% efficiency as an upper limit.
Pinput Realistic machine Poutput
Plost (usually waste heat)
Poutput
Efficiency = < 1 = less than 100%
Pinput
Figure 1.3: A realistic machine most often loses some of its input energy as heat in transform-
ing it into the output energy stream.
1.3. AMPLIFIERS 5
Law of Conservation of Energy was not a Law after all, but it would usher in a technological
revolution such as the world has never seen, for it could power itself in a circular loop and
generate excess power for “free”. (Figure 1.4)
Pinput Perpetual-motion Poutput

machine
Poutput
Efficiency = > 1 = more than 100%
Pinput
Pinput Perpetual-motion P"free"

machine
Poutput
Figure 1.4: Hypothetical “perpetual motion machine” powers itself?
Despite much effort and many unscrupulous claims of “free energy” or over-unity machines,
not one has ever passed the simple test of powering itself with its own energy output and
generating energy to spare.
There does exist, however, a class of machines known as amplifiers, which are able to take in
small-power signals and output signals of much greater power. The key to understanding how
amplifiers can exist without violating the Law of Conservation of Energy lies in the behavior
of active devices.
Because active devices have the ability to control a large amount of electrical power with a
small amount of electrical power, they may be arranged in circuit so as to duplicate the form
of the input signal power from a larger amount of power supplied by an external power source.
The result is a device that appears to magically magnify the power of a small electrical signal
(usually an AC voltage waveform) into an identically-shaped waveform of larger magnitude.
The Law of Conservation of Energy is not violated because the additional power is supplied
by an external source, usually a DC battery or equivalent. The amplifier neither creates nor
destroys energy, but merely reshapes it into the waveform desired as shown in Figure 1.5.
In other words, the current-controlling behavior of active devices is employed to shape DC
power from the external power source into the same waveform as the input signal, producing
an output signal of like shape but different (greater) power magnitude. The transistor or other
active device within an amplifier merely forms a larger copy of the input signal waveform out
of the “raw” DC power provided by a battery or other power source.
Amplifiers, like all machines, are limited in efficiency to a maximum of 100 percent. Usu-
ally, electronic amplifiers are far less efficient than that, dissipating considerable amounts of
energy in the form of waste heat. Because the efficiency of an amplifier is always 100 percent
External
power source
Pinput Amplifier Poutput
Figure 1.5: While an amplifier can scale a small input signal to large output, its energy source
is an external power supply.
or less, one can never be made to function as a “perpetual motion” device.

The requirement of an external source of power is common to all types of amplifiers, elec-
trical and non-electrical. A common example of a non-electrical amplification system would
be power steering in an automobile, amplifying the power of the driver’s arms in turning the
steering wheel to move the front wheels of the car. The source of power necessary for the am-
plification comes from the engine. The active device controlling the driver’s “input signal” is a
hydraulic valve shuttling fluid power from a pump attached to the engine to a hydraulic piston
assisting wheel motion. If the engine stops running, the amplification system fails to amplify
the driver’s arm power and the car becomes very difficult to turn.
1.4 Amplifier gain

Because amplifiers have the ability to increase the magnitude of an input signal, it is useful to
be able to rate an amplifier’s amplifying ability in terms of an output/input ratio. The technical
term for an amplifier’s output/input magnitude ratio is gain. As a ratio of equal units (power
out / power in, voltage out / voltage in, or current out / current in), gain is naturally a unitless
measurement. Mathematically, gain is symbolized by the capital letter “A”.
For example, if an amplifier takes in an AC voltage signal measuring 2 volts RMS and
outputs an AC voltage of 30 volts RMS, it has an AC voltage gain of 30 divided by 2, or 15:
Voutput
AV =
Vinput
30 V
AV =
2V
AV = 15
Correspondingly, if we know the gain of an amplifier and the magnitude of the input signal,
we can calculate the magnitude of the output. For example, if an amplifier with an AC current
1.4. AMPLIFIER GAIN 7
gain of 3.5 is given an AC input signal of 28 mA RMS, the output will be 3.5 times 28 mA, or
98 mA:
Ioutput = (AI)(Iinput)
Ioutput = (3.5)(28 mA)
Ioutput = 98 mA
In the last two examples I specifically identified the gains and signal magnitudes in terms
of “AC.” This was intentional, and illustrates an important concept: electronic amplifiers often
respond differently to AC and DC input signals, and may amplify them to different extents.
Another way of saying this is that amplifiers often amplify changes or variations in input
signal magnitude (AC) at a different ratio than steady input signal magnitudes (DC). The
specific reasons for this are too complex to explain at this time, but the fact of the matter is
worth mentioning. If gain calculations are to be carried out, it must first be understood what
type of signals and gains are being dealt with, AC or DC.
Electrical amplifier gains may be expressed in terms of voltage, current, and/or power, in
both AC and DC. A summary of gain definitions is as follows. The triangle-shaped “delta”
symbol (∆) represents change in mathematics, so “∆Voutput / ∆Vinput ” means “change in output
voltage divided by change in input voltage,” or more simply, “AC output voltage divided by AC
input voltage”:
DC gains AC gains
Voutput ∆Voutput
Voltage AV = AV =
Vinput ∆Vinput
Ioutput ∆Ioutput
Current AI = AI =
Iinput ∆Iinput
Poutput (∆Voutput)(∆Ioutput)
AP = AP =
Power Pinput (∆Vinput)(∆Iinput)
AP = (AV)(AI)
∆ = "change in . . ."
If multiple amplifiers are staged, their respective gains form an overall gain equal to the
product (multiplication) of the individual gains. (Figure 1.6) If a 1 V signal were applied to the
input of the gain of 3 amplifier in Figure 1.6 a 3 V signal out of the first amplifier would be
further amplified by a gain of 5 at the second stage yielding 15 V at the final output.
Input signal Amplifier Amplifier Output signal

gain = 3 gain = 5
Overall gain = (3)(5) = 15
Figure 1.6: The gain of a chain of cascaded amplifiers is the product of the individual gains.
1.5 Decibels
In its simplest form, an amplifier’s gain is a ratio of output over input. Like all ratios, this
form of gain is unitless. However, there is an actual unit intended to represent gain, and it is
called the bel.
As a unit, the bel was actually devised as a convenient way to represent power loss in tele-
phone system wiring rather than gain in amplifiers. The unit’s name is derived from Alexan-
der Graham Bell, the famous Scottish inventor whose work was instrumental in developing
telephone systems. Originally, the bel represented the amount of signal power loss due to re-
sistance over a standard length of electrical cable. Now, it is defined in terms of the common
(base 10) logarithm of a power ratio (output power divided by input power):
Poutput
AP(ratio) =
Pinput
Poutput
AP(Bel) = log
Pinput
Because the bel is a logarithmic unit, it is nonlinear. To give you an idea of how this works,
consider the following table of figures, comparing power losses and gains in bels versus simple
ratios:
Table: Gain / loss in bels
Loss/gain as Loss/gain Loss/gain as Loss/gain
a ratio in bels a ratio in bels
Poutput Poutput Poutput Poutput
log log
Pinput Pinput Pinput Pinput
1000 3B 0.1 -1 B
100 2B 0.01 -2 B
10 1B 0.001 -3 B
1 0B 0.0001 -4 B
(no loss or gain)
It was later decided that the bel was too large of a unit to be used directly, and so it became
1.5. DECIBELS 9
customary to apply the metric prefix deci (meaning 1/10) to it, making it decibels, or dB. Now,
the expression “dB” is so common that many people do not realize it is a combination of “deci-”
and “-bel,” or that there even is such a unit as the “bel.” To put this into perspective, here is
another table contrasting power gain/loss ratios against decibels:
Table: Gain / loss in decibels
Loss/gain as Loss/gain Loss/gain as Loss/gain
a ratio in decibels a ratio in decibels
Poutput Poutput Poutput Poutput
10 log 10 log
Pinput Pinput Pinput Pinput
1000 30 dB 0.1 -10 dB
100 20 dB 0.01 -20 dB
10 10 dB 0.001 -30 dB
1 0 dB 0.0001 -40 dB
(no loss or gain)
As a logarithmic unit, this mode of power gain expression covers a wide range of ratios with
a minimal span in figures. It is reasonable to ask, “why did anyone feel the need to invent a
logarithmic unit for electrical signal power loss in a telephone system?” The answer is related
to the dynamics of human hearing, the perceptive intensity of which is logarithmic in nature.
Human hearing is highly nonlinear: in order to double the perceived intensity of a sound,
the actual sound power must be multiplied by a factor of ten. Relating telephone signal power
loss in terms of the logarithmic “bel” scale makes perfect sense in this context: a power loss of
1 bel translates to a perceived sound loss of 50 percent, or 1/2. A power gain of 1 bel translates
to a doubling in the perceived intensity of the sound.
An almost perfect analogy to the bel scale is the Richter scale used to describe earthquake
intensity: a 6.0 Richter earthquake is 10 times more powerful than a 5.0 Richter earthquake; a
7.0 Richter earthquake 100 times more powerful than a 5.0 Richter earthquake; a 4.0 Richter
earthquake is 1/10 as powerful as a 5.0 Richter earthquake, and so on. The measurement
scale for chemical pH is likewise logarithmic, a difference of 1 on the scale is equivalent to
a tenfold difference in hydrogen ion concentration of a chemical solution. An advantage of
using a logarithmic measurement scale is the tremendous range of expression afforded by a
relatively small span of numerical values, and it is this advantage which secures the use of
Richter numbers for earthquakes and pH for hydrogen ion activity.
Another reason for the adoption of the bel as a unit for gain is for simple expression of sys-
tem gains and losses. Consider the last system example (Figure 1.6) where two amplifiers were
connected tandem to amplify a signal. The respective gain for each amplifier was expressed as
a ratio, and the overall gain for the system was the product (multiplication) of those two ratios:
If these figures represented power gains, we could directly apply the unit of bels to the task
of representing the gain of each amplifier, and of the system altogether. (Figure 1.7)
AP(Bel) = log AP(ratio)
AP(Bel) = log 3 AP(Bel) = log 5
Amplifier Amplifier
Input signal gain = 3 gain = 5 Output signal
gain = 0.477 B gain = 0.699 B

Overall gain(Bel) = log 15 = 1.176 B
Figure 1.7: Power gain in bels is additive: 0.477 B + 0.699 B = 1.176 B.
Close inspection of these gain figures in the unit of “bel” yields a discovery: they’re additive.
Ratio gain figures are multiplicative for staged amplifiers, but gains expressed in bels add
rather than multiply to equal the overall system gain. The first amplifier with its power gain
of 0.477 B adds to the second amplifier’s power gain of 0.699 B to make a system with an overall
power gain of 1.176 B.
Recalculating for decibels rather than bels, we notice the same phenomenon. (Figure 1.8)
AP(dB) = 10 log AP(ratio)
AP(dB) = 10 log 3 AP(dB) = 10 log 5
Amplifier Amplifier
Input signal gain = 3 gain = 5 Output signal
gain = 4.77 dB gain = 6.99 dB

Overall gain(dB) = 10 log 15 = 11.76 dB
Figure 1.8: Gain of amplifier stages in decibels is additive: 4.77 dB + 6.99 dB = 11.76 dB.
To those already familiar with the arithmetic properties of logarithms, this is no surprise.
It is an elementary rule of algebra that the antilogarithm of the sum of two numbers’ logarithm
values equals the product of the two original numbers. In other words, if we take two numbers
and determine the logarithm of each, then add those two logarithm figures together, then
determine the “antilogarithm” of that sum (elevate the base number of the logarithm – in this
case, 10 – to the power of that sum), the result will be the same as if we had simply multiplied
the two original numbers together. This algebraic rule forms the heart of a device called a
slide rule, an analog computer which could, among other things, determine the products and
quotients of numbers by addition (adding together physical lengths marked on sliding wood,
metal, or plastic scales). Given a table of logarithm figures, the same mathematical trick
could be used to perform otherwise complex multiplications and divisions by only having to
do additions and subtractions, respectively. With the advent of high-speed, handheld, digital
calculator devices, this elegant calculation technique virtually disappeared from popular use.
However, it is still important to understand when working with measurement scales that are
1.5. DECIBELS 11
logarithmic in nature, such as the bel (decibel) and Richter scales.

When converting a power gain from units of bels or decibels to a unitless ratio, the mathe-
matical inverse function of common logarithms is used: powers of 10, or the antilog.
If:
Then:
AP(ratio) = 10AP(Bel)
Converting decibels into unitless ratios for power gain is much the same, only a division
factor of 10 is included in the exponent term:
If:
Then: AP(dB)
10
AP(ratio) = 10
Example: Power into an amplifier is 1 watts, the power out is 10 watt. Find the power
gain in dB.
AP (dB) = 10 log10 (PO / PI ) = 10 log10 (10 /1) = 10 log10 (10) = 10 (1) = 10 dB
Example: Find the power gain ratio AP (ratio) = (PO / PI ) for a 20 dB Power gain.
AP (dB) = 20 = 10 log10 AP (ratio)
20/10 = log10 AP (ratio)
1020/10 = 10log10 (AP (ratio) )
100 = AP (ratio) = (PO / PI )
Because the bel is fundamentally a unit of power gain or loss in a system, voltage or current
gains and losses don’t convert to bels or dB in quite the same way. When using bels or decibels
to express a gain other than power, be it voltage or current, we must perform the calculation
in terms of how much power gain there would be for that amount of voltage or current gain.
For a constant load impedance, a voltage or current gain of 2 equates to a power gain of 4 (22 );
a voltage or current gain of 3 equates to a power gain of 9 (32 ). If we multiply either voltage
or current by a given factor, then the power gain incurred by that multiplication will be the
square of that factor. This relates back to the forms of Joule’s Law where power was calculated
from either voltage or current, and resistance:
E2
P=
R
P = I2R
Power is proportional to the square

of either voltage or current
Thus, when translating a voltage or current gain ratio into a respective gain in terms of the
bel unit, we must include this exponent in the equation(s):
AV(Bel) = log AV(ratio)2 Exponent required

AI(Bel) = log AI(ratio)2
The same exponent requirement holds true when expressing voltage or current gains in
terms of decibels:
AV(dB) = 10 log AV(ratio)2 Exponent required

2
AI(dB) = 10 log AI(ratio)
However, thanks to another interesting property of logarithms, we can simplify these equa-
tions to eliminate the exponent by including the “2” as a multiplying factor for the logarithm
function. In other words, instead of taking the logarithm of the square of the voltage or current
gain, we just multiply the voltage or current gain’s logarithm figure by 2 and the final result
in bels or decibels will be the same:
For bels:
AV(Bel) = log AV(ratio)2 AI(Bel) = log AI(ratio)2
. . . is the same as . . . . . . is the same as . . .
AV(Bel) = 2 log AV(ratio) AI(Bel) = 2 log AI(ratio)
For decibels:
AV(dB) = 10 log AV(ratio)2 AI(dB) = 10 log AI(ratio)2
. . . is the same as . . . . . . is the same as . . .
AV(dB) = 20 log AV(ratio) AI(dB) = 20 log AI(ratio)
The process of converting voltage or current gains from bels or decibels into unitless ratios
is much the same as it is for power gains:
1.5. DECIBELS 13
If:
AV(Bel) = 2 log AV(ratio) AI(Bel) = 2 log AI(ratio)
Then: AV(Bel) AI(Bel)

2 2
AV(ratio) = 10 AI(ratio) = 10
Here are the equations used for converting voltage or current gains in decibels into unitless
ratios:
If:
AV(dB) = 20 log AV(ratio) AI(dB) = 20 log AI(ratio)
Then: AV(dB) AI(dB)

20
AV(ratio) = 10 AI(ratio) = 10 20
While the bel is a unit naturally scaled for power, another logarithmic unit has been in-
vented to directly express voltage or current gains/losses, and it is based on the natural loga-
rithm rather than the common logarithm as bels and decibels are. Called the neper, its unit
symbol is a lower-case “n.”
Voutput Ioutput
AV(ratio) = AI(ratio) =
Vinput Iinput
AV(neper) = ln AV(ratio) AI(neper) = ln AI(ratio)
For better or for worse, neither the neper nor its attenuated cousin, the decineper, is popu-
larly used as a unit in American engineering applications.
Example: The voltage into a 600 Ω audio line amplifier is 10 mV, the voltage across a 600
Ω load is 1 V. Find the power gain in dB.
A(dB) = 20 log10 (VO / VI ) = 20 log10 (1 /0.01) = 20 log10 (100) = 20 (2) = 40 dB
Example: Find the voltage gain ratio AV (ratio) = (VO / VI ) for a 20 dB gain amplifier
having a 50 Ω input and out impedance.
AV (dB) = 20 log10 AV (ratio)
20 = 20 log10 AV (ratio)
20/20 = log10 AP (ratio)
1020/20 = 10log10 (AV (ratio) )
10 = AV (ratio) = (VO / VI )
• REVIEW:
• Gains and losses may be expressed in terms of a unitless ratio, or in the unit of bels (B)
or decibels (dB). A decibel is literally a deci-bel: one-tenth of a bel.
• The bel is fundamentally a unit for expressing power gain or loss. To convert a power
ratio to either bels or decibels, use one of these equations:
AP(Bel) = log AP(ratio) AP(db) = 10 log AP(ratio)

•
• When using the unit of the bel or decibel to express a voltage or current ratio, it must be
cast in terms of an equivalent power ratio. Practically, this means the use of different
equations, with a multiplication factor of 2 for the logarithm value corresponding to an
exponent of 2 for the voltage or current gain ratio:
AV(Bel) = 2 log AV(ratio) AV(dB) = 20 log AV(ratio)
AI(Bel) = 2 log AI(ratio) AI(dB) = 20 log AI(ratio)

•
• To convert a decibel gain into a unitless ratio gain, use one of these equations:
AV(dB)
AV(ratio) = 10 20
AI(dB)
20
AI(ratio) = 10
AP(dB)
10
AP(ratio) = 10
•
• A gain (amplification) is expressed as a positive bel or decibel figure. A loss (attenuation)

is expressed as a negative bel or decibel figure. Unity gain (no gain or loss; ratio = 1) is
expressed as zero bels or zero decibels.
• When calculating overall gain for an amplifier system composed of multiple amplifier
stages, individual gain ratios are multiplied to find the overall gain ratio. Bel or deci-
bel figures for each amplifier stage, on the other hand, are added together to determine
overall gain.
1.6 Absolute dB scales

It is also possible to use the decibel as a unit of absolute power, in addition to using it as an
expression of power gain or loss. A common example of this is the use of decibels as a measure-
ment of sound pressure intensity. In cases like these, the measurement is made in reference to
some standardized power level defined as 0 dB. For measurements of sound pressure, 0 dB is
loosely defined as the lower threshold of human hearing, objectively quantified as 1 picowatt
of sound power per square meter of area.
A sound measuring 40 dB on the decibel sound scale would be 104 times greater than the
threshold of hearing. A 100 dB sound would be 1010 (ten billion) times greater than the thresh-
old of hearing.
Because the human ear is not equally sensitive to all frequencies of sound, variations of the
decibel sound-power scale have been developed to represent physiologically equivalent sound
intensities at different frequencies. Some sound intensity instruments were equipped with
filter networks to give disproportionate indications across the frequency scale, the intent of
1.6. ABSOLUTE DB SCALES 15
which to better represent the effects of sound on the human body. Three filtered scales became
commonly known as the “A,” “B,” and “C” weighted scales. Decibel sound intensity indications
measured through these respective filtering networks were given in units of dBA, dBB, and
dBC. Today, the “A-weighted scale” is most commonly used for expressing the equivalent phys-
iological impact on the human body, and is especially useful for rating dangerously loud noise
sources.
Another standard-referenced system of power measurement in the unit of decibels has been
established for use in telecommunications systems. This is called the dBm scale. (Figure 1.9)
The reference point, 0 dBm, is defined as 1 milliwatt of electrical power dissipated by a 600 Ω
load. According to this scale, 10 dBm is equal to 10 times the reference power, or 10 milliwatts;
20 dBm is equal to 100 times the reference power, or 100 milliwatts. Some AC voltmeters come
equipped with a dBm range or scale (sometimes labeled “DB”) intended for use in measuring
AC signal power across a 600 Ω load. 0 dBm on this scale is, of course, elevated above zero
because it represents something greater than 0 (actually, it represents 0.7746 volts across a
600 Ω load, voltage being equal to the square root of power times resistance; the square root
of 0.001 multiplied by 600). When viewed on the face of an analog meter movement, this dBm
scale appears compressed on the left side and expanded on the right in a manner not unlike a
resistance scale, owing to its logarithmic nature.
Radio frequency power measurements for low level signals encountered in radio receivers
use dBm measurements referenced to a 50 Ω load. Signal generators for the evaluation of radio
receivers may output an adjustable dBm rated signal. The signal level is selected by a device
called an attenuator, described in the next section.
Table: Absolute power levels in dBm (decibel milliwatt)

Power in Power in Power in Power in Power in
watts milliwatts dBm milliwatts dBm
1 1000 30 dB 1 0 dB
0.1 100 20 dB 0.1 -10 dB
0.01 10 10 dB 0.01 -20 dB
0.004 4 6 dB 0.001 -30 dB
0.002 2 3 dB 0.0001 -40 dB
Figure 1.9: Absolute power levels in dBm (decibels referenced to 1 milliwatt.
An adaptation of the dBm scale for audio signal strength is used in studio recording and
broadcast engineering for standardizing volume levels, and is called the VU scale. VU meters
are frequently seen on electronic recording instruments to indicate whether or not the recorded
signal exceeds the maximum signal level limit of the device, where significant distortion will
occur. This “volume indicator” scale is calibrated in according to the dBm scale, but does not
directly indicate dBm for any signal other than steady sine-wave tones. The proper unit of
measurement for a VU meter is volume units.
When relatively large signals are dealt with, and an absolute dB scale would be useful for
representing signal level, specialized decibel scales are sometimes used with reference points
greater than the 1 mW used in dBm. Such is the case for the dBW scale, with a reference
point of 0 dBW established at 1 watt. Another absolute measure of power called the dBk scale
references 0 dBk at 1 kW, or 1000 watts.
• REVIEW:
• The unit of the bel or decibel may also be used to represent an absolute measurement of
power rather than just a relative gain or loss. For sound power measurements, 0 dB is
defined as a standardized reference point of power equal to 1 picowatt per square meter.
Another dB scale suited for sound intensity measurements is normalized to the same
physiological effects as a 1000 Hz tone, and is called the dBA scale. In this system, 0
dBA is defined as any frequency sound having the same physiological equivalence as a 1
picowatt-per-square-meter tone at 1000 Hz.
• An electrical dB scale with an absolute reference point has been made for use in telecom-
munications systems. Called the dBm scale, its reference point of 0 dBm is defined as 1
milliwatt of AC signal power dissipated by a 600 Ω load.
• A VU meter reads audio signal level according to the dBm for sine-wave signals. Because
its response to signals other than steady sine waves is not the same as true dBm, its unit
of measurement is volume units.
• dB scales with greater absolute reference points than the dBm scale have been invented
for high-power signals. The dBW scale has its reference point of 0 dBW defined as 1 watt
of power. The dBk scale sets 1 kW (1000 watts) as the zero-point reference.
1.7 Attenuators
Attenuators are passive devices. It is convenient to discuss them along with decibels. Attenu-
ators weaken or attenuate the high level output of a signal generator, for example, to provide
a lower level signal for something like the antenna input of a sensitive radio receiver. (Fig-
ure 1.10) The attenuator could be built into the signal generator, or be a stand-alone device.
It could provide a fixed or adjustable amount of attenuation. An attenuator section can also
provide isolation between a source and a troublesome load.
In the case of a stand-alone attenuator, it must be placed in series between the signal source
and the load by breaking open the signal path as shown above. In addition, it must match both
the source impedance ZI and the load impedance ZO , while providing a specified amount of
attenuation. In this section we will only consider the special, and most common, case where
the source and load impedances are equal. Not considered in this section, unequal source and
load impedances may be matched by an attenuator section. However, the formulation is more
complex.
1.7. ATTENUATORS 17
ZI ZI
Attenuator
ZO ZO
Figure 1.10: Constant impedance attenuator is matched to source impedance ZI and load
impedance ZO . For radio frequency equipment Z is 50 Ω.
T attenuator Π attenuator
Figure 1.11: T section and Π section attenuators are common forms.
Common configurations are the T and Π networks shown in Figure 1.11 Multiple attenuator
sections may be cascaded when even weaker signals are needed as in Figure 1.19.
1.7.1 Decibels
Voltage ratios, as used in the design of attenuators are often expressed in terms of decibels.
The voltage ratio (K below) must be derived from the attenuation in decibels. Power ratios ex-
pressed as decibels are additive. For example, a 10 dB attenuator followed by a 6 dB attenuator
provides 16dB of attenuation overall.
10 dB + 6 db = 16 dB
Changing sound levels are perceptible roughly proportional to the logarithm of the power
ratio (PI / PO ).
sound level = log10 (PI / PO )
A change of 1 dB in sound level is barely perceptible to a listener, while 2 db is readily

perceptible. An attenuation of 3 dB corresponds to cutting power in half, while a gain of 3 db
corresponds to a doubling of the power level. A gain of -3 dB is the same as an attenuation of
+3 dB, corresponding to half the original power level.
The power change in decibels in terms of power ratio is:
dB = 10 log10 (PI / PO )
Assuming that the load RI at PI is the same as the load resistor RO at PO (RI = RO ), the
decibels may be derived from the voltage ratio (VI / VO ) or current ratio (II / IO ):
PO = V O IO = VO 2 / R = IO 2 R
PI = VI II = VI 2 / R = II 2 R
dB = 10 log10 (PI / PO ) = 10 log10 (VI 2 / VO 2 ) = 20 log10 (VI /VO )
dB = 10 log10 (PI / PO ) = 10 log10 (II 2 / IO 2 ) = 20 log10 (II /IO )
The two most often used forms of the decibel equation are:
dB = 10 log10 (PI / PO ) or dB = 20 log10 (VI / VO )
We will use the latter form, since we need the voltage ratio. Once again, the voltage ratio
form of equation is only applicable where the two corresponding resistors are equal. That is,
the source and load resistance need to be equal.
Example: Power into an attenuator is 10 watts, the power out is 1 watt. Find the
attenuation in dB.
dB = 10 log10 (PI / PO ) = 10 log10 (10 /1) = 10 log10 (10) = 10 (1) = 10 dB
Example: Find the voltage attenuation ratio (K= (VI / VO )) for a 10 dB attenuator.
dB = 10= 20 log10 (VI / VO )
10/20 = log10 (VI / VO )
1010/20 = 10log10 (VI /VO )
3.16 = (VI / VO ) = AP (ratio)
Example: Power into an attenuator is 100 milliwatts, the power out is 1 milliwatt. Find
the attenuation in dB.
dB = 10 log10 (PI / PO ) = 10 log10 (100 /1) = 10 log10 (100) = 10 (2) = 20 dB
Example: Find the voltage attenuation ratio (K= (VI / VO )) for a 20 dB attenuator.
dB = 20= 20 log10 (VI / VO )
1020/20 = 10log10 (VI /VO )
10 = (VI / VO ) = K
1.7. ATTENUATORS 19
dB = attenuation in decibels
Z = source/load impedance (resistive) Resistors for T-section
K>1 Z = 50
R1 R1 Attenuation
VI dB K=Vi/Vo R1 R2
K = = 10 dB/20 1.0 1.12 2.88 433.34
VO 2.0 1.26 5.73 215.24
VI VO
K- 1 R2 3.0 1.41 8.55 141.93
R1 = Z ⇐ Ζ⇒ ⇐ Ζ⇒ 4.0 1.58 11.31 104.83
K+ 1
2K 6.0 2.00 16.61 66.93
R2 = Z 10.0 3.16 25.97 35.14
K2- 1 T attenuator 20.0 10.00 40.91 10.10
Figure 1.12: Formulas for T-section attenuator resistors, given K, the voltage attenuation ratio,
and ZI = ZO = 50 Ω.
1.7.2 T-section attenuator

The T and Π attenuators must be connected to a Z source and Z load impedance. The Z-
(arrows) pointing away from the attenuator in the figure below indicate this. The Z-(arrows)
pointing toward the attenuator indicates that the impedance seen looking into the attenuator
with a load Z on the opposite end is Z, Z=50 Ω for our case. This impedance is a constant (50
Ω) with respect to attenuation– impedance does not change when attenuation is changed.
The table in Figure 1.12 lists resistor values for the T and Π attenuators to match a 50 Ω
source/ load, as is the usual requirement in radio frequency work.
Telephone utility and other audio work often requires matching to 600 Ω. Multiply all R
values by the ratio (600/50) to correct for 600 Ω matching. Multiplying by 75/50 would convert
table values to match a 75 Ω source and load.
The amount of attenuation is customarily specified in dB (decibels). Though, we need the
voltage (or current) ratio K to find the resistor values from equations. See the dB/20 term in
the power of 10 term for computing the voltage ratio K from dB, above.
The T (and below Π) configurations are most commonly used as they provide bidirectional
matching. That is, the attenuator input and output may be swapped end for end and still
match the source and load impedances while supplying the same attenuation.
Disconnecting the source and looking in to the right at VI , we need to see a series parallel
combination of RO , RI , RO , and Z looking like an equivalent resistance of Z, the source/load
impedance: (Z is connected to the output.)
Z=RO + (R2 ——(R1 + Z))
For example, substitute the 10 dB values from the 50 Ω attenuator table for R1 and R2 as
shown in Figure 1.13.
Z = 25.97 + (35.14 ——(25.97 + 50))
Z = 25.97 + (35.14 —— 75.97 )
Z = 25.97 + 24.03 = 50
This shows us that we see 50 Ω looking right into the example attenuator (Figure 1.13) with
a 50 Ω load.
Replacing the source generator, disconnecting load Z at VO , and looking in to the left, should
give us the same equation as above for the impedance at VO , due to symmetry. Moreover, the
three resistors must be values which supply the required attenuation from input to output.
This is accomplished by the equations for R1 and R2 above as applied to the T-attenuator
below.
Z R1=26.0 R1
VI R2= VO
⇐ Ζ⇒ 35.1 ⇐ Ζ⇒ Z
=50 =50
T attenuator
10 dB attenuators for matching input/output to Z= 50 Ω.
Figure 1.13: 10 dB T-section attenuator for insertion between a 50 Ω source and load.
1.7.3 PI-section attenuator

The table in Figure 1.14 lists resistor values for the Π attenuator matching a 50 Ω source/ load
at some common attenuation levels. The resistors corresponding to other attenuation levels
may be calculated from the equations.
Z = source/load impedance (resistive) Resistors for Π-section
Z=50.00
K>1 Attenuation
VI R3 dB K=Vi/Vo R3 R4
K = = 10 dB/20 1.0 1.12 5.77 869.55
VO 2.0 1.26 11.61 436.21
VI VO 3.0 1.41 17.61 292.40
2
R3 = Z K - 1 ⇐ Ζ⇒ R4 R4 ⇐ Ζ⇒ 4.0 1.58 23.85 220.97
2K 6.0 2.00 37.35 150.48
10.0 3.16 71.15 96.25
R4 = Z K+ 1 Π attenuator 20.0 10.00 247.50 61.11
K- 1
Figure 1.14: Formulas for Π-section attenuator resistors, given K, the voltage attenuation
ratio, and ZI = ZO = 50 Ω.
The above apply to the π-attenuator below.

1.7. ATTENUATORS 21
Z R3=71.2
VI R4= VO
Z
⇐ Ζ⇒ 96.2 R4 ⇐ Ζ⇒
=50 =50
Π attenuator
10 dB attenuator for matching input/output to Z= 50 Ω.
Figure 1.15: 10 dB Π-section attenuator example for matching a 50 Ω source and load.
What resistor values would be required for both the Π attenuators for 10 dB of attenuation
matching a 50 Ω source and load?
The 10 dB corresponds to a voltage attenuation ratio of K=3.16 in the next to last line of the
above table. Transfer the resistor values in that line to the resistors on the schematic diagram
in Figure 1.15.
1.7.4 L-section attenuator

The table in Figure 1.16 lists resistor values for the L attenuators to match a 50 Ω source/
load. The table in Figure 1.17 lists resistor values for an alternate form. Note that the resistor
values are not the same.
Z = source/load impedance (resistive) Resistors for L-section
Z=,50.00
K>1 Attenuation L
R5 dB K=Vi/Vo R5 R6
VI
K = = 10 dB/20 1.0 1.12 5.44 409.77
VO 2.0 1.26 10.28 193.11
VI VO 3.0 1.41 14.60 121.20
R5 = Z K- 1 ⇐ Ζ⇒ R6 Ζ⇒ 4.0 1.58 18.45 85.49
K 6.0 2.00 24.94 50.24
Z 10.0 3.16 34.19 23.12
R6 = L attenuator 20.0 10.00 45.00 5.56
(K-1)
Figure 1.16: L-section attenuator table for 50 Ω source and load impedance.
The above apply to the L attenuator below.
1.7.5 Bridged T attenuator

The table in Figure 1.18 lists resistor values for the bridged T attenuators to match a 50 Ω
source and load. The bridged-T attenuator is not often used. Why not?
Z = source/load impedance (resistive) Resistors for L-section
Z=50.00
K>1 Attenuation
R7 dB K=Vi/Vo R7 R8
V
K = VI = 10 dB/20 1.0 1.12 6.10 459.77
O 2.0 1.26 12.95 243.11
VI VO 3.0 1.41 20.63 171.20
R7 = Z(K-1) R8
⇐ Ζ⇒ Ζ⇒ 4.0
6.0
1.58 29.24 135.49
2.00 49.76 100.24
K
R8 = Z K- 1 10.0 3.16 108.11 73.12
L attenuator 20.0 10.00 450.00 55.56
Figure 1.17: Alternate form L-section attenuator table for 50 Ω source and load impedance.
Z = source/load impedance (resistive) Resistors for bridged T
K>1 Z=50.00
Attenuation
Ζ R7 Ζ dB K=Vi/Vo R7 R6
VI
K = = 10 dB/20 1.0 1.12 6.10 409.77
VO 2.0 1.26 12.95 193.11
VI VO 3.0 1.41 20.63 121.20
R6 = Z ⇐ Ζ⇒ R6 ⇐ Ζ⇒ 4.0 1.58 29.24 85.49
(K-1) 6.0 2.00 49.76 50.24
R7 = Z(K-1) 10.0 3.16 108.11 23.12
Bridged T attenuator 20.0 10.00 450.00 5.56
Figure 1.18: Formulas and abbreviated table for bridged-T attenuator section, Z = 50 Ω.
1.7. ATTENUATORS 23
1.7.6 Cascaded sections

Attenuator sections can be cascaded as in Figure 1.19 for more attenuation than may be avail-
able from a single section. For example two 10 db attenuators may be cascaded to provide 20
dB of attenuation, the dB values being additive. The voltage attenuation ratio K or VI /VO for
a 10 dB attenuator section is 3.16. The voltage attenuation ratio for the two cascaded sections
is the product of the two Ks or 3.16x3.16=10 for the two cascaded sections.
section 1 section 2
Figure 1.19: Cascaded attenuator sections: dB attenuation is additive.
Variable attenuation can be provided in discrete steps by a switched attenuator. The ex-
ample Figure 1.20, shown in the 0 dB position, is capable of 0 through 7 dB of attenuation by
additive switching of none, one or more sections.
S1 S2 S3
4 dB 2 dB 1 dB
Figure 1.20: Switched attenuator: attenuation is variable in discrete steps.
The typical multi section attenuator has more sections than the above figure shows. The
addition of a 3 or 8 dB section above enables the unit to cover to 10 dB and beyond. Lower
signal levels are achieved by the addition of 10 dB and 20 dB sections, or a binary multiple 16
dB section.
1.7.7 RF attenuators
For radio frequency (RF) work (<1000 Mhz), the individual sections must be mounted in
shielded compartments to thwart capacitive coupling if lower signal levels are to be achieved
at the highest frequencies. The individual sections of the switched attenuators in the previous
section are mounted in shielded sections. Additional measures may be taken to extend the
frequency range to beyond 1000 Mhz. This involves construction from special shaped lead-less
resistive elements.
A coaxial T-section attenuator consisting of resistive rods and a resistive disk is shown in
Figure 1.21. This construction is usable to a few gigahertz. The coaxial Π version would have
one resistive rod between two resistive disks in the coaxial line as in Figure 1.22.
metalic conductor
resistive disc
resistive rod
Coaxial T-attenuator for radio frequency work
Figure 1.21: Coaxial T-attenuator for radio frequency work.
metalic conductor
resistive rod
resistive disc
Coaxial Π-attenuator for radio frequency work
Figure 1.22: Coaxial Π-attenuator for radio frequency work.

1.7. ATTENUATORS 25
RF connectors, not shown, are attached to the ends of the above T and Π attenuators.
The connectors allow individual attenuators to be cascaded, in addition to connecting between
a source and load. For example, a 10 dB attenuator may be placed between a troublesome
signal source and an expensive spectrum analyzer input. Even though we may not need the
attenuation, the expensive test equipment is protected from the source by attenuating any
overvoltage.
Summary: Attenuators
• An attenuator reduces an input signal to a lower level.
• The amount of attenuation is specified in decibels (dB). Decibel values are additive for
cascaded attenuator sections.
• dB from power ratio: dB = 10 log10 (PI / PO )
• dB from voltage ratio: dB = 20 log10 (VI / VO )
• T and Π section attenuators are the most common circuit configurations.
Contributors
Contributors to this chapter are listed in chronological order of their contributions, from most
recent to first. See Appendix 2 (Contributor List) for dates and contact information.
Colin Barnard (November 2003): Correction regarding Alexander Graham Bell’s country
of origin (Scotland, not the United States).
Chapter 2
SOLID-STATE DEVICE THEORY
Contents
2.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
2.2 Quantum physics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
2.3 Valence and Crystal structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
2.4 Band theory of solids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
2.5 Electrons and “holes” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
2.6 The P-N junction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
2.7 Junction diodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
2.8 Bipolar junction transistors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
2.9 Junction field-effect transistors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
2.10 Insulated-gate field-effect transistors (MOSFET) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
2.11 Thyristors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
2.12 Semiconductor manufacturing techniques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
2.13 Superconducting devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
2.14 Quantum devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
2.15 Semiconductor devices in SPICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
2.1 Introduction
This chapter will cover the physics behind the operation of semiconductor devices and show
how these principles are applied in several different types of semiconductor devices. Subse-
quent chapters will deal primarily with the practical aspects of these devices in circuits and
omit theory as much as possible.
27
28 CHAPTER 2. SOLID-STATE DEVICE THEORY
2.2 Quantum physics

“I think it is safe to say that no one understands quantum mechanics.”
Physicist Richard P. Feynman
To say that the invention of semiconductor devices was a revolution would not be an ex-
aggeration. Not only was this an impressive technological accomplishment, but it paved the
way for developments that would indelibly alter modern society. Semiconductor devices made
possible miniaturized electronics, including computers, certain types of medical diagnostic and
treatment equipment, and popular telecommunication devices, to name a few applications of
this technology.
But behind this revolution in technology stands an even greater revolution in general sci-
ence: the field of quantum physics. Without this leap in understanding the natural world, the
development of semiconductor devices (and more advanced electronic devices still under devel-
opment) would never have been possible. Quantum physics is an incredibly complicated realm
of science. This chapter is but a brief overview. When scientists of Feynman’s caliber say that
“no one understands [it],” you can be sure it is a complex subject. Without a basic understand-
ing of quantum physics, or at least an understanding of the scientific discoveries that led to its
formulation, though, it is impossible to understand how and why semiconductor electronic de-
vices function. Most introductory electronics textbooks I’ve read try to explain semiconductors
in terms of “classical” physics, resulting in more confusion than comprehension.
Many of us have seen diagrams of atoms that look something like Figure 2.1.
e e = electron
P = proton
N = neutron
N
P P
e N P e
N P
N P P
N N
Figure 2.1: Rutherford atom: negative electrons orbit a small positive nucleus.
Tiny particles of matter called protons and neutrons make up the center of the atom; elec-
trons orbit like planets around a star. The nucleus carries a positive electrical charge, owing to
2.2. QUANTUM PHYSICS 29
the presence of protons (the neutrons have no electrical charge whatsoever), while the atom’s
balancing negative charge resides in the orbiting electrons. The negative electrons are at-
tracted to the positive protons just as planets are gravitationally attracted by the Sun, yet the
orbits are stable because of the electrons’ motion. We owe this popular model of the atom to the
work of Ernest Rutherford, who around the year 1911 experimentally determined that atoms’
positive charges were concentrated in a tiny, dense core rather than being spread evenly about
the diameter as was proposed by an earlier researcher, J.J. Thompson.
Rutherford’s scattering experiment involved bombarding a thin gold foil with positively
charged alpha particles as in Figure 2.2. Young graduate students H. Geiger and E. Marsden
experienced unexpected results. A few Alpha particles were deflected at large angles. A few
Alpha particles were back-scattering, recoiling at nearly 180o . Most of the particles passed
through the gold foil undeflected, indicating that the foil was mostly empty space. The fact
that a few alpha particles experienced large deflections indicated the presence of a miniscule
positively charged nucleus.
es
l
rt ha
ic
Gol
pa lp
d fo
a
il
Figure 2.2: Rutherford scattering: a beam of alpha particles is scattered by a thin gold foil.
Although Rutherford’s atomic model accounted for experimental data better than Thomp-
son’s, it still wasn’t perfect. Further attempts at defining atomic structure were undertaken,
and these efforts helped pave the way for the bizarre discoveries of quantum physics. Today our
understanding of the atom is quite a bit more complex. Nevertheless, despite the revolution of
quantum physics and its contribution to our understanding of atomic structure, Rutherford’s
solar-system picture of the atom embedded itself in the popular consciousness to such a degree
that it persists in some areas of study even when inappropriate.
Consider this short description of electrons in an atom, taken from a popular electronics
textbook:
Orbiting negative electrons are therefore attracted toward the positive nucleus,
which leads us to the question of why the electrons do not fly into the atom’s nucleus.
The answer is that the orbiting electrons remain in their stable orbit because of two
equal but opposite forces. The centrifugal outward force exerted on the electrons
because of the orbit counteracts the attractive inward force (centripetal) trying to
pull the electrons toward the nucleus because of the unlike charges.
In keeping with the Rutherford model, this author casts the electrons as solid chunks of
matter engaged in circular orbits, their inward attraction to the oppositely charged nucleus
balanced by their motion. The reference to “centrifugal force” is technically incorrect (even
for orbiting planets), but is easily forgiven because of its popular acceptance: in reality, there
is no such thing as a force pushing any orbiting body away from its center of orbit. It seems
that way because a body’s inertia tends to keep it traveling in a straight line, and since an
orbit is a constant deviation (acceleration) from straight-line travel, there is constant inertial
opposition to whatever force is attracting the body toward the orbit center (centripetal), be it
gravity, electrostatic attraction, or even the tension of a mechanical link.
The real problem with this explanation, however, is the idea of electrons traveling in cir-
cular orbits in the first place. It is a verifiable fact that accelerating electric charges emit
electromagnetic radiation, and this fact was known even in Rutherford’s time. Since orbiting
motion is a form of acceleration (the orbiting object in constant acceleration away from normal,
straight-line motion), electrons in an orbiting state should be throwing off radiation like mud
from a spinning tire. Electrons accelerated around circular paths in particle accelerators called
synchrotrons are known to do this, and the result is called synchrotron radiation. If electrons
were losing energy in this way, their orbits would eventually decay, resulting in collisions with
the positively charged nucleus. Nevertheless, this doesn’t ordinarily happen within atoms.
Indeed, electron “orbits” are remarkably stable over a wide range of conditions.
Furthermore, experiments with “excited” atoms demonstrated that electromagnetic energy
emitted by an atom only occurs at certain, definite frequencies. Atoms that are “excited” by
outside influences such as light are known to absorb that energy and return it as electromag-
netic waves of specific frequencies, like a tuning fork that rings at a fixed pitch no matter how
it is struck. When the light emitted by an excited atom is divided into its constituent frequen-
cies (colors) by a prism, distinct lines of color appear in the spectrum, the pattern of spectral
lines being unique to that element. This phenomenon is commonly used to identify atomic ele-
ments, and even measure the proportions of each element in a compound or chemical mixture.
According to Rutherford’s solar-system atomic model (regarding electrons as chunks of matter
free to orbit at any radius) and the laws of classical physics, excited atoms should return en-
ergy over a virtually limitless range of frequencies rather than a select few. In other words, if
Rutherford’s model were correct, there would be no “tuning fork” effect, and the light spectrum
emitted by any atom would appear as a continuous band of colors rather than as a few distinct
lines.
A pioneering researcher by the name of Niels Bohr attempted to improve upon Ruther-
ford’s model after studying in Rutherford’s laboratory for several months in 1912. Trying to
harmonize the findings of other physicists (most notably, Max Planck and Albert Einstein),
Bohr suggested that each electron had a certain, specific amount of energy, and that their or-
bits were quantized such that each may occupy certain places around the nucleus, as marbles
fixed in circular tracks around the nucleus rather than the free-ranging satellites each were
formerly imagined to be. (Figure 2.3) In deference to the laws of electromagnetics and acceler-
ating charges, Bohr alluded to these “orbits” as stationary states to escape the implication that
they were in motion.
Although Bohr’s ambitious attempt at re-framing the structure of the atom in terms that
agreed closer to experimental results was a milestone in physics, it was not complete. His
mathematical analysis produced better predictions of experimental events than analyses be-
longing to previous models, but there were still some unanswered questions about why elec-
series n
n=6
Pasche
Balmer
seri cket
series
es
Bra
O Hδ 4102 A
Lymies
n=5 discharge lamp Hγ 4340
ser
Hβ 4861
an
N n=4 slit
Hα
6563
M n=3
n=2 (L) Balmer series
n=1 (K)
nucleus
Figure 2.3: Bohr hydrogen atom (with orbits drawn to scale) only allows electrons to inhabit
discrete orbitals. Electrons falling from n=3,4,5, or 6 to n=2 accounts for Balmer series of
spectral lines.
trons should behave in such strange ways. The assertion that electrons existed in stationary,
quantized states around the nucleus accounted for experimental data better than Rutherford’s
model, but he had no idea what would force electrons to manifest those particular states. The
answer to that question had to come from another physicist, Louis de Broglie, about a decade
later.
De Broglie proposed that electrons, as photons (particles of light) manifested both particle-
like and wave-like properties. Building on this proposal, he suggested that an analysis of
orbiting electrons from a wave perspective rather than a particle perspective might make more
sense of their quantized nature. Indeed, another breakthrough in understanding was reached.
node node
node
antinode antinode
Figure 2.4: String vibrating at resonant frequency between two fixed points forms standing
wave.
The atom according to de Broglie consisted of electrons existing as standing waves, a phe-
nomenon well known to physicists in a variety of forms. As the plucked string of a musical
instrument (Figure 2.4) vibrating at a resonant frequency, with “nodes” and “antinodes” at sta-
ble positions along its length. De Broglie envisioned electrons around atoms standing as waves
bent around a circle as in Figure 2.5.
Electrons only could exist in certain, definite “orbits” around the nucleus because those
were the only distances where the wave ends would match. In any other radius, the wave
e an
an n od tin
de tin anti od
ti no od
e node
e
an node
node node
antinode
antinode
node node
nucleus nucleus
node node
node e node
od
an
in an
nt tin de
tin
a od no
od
(a) (b) e nti

e
Figure 2.5: “Orbiting” electron as standing wave around the nucleus, (a) two cycles per orbit,
(b) three cycles per orbit.
should destructively interfere with itself and thus cease to exist.

De Broglie’s hypothesis gave both mathematical support and a convenient physical analogy
to account for the quantized states of electrons within an atom, but his atomic model was still
incomplete. Within a few years, though, physicists Werner Heisenberg and Erwin Schrodinger,
working independently of each other, built upon de Broglie’s concept of a matter-wave duality
to create more mathematically rigorous models of subatomic particles.
This theoretical advance from de Broglie’s primitive standing wave model to Heisenberg’s
matrix and Schrodinger’s differential equation models was given the name quantum mechan-
ics, and it introduced a rather shocking characteristic to the world of subatomic particles: the
trait of probability, or uncertainty. According to the new quantum theory, it was impossible to
determine the exact position and exact momentum of a particle at the same time. The popu-
lar explanations of this “uncertainty principle” was that it was a measurement error usually
caused by the process of measurement (i.e. by attempting to precisely measure the position
of an electron, you interfere with its momentum and thus cannot know what it was before
the position measurement was taken, and vice versa). The startling implication of quantum
mechanics is that particles do not actually have precise positions and momenta, but rather
balance the two quantities in a such way that their combined uncertainties never diminish
below a certain minimum value.
This form of “uncertainty” relationship exists in areas other than quantum mechanics. As
discussed in the “Mixed-Frequency AC Signals” chapter in volume II of this book series, there
is a mutually exclusive relationship between the certainty of a waveform’s time-domain data
and its frequency-domain data. In simple terms, the more precisely we know its constituent
frequency(ies), the less precisely we know its amplitude in time, and vice versa. To quote
myself:
A waveform of infinite duration (infinite number of cycles) can be analyzed with

absolute precision, but the less cycles available to the computer for analysis, the less
precise the analysis. . . The fewer times that a wave cycles, the less certain its
frequency is. Taking this concept to its logical extreme, a short pulse – a waveform
that doesn’t even complete a cycle – actually has no frequency, but rather acts as an
infinite range of frequencies. This principle is common to all wave-based phenomena,
not just AC voltages and currents.
In order to precisely determine the amplitude of a varying signal, we must sample it over
a very narrow span of time. However, doing this limits our view of the wave’s frequency.
Conversely, to determine a wave’s frequency with great precision, we must sample it over
many cycles, which means we lose view of its amplitude at any given moment. Thus, we cannot
simultaneously know the instantaneous amplitude and the overall frequency of any wave with
unlimited precision. Stranger yet, this uncertainty is much more than observer imprecision; it
resides in the very nature of the wave. It is not as though it would be possible, given the proper
technology, to obtain precise measurements of both instantaneous amplitude and frequency at
once. Quite literally, a wave cannot have both a precise, instantaneous amplitude, and a precise
frequency at the same time.
The minimum uncertainty of a particle’s position and momentum expressed by Heisenberg
and Schrodinger has nothing to do with limitation in measurement; rather it is an intrinsic
property of the particle’s matter-wave dual nature. Electrons, therefore, do not really exist in
their “orbits” as precisely defined bits of matter, or even as precisely defined waveshapes, but
rather as “clouds” – the technical term is wavefunction – of probability distribution, as if each
electron were “spread” or “smeared” over a range of positions and momenta.
This radical view of electrons as imprecise clouds at first seems to contradict the original
principle of quantized electron states: that electrons exist in discrete, defined “orbits” around
atomic nuclei. It was, after all, this discovery that led to the formation of quantum theory
to explain it. How odd it seems that a theory developed to explain the discrete behavior of
electrons ends up declaring that electrons exist as “clouds” rather than as discrete pieces of
matter. However, the quantized behavior of electrons does not depend on electrons having def-
inite position and momentum values, but rather on other properties called quantum numbers.
In essence, quantum mechanics dispenses with commonly held notions of absolute position and
absolute momentum, and replaces them with absolute notions of a sort having no analogue in
common experience.
Even though electrons are known to exist in ethereal, “cloud-like” forms of distributed prob-
ability rather than as discrete chunks of matter, those “clouds” have other characteristics that
are discrete. Any electron in an atom can be described by four numerical measures (the previ-
ously mentioned quantum numbers), called the Principal, Angular Momentum, Magnetic,
and Spin numbers. The following is a synopsis of each of these numbers’ meanings:
Principal Quantum Number: Symbolized by the letter n, this number describes the shell
that an electron resides in. An electron “shell” is a region of space around an atom’s nucleus
that electrons are allowed to exist in, corresponding to the stable “standing wave” patterns of
de Broglie and Bohr. Electrons may “leap” from shell to shell, but cannot exist between the
shell regions.
The principle quantum number must be a positive integer (a whole number, greater than
or equal to 1). In other words, principle quantum number for an electron cannot be 1/2 or
-3. These integer values were not arrived at arbitrarily, but rather through experimental ev-
idence of light spectra: the differing frequencies (colors) of light emitted by excited hydrogen
atoms follow a sequence mathematically dependent on specific, integer values as illustrated in

Figure 2.3.
Each shell has the capacity to hold multiple electrons. An analogy for electron shells is the
concentric rows of seats of an amphitheater. Just as a person seated in an amphitheater must
choose a row to sit in (one cannot sit between rows), electrons must “choose” a particular shell
to “sit” in. As in amphitheater rows, the outermost shells hold more electrons than the inner
shells. Also, electrons tend to seek the lowest available shell, as people in an amphitheater
seek the closest seat to the center stage. The higher the shell number, the greater the energy
of the electrons in it.
The maximum number of electrons that any shell may hold is described by the equation 2n2 ,
where “n” is the principle quantum number. Thus, the first shell (n=1) can hold 2 electrons;
the second shell (n=2) 8 electrons, and the third shell (n=3) 18 electrons. (Figure 2.6)
K L M N O P Q
n= 1 2 3 4
2n2 = 2 8 18 32
observed fill = 2 8 18 32 18 18 2
Figure 2.6: Principal quantum number n and maximum number of electrons per shell both
predicted by 2(n2 ), and observed. Orbitals not to scale.
Electron shells in an atom were formerly designated by letter rather than by number. The
first shell (n=1) was labeled K, the second shell (n=2) L, the third shell (n=3) M, the fourth
shell (n=4) N, the fifth shell (n=5) O, the sixth shell (n=6) P, and the seventh shell (n=7) Q.
Angular Momentum Quantum Number: A shell, is composed of subshells. One might

be inclined to think of subshells as simple subdivisions of shells, as lanes dividing a road.
The subshells are much stranger. Subshells are regions of space where electron “clouds” are
allowed to exist, and different subshells actually have different shapes. The first subshell
is shaped like a sphere, (Figure 2.7(s) ) which makes sense when visualized as a cloud of
electrons surrounding the atomic nucleus in three dimensions. The second subshell, however,
resembles a dumbbell, comprised of two “lobes” joined together at a single point near the atom’s
center. (Figure 2.7(p) ) The third subshell typically resembles a set of four “lobes” clustered
around the atom’s nucleus. These subshell shapes are reminiscent of graphical depictions of
radio antenna signal strength, with bulbous lobe-shaped regions extending from the antenna
in various directions. (Figure 2.7(d) )
Valid angular momentum quantum numbers are positive integers like principal quantum
numbers, but also include zero. These quantum numbers for electrons are symbolized by the
letter l. The number of subshells in a shell is equal to the shell’s principal quantum num-
ber. Thus, the first shell (n=1) has one subshell, numbered 0; the second shell (n=2) has two
subshells, numbered 0 and 1; the third shell (n=3) has three subshells, numbered 0, 1, and 2.
x x
z 1 of 1 1 of 3 1 of 5 1 of 5
px shown dx2 - y2 shown dz2 shown

py, pz similar dxy , dyz , dxz similar
(s) (p) (dx2 - y2) (dz2)
Figure 2.7: Orbitals: (s) Three fold symmetry. (p) Shown: sx , one of three possible orientations
(sx , sy , sz ), about their respective axes. (d) Shown: dx 2 -y x 2 similar to dxz , dyz , dxz . Shown:
dz 2 . Possible d-orbital orientations: five.
An older convention for subshell description used letters rather than numbers. In this nota-
tion, the first subshell (l=0) was designated s, the second subshell (l=1) designated p, the third
subshell (l=2) designated d, and the fourth subshell (l=3) designated f. The letters come from
the words sharp, principal (not to be confused with the principal quantum number, n), diffuse,
and fundamental. You will still see this notational convention in many periodic tables, used to
designate the electron configuration of the atoms’ outermost, or valence, shells. (Figure 2.8)
SM SN
SL PM PN
PL DM DM SO
SK
2 2 2 10 2 10 1
2 8 18 18 1 6 6 6
electrons
K L M N O l= 0 0, 1 0, 1, 2 0, 1, 2 0
n= 1 2 3 4 5 n= 1 2 3 4 5
spectroscopic 1s2 2s22p6 3s23p63d10 4s24p64d10 5s1
notation
(a) (b)
Figure 2.8: (a) Bohr representation of Silver atom, (b) Subshell representation of Ag with
division of shells into subshells (angular quantum number l). This diagram implies nothing
about the actual position of electrons, but represents energy levels.
Magnetic Quantum Number: The magnetic quantum number for an electron classifies
which orientation its subshell shape is pointed. The “lobes” for subshells point in multiple
directions. These different orientations are called orbitals. For the first subshell (s; l=0), which
resembles a sphere pointing in no “direction”, so there is only one orbital. For the second
(p; l=1) subshell in each shell, which resembles dumbbells point in three possible directions.
Think of three dumbbells intersecting at the origin, each oriented along a different axis in a
three-axis coordinate space.
Valid numerical values for this quantum number consist of integers ranging from -l to l, and
are symbolized as ml in atomic physics and lz in nuclear physics. To calculate the number of
orbitals in any given subshell, double the subshell number and add 1 (2l + 1). For example, the
first subshell (l=0) in any shell contains a single orbital, numbered 0; the second subshell (l=1)
in any shell contains three orbitals, numbered -1, 0, and 1; the third subshell (l=2) contains
five orbitals, numbered -2, -1, 0, 1, and 2; and so on.
Like principal quantum numbers, the magnetic quantum number arose directly from ex-
perimental evidence: The Zeeman effect, the division of spectral lines by exposing an ionized
gas to a magnetic field, hence the name “magnetic” quantum number.
Spin Quantum Number: Like the magnetic quantum number, this property of atomic
electrons was discovered through experimentation. Close observation of spectral lines revealed
that each line was actually a pair of very closely-spaced lines, and this so-called fine structure
was hypothesized to result from each electron “spinning” on an axis as if a planet. Electrons
with different “spins” would give off slightly different frequencies of light when excited. The
name “spin” was assigned to this quantum number. The concept of a spinning electron is now
obsolete, being better suited to the (incorrect) view of electrons as discrete chunks of matter
rather than as “clouds”; but, the name remains.
Spin quantum numbers are symbolized as ms in atomic physics and sz in nuclear physics.
For each orbital in each subshell in each shell, there may be two electrons, one with a spin of
+1/2 and the other with a spin of -1/2.
The physicist Wolfgang Pauli developed a principle explaining the ordering of electrons
in an atom according to these quantum numbers. His principle, called the Pauli exclusion
principle, states that no two electrons in the same atom may occupy the exact same quantum
states. That is, each electron in an atom has a unique set of quantum numbers. This limits the
number of electrons that may occupy any given orbital, subshell, and shell.
Shown here is the electron arrangement for a hydrogen atom:
subshell orbital spin

(l) (ml) (ms)
K shell 1
(n = 1) 0 0 /2 One electron
Hydrogen
Atomic number (Z) = 1
(one proton in nucleus)
Spectroscopic notation: 1s1

With one proton in the nucleus, it takes one electron to electrostatically balance the atom
(the proton’s positive electric charge exactly balanced by the electron’s negative electric charge).
This one electron resides in the lowest shell (n=1), the first subshell (l=0), in the only orbital
(spatial orientation) of that subshell (ml =0), with a spin value of 1/2. A common method of
describing this organization is by listing the electrons according to their shells and subshells
in a convention called spectroscopic notation. In this notation, the shell number is shown as an
integer, the subshell as a letter (s,p,d,f), and the total number of electrons in the subshell (all
orbitals, all spins) as a superscript. Thus, hydrogen, with its lone electron residing in the base
level, is described as 1s1 .
Proceeding to the next atom (in order of atomic number), we have the element helium:

(l) (ml) (ms)
K shell 0 0 -1/2 electron

(n = 1) 1
0 0 /2 electron
Helium
(two protons in nucleus)
Spectroscopic notation: 1s2

A helium atom has two protons in the nucleus, and this necessitates two electrons to bal-
ance the double-positive electric charge. Since two electrons – one with spin=1/2 and the other
with spin=-1/2 – fit into one orbital, the electron configuration of helium requires no additional
subshells or shells to hold the second electron.
However, an atom requiring three or more electrons will require additional subshells to
hold all electrons, since only two electrons will fit into the lowest shell (n=1). Consider the next
atom in the sequence of increasing atomic numbers, lithium:

(l) (ml) (ms)
L shell 0 0 1
/2 electron
(n = 2)
K shell 0 0 -1/2 electron
(n = 1) 1
0 0 /2 electron
Lithium
Spectroscopic notation: 1s22s1

An atom of lithium uses a fraction of the L shell’s (n=2) capacity. This shell actually has a
total capacity of eight electrons (maximum shell capacity = 2n2 electrons). If we examine the
organization of the atom with a completely filled L shell, we will see how all combinations of
subshells, orbitals, and spins are occupied by electrons:

(l) (ml) (ms)
1 1 -1/2
1
1 1 /2
1 p subshell
1 0 - /2
1 (l = 1)
L shell 1 0 /2 6 electrons
(n = 2) 1
1 -1 - /2
1
1 -1 /2
1 s subshell
0 0 - /2
1 (l = 0)
0 0 /2 2 electrons
K shell 0 0 -1/2 s subshell

1 (l = 0)
(n = 1) 0 0 /2 2 electrons
Neon
Spectroscopic notation: 1s22s22p6

Often, when the spectroscopic notation is given for an atom, any shells that are completely
filled are omitted, and the unfilled, or the highest-level filled shell, is denoted. For example,
the element neon (shown in the previous illustration), which has two completely filled shells,
may be spectroscopically described simply as 2p6 rather than 1s2 2s2 2p6 . Lithium, with its K
shell completely filled and a solitary electron in the L shell, may be described simply as 2s1
rather than 1s2 2s1 .
The omission of completely filled, lower-level shells is not just a notational convenience.
It also illustrates a basic principle of chemistry: that the chemical behavior of an element is
primarily determined by its unfilled shells. Both hydrogen and lithium have a single electron
in their outermost shells (1s1 and 2s1 , respectively), and this gives the two elements some
similar properties. Both are highly reactive, and reactive in much the same way (bonding to
similar elements in similar modes). It matters little that lithium has a completely filled K
shell underneath its almost-vacant L shell: the unfilled L shell is the shell that determines its
chemical behavior.
Elements having completely filled outer shells are classified as noble, and are distinguished
by almost complete non-reactivity with other elements. These elements used to be classified as
inert, when it was thought that these were completely unreactive, but are now known to form
compounds with other elements under specific conditions.
Since elements with identical electron configurations in their outermost shell(s) exhibit
similar chemical properties, Dimitri Mendeleev organized the different elements in a table
accordingly. Such a table is known as a periodic table of the elements, and modern tables follow
this general form in Figure 2.9.

Dmitri Mendeleev, a Russian chemist, was the first to develop a periodic table of the ele-
ments. Although Mendeleev organized his table according to atomic mass rather than atomic
number, and produced a table that was not quite as useful as modern periodic tables, his de-
velopment stands as an excellent example of scientific proof. Seeing the patterns of periodicity
(similar chemical properties according to atomic mass), Mendeleev hypothesized that all el-
ements should fit into this ordered scheme. When he discovered “empty” spots in the table,
he followed the logic of the existing order and hypothesized the existence of heretofore undis-
covered elements. The subsequent discovery of those elements granted scientific legitimacy to
Mendeleev’s hypothesis, furthering future discoveries, and leading to the form of the periodic
table we use today.
This is how science should work: hypotheses followed to their logical conclusions, and ac-
cepted, modified, or rejected as determined by the agreement of experimental data to those
conclusions. Any fool may formulate a hypothesis after-the-fact to explain existing experimen-
tal data, and many do. What sets a scientific hypothesis apart from post hoc speculation is
the prediction of future experimental data yet uncollected, and the possibility of disproof as a
result of that data. To boldly follow a hypothesis to its logical conclusion(s) and dare to predict
the results of future experiments is not a dogmatic leap of faith, but rather a public test of that
hypothesis, open to challenge from anyone able to produce contradictory data. In other words,
scientific hypotheses are always“risky” due to the claim to predict the results of experiments
not yet conducted, and are therefore susceptible to disproof if the experiments do not turn out
as predicted. Thus, if a hypothesis successfully predicts the results of repeated experiments,
its falsehood is disproven.
Quantum mechanics, first as a hypothesis and later as a theory, has proven to be extremely
successful in predicting experimental results, hence the high degree of scientific confidence
placed in it. Many scientists have reason to believe that it is an incomplete theory, though,
as its predictions hold true more at micro physical scales than at macroscopic dimensions, but
nevertheless it is a tremendously useful theory in explaining and predicting the interactions
of particles and atoms.
As you have already seen in this chapter, quantum physics is essential in describing and
predicting many different phenomena. In the next section, we will see its significance in the
electrical conductivity of solid substances, including semiconductors. Simply put, nothing in
chemistry or solid-state physics makes sense within the popular theoretical framework of elec-
trons existing as discrete chunks of matter, whirling around atomic nuclei like miniature satel-
lites. It is when electrons are viewed as “wavefunctions” existing in definite, discrete states
that the regular and periodic behavior of matter can be explained.
• REVIEW:
• Electrons in atoms exist in “clouds” of distributed probability, not as discrete chunks of

matter orbiting the nucleus like tiny satellites, as common illustrations of atoms show.
• Individual electrons around an atomic nucleus seek unique “states,” described by four
quantum numbers: the Principal Quantum Number, known as the shell; the Angular
Momentum Quantum Number, known as the subshell; the Magnetic Quantum Number,
describing the orbital (subshell orientation); and the Spin Quantum Number, or simply
40
1 IA 13 VIIIA
H 1 He 2
Hydrogen
1.00794
Periodic Table of the Elements Helium
4.00260
Group old Metalloids Nonmetals
1s1 2 IIA Group new 1 IA 13 IIIA 14 IVA 15 VA 16 VIA 17 VIIA 1s2
Li 3 Be 4 Symbol K 19 Atomic number B 5 C 6 N 7 O 8 F 9 Ne 10
Lithium Beryllium Potassium Boron Carbon Nitrogen Oxygen Fluorine Neon
Figure 2.9: Periodic table of chemical elements.
6.941 9.012182 Name 39.0983 10.81 12.011 14.0067 15.9994 18.9984 20.179
Atomic mass
2s1 2s2 4s1 (averaged according to 2p1 2p2 2p3 2p4 2p5 2p6
Electron occurence on earth)
Na 11 Mg 12 configuration Al 13 Si 14 P 15 S 16 Cl 17 Ar 18
Sodium Magnesium Aluminum Silicon Phosphorus Sulfur Chlorine Argon
22.989768 24.3050 26.9815 28.0855 30.9738 32.06 35.453 39.948
Metals
3s1 3s2 3 IIIB 4 IVB 5 VB 6 VIB 7 VIIB 8 VIIIB 9 VIIIB 10 VIIIB 11 IB 12 IIB 3p1 3p2 3p3 3p4 3p5 3p6
K 19 Ca 20 Sc 21 Ti 22 V 23 Cr 24 Mn 25 Fe 26 Co 27 Ni 28 Cu 29 Zn 30 Ga 31 Ge 32 As 33 Se 34 Br 35 Kr 36
Potassium Calcium Scandium Titanium Vanadium Chromium Manganese Iron Cobalt Nickel Copper Zinc Gallium Germanium Arsenic Selenium Bromine Krypton
39.0983 40.078 44.955910 47.88 50.9415 51.9961 54.93805 55.847 58.93320 58.69 63.546 65.39 69.723 72.61 74.92159 78.96 79.904 83.80
4s1 4s2 3d14s2 3d24s2 3d34s2 3d54s1 3d54s2 3d64s2 3d74s2 3d84s2 3d104s1 3d104s2 4p1 4p2 4p3 4p4 4p5 4p6
Rb 37 Sr 38 Y 39 Zr 40 Nb 41 Mo 42 Tc 43 Ru 44 Rh 45 Pd 46 Ag 47 Cd 48 In 49 Sn 50 Sb 51 Te 52 I 53 Xe 54
Rubidium Strontium Yttrium Zirconium Niobium Molybdenum Technetium Ruthenium Rhodium Palladium Silver Cadmium Indium Tin Antimony Tellurium Iodine Xenon
85.4678 87.62 88.90585 91.224 92.90638 95.94 (98) 101.07 102.90550 106.42 107.8682 112.411 114.82 118.710 121.75 127.60 126.905 131.30
CHAPTER 2. SOLID-STATE DEVICE THEORY

5s1 5s2 4d15s2 4d25s2 4d45s1 4d55s1 4d55s2 4d75s1 4d85s1 4d105s0 4d105s1 4d105s2 5p1 5p2 5p3 5p4 5p5 5p6
Cs 55 Ba 56 57 - 71 Hf 72 Ta 73 W 74 Re 75 Os 76 Ir 77 Pt 78 Au 79 Hg 80 Tl 81 Pb 82 Bi 83 Po 84 At 85 Rn 86
Cesium Barium Lanthanide Hafnium Tantalum Tungsten Rhenium Osmium Iridium Platinum Gold Mercury Thallium Lead Bismuth Polonium Astatine Radon
132.90543 137.327 series 178.49 180.9479 183.85 186.207 190.2 192.22 195.08 196.96654 200.59 204.3833 207.2 208.98037 (209) (210) (222)
6s1 6s2 5d26s2 5d36s2 5d46s2 5d56s2 5d66s2 5d76s2 5d96s1 5d106s1 5d106s2 6p1 6p2 6p3 6p4 6p5 6p6
Fr 87 Ra 88 89 - 103 Unq 104 Unp 105 Unh 106 Uns 107 108 109
Francium Radium Actinide Unnilquadium Unnilpentium Unnilhexium Unnilseptium
(223) (226) series (261) (262) (263) (262)
1 2 2 2 3 2 4 2
7s 7s 6d 7s 6d 7s 6d 7s
La 57 Ce 58 Pr 59 Nd 60 Pm 61 Sm 62 Eu 63 Gd 64 Tb 65 Dy 66 Ho 67 Er 68 Tm 69 Yb 70 Lu 71
Lanthanide Lanthanum Cerium Praseodymium Neodymium Promethium Samarium Europium Gadolinium Terbium Dysprosium Holmium Erbium Thulium Ytterbium Lutetium
series 138.9055 140.115 140.90765 144.24 (145) 150.36 151.965 157.25 158.92534 162.50 164.93032 167.26 168.93421 173.04 174.967
5d16s2 4f15d16s2 4f36s2 4f46s2 4f56s2 4f66s2 4f76s2 4f75d16s2 4f96s2 4f106s2 4f116s2 4f126s2 4f136s2 4f146s2 4f145d16s2
Ac 89 Th 90 Pa 91 U 92 Np 93 Pu 94 Am 95 Cm 96 Bk 97 Cf 98 Es 99 Fm 100 Md 101 No 102 Lr 103

Actinide Actinium Thorium Protactinium Uranium Neptunium Plutonium Americium Curium Berkelium Californium Einsteinium Fermium Mendelevium Nobelium Lawrencium
series (227) 232.0381 231.03588 238.0289 (237) (244) (243) (247) (247) (251) (252) (257) (258) (259) (260)
6d17s2 6d27s2 5f26d17s2 5f36d17s2 5f46d17s2 5f66d07s2 5f76d07s2 5f76d17s2 5f96d07s2 5f106d07s2 5f116d07s2 5f126d07s2 5f136d07s2 6d07s2 6d17s2
2.3. VALENCE AND CRYSTAL STRUCTURE 41
spin. These states are quantized, meaning that no “in-between” conditions exist for an
electron other than those states that fit into the quantum numbering scheme.
• The Principal Quantum Number (n) describes the basic level or shell that an electron
resides in. The larger this number, the greater radius the electron cloud has from the
atom’s nucleus, and the greater that electron’s energy. Principal quantum numbers are
whole numbers (positive integers).
• The Angular Momentum Quantum Number (l) describes the shape of the electron cloud
within a particular shell or level, and is often known as the “subshell.” There are as many
subshells (electron cloud shapes) in any given shell as that shell’s principal quantum
number. Angular momentum quantum numbers are positive integers beginning at zero
and ending at one less than the principal quantum number (n-1).
• The Magnetic Quantum Number (ml ) describes which orientation a subshell (electron
cloud shape) has. Subshells may assume as many different orientations as 2-times the
subshell number (l) plus 1, (2l+1) (E.g. for l=1, ml= -1, 0, 1) and each unique orientation
is called an orbital. These numbers are integers ranging from the negative value of the
subshell number (l) through 0 to the positive value of the subshell number.
• The Spin Quantum Number (ms ) describes another property of an electron, and may be
a value of +1/2 or -1/2.
• Pauli’s Exclusion Principle says that no two electrons in an atom may share the exact
same set of quantum numbers. Therefore, no more than two electrons may occupy each
orbital (spin=1/2 and spin=-1/2), 2l+1 orbitals in every subshell, and n subshells in every
shell, and no more.
• Spectroscopic notation is a convention for denoting the electron configuration of an atom.
Shells are shown as whole numbers, followed by subshell letters (s,p,d,f), with super-
scripted numbers totaling the number of electrons residing in each respective subshell.
• An atom’s chemical behavior is solely determined by the electrons in the unfilled shells.
Low-level shells that are completely filled have little or no effect on the chemical bonding
characteristics of elements.
• Elements with completely filled electron shells are almost entirely unreactive, and are
called noble (formerly known as inert).
2.3 Valence and Crystal structure

Valence: The electrons in the outer most shell, or valence shell, are known as valence elec-
trons. These valence electrons are responsible for the chemical properties of the chemical
elements. It is these electrons which participate in chemical reactions with other elements. An
over simplified chemistry rule applicable to simple reactions is that atoms try to form a com-
plete outer shell of 8 electrons (two for the L shell). Atoms may give away a few electrons to
expose an underlying complete shell. Atoms may accept a few electrons to complete the shell.
These two processes form ions from atoms. Atoms may even share electrons among atoms in
an attempt to complete the outer shell. This process forms molecular bonds. That is, atoms
associate to form a molecule.
For example group I elements: Li, Na, K, Cu, Ag, and Au have a single valence electron.
(Figure 2.10) These elements all have similar chemical properties. These atoms readily give
away one electron to react with other elements. The ability to easily give away an electron
makes these elements excellent conductors.
Li
Na K Cu Ag Au
Figure 2.10: Periodic table group IA elements: Li, Na, and K, and group IB elements: Cu, Ag,
and Au have one electron in the outer, or valence, shell, which is readily donated. Inner shell
electrons: For n= 1, 2, 3, 4; 2n2 = 2, 8, 18, 32.
Group VIIA elements: Fl, Cl, Br, and I all have 7 electrons in the outer shell. These ele-
ments readily accept an electron to fill up the outer shell with a full 8 electrons. (Figure 2.11)
If these elements do accept an electron, a negative ion is formed from the neutral atom. These
elements which do not give up electrons are insulators.
F Cl Br
I
Figure 2.11: Periodic table group VIIA elements: F, Cl, Br, and I with 7 valence electrons
readily accept an electron in reactions with other elements.
For example, a Cl atom accepts an electron from an Na atom to become a Cl− ion as shown in
Figure 2.12. An ion is a charged particle formed from an atom by either donating or accepting
an electron. As the Na atom donates an electron, it becomes a Na+ ion. This is how Na and Cl
atoms combine to form NaCl, table salt, which is actually Na+ Cl− , a pair of ions. The Na+ and
Cl− carrying opposite charges, attract one other.
Sodium chloride crystallizes in the cubic structure shown in Figure 2.16. This model is not
to scale to show the three dimensional structure. The Na+ Cl− ions are actually packed similar
to layers of stacked marbles. The easily drawn cubic crystal structure illustrates that a solid
+ -
=
Na Cl Na+ Cl-
Figure 2.12: Neutral Sodium atom donates an electron to neutral Chlorine atom forming Na+
and Cl− ions.
crystal may contain charged particles.

Group VIIIA elements: He, Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe all have 8 electrons in the valence shell. (Figure
below) That is, the valence shell is complete meaning these elements neither donate nor accept
electrons. Nor do they readily participate in chemical reactions since group VIIIA elements
do not easily combine with other elements. In recent years chemists have forced Xe and Kr to
form a few compounds, however for the purposes of our discussion this is not applicable. These
elements are good electrical insulators and are gases at room temperature.
He Ne Ar Kr
Xe
Figure 2.13: Group VIIIA elements: He, Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe are largely unreactive since the valence
shell is complete..
Group IVA elements: C, Si, Ge, having 4 electrons in the valence shell as shown in Fig-
ure 2.14 form compounds by sharing electrons with other elements without forming ions. This
shared electron bonding is known as covalent bonding. Note that the center atom (and the
others by extension) has completed its valence shell by sharing electrons. Note that the figure
is a 2-d representation of bonding, which is actually 3-d. It is this group, IVA, that we are
interested in for its semiconducting properties.
Crystal structure: Most inorganic substances form their atoms (or ions) into an ordered
array known as a crystal. The outer electron clouds of atoms interact in an orderly manner.
Even metals are composed of crystals at the microscopic level. If a metal sample is given
an optical polish, then acid etched, the microscopic microcrystalline structure shows as in
Figure 2.15. It is also possible to purchase, at considerable expense, metallic single crystal
specimens from specialized suppliers. Polishing and etching such a specimen discloses no mi-
crocrystalline structure. Practically all industrial metals are polycrystalline. Most modern
semiconductors, on the other hand, are single crystal devices. We are primarily interested in
monocrystalline structures.
Many metals are soft and easily deformed by the various metal working techniques. The
C Si Ge
(a) (b)
Figure 2.14: (a) Group IVA elements: C, Si, Ge having 4 electrons in the valence shell, (b)
complete the valence shell by sharing electrons with other elements.
(a) (b) (c)
Figure 2.15: (a) Metal sample, (b) polished, (c) acid etched to show microcrystalline structure.
microcrystals are deformed in metal working. Also, the valence electrons are free to move
about the crystal lattice, and from crystal to crystal. The valence electrons do not belong to
any particular atom, but to all atoms.
The rigid crystal structure in Figure 2.16 is composed of a regular repeating pattern of
positive Na ions and negative Cl ions. Once the Na and Cl atoms have formed Na+ and Cl−
ions by transferring an electron from Na to Cl, with no free electrons. Electrons are not free
to move about the crystal lattice, a difference compared with a metal. Nor are the ions free.
Ions are fixed in place within the crystal structure. Though, the ions are free to move about
if the NaCl crystal is dissolved in water. However, the crystal no longer exists. The regular,
repeating structure is gone. Evaporation of the water deposits the Na+ and Cl− ions in the
form of new crystals as the oppositely charged ions attract each other. Ionic materials form
crystal structures due to the strong electrostatic attraction of the oppositely charged ions.
Semiconductors in Group IV also form crystals because of the tetrahedral bonding pattern
of the s2 p2 electrons about the atom, sharing electron-pair bonds to four adjacent atoms. (Fig-
ure 2.18(a) ) More correctly the four outer electrons: two in the s-orbital, (sz ) offset along the
z-axis, and two in the p-orbital (px and py ) hybridize to form four sp3 molecular orbitals. These
four electron clouds repell one another to equidistant tetrahedral spacing about the Si atom,
attracted by the positive nucleus as shown in Figure 2.17.
Every semiconductor atom, Si, Ge, or C (diamond) is chemically bonded to four other atoms
by covalent bonds, shared electron bonds. Two electrons may share an orbital if each have
opposite spin quantum numbers. Thus, an unpaired electron may share an orbital with an
Na+
Cl -
Figure 2.16: NaCl crystal having a cubic structure.
y
+ + =
x
z
sz 2 px py sp3
Figure 2.17: Two s-orbital (sz ) electrons and two p-orbital (sx and sy ) electrons hybridize, (c)
forming four sp3 molecular orbitals.
electron from another atom. This corresponds to overlapping Figure 2.18(a) of the electron
clouds, or bonding. Figure 2.18 (b) is one fourth of the volume of the diamond crystal structure
unit cell shown in Figure 2.19 at the origin. The bonds are particularly strong in diamond,
decreasing in strength going down group IV to silicon, and germanium. Silicon and germanium
both form crystals with a diamond structure.
(a) (b)
Figure 2.18: (a) Tetrahedral bonding of Si atom. (b) leads to 1/4 of the cubic unit cell
The diamond unit cell, the basic crystal building block, in Figure 2.19 shows four atoms
(dark) bonded to four others within the volume of the cell. This is equivalent to placing one
of Figure 2.18(b) at the origin in Figure 2.19, then placing three more on adjacent faces to fill
the full cube. Six atoms fall on the middle of each of the six cube faces, showing two bonds.
The other two bonds to adjacent cubes were omitted for clarity. Out of eight cube corners, four
atoms bond to an atom within the cube. Where are the other four atoms bonded? The other
four bond to adjacent cubes of the crystal. Keep in mind that even though four corner atoms
show no bonds in the cube, all atoms within the crystal are bonded in one giant molecule. A
semiconductor crystal is built up from copies of this unit cell.
The crystal is effectively one molecule. An atom covalent bonds to four others, which in turn
bond to four others, and so on. The crystal lattice is relatively stiff resisting deformation. Few
electrons free themselves for conduction about the crystal. A property of semiconductors is that
once an electron is freed, a positively charged empty space develops which also contributes to
conduction.
• REVIEW
• Atoms try to form a complete outer, valence, shell of 8-electrons (2-electrons for the in-
nermost shell). Atoms may donate a few to expose an userlying shell of 8, accept a few to
complete a shell, or share electrons to complete a shell.
• Atoms often form ordered arrays of ions or atoms in a rigid structure known as a crystal.
• A neutral atom may form a positive ion by donating an electron.
• A neutral atom may form a negative ion by accepting an electron

2.4. BAND THEORY OF SOLIDS 47
Face centered atoms
Atom bonded to 4 others
Other atoms bonded to

chain in cube
Atoms bonded outside of
cube
Figure 2.19: Si, Ge, and C (diamond) form interleaved face centered cube.
• The group IVA semiconductors: C, Si, Ge crystallize into a diamond structure. Each atom
in the crystal is part of a giant molecule, bonding to four other atoms.
• Most semiconductor devices are manufactured from single crystals.
2.4 Band theory of solids

Quantum physics describes the states of electrons in an atom according to the four-fold scheme
of quantum numbers. The quantum numbers describe the allowable states electrons may as-
sume in an atom. To use the analogy of an amphitheater, quantum numbers describe how
many rows and seats are available. Individual electrons may be described by the combination
of quantum numbers, like a spectator in an amphitheater assigned to a particular row and
seat.
Like spectators in an amphitheater moving between seats and rows, electrons may change
their statuses, given the presence of available spaces for them to fit, and available energy.
Since shell level is closely related to the amount of energy that an electron possesses, “leaps”
between shell (and even subshell) levels requires transfers of energy. If an electron is to move
into a higher-order shell, it requires that additional energy be given to the electron from an
external source. Using the amphitheater analogy, it takes an increase in energy for a person
to move into a higher row of seats, because that person must climb to a greater height against
the force of gravity. Conversely, an electron “leaping” into a lower shell gives up some of its
energy, like a person jumping down into a lower row of seats, the expended energy manifesting
as heat and sound.
Not all “leaps” are equal. Leaps between different shells require a substantial exchange of
energy, but leaps between subshells or between orbitals require lesser exchanges.
When atoms combine to form substances, the outermost shells, subshells, and orbitals
merge, providing a greater number of available energy levels for electrons to assume. When
large numbers of atoms are close to each other, these available energy levels form a nearly
continuous band wherein electrons may move as illustrated in Figure 2.20
Significant leap required Overlap permits

for an electron to move Shorter leap electrons to freely
to the next higher level required drift between bands
3p 3p
3p
Overlap
3s
3s 3s
Single atom Five atoms Multitudes of atoms

in close proximity in close proximity
Figure 2.20: Electron band overlap in metallic elements.
It is the width of these bands and their proximity to existing electrons that determines
how mobile those electrons will be when exposed to an electric field. In metallic substances,
empty bands overlap with bands containing electrons, meaning that electrons of a single atom
may move to what would normally be a higher-level state with little or no additional energy
imparted. Thus, the outer electrons are said to be “free,” and ready to move at the beckoning
of an electric field.
Band overlap will not occur in all substances, no matter how many atoms are close to each
other. In some substances, a substantial gap remains between the highest band containing
electrons (the so-called valence band) and the next band, which is empty (the so-called conduc-
tion band). See Figure 2.21. As a result, valence electrons are “bound” to their constituent
atoms and cannot become mobile within the substance without a significant amount of im-
parted energy. These substances are electrical insulators.
Materials that fall within the category of semiconductors have a narrow gap between the
valence and conduction bands. Thus, the amount of energy required to motivate a valence
electron into the conduction band where it becomes mobile is quite modest. (Figure 2.22)
At low temperatures, little thermal energy is available to push valence electrons across
this gap, and the semiconducting material acts more as an insulator. at higher temperatures,
though, the ambient thermal energy becomes enough to force electrons across the gap, and the
material will increase conduction of electricity.
It is difficult to predict the conductive properties of a substance by examining the electron
configurations of its constituent atoms. Although the best metallic conductors of electricity
(silver, copper, and gold) all have outer s subshells with a single electron, the relationship
between conductivity and valence electron count is not necessarily consistent:
2.4. BAND THEORY OF SOLIDS 49
Conduction band
Significant leap required
for an electron to enter
the conduction band and "Energy gap"
travel through the material
Valence band
Multitudes of atoms
in close proximity
Figure 2.21: Electron band separation in insulating substances.
semiconducting substance
metalic substance for reference
Conduction band
Small leap required
Insignificant leap
for an electron to enter for electron to
"Energy gap"
the conduction band and enter conduction
travel through the material band
Valence band
(a) (b)
Figure 2.22: Electron band separation in semiconducting substances, (a) multitudes of semi-
conducting close atoms still results in a significant band gap, (b) multitudes of close metal
atoms for reference.
Specific resistance Electron Specific resistance Electron

Element (ρ) at 20o Celsius configuration Element (ρ) at 20o Celsius configuration
Silver (Ag) 9.546 Ω⋅cmil/ft 4d105s1 Molybdenum (Mo) 32.12 Ω⋅cmil/ft 4d55s1
Copper (Cu) 10.09 Ω⋅cmil/ft 3d104s1 Zinc (Zn) 35.49 Ω⋅cmil/ft 3d104s2
Gold (Au) 13.32 Ω⋅cmil/ft 5d106s1 Nickel (Ni) 41.69 Ω⋅cmil/ft 3d84s2
Aluminum (Al) 15.94 Ω⋅cmil/ft 3p1 Iron (Fe) 57.81 Ω⋅cmil/ft 3d64s2
Tungsten (W) 31.76 Ω⋅cmil/ft 5d46s2 Platinum (Pt) 63.16 Ω⋅cmil/ft 5d96s1
The electron band configurations produced by compounds of different elements defies easy
association with the electron configurations of its constituent elements.
• REVIEW:
• Energy is required to remove an electron from the valence band to a higher unoccupied
band, a conduction band. More energy is required to move between shells, less between
subshells.
• Since the valence and conduction bands overlap in metals, little energy removes an elec-
tron. Metals are excellent conductors.
• The large gap between the valence and conduction bands of an insulator requires high
energy to remove an electron. Thus, insulators do not conduct.
• Semiconductors have a small non-overlapping gap between the valence and conduction
bands. Pure semiconductors are neither good insulators nor conductors. Semiconductors
are semi-conductive.
2.5 Electrons and “holes”

Pure semiconductors are relatively good insulators as compared with metals, though not nearly
as good as a true insulator like glass. To be useful in semiconductor applications, the intrinsic
semiconductor, pure undoped semiconductor must have no more than one impurity atom in 10
billion semiconductor atoms. This is analogous to a grain of salt impurity in a railroad boxcar
of sugar. Impure, or dirty semiconductors are considerably more conductive, though not as
good as metals. Why might this be? To answer that question, we must look at the electron
structure of such materials in Figure 2.23.
Figure 2.23 (a) shows four electrons in the valence shell of a semiconductor forming covalent
bonds to four other atoms. This is a flattened, easier to draw, version of Figure 2.19. All
electrons of an atom are tied up in four covalent bonds, pairs of shared electrons. Electrons are
not free to move about the crystal lattice. Thus, intrinsic, pure, semiconductors are relatively
good insulators as compared to metals.
Thermal energy may occasionally free an electron from the crystal lattice as in Figure 2.23
(b). This electron is free for conduction about the crystal lattice. When the electron was freed,
it left an empty spot with a positive charge in the crystal lattice known as a hole. This hole is
not fixed to the lattice; but, is free to move about. The free electron and hole both contribute
2.5. ELECTRONS AND “HOLES” 51
hole electron
(a) (b)
Figure 2.23: (a) Intrinsic semiconductor is an insulator having a complete electron shell. (b)
However, thermal energy can create few electron hole pairs resulting in weak conduction.
to conduction about the crystal lattice. That is, the electron is free until it falls into a hole.
This is called recombination. If an external electric field is applied to the semiconductor, the
electrons and holes will conduct in opposite directions. Increasing temperature will increase
the number of electrons and holes, decreasing the resistance. This is opposite of metals, where
resistance increases with temperature by increasing the collisions of electrons with the crystal
lattice. The number of electrons and holes in an intrinsic semiconductor are equal. However,
both carriers do not necessarily move with the same velocity with the application of an external
field. Another way of stating this is that the mobility is not the same for electrons and holes.
Pure semiconductors, by themselves, are not particularly useful. Though, semiconductors
must be refined to a high level of purity as a starting point prior the addition of specific impu-
rities.
Semiconductor material pure to 1 part in 10 billion, may have specific impurities added
at approximately 1 part per 10 million to increase the number of carriers. The addition of a
desired impurity to a semiconductor is known as doping. Doping increases the conductivity of
a semiconductor so that it is more comparable to a metal than an insulator.
It is possible to increase the number of negative charge carriers within the semiconductor
crystal lattice by doping with an electron donor like Phosphorus. Electron donors, also known
as N-type dopants include elements from group VA of the periodic table: nitrogen, phosphorus,
arsenic, and antimony. Nitrogen and phosphorus are N-type dopants for diamond. Phosphorus,
arsenic, and antimony are used with silicon.
The crystal lattice in Figure 2.24 (a) contains atoms having four electrons in the outer
shell, forming four covalent bonds to adjacent atoms. This is the anticipated crystal lattice.
The addition of a phosphorus atom with five electrons in the outer shell introduces an extra
electron into the lattice as compared with the silicon atom. The pentavalent impurity forms
four covalent bonds to four silicon atoms with four of the five electrons, fitting into the lattice
with one electron left over. Note that this spare electron is not strongly bonded to the lattice as
the electrons of normal Si atoms are. It is free to move about the crystal lattice, not being bound
to the Phosphorus lattice site. Since we have doped at one part phosphorus in 10 million silicon
atoms, few free electrons were created compared with the numerous silicon atoms. However,
many electrons were created compared with the fewer electron-hole pairs in intrinsic silicon.
Application of an external electric field produces strong conduction in the doped semiconductor
in the conduction band (above the valence band). A heavier doping level produces stronger
conduction. Thus, a poorly conducting intrinsic semiconductor has been converted into a good
electrical conductor.
B Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si
Si Si P Si Si Si B Si Si
P Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si
(a) (b) (c)
electron hole
electron
hole movement movement
Figure 2.24: (a) Outer shell electron configuration of donor N-type Phosphorus, Silicon (for
reference), and acceptor P-type Boron. (b) N-type donor impurity creates free electron (c) P-
type acceptor impurity creates hole, a positive charge carrier.
It is also possible to introduce an impurity lacking an electron as compared with silicon,

having three electrons in the valence shell as compared with four for silicon. In Figure 2.24
(b), this leaves an empty spot known as a hole, a positive charge carrier. The boron atom tries
to bond to four silicon atoms, but only has three electrons in the valence band. In attempting
to form four covalent bonds the three electrons move around trying to form four bonds. This
makes the hole appear to move. Furthermore, the trivalent atom may borrow an electron from
an adjacent (or more distant) silicon atom to form four covalent bonds. However, this leaves
the silicon atom deficient by one electron. In other words, the hole has moved to an adjacent (or
more distant) silicon atom. Holes reside in the valence band, a level below the conduction band.
Doping with an electron acceptor, an atom which may accept an electron, creates a deficiency of
electrons, the same as an excess of holes. Since holes are positive charge carriers, an electron
acceptor dopant is also known as a P-type dopant. The P-type dopant leaves the semiconductor
with an excess of holes, positive charge carriers. The P-type elements from group IIIA of the
periodic table include: boron, aluminum, gallium, and indium. Boron is used as a P-type
dopant for silicon and diamond semiconductors, while indium is used with germanium.
The “marble in a tube” analogy to electron conduction in Figure 2.25 relates the movement
of holes with the movement of electrons. The marble represent electrons in a conductor, the
tube. The movement of electrons from left to right as in a wire or N-type semiconductor is
explained by an electron entering the tube at the left forcing the exit of an electron at the right.
Conduction of N-type electrons in the conduction band. Compare that with the movement of a
hole in the valence band.
For a hole to enter at the left of Figure 2.25 (b), an electron must be removed. Moving a
hole left to right, the electron must be moved right to left. The first electron is ejected from
the left end of the tube so that the hole may move to the right into the tube. The electron is
moving in the opposite direction of the positive hole. As the hole moves farther to the right,
electrons must move left to accommodate the hole. The hole is the absence of an electron in
the valence band due to P-type doping. It has a localized positive charge. To move the hole in
a given direction, the valence electrons move in the opposite direction.
Electron flow in an N-type semiconductor is similar to electrons moving in a metallic wire.
2.5. ELECTRONS AND “HOLES” 53
electron movement
hole movement
(a) (b) electron movement
Figure 2.25: Marble in a tube analogy: (a) Electrons move right in the conduction band as
electrons enter tube. (b) Hole moves right in the valence band as electrons move left.
The N-type dopant atoms will yield electrons available for conduction. These electrons, due
to the dopant are known as majority carriers, for they are in the majority as compared to the
very few thermal holes. If an electric field is applied across the N-type semiconductor bar in
Figure 2.26 (a), electrons enter the negative (left) end of the bar, traverse the crystal lattice,
and exit at right to the (+) battery terminal.
electron enters electron exits
crystal lattice
(a) N-type
(b) P-type
Figure 2.26: (a) N-type semiconductor with electrons moving left to right through the crystal
lattice. (b) P-semiconductor with holes moving left to right, which corresponds to electrons
moving in the opposite direction.
Current flow in a P-type semiconductor is a little more difficult to explain. The P-type
dopant, an electron acceptor, yields localized regions of positive charge known as holes. The
majority carrier in a P-type semiconductor is the hole. While holes form at the trivalent dopant
atom sites, they may move about the semiconductor bar. Note that the battery in Figure 2.26
(b) is reversed from (a). The positive battery terminal is connected to the left end of the P-type
bar. Electron flow is out of the negative battery terminal, through the P-type bar, returning to
the positive battery terminal. An electron leaving the positive (left) end of the semiconductor
bar for the positive battery terminal leaves a hole in the semiconductor, that may move to the
right. Holes traverse the crystal lattice from left to right. At the negative end of the bar an
electron from the battery combines with a hole, neutralizing it. This makes room for another
hole to move in at the positive end of the bar toward the right. Keep in mind that as holes move
left to right, that it is actually electrons moving in the opposite direction that is responsible for
the apparant hole movement.
The elements used to produce semiconductors are summarized in Figure 2.27. The old-
est group IVA bulk semiconductor material germanium is only used to a limited extent today.
Silicon based semiconductors account for about 90% of commercial production of all semicon-
ductors. Diamond based semiconductors are a research and development activity with consid-
erable potential at this time. Compound semiconductors not listed include silicon germanium
(thin layers on Si wafers), silicon carbide and III-V compounds such as gallium arsenide. III-
VI compound semiconductors include: AlN, GaN, InN, AlP, AlAs, AlSb, GaP, GaAs, GaSb, InP,
InAs, InSb, Alx Ga1−x As and Inx Ga1−x As. Columns II and VI of periodic table, not shown in
the figure, also form compound semiconductors.
Elemental semiconductors
C(diamond), Si, Ge
13 IIIA 14 IVA 15 VA
B B 5 C 6 N 7
P-type dopant for C Boron Carbon Nitrogen
10.81 12.011 14.0067
2p1 2p2 2p3 N, P
Al 13 Si 14 P 15 N-type dopant for C
B, Al, Ga, In Aluminum Silicon Phosphorus
P-type dopant for Si 26.9815 28.0855 30.9738
3p1 3p2 3p3
Ga 31 Ge 32 As 33
Al, Ga, In Gallium Germanium Arsenic P, As, Sb
P-type dopant for Ge 69.723 72.61 74.92159 N-type dopant for Si, Ge
4p1 4p2 4p3
In 49 Sb 51
Indium Antimony
114.82 121.75
5p1 5p3
Figure 2.27: Group IIIA P-type dopants, group IV basic semiconductor materials, and group
VA N-type dopants.
The main reason for the inclusion of the IIIA and VA groups in Figure 2.27 is to show the
dopants used with the group IVA semiconductors. Group IIIA elements are acceptors, P-type
dopants, which accept electrons leaving a hole in the crystal lattice, a positive carrier. Boron
is the P-type dopant for diamond, and the most common dopant for silicon semiconductors.
Indium is the P-type dopant for germanium.
Group VA elements are donors, N-type dopants, yielding a free electron. Nitrogen and
Phosphorus are suitable N-type dopants for diamond. Phosphorus and arsenic are the most
commonly used N-type dopants for silicon; though, antimony can be used.
• REVIEW:
• Intrinsic semiconductor materials, pure to 1 part in 10 billion, are poor conductors.
• N-type semiconductor is doped with a pentavalent impurity to create free electrons. Such
a material is conductive. The electron is the majority carrier.
• P-type semiconductor, doped with a trivalent impurity, has an abundance of free holes.
These are positive charge carriers. The P-type material is conductive. The hole is the
majority carrier
2.6. THE P-N JUNCTION 55
• Most semiconductors are based on elements from group IVA of the periodic table, silicon
being the most prevalent. Germanium is all but obsolete. Carbon (diamond) is being
developed.
• Compound semiconductors such as silicon carbide (group IVA) and gallium arsenide (group
III-V) are widely used.
2.6 The P-N junction

If a block of P-type semiconductor is placed in contact with a block of N-type semiconductor in
Figure 2.28(a), the result is of no value. We have two conductive blocks in contact with each
other, showing no unique properties. The problem is two separate and distinct crystal bodies.
The number of electrons is balanced by the number of protons in both blocks. Thus, neither
block has any net charge.
However, a single semiconductor crystal manufactured with P-type material at one end and
N-type material at the other in Figure 2.28 (b) has some unique properties. The P-type material
has positive majority charge carriers, holes, which are free to move about the crystal lattice.
The N-type material has mobile negative majority carriers, electrons. Near the junction, the
N-type material electrons diffuse across the junction, combining with holes in P-type material.
The region of the P-type material near the junction takes on a net negative charge because
of the electrons attracted. Since electrons departed the N-type region, it takes on a localized
positive charge. The thin layer of the crystal lattice between these charges has been depleted
of majority carriers, thus, is known as the depletion region. It becomes nonconductive intrinsic
semiconductor material. In effect, we have nearly an insulator separating the conductive P an
N doped regions.
no charge
separation
P N P
N
electron crystal lattice intrinsic

hole charge
separation
(a) (b)
Figure 2.28: (a) Blocks of P and N semiconductor in contact have no exploitable properties. (b)
Single crystal doped with P and N type impurities develops a potential barrier.
This separation of charges at the PN junction constitutes a potential barrier. This potential
barrier must be overcome by an external voltage source to make the junction conduct. The
formation of the junction and potential barrier happens during the manufacturing process.
The magnitude of the potential barrier is a function of the materials used in manufacturing.
Silicon PN junctions have a higher potential barrier than germanium junctions.
In Figure 2.29(a) the battery is arranged so that the negative terminal supplies electrons
to the N-type material. These electrons diffuse toward the junction. The positive terminal
removes electrons from the P-type semiconductor, creating holes that diffuse toward the junc-
tion. If the battery voltage is great enough to overcome the junction potential (0.6V in Si),
the N-type electrons and P-holes combine annihilating each other. This frees up space within
the lattice for more carriers to flow toward the junction. Thus, currents of N-type and P-type
majority carriers flow toward the junction. The recombination at the junction allows a battery
current to flow through the PN junction diode. Such a junction is said to be forward biased.
depletion region
electrons holes electrons holes
N P N P
(a) (b)
Figure 2.29: (a) Forward battery bias repells carriers toward junction, where recombination
results in battery current. (b) Reverse battery bias attracts carriers toward battery terminals,
away from junction. Depletion region thickness increases. No sustained battery current flows.
If the battery polarity is reversed as in Figure 2.29(b) majority carriers are attracted away
from the junction toward the battery terminals. The positive battery terminal attracts N-type
electrons majority carriers away from the junction. The negative terminal attracts P-type ma-
jority carriers, holes away from the junction. This increases the thickness of the nonconducting
depletion region. There is no recombination of majority carriers; thus, no conduction. This ar-
rangement of battery polarity is called reverse bias.
The diode schematic symbol is illustrated in Figure 2.30(b) corresponding to the doped
semiconductor bar at (a). The diode is a unidirectional device. Electron current only flows in
one direction, against the arrow, corresponding to forward bias. The cathode, bar, of the diode
symbol corresponds to N-type semiconductor. The anode, arrow, corresponds to the P-type
semiconductor. To remember this relationship, Not-pointing (bar) on the symbol corresponds
to N-type semiconductor. Pointing (arrow) corresponds to P-type.
If a diode is forward biased as in Figure 2.30(a), current will increase slightly as voltage is
increased from 0 V. In the case of a silicon diode a measurable current flows when the voltage
approaches 0.6 V at (c). As the voltage is increases past 0.6 V, current increases considerably
after the knee. Increasing the voltage well beyond 0.7 V may result in high enough current to
destroy the diode. The forward voltage, VF , is a characteristic of the semiconductor: 0.6 to 0.7
V for silicon, 0.2 V for germanium, a few volts for Light Emitting Diodes (LED). The forward
current ranges from a few mA for point contact diodes to 100 mA for small signal diodes to tens
or thousands of amperes for power diodes.
If the diode is reverse biased, only the leakage of the intrinsic semiconductor flows. This
is plotted to the left of the origin in Figure 2.30(c). This current will only be as high as 1 µA
for the most extreme conditions for silicon small signal diodes. This current does not increase
2.6. THE P-N JUNCTION 57
electrons holes
N P
I
mA
forward
reverse bias bias V
(a) 0.7
N-type P-type
(not pointing) (pointing)
breakdown
µA
(b) cathode anode (c)
Figure 2.30: (a) PN junction, (b) Corresponding diode schematic symbol (c)Silicon Diode I vs V
characteristic curve.
appreciably with increasing reverse bias until the diode breaks down. At breakdown, the cur-
rent increases so greatly that the diode will be destroyed unless a high series resistance limits
current. We normally select a diode with a higher reverse voltage rating than any applied
voltage to prevent this. Silicon diodes are typically available with reverse break down ratings
of 50, 100, 200, 400, 800 V and higher. It is possible to fabricate diodes with a lower rating of
a few volts for use as voltage standards.
We previously mentioned that the reverse leakage current of under a µA for silicon diodes
was due to conduction of the intrinsic semiconductor. This is the leakage that can be explained
by theory. Thermal energy produces few electron hole pairs, which conduct leakage current
until recombination. In actual practice this predictable current is only part of the leakage cur-
rent. Much of the leakage current is due to surface conduction, related to the lack of cleanliness
of the semiconductor surface. Both leakage currents increase with increasing temperature, ap-
proaching a µA for small silicon diodes.
For germanium, the leakage current is orders of magnitude higher. Since germanium semi-
conductors are rarely used today, this is not a problem in practice.
• REVIEW:
• PN junctions are fabricated from a monocrystalline piece of semiconductor with both a

P-type and N-type region in proximity at a junction.
• The transfer of electrons from the N side of the junction to holes annihilated on the P side
of the junction produces a barrier voltage. This is 0.6 to 0.7 V in silicon, and varies with
other semiconductors.
• A forward biased PN junction conducts a current once the barrier voltage is overcome.
The external applied potential forces majority carriers toward the junction where recom-
binetion takes place, allowing current flow.
• A reverse biased PN junction conducts almost no current. The applied reverse bias at-
tracts majority carriers away from the junction. This increases the thickness of the non-
conducting depletion region.
• Reverse biased PN junctions show a temperature dependent reverse leakage current.

This is less than a µA in small silicon diodes.
2.7 Junction diodes

There were some historic crude, but useable semiconductor rectifiers before high purity materi-
als were available. Ferdinand Braun invented a lead sulfide, PbS, based point contact rectifier
in 1874. Cuprous oxide rectifiers were used as power rectifiers in 1924. The forward voltage
drop is 0.2 V. The linear characteristic curve perhaps is why Cu2 O was used as a rectifier for
the AC scale on D’Arsonval based multimeters. This diode is also photosensitive.
Selenium oxide rectifiers were used before modern power diode rectifiers became available.
This and the Cu2 O rectifiers were polycrystalline devices. Photoelectric cells were once made
from Selenium.
Before the modern semiconductor era, an early diode application was as a radio frequency
detector, which recovered audio from a radio signal. The “semiconductor” was a polycrystalline
piece of the mineral galena, lead sulfide, PbS. A pointed metallic wire known as a cat whisker
was brought in contact with a spot on a crystal within the polycrystalline mineral. (Figure 2.31)
The operator labored to find a “sensitive” spot on the galena by moving the cat whisker about.
Presumably there were P and N-type spots randomly distributed throughout the crystal due
to the variability of uncontrolled impurities. Less often the mineral iron pyrites, fools gold,
was used, as was the mineral carborundum, silicon carbide, SiC.. Another detector, part of a
foxhole radio, consisted of a sharpened pencil lead bound to a bent safety pin, touching a rusty
blue-blade disposable razor blade. These all required searching for a sensitive spot, easily lost
because of vibration.
Replacing the mineral with an N-doped semiconductor (Figure 2.32(a) ) makes the whole
surface sensitive, so that searching for a sensitive spot was no longer required. This device was
perfected by G.W.Pickard in 1906. The pointed metal contact produced a localized P-type region
within the semiconductor. The metal point was fixed in place, and the whole point contact diode
encapsulated in a cylindrical body for mechanical and electrical stability. (Figure 2.32(d) ) Note
that the cathode bar on the schematic corresponds to the bar on the physical package.
Silicon point contact diodes made an important contribution to radar in World War II, de-
tecting giga-hertz radio frequency echo signals in the radar receiver.. The concept to be made
clear is that the point contact diode preceded the junction diode and modern semiconductors
by several decades. Even to this day, the point contact diode is a practical means of microwave
frequency detection because of its low capacitance. Germanium point contact diodes were once
more readily available than they are today, being preferred for the lower 0.2 V forward voltage
in some applications like self-powered crystal radios. Point contact diodes, though sensitive to
a wide bandwidth,, have a low current capability compared with junction diodes..
Most diodes today are silicon junction diodes. The cross-section in Figure 2.32(b) looks a
bit more complex than a simple PN junction; though, it is still a PN junction. Starting at the
cathode connection, the N+ indicates this region is heavily doped, having nothing to do with
2.7. JUNCTION DIODES 59
Figure 2.31: Crystal detector
Anode Anode
P+ P+
Anode
N N-
N+ Cathode
(a) (b) (c) (d)
Cathode Cathode
Figure 2.32: Silicon diode cross-section: (a) point contact diode, (b) junction diode, (c) schematic
symbol, (d) small signal diode package.
polarity. This reduces the series resistance of the diode. The N− region is lightly doped as
indicated by the (-). Light doping produces a diode with a higher reverse breakdown voltage,
important for high voltage power rectifier diodes. Lower voltage diodes, even low voltage power
rectifiers, would have lower forward losses with heavier doping. The heaviest level of doping
produce zener diodes designed for a low reverse breakdown voltage. However, heavy doping
increases the reverse leakage current. The P+ region at the anode contact is heavily doped
P-type semiconductor, a good contact strategy. Glass encapsulate small signal junction diodes
are capable of 10’s to 100’s of mA of current. Plastic or ceramic encapsulated power rectifier
diodes handle to 1000’s of amperes of current.
• REVIEW:
• Point contact diodes have superb high frequency characteristics, useable well into the
microwave frequencies.
• Junction diodes range in size from small signal diodes to power rectifiers capable of 1000’s
of amperes.
• The level of doping near the junction determines the reverse breakdown voltage. Light
doping produces a high voltage diode. Heavy doping produces a lower breakdown voltage,
and increases reverse leakage current. Zener diodes have a lower breakdown voltage
because of heavy doping.
2.8 Bipolar junction transistors

The bipolar transistor (BJT) was named because its operation involves conduction by two car-
riers: electrons and holes in the same crystal. The first bipolar transistor was invented at
Bell Labs by William Shockley, Walter Brattain, and John Bardeen so late in 1947 that it
was not published until 1948. Thus, many texts differ as to the date of invention. Brattain
fabricated a germanium point contact transistor, bearing some resemblance to a point contact
diode. Within a month, Shockley had a more practical junction transistor, which we describe in
following paragraphs. They were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1956 for the transistor.
The bipolar junction transistor shown in Figure 2.33(a) is an NPN three layer semiconduc-
tor sandwich with an emitter and collector at the ends, and a base in between. It is as if a third
layer were added to a two layer diode. If this were the only requirement, we would have no
more than a pair of back-to-back diodes. In fact, it is far easier to build a pair of back-to-back
diodes. The key to the fabrication of a bipolar junction transistor is to make the middle layer,
the base, as thin as possible without shorting the outside layers, the emitter and collector. We
cannot over emphasize the importance of the thin base region.
The device in Figure 2.33(a) has a pair of junctions, emitter to base and base to collector,
and two depletion regions.
It is customary to reverse bias the base-collector junction of a bipolar junction transistor
as shown in (Figure 2.33(b). Note that this increases the width of the depletion region. The
reverse bias voltage could be a few volts to tens of volts for most transistors. There is no current
flow, except leakage current, in the collector circuit.
2.8. BIPOLAR JUNCTION TRANSISTORS 61
N +- P - + N N + - P- + N
+- - + +- - +
+- - + +- - +
+- - + +- - +
+- - + +- - +
+- - + +- - +
+- - + +- - +
+- - + +- - +
emitter base collector emitter base collector
- +
E C E C
(a) B (b) B - +
Figure 2.33: (a) NPN junction bipolar transistor. (b) Apply reverse bias to collector base junc-
tion.
In Figure 2.34(a), a voltage source has been added to the emitter base circuit. Normally we
forward bias the emitter-base junction, overcoming the 0.6 V potential barrier. This is similar
to forward biasing a junction diode. This voltage source needs to exceed 0.6 V for majority
carriers (electrons for NPN) to flow from the emitter into the base becoming minority carriers
in the P-type semiconductor.
If the base region were thick, as in a pair of back-to-back diodes, all the current entering
the base would flow out the base lead. In our NPN transistor example, electrons leaving the
emitter for the base would combine with holes in the base, making room for more holes to be
created at the (+) battery terminal on the base as electrons exit.
However, the base is manufactured thin. A few majority carriers in the emitter, injected as
minority carriers into the base, actually recombine. See Figure 2.34(b). Few electrons injected
by the emitter into the base of an NPN transistor fall into holes. Also, few electrons entering
the base flow directly through the base to the positive battery terminal. Most of the emitter
current of electrons diffuses through the thin base into the collector. Moreover, modulating the
small base current produces a larger change in collector current. If the base voltage falls below
approximately 0.6 V for a silicon transistor, the large emitter-collector current ceases to flow.
In Figure 2.35 we take a closer look at the current amplification mechanism. We have an
enlarged view of an NPN junction transistor with emphasis on the thin base region. Though
not shown, we assume that external voltage sources 1) forward bias the emitter-base junction,
2) reverse bias the base-collector junction. Electrons, majority carriers, enter the emitter from
the (-) battery terminal. The base current flow corresponds to electrons leaving the base termi-
nal for the (+) battery terminal. This is but a small current compared to the emitter current.
Majority carriers within the N-type emitter are electrons, becoming minority carriers when
entering the P-type base. These electrons face four possible fates entering the thin P-type base.
A few at Figure 2.35(a) fall into holes in the base that contributes to base current flow to the
(+) battery terminal. Not shown, holes in the base may diffuse into the emitter and combine
with electrons, contributing to base terminal current. Few at (b) flow on through the base to
the (+) battery terminal as if the base were a resistor. Both (a) and (b) contribute to the very
small base current flow. Base current is typically 1% of emitter or collector current for small
signal transistors. Most of the emitter electrons diffuse right through the thin base (c) into
P
N - + N
N P- + N - +
- + - +
- + - +
- + - +
- + - +
- + - +
- + - +
- +
- + - +
- + - +
E C
E C - + B - +
(a) - + B - + (b)
Figure 2.34: NPN junction bipolar transistor with reverse biased collector-base: (a) Adding
forward bias to base-emitter junction, results in (b) a small base current and large emitter and
collector currents.
(c) (a) (d)

- +
holes - +
- +
electrons - +
(b) depletion
- + depletion N P region N
- + region emitter base collector
Figure 2.35: Disposition of electrons entering base: (a) Lost due to recombination with base
holes. (b) Flows out base lead. (c) Most diffuse from emitter through thin base into base-
collector depletion region, and (d) are rapidly swept by the strong depletion region electric field
into the collector.
2.8. BIPOLAR JUNCTION TRANSISTORS 63
the base-collector depletion region. Note the polarity of the depletion region surrounding the
electron at (d). The strong electric field sweeps the electron rapidly into the collector. The
strength of the field is proportional to the collector battery voltage. Thus 99% of the emitter
current flows into the collector. It is controlled by the base current, which is 1% of the emitter
current. This is a potential current gain of 99, the ratio of IC /IB , also known as beta, β.
This magic, the diffusion of 99% of the emitter carriers through the base, is only possible if
the base is very thin. What would be the fate of the base minority carriers in a base 100 times
thicker? One would expect the recombination rate, electrons falling into holes, to be much
higher. Perhaps 99%, instead of 1%, would fall into holes, never getting to the collector. The
second point to make is that the base current may control 99% of the emitter current, only if
99% of the emitter current diffuses into the collector. If it all flows out the base, no control is
possible.
Another feature accounting for passing 99% of the electrons from emitter to collector is that
real bipolar junction transistors use a small heavily doped emitter. The high concentration of
emitter electrons forces many electrons to diffuse into the base. The lower doping concentration
in the base means fewer holes diffuse into the emitter, which would increase the base current.
Diffusion of carriers from emitter to base is strongly favored.
The thin base and the heavily doped emitter help keep the emitter efficiency high, 99% for
example. This corresponds to 100% emitter current splitting between the base as 1% and the
collector as 99%. The emitter efficiency is known as α = IC /IE .
Bipolar junction transistors are available as PNP as well as NPN devices. We present a
comparison of these two in Figure 2.36. The difference is the polarity of the base emitter diode
junctions, as signified by the direction of the schematic symbol emitter arrow. It points in
the same direction as the anode arrow for a junction diode, against electron current flow. See
diode junction, Figure 2.30. The point of the arrow and bar correspond to P-type and N-type
semiconductors, respectively. For NPN and PNP emitters, the arrow points away and toward
the base respectively. There is no schematic arrow on the collector. However, the base-collector
junction is the same polarity as the base-emitter junction compared to a diode. Note, we speak
of diode, not power supply, polarity.
N P N P N P
- + - + + - + -
(a) (b)
E C E C
- + B - + + - B + -
Figure 2.36: Compare NPN transistor at (a) with the PNP transistor at (b). Note direction of
emitter arrow and supply polarity.
The voltage sources for PNP transistors are reversed compared with an NPN transistors
as shown in Figure 2.36. The base-emitter junction must be forward biased in both cases. The
base on a PNP transistor is biased negative (b) compared with positive (a) for an NPN. In both
cases the base-collector junction is reverse biased. The PNP collector power supply is negative
campared with positive for an NPN transistor.
Collector Collector
+
N
Base
N- (b) Emitter
Base Emitter Collector
+
P P+ P base N N+
+
N N collector epitaxial layer
N+ buried
Base Emitter (a) (c) P substrate
Figure 2.37: Bipolar junction transistor: (a) discrete device cross-section, (b) schematic symbol,
(c) integrated circuit cross-section.
Note that the BJT in Figure 2.37(a) has heavy doping in the emitter as indicated by the
N+ notation. The base has a normal P-dopant level. The base is much thinner than the not-
to-scale cross-section shows. The collector is lightly doped as indicated by the N− notation.
The collector needs to be lightly doped so that the collector-base junction will have a high
breakdown voltage. This translates into a high allowable collector power supply voltage. Small
signal silicon transistors have a 60-80 V breakdown voltage. Though, it may run to hundreds
of volts for high voltage transistors. The collector also needs to be heavily doped to minimize
ohmic losses if the transistor must handle high current. These contradicting requirements are
met by doping the collector more heavily at the metallic contact area. The collector near the
base is lightly doped as compared with the emitter. The heavy doping in the emitter gives the
emitter-base a low approximate 7 V breakdown voltage in small signal transistors. The heavily
doped emitter makes the emitter-base junction have zener diode like characteristics in reverse
bias.
The BJT die, a piece of a sliced and diced semiconductor wafer, is mounted collector down
to a metal case for power transistors. That is, the metal case is electrically connected to the
collector. A small signal die may be encapsulated in epoxy. In power transistors, aluminum
bonding wires connect the base and emitter to package leads. Small signal transistor dies
may be mounted directly to the lead wires. Multiple transistors may be fabricated on a single
die called an integrated circuit. Even the collector may be bonded out to a lead instead of the
case. The integrated circuit may contain internal wiring of the transistors and other integrated
components. The integrated BJT shown in (Figure ??) is much thinner than the “not to scale”
drawing. The P+ region isolates multiple transistors in a single die. An aluminum metalization
layer (not shown) interconnects multiple transistors and other components. The emitter region
is heavily doped, N+ compared to the base and collector to improve emitter efficiency.
Discrete PNP transistors are almost as high quality as the NPN counterpart. However, in-
2.9. JUNCTION FIELD-EFFECT TRANSISTORS 65
tegrated PNP transistors are not nearly a good as the NPN variety within the same integrated
circuit die. Thus, integrated circuits use the NPN variety as much as possible.
• REVIEW:
• Bipolar transistors conduct current using both electrons and holes in the same device.
• Operation of a bipolar transistor as a current amplifier requires that the collector-base

junction be reverse biased and the emitter-base junction be forward biased.
• A transistor differs from a pair of back to back diodes in that the base, the center layer, is
very thin. This allows majority carriers from the emitter to diffuse as minority carriers
through the base into the depletion region of the base-collector junction, where the strong
electric field collects them.
• Emitter efficiency is improved by heavier doping compared with the collector. Emitter
efficiency: α = IC /IE , 0.99 for small signal devices
• Current gain is β=IC /IB , 100 to 300 for small signal transistors.
2.9 Junction field-effect transistors

The field effect transistor was proposed by Julius Lilienfeld in US patents in 1926 and 1933
(1,900,018). Moreover, Shockley, Brattain, and Bardeen were investigating the field effect
transistor in 1947. Though, the extreme difficulties sidetracked them into inventing the bipolar
transistor instead. Shockley’s field effect transistor theory was published in 1952. However, the
materials processing technology was not mature enough until 1960 when John Atalla produced
a working device.
A field effect transistor (FET) is a unipolar device, conducting a current using only one
kind of charge carrier. If based on an N-type slab of semiconductor, the carriers are electrons.
Conversely, a P-type based device uses only holes.
At the circuit level, field effect transistor operation is simple. A voltage applied to the gate,
input element, controls the resistance of the channel, the unipolar region between the gate
regions. (Figure 2.38) In an N-channel device, this is a lightly doped N-type slab of silicon
with terminals at the ends. The source and drain terminals are analogous to the emitter and
collector, respectively, of a BJT. In an N-channel device, a heavy P-type region on both sides of
the center of the slab serves as a control electrode, the gate. The gate is analogous to the base
of a BJT.
“Cleanliness is next to godliness” applies to the manufacture of field effect transistors.
Though it is possible to make bipolar transistors outside of a clean room, it is a necessity
for field effect transistors. Even in such an environment, manufacture is tricky because of
contamination control issues. The unipolar field effect transistor is conceptually simple, but
difficult to manufacture. Most transistors today are a metal oxide semiconductor variety (later
section) of the field effect transistor contained within integrated circuits. However, discrete
JFET devices are available.
A properly biased N-channel junction field effect transistor (JFET) is shown in Figure 2.38.
The gate constitutes a diode junction to the source to drain semiconductor slab. The gate is
Dra
in
N
Ga
te
P Channel
So
urc
e
-
N
+
Figure 2.38: Junction field effect transistor cross-section.
reverse biased. If a voltage (or an ohmmeter) were applied between the source and drain, the
N-type bar would conduct in either direction because of the doping. Neither gate nor gate bias
is required for conduction. If a gate junction is formed as shown, conduction can be controlled
by the degree of reverse bias.
Figure 2.39(a) shows the depletion region at the gate junction. This is due to diffusion of
holes from the P=type gate region into the N-type channel, giving the charge separation about
the junction, with a non-conductive depletion region at the junction. The depletion region
extends more deeply into the channel side due to the heavy gate doping and light channel
doping.
The thickness of the depletion region can be increased Figure 2.39(b) by applying moder-
ate reverse bias. This increases the resistance of the source to drain channel by narrowing
the channel. Increasing the reverse bias at (c) increases the depletion region, decreases the
channel width, and increases the channel resistance. Increasing the reverse bias VGS at (d)
will pinch-off the channel current. The channel resistance will be very high. This VGS at
which pinch-off occurs is VP , the pinch-off voltage. It is typically a few volts. In summation,the
channel resistance can be controlled by the degree of reverse biasing on the gate.
The source and drain are interchangeable, and the source to drain current may flow in
either direction for low level drain battery voltage (¡ 0.6 V). That is, the drain battery may be
replaced by a low voltage AC source. For a high drain power supply voltage, to 10’s of volts
for small signal devices, the polarity must be as indicated in Figure 2.40(a). This drain power
supply, not shown in previous figures, distorts the depletion region, enlarging it on the drain
side of the gate. This is a more correct representation for common DC drain supply voltages,
from a few to tens of volts. As drain voltage VDS is increased,the gate depletion region expands
toward the drain. This increases the length of the narrow channel, increasing its resistance
a little. We say ”a little” because large resistance changes are due to changing gate bias.
Figure 2.40(b) shows the schematic symbol for an N-channel field effect transistor compared
S N D S N D
P-type G G
(a) (c)
S N D S N D
G G
(b) (d)
Figure 2.39: N-channel JFET: (a) Depletion at gate diode. (b) Reverse biased gate diode in-
creases depletion region. (c) Increasing reverse bias enlarges depletion region. (d) Increasing
reverse bias pinches-off the S-D channel.
to the silicon cross-section at (a). The gate arrow points in the same direction as a junction
diode. The“pointing” arrow and “non-pointing” bar correspond to P and N-type semiconductors,
respectively.
electron current
P-type to G
N
S D
S D
G G
(a) (b)
Figure 2.40: N-channel JFET electron current flow from source to drain in (a) cross-section, (b)
schematic symbol.
Figure 2.40 shows a large electron current flow from (-) battery terminal, to FET source,
out the drain, returning to the (+) battery terminal. This current flow may be controlled by
varying the gate voltage. A load in series with the battery sees an amplified version of the
changing gate voltage.
P-channel field effect transistors are also available. The channel is made of P-type material.
The gate is a heavy N-type region. All the voltage sources are reversed in the P-channel circuit
(Figure 2.41) as compared with the more popular N-channel device. Also note, the arrow points
out of the gate of the schematic symbol (b) of the P-channel field effect transistor.
As the positive gate bias voltage is increased, the resistance of the P-channel increases,
decreasing the current flow in the drain circuit.
Discrete devices are manufactured with the cross-section shown in Figure 2.42. The cross-
section, oriented so that it corresponds to the schematic symbol, is upside down with respect
to G
P
S D
S D
G N-type G
(a) (b)
Figure 2.41: P-channel JFET: (a) N-type gate, P-type channel, reversed voltage sources com-
pared with N-channel device. (b) Note reversed gate arrow and voltage sources on schematic.
to a semiconductor wafer. That is, the gate connections are on the top of the wafer. The
gate is heavily doped, P+ , to diffuse holes well into the channel for a large depletion region.
The source and drain connections in this N-channel device are heavily doped, N+ to lower
connection resistance. However, the channel surrounding the gate is lightly doped to allow
holes from the gate to diffuse deeply into the channel. That is the N− region.
Drain Drain
Gate
N+
Source
-
(b)
N
Source Gate Drain
P+ N+ P+ P+
N
Gate Source (a) (c) P substrate
Figure 2.42: Junction field effect transistor: (a) Discrete device cross-section, (b) schematic
symbol, (c) integrated circuit device cross-section.
All three FET terminals are available on the top of the die for the integrated circuit version
so that a metalization layer (not shown) can interconnect multiple components. (Figure 2.42(c)
) Integrated circuit FET’s are used in analog circuits for the high gate input resistance.. The
N-channel region under the gate must be very thin so that the intrinsic region about the gate
can control and pinch-off the channel. Thus, gate regions on both sides of the channel are not
necessary.
The static induction field effect transistor (SIT) is a short channel device with a buried gate.
(Figure 2.43) It is a power device, as opposed to a small signal device. The low gate resistance
and low gate to source capacitance make for a fast switching device. The SIT is capable of
hundreds of amps and thousands of volts. And, is said to be capable of an incredible frequency
of 10 gHz.[24]
The Metal semiconductor field effect transistor (MESFET) is similar to a JFET except the
Cross-section Junction field-effect transistor

(static induction type)
Drain
Schematic symbol
N+ Drain
N-
Gate
+ + + +
Gate P P P P
Source
N+
Source
Figure 2.43: Junction field effect transistor (static induction type): (a) Cross-section, (b)
schematic symbol.
Source Gate Drain

Drain
N-
N+ N+
Gate
(a) Source (b) substrate
Figure 2.44: Metal semiconductor field effect transistor (MESFET): (a) schematic symbol, (b)
cross-section.
gate is a schottky diode instead of a junction diode. A schottky diode is a metal rectifying
contact to a semiconductor compared with a more common ohmic contact. In Figure 2.44 the
the source and drain are heavily doped (N+ ). The channel is lightly doped (N− ). MESFET’s
are higher speed than JFET’s. The MESET is a depletion mode device, normally on, like a
JFET. They are used as microwave power amplifiers to 30 gHz. MESFET’s can be fabricated
from silicon, gallium arsenide, indium phosphide, silicon carbide, and the diamond allotrope of
carbon.
• REVIEW:
• The unipolar junction field effect transistor (FET or JFET) is so called because conduction
in the channel is due to one type of carrier
• The JFET source, gate, and drain correspond to the BJT’s emitter, base, and collector,
respectively.
• Application of reverse bias to the gate varies the channel resistance by expanding the
gate diode depletion region.
2.10 Insulated-gate field-effect transistors (MOSFET)

The insulated-gate field-effect transistor (IGFET), also known as the metal oxide field effect
transistor (MOSFET), is a derivative of the field effect transistor (FET). Today, most transis-
tors are of the MOSFET type as components of digital integrated circuits. Though discrete
BJT’s are more numerous than discrete MOSFET’s. The MOSFET transistor count within an
integrated circuit may approach the hundreds of a million. The dimensions of individual MOS-
FET devices are under a micron, decreasing every 18 months. Much larger MOSFET’s are
capable of switching nearly 100 amperes of current at low voltages; some handle nearly 1000
V at lower currents. These devices occupy a good fraction of a square centimeter of silicon.
MOSFET’s find much wider application than FET’s. However, MOSFET power devices are not
as widely used as bipolar junction transistors at this time.
The MOSFET has source, gate, and drain terminals like the FET. However, the gate lead
does not make a direct connection to the silicon compared with the case for the FET. The
MOSFET gate is a metallic or polysilicon layer atop a silicon dioxide insulator. The gate bears
a resemblance to a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) capacitor in Figure 2.45. When charged,
the plates of the capacitor take on the charge polarity of the respective battery terminals.
The lower plate is P-type silicon from which electrons are repelled by the negative (-) battery
terminal toward the oxide, and attracted by the positive (+) top plate.. This excess of electrons
near the oxide creates an inverted (excess of electrons) channel under the oxide. This channel
is also accompanied by a depletion region isolating the channel from the bulk silicon substrate.
In Figure 2.46 (a) the MOS capacitor is placed between a pair of N-type diffusions in a P-
type substrate. With no charge on the capacitor, no bias on the gate, the N-type diffusions, the
source and drain, remain electrically isolated.
A positive bias applied to the gate, charges the capacitor (the gate). The gate atop the oxide
takes on a positive charge from the gate bias battery. The P-type substrate below the gate takes
on a negative charge. An inversion region with an excess of electrons forms below the gate
2.10. INSULATED-GATE FIELD-EFFECT TRANSISTORS (MOSFET) 71
inverted
channel
+ ++++++
oxide oxide
- -depletion
- - - -
-
P P
(a) (b)
Figure 2.45: N-channel MOS capacitor: (a) no charge, (b) charged.
Source Gate Drain - +

Ν S G D
+ + ++++
+
N+
N N+ N+ -- ---- N+
depletion
P
P
(a) depletion
(b) inverted channel - +
Figure 2.46: N-channel MOSFET (enhancement type): (a) 0 V gate bias, (b) positive gate bias.
oxide. This region now connects the source and drain N-type regions, forming a continuous
N-region from source to drain. Thus, the MOSFET, like the FET is a unipolar device. One
type of charge carrier is responsible for conduction. This example is an N-channel MOSFET.
Conduction of a large current from source to drain is possible with a voltage applied between
these connections. A practical circuit would have a load in series with the drain battery in
Figure 2.46 (b).
The MOSFET described above in Figure 2.46 is known as an enhancement mode MOSFET.
The non-conducting, off, channel is turned on by enhancing the channel below the gate by
application of a bias. This is the most common kind of device. The other kind of MOSFET will
not be described here. See the Insulated-gate field-effect transistor chapter for the depletion
mode device.
The MOSFET, like the FET, is a voltage controlled device. A voltage input to the gate
controls the flow of current from source to drain. The gate does not draw a continuous current.
Though, the gate draws a surge of current to charge the gate capacitance.
The cross-section of an N-channel discrete MOSFET is shown in Figure 2.47 (a). Discrete
devices are usually optimized for high power switching. The N+ indicates that the source and
drain are heavily N-type doped. This minimizes resistive losses in the high current path from
source to drain. The N− indicates light doping. The P-region under the gate, between source
and drain can be inverted by application of a positive bias voltage. The doping profile is a
cross-section, which may be laid out in a serpentine pattern on the silicon die. This greatly
increases the area, and consequently, the current handling ability.
The MOSFET schematic symbol in Figure 2.47 (b) shows a “floating” gate, indicating no
Drain
N+ Drain
N- inversion
Gate
P Source
N+
= silicon dioxide
(a) Gate Source insulator (b)
Figure 2.47: N-channel MOSFET (enhancement type): (a) Cross-section, (b) schematic symbol.
direct connection to the silicon substrate. The broken line from source to drain indicates that
this device is off, not conducting, with zero bias on the gate. A normally “off ” MOSFET is
an enhancement mode device. The channel must be enhanced by application of a bias to the
gate for conduction. The “pointing” end of the substrate arrow corresponds to P-type material,
which points toward an N-type channel, the “non-pointing” end. This is the symbol for an
N-channel MOSFET. The arrow points in the opposite direction for a P-channel device (not
shown). MOSFET’s are four terminal devices: source, gate, drain, and substrate. The substrate
is connected to the source in discrete MOSFET’s, making the packaged part a three terminal
device. MOSFET’s, that are part of an integrated circuit, have the substrate common to all
devices, unless purposely isolated. This common connection may be bonded out of the die for
connection to a ground or power supply bias voltage.
Drain
N+ Drain
N- inversion
Gate
P P
Source
N+ N+
= silicon dioxide
(a) insulator (b)
Gate Source
Figure 2.48: N-channel “V-MOS” transistor: (a) Cross-section, (b) schematic symbol.
The V-MOS device in (Figure 2.48) is an improved power MOSFET with the doping profile
arranged for lower on-state source to drain resistance. VMOS takes its name from the V-shaped
gate region, which increases the cross-section area of the source-drain path. This minimizes
2.11. THYRISTORS 73
losses and allows switching of higher levels of power. UMOS, a variation using a U-shaped
grove, is more reproducible in manufacture.
• REVIEW:
• MOSFET’s are unipoar conduction devices, conduction with one type of charge carrier,
like a FET, but unlike a BJT.
• A MOSFET is a voltage controlled device like a FET. A gate voltage input controls the
source to drain current.
• The MOSFET gate draws no continuous current, except leakage. However, a considerable
initial surge of current is required to charge the gate capacitance.
2.11 Thyristors
Thyristors are a broad classification of bipolar-conducting semiconductor devices having four
(or more) alternating N-P-N-P layers. Thyristors include: silicon controlled rectifier (SCR),
TRIAC, gate turn off switch (GTO), silicon controlled switch (SCS), AC diode (DIAC), unijunc-
tion transistor (UJT), programmable unijunction transistor (PUT). Only the SCR is examined
in this section; though the GTO is mentioned.
Shockley proposed the four layer diode thyristor in 1950. It was not realized until years
later at General Electric. SCR’s are now available to handle power levels spanning watts
to megawatts. The smallest devices, packaged like small-signal transistors, switch 100’s of
milliamp at near 100 VAC. The largest packaged devices are 172 mm in diameter, switching
5600 Amps at 10,000 VAC. The highest power SCR’s may consist of a whole semiconductor
wafer several inches in diameter (100’s of mm).
Anode Anode
P
N N
P P +
Gate N Gate
−
Cathode Cathode
(a) (b)
Figure 2.49: Silicon controlled rectifier (SCR): (a) doping profile, (b) BJT equivalent circuit.
The silicon controlled rectifier is a four layer diode with a gate connection as in Figure 2.49
(a). When turned on, it conducts like a diode, for one polarity of current. If not triggered on,
it is nonconducting. Operation is explained in terms of the compound connected transistor
equivalent in Figure 2.49 (b). A positive trigger signal is applied between the gate and cathode
terminals. This causes the NPN equivalent transistor to conduct. The collector of the con-
ducting NPN transistor pulls low, moving the PNP base toward of its collector voltage, which
causes the PNP to conduct. The collector of the conducting PNP pulls high, moving the NPN
base in the direction of its collector. This positive feedback (regeneration) reinforces the NPN’s
already conducting state. Moreover, the NPN will now conduct even in the absence of a gate
signal. Once an SCR conducts, it continues for as long as a positive anode voltage is present.
For the DC battery shown, this is forever. However, SCR’s are most often used with an alter-
nating current or pulsating DC supply. Conduction ceases with the expiration of the positive
half of the sinewave at the anode. Moreover, most practical SCR circuits depend on the AC
cycle going to zero to cutoff or commutate the SCR.
Figure 2.50 (a) shows the doping profile of an SCR. Note that the cathode, which corre-
sponds to an equivalent emitter of an NPN transistor is heavily doped as N+ indicates. The
anode is also heavily doped (P+ ). It is the equivalent emitter of a PNP transistor. The two
middle layers, corresponding to base and collector regions of the equivalent transistors, are
less heavily doped: N− and P. This profile in high power SCR’s may be spread across a whole
semiconductor wafer of substantial diameter.
Anode schematic symbols

P+
Anode Anode
N-
Gate Gate
Cathode Cathode
+ +
P P N SCR GTO
(a) (b) (c)
Gate Cathode
Figure 2.50: Thyristors: (a) Cross-section, (b) silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) symbol, (c) gate
turn-off thyristor (GTO) symbol.
The schematic symbols for an SCR and GTO are shown in Figures 2.50 (b &c). The basic
diode symbol indicates that cathode to anode conduction is unidirectional like a diode. The
addition of a gate lead indicates control of diode conduction. The gate turn off switch (GTO)
has bidirectional arrows about the gate lead, indicating that the conduction can be disabled by
a negative pulse, as well as initiated by a positive pulse.
In addition to the ubiquitous silicon based SCR’s, experimental silicon carbide devices have
been produced. Silicon carbide (SiC) operates at higher temperatures, and is more conductive
of heat than any metal, second to diamond. This should allow for either physically smaller or
higher power capable devices.
• REVIEW:
• SCR’s are the most prevalent member of the thyristor four layer diode family.
2.12. SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING TECHNIQUES 75
• A positive pulse applied to the gate of an SCR triggers it into conduction. Conduction
continues even if the gate pulse is removed. Conduction only ceases when the anode to
cathode voltage drops to zero.
• SCR’s are most often used with an AC supply (or pulsating DC) because of the continuous
conduction.
• A gate turn off switch (GTO) may be turned off by application of a negative pulse to the
gate.
• SCR’s switch megawatts of power, up to 5600 A and 10,000 V.
2.12 Semiconductor manufacturing techniques

The manufacture of only silicon based semiconductors is described in this section; most semi-
conductors are silicon. Silicon is particularly suitable for integrated circuits because it readily
forms an oxide coating, useful in patterning integrated components like transistors.
Silicon is the second most common element in the Earth’s crust in the form of silicon dioxide,
SiO2 , otherwise known as silica sand. Silicon is freed from silicon dioxide by reduction with
carbon in an electric arc furnace
SiO2 + C = CO2 + Si
Such metalurgical grade silicon is suitable for use in silicon steel transformer laminations,
but not nearly pure enough for semiconductor applications. Conversion to the chloride SiCl4
(or SiHCl3 ) allows purification by fractional distillation. Reduction by ultrapure zinc or mag-
nesium yields sponge silicon, requiring further purification. Or, thermal decomposition on a
hot polycrystalline silicon rod heater by hydrogen yields ultra pure silicon.
Si + 3HCl = SiHCl3 + H2
SiHCl3 + H2 = Si + 3HCl2
The polycrystalline silicon is melted in a fused silica crucible heated by an induction heated
graphite suceptor. The graphite heater may alternately be directly driven by a low voltage
at high current. In the Czochralski process, the silicon melt is solidified on to a pencil sized
monocrystal silicon rod of the desired crystal lattice orientation. (Figure 2.51) The rod is ro-
tated and pulled upward at a rate to encourage the diameter to expand to several inches. Once
this diameter is attained, the boule is automatically pulled at a rate to maintain a constant
diameter to a length of a few feet. Dopants may be added to the crucible melt to create, for
example, a P-type semiconductor. The growing apparatus is enclosed within an inert atmo-
sphere.
The finished boule is ground to a precise final diameter, and the ends trimmed. The boule
is sliced into wafers by an inside diameter diamond saw. The wafers are ground flat and
polished. The wafers could have an N-type epitaxial layer grown atop the wafer by thermal
deposition for higher quality. Wafers at this stage of manufacture are delivered by the silicon
wafer manufacturer to the semiconductor manufacturer.
The processing of semiconductors involves photo lithography, a process for making metal
lithographic printing plates by acid etching. The electronics based version of this is the pro-
cessing of copper printed circuit boards. This is reviewed in Figure 2.53 as an easy introduction
to the photo lithography involved in semiconductor processing.
lift rod
Si boule
fused silica crucible
graphite suceptor
RF induction coil
Si melt
Figure 2.51: Czochralski monocrystalline silicon growth.
Si boule
cut wafers
diamond blade
driven edge
Figure 2.52: Silicon boule is diamond sawed into wafers.

(a) copper PCB (b) apply photoresist (c) place artwork (d) expose
(e) remove artwork (f) develop resist (g) etch copper (h) strip resist
Figure 2.53: Processing of copper printed circuit boards is similar to the photo lithographic
steps of semiconductor processing.
We start with a copper foil laminated to an epoxy fiberglass board in Figure 2.53 (a). We
also need positive artwork with black lines corresponding to the copper wiring lines and pads
that are to remain on the finished board. Positive artwork is required because positive acting
resist is used. Though, negative resist is available for both circuit boards and semiconductor
processing. At (b) the liquid positive photo resist is applied to the copper face of the printed
circuit board (PCB). It is allowed to dry and may be baked in an oven. The artwork may be
a plastic film positive reproduction of the original artwork scaled to the required size. The
artwork is placed in contact with the circuit board under a glass plate at (c). The board is
exposed to ultraviolet light (d) to form a latent image of softened photo resist. The artwork is
removed (e) and the softened resist washed away by an alkaline solution (f). The rinsed and
dried (baked) circuit board has a hardened resist image atop the copper lines and pads that
are to remain after etching. The board is immersed in the etchant (g) to remove copper not
protected by hardened resist. The etched board is rinsed and the resist removed by a solvent.
The major difference in the patterning of semiconductors is that a silicon dioxide layer atop
the wafer takes the place of the resist during the high temperature processing steps. Though,
the resist is required in low temperature wet processing to pattern the silicon dioxide.
An N-type doped silicon wafer in Figure 2.54 (a) is the starting material in the manufacture
of semiconductor junctions. A silicon dioxide layer (b) is grown atop the wafer in the presence
of oxygen or water vapor at high temperature (over 1000o C in a diffusion furnace. A pool
of resist is applied to the center of the cooled wafer, then spun in a vacuum chuck to evenly
distribute the resist. The baked on resist (c) has a chrome on glass mask applied to the wafer
at (d). This mask contains a pattern of windows which is exposed to ultraviolet light (e).
After the mask is removed in Figure 2.54 (f), the positive resist can be developed (g) in
an alkaline solution, opening windows in the UV softened resist. The purpose of the resist is
to protect the silicon dioxide from the hydrofluoric acid etch (h), leaving only open windows
corresponding to the mask openings. The remaining resist (i) is stripped from the wafer before
returning to the diffusion furnace. The wafer is exposed to a gaseous P-type dopant at high
temperature in a diffusion furnace (j). The dopant only diffuses into the silicon through the
openings in the silicon dioxide layer. Each P-diffusion through an opening produces a PN
(a) N-type wafer (b) grow SiO2 (c) apply photoresist (d) place mask
(e) expose (f) remove mask (g) develop resist (h) HF etch
BH3
(i) strip resist (j) P-type diffusion
Figure 2.54: Manufacture of a silicon diode junction.
junction. If diodes were the desired product, the wafer would be diamond scribed and broken
into individual diode chips. However, the whole wafer may be processed further into bipolar
junction transistors.
To convert the diodes into transistors, a small N-type diffusion in the middle of the exist-
ing P-region is required. Repeating the previous steps with a mask having smaller openings
accomplishes this. Though not shown in Figure 2.54 (j), an oxide layer was probably formed in
that step during the P-diffusion. The oxide layer over the P-diffusion is shown in Figure 2.55
(k). Positive photo resist is applied and dried (l). The chrome on glass emitter mask is applied
(m), and UV exposed (n). The mask is removed (o). The UV softened resist in the emitter
opening is removed with an alkaline solution (p). The exposed silicon dioxide is etched away
with hydrofluoric acid (HF) at (q)
After the unexposed resist is stripped from the wafer (r), it is placed in a diffusion furnace
(Figure 2.55 (s) for high temperature processing. An N-type gaseous dopant, such phosphorus
oxychloride (POCl) diffuses through the small emitter window in the oxide (s). This creates
NPN layers corresponding to the emitter, base, and collector of a BJT. It is important that the
N-type emitter not be driven all the way through the P-type base, shorting the emitter and
collector. The base region between the emitter and collector also needs to be thin so that the
transistor has a useful β. Otherwise, a thick base region could form a pair of diodes rather
than a transistor. At (t) metalization is shown making contact with the transistor regions.
This requires a repeat of the previous steps (not shown here) with a mask for contact openings
through the oxide. Another repeat with another mask defines the metalization pattern atop
the oxide and contacting the transistor regions through the openings.
The metalization could connect numerous transistors and other components into an inte-
grated circuit. Though, only one transistor is shown. The finished wafer is diamond scribed
and broken into individual dies for packaging. Fine gauge aluminum wire bonds the metalized
contacts on the die to a lead frame, which brings the contacts out of the final package.
(k) grow SiO2 (l) apply photoresist (m) place mask (n) expose
(o) remove mask (p) develop resist (q) HF etch (r) strip resist
POCl
C B E
(s) N-type diffusion (t) metalization
Figure 2.55: Manufacture of a bipolar junction transistor, continuation of Manufacture of a

silicon diode junction.
• REVIEW:
• Most semiconductor are based on ultra pure silicon because it forms a glass oxide atop the
wafer. This oxide can be patterned with photo lithography, making complex integrated
circuits possible.
• Sausage shaped single crystals of silicon are grown by the Czochralski process, These are
diamond sawed into wafers.
• The patterning of silicon wafers by photo lithography is similar to patterning copper

printed circuit boards. Photo resist is applied to the wafer, which is exposed to UV light
through a mask. The resist is developed, then the wafer is etched.
• hydrofluoric acid etching opens windows in the protective silicon dioxide atop the wafer.
• Exposure to gaseous dopants at high temperature produces semiconductor junctions as

defined by the openings in the silicon dioxide layer.
• The photo lithography is repeated for more diffusions, contacts, and metalization.
• The metalization may interconnect multiple components into an integrated circuit.

2.13 Superconducting devices

Superconducting devices, though not widely used, have some unique characteristics not avail-
able in standard semiconductor devices. High sensitivity with respect to amplification of elec-
trical signals, detection of magnetic fields, and detection of light are prized applications. High
speed switching is also possible, though not applied to computers at this time. Conventional
superconducting devices must be cooled to within a few degrees of 0 Kelvin (-273 o C). Though,
work is proceeding at this time on high temperature superconductor based devices, useable at
90 K and below. This is significant because inexpensive liquid nitrogen may be used for cooling.
Superconductivity: Heike Onnes discovered superconductivity in mercury (Hg) in 1911,
for which he won a Nobel prize. Most metals decrease electrical resistance with decreasing
temperature. Though, most do not decrease to zero resistance as 0 Kelvin is approached.
Mercury is unique in that its resistance abruptly drops to zero Ω at 4.2 K. Superconductors
lose all resistance abruptly when cooled below their critical temperature, Tc A property of
superconductivity is no power loss in conductors. Current may flow in a loop of superconducting
wire for thousands of years. Super conductors include lead (Pb), aluminum, (Al), tin (Sn) and
niobium (Nb).
Cooper pair: Lossless conduction in superconductors is not by ordinary electron flow. Elec-
tron flow in normal conductors encounters opposition as collisions with the rigid ionic metal
crystal lattice. Decreasing vibrations of the crystal lattice with decreasing temperature ac-
counts for decreasing resistance– up to a point. Lattice vibrations cease at absolute zero, but
not the energy dissipating collisions of electrons with the lattice. Thus, normal conductors do
not lose all resistance at absolute zero.
Electrons in superconductors form a pair of electrons called a cooper pair, as temperature
drops below the critical temperature at which superconductivity begins. The cooper pair exists
because it is at a lower energy level than unpaired electrons. The electrons are attracted to
each other due to the exchange of phonons, very low energy particles related to vibrations. This
cooper pair, quantum mechanical entity (particle or wave) is not subject to the normal laws
of physics. This entity propagates through the lattice without encountering the metal ions
comprising the fixed lattice. Thus, it dissipates no energy. The quantum mechanical nature
of the cooper pair only allows it to exchange discrete amounts of energy, not continuously
variable amounts. An absolute minimum quantum of energy is acceptable to the cooper pair.
If the vibrational energy of the crystal lattice is less, (due to the low temperature), the cooper
pair cannot accept it, cannot be scattered by the lattice. Thus, under the critical temperature,
the cooper pairs flow unimpeded through the lattice.
Josephson junctions: Brian Josephson won a Nobel prize for his 1962 prediction of the
Josepheson junction. A Josephson junction is a pair of superconductors bridged by a thin insu-
lator, as in Figure 2.56 (b), through which electrons can tunnel. The first Josephson junctions
were lead superconductors bridged by an insulator. These days a tri-layer of aluminum and
niobium is preferred. Electrons can tunnel through the insulator even with zero voltage ap-
plied across the superconductors.
If a voltage is applied across the junction, the current decreases and oscillates at a high
frequency proportional to voltage. The relationship between applied voltage and frequency
is so precise that the standard volt is now defined in terms of Josephson junction oscillation
frequency. The Josephson junction can also serve as a hyper-sensitive detector of low level mag-
netic fields. It is also very sensitive to electromagnetic radiation from microwaves to gamma
2.13. SUPERCONDUCTING DEVICES 81
rays.
lead (Pb)
ga
te
lead oxide
(a) (b)
Figure 2.56: (a) Josephson junction, (b) Josephson transistor.
Josephson transistor: An electrode close to the oxide of the Josephson junction can in-
fluence the junction by capacitive coupling. Such an assembly in Figure 2.56 (b) is Josephson
transistor. A major feature of the Josephson transistor is low power dissipation applicable
to high density circuitry, for example, computers. This transistor is generally part of a more
complex superconducting device like a SQUID or RSFQ.
SQUID: A Superconduction quantum interference device or SQUID is an assembly of Joseph-
son junctions within a superconducting ring. The DC SQUID is only considered in this discus-
sion. This device is highly sensitive to low level magnetic fields.
A constant current bias is forced across the ring in parallel with both Josephson junctions
in Figure 2.57. The current divides equally between the two junctions in the absence of an
applied magnetic field and no voltage is developed across across the ring. [3] While any value
of Magnetic flux (Φ) may be applied to the SQUID, only a quantized value (a multiple of the
flux quanta) can flow through the opening in the superconducting ring.[2] If the applied flux is
not an exact multiple of the flux quanta, the excess flux is cancelled by a circulating current
around the ring which produces a fractional flux quanta. The circulating current will flow in
that direction which cancels any excess flux above a multiple of the flux quanta. It may either
add to, or subtract from the applied flux, up to ±(1/2) a flux quanta. If the circulating current
flows clockwise, the current adds to the top Josepheson junction and subtracts from the lower
one. Changing applied flux linearly causes the circulating current to vary as a sinusoid.[?] This
can be measured as a voltage across the SQUID. As the applied magnetic field is increased, a
voltage pulse may be counted for each increase by a flux quanta.[18]
A SQUID is said to be sensitive to 10−14 Tesla, It can detect the magnetic field of neural
currents in the brain at 10−13 Tesla. Compare this with the 30 x 10−6 Tesla strength of the
Earth’s magnetic field.
Rapid single flux quantum (RSFQ): Rather than mimic silicon semiconductor circuits,
RSFQ circuits rely upon new concepts: magnetic flux quantization within a superconductor,
and movement of the flux quanta produces a picosecond quantized voltage pulse. Magnetic flux
can only exist within a section of superconductor quantized in discrete multiples. The lowest
flux quanta allowed is employed. The pulses are switched by Josephson junctions instead of
conventional transistors. The superconductors are based on a triple layer of aluminum and
+ JJ
Iconstant
- Φ
counter
±∆Ι V
JJ
Figure 2.57: Superconduction quantum interference device (SQUID): Josephson junction pair
within a superconducting ring. A change in flux produces a voltage variation across the JJ
pair.
niobium with a critical temperature of 9.5 K, cooled to 5 K.

RSQF’s operate at over 100 gHz with very little power dissipation. Manufacture is simple
with existing photolithographic techniques. Though, operation requires refrigeration down
to 5 K . Real world commercial applications include analog-to-digital and digital to analog
converters, toggle flip-flops, shift registers, memory, adders, and multipliers.[4]
High temperature superconductors: High temperature superconductors are compounds
exhibiting superconductivity above the liquid nitrogen boiling point of 77 K. This is significant
because liquid nitrogen is readily available and inexpensive. Most conventional superconduc-
tors are metals; widely used high temperature superconductors are cuprates, mixed oxides of
copper (Cu), for example YBa2 Cu3 O7−x , critical temperature, Tc = 90 K . A list of others is
available.[22] Most of the devices described in this section are being developed in high tem-
perature superconductor versions for less critical applications. Though they do not have the
performance of the conventional metal superconductor devices, the liquid nitrogen cooling is
more available.
• REVIEW:
• Most metals decrease resistance as they approach absolute 0; though, the resistance does
not drop to 0. Superconductors experience a rapid drop to zero resistance at their critical
temperature on being cooled. Typically Tc is within 10 K of absolute zero.
• A Cooper pair, electron pair, a quantum mechanical entity, moves unimpeded through the
metal crystal lattice.
• Electrons are able to tunnel through a Josephson junction, an insulating gap across a
pair of superconductors.
• The addition of a third electrode, or gate, near the junction constitutes a Josephson tran-
sistor.
• A SQUID, Superconduction quantum interference device, is an highly sensitive detector
of magnetic fields. It counts quantum units of a magnetic field within a superconducting
ring.
• RSFQ, Rapid single flux quantum is a high speed switching device based on switching
the magnetic quanta existing withing a superconducting loop.
2.14. QUANTUM DEVICES 83
• High temperature superconductors, Tc above liquid nitrogen boiling point, may also be
used to build the superconducting devices in this section.
2.14 Quantum devices

Most integrated circuits are digital, based on MOS (CMOS) transistors. Every couple of years
since the late 1960’s a geometry shrink has taken place, increasing the circuit density– more
circuitry at lower cost in the same space. As of this writing (2006), the MOS transistor gate
length is 65-nm for leading edge production, with 45-nm anticipated within a year. At 65-
nm leakage currents were becoming evident. At 45-nm, heroic innovations were required to
minimize this leakage. The end of shrinkage in MOS transistors is expected at 20- to 30-
nm. Though some think that 1- to 2-nm is the limit. Photolithography, or other lithographic
techniques, will continue to improve, providing ever smaller geometry. However, conventional
MOS transistors are not expected to be useable at these smaller geometries below 20- to 30-nm.
Improved photolithography will have to be applied to other than the conventional tran-
sistors, dimensions (under 20- to 30-nm). The objectional MOS leakage currents are due to
quantum mechanical effects–electron tunneling through gate oxide, and the narrow channel.
In summary, quantum mechanical effects are a hindrance to ever smaller conventional MOS
transistors. The path to ever smaller geometry devices involves unique active devices which
make practical use of quantum mechanical principles. As physical geometry becomes very
small, electrons may be treated as the quantum mechanical equivalent: a wave. Devices
making use of quantum mechanical principles include: resonant tunneling diodes, quantum
tunneling transistors, metal insulator insulator metal diodes, and quantum dot transistors.
Quantum tunneling: is the passing of electrons through an insulating barrier which is
thin compared to the de Broglie (page 31) electron wavelength. If the “electron wave” is large
compared to the barrier, there is a possibility that the wave appears on both sides of the barrier.
Energy
Energy
Energy
Clasical view Quantum mechanical view
Figure 2.58: Classical view of an electron surmounting a barrier, or not. Quantum mechanical
view allows an electron to tunnel through a barrier. The probability (green) is related to the
barrier thickness. After Figure 1 [21]
In classical physics, an electron must have sufficient energy to surmount a barrier. Oth-
erwise, it recoils from the barrier. (Figure 2.58) Quantum mechanics allows for a probability
of the electron being on the other side of the barrier. If treated as a wave, the electron may
look quite large compared to the thickness of the barrier. Even when treated as a wave, there
is only a small probability that it will be found on the other side of a thick barrier. See green
portion of curve, Figure 2.58. Thinning the barrier increases the probability that the electron
is found on the other side of the barrier. [21]
Tunnel diode: The unqualified term tunnel diode refers to the esaki tunnel diode, an
early quantum device. A reverse biased diode forms a depletion region, an insulating region,
between the conductive anode and cathode. This depletion region is only thin as compared to
the electron wavelength when heavily doped– 1000 times the doping of a rectifier diode. With
proper biasing, quantum tunneling is possible. See (page 144)for details.
RTD, resonant tunneling diode: This is a quantum device not to be confused with the
Esaki tunnel diode, (page 144) , a conventional heavily doped bipolar semiconductor. Electrons
tunnel through two barriers separated by a well in flowing source to drain in a resonant tun-
neling diode. Tunneling is also known as quantum mechanical tunneling. The flow of electrons
is controlled by diode bias. This matches the energy levels of the electrons in the source to the
quantized level in the well so that electrons can tunnel through the barriers. The energy level
in the well is quantized because the well is small. When the energy levels are equal, a reso-
nance occurs, allowing electron flow through the barriers as shown in Figure 2.59 (b). No bias
or too much bias, in Figures 2.59 (a) and (c) respectively, yields an energy mismatch between
the source and the well, and no conduction.
1 1 1
Energy eV
Energy eV
AlAs AlAs barrier barrier Energy eV

well
energy
level
0 0 0
GaAs
GaAs
InGaAs
InGaAs
InGaAs
source drain
10 20 30 40 nm 10 20 30 40 nm 10 20 30 40 nm
(a) (b) (c)
Figure 2.59: Resonant tunneling diode (RTD): (a) No bias, source and well energy levels not
matched, no conduction. (b) Small bias causes matched energy levels (resonance); conduction
results. (c) Further bias mismatches energy levels, decreasing conduction.
As bias is increased from zero across the RTD, the current increases and then decreases,
corresponding to off, on, and off states. This makes simplification of conventional transistor
circuits possible by substituting a pair of RTD’s for two transistors. For example, two back-to-
back RTD’s and a transistor form a memory cell, using fewer components, less area and power
compared with a conventional circuit. The potential application of RTD’s is to reduce the
component count, area, and power dissipation of conventional transistor circuits by replacing
some, though not all, transistors. [10] RTD’s have been shown to oscillate up to 712 gHz. [7]
Double-layer tunneling transistor: The Deltt, otherwise known as the Double-layer tun-
neling transistor is constructed of a pair of conductive wells separated by an insulator or high
band gap semiconductor. (Figure 2.60) The wells are so thin that electrons are confined to two
dimensions. These are known as ¡quantum wells. A pair of these quantum wells are insulated
by a thin GaAlAs, high band gap (does not easily conduct) layer. Electrons can tunnel through
the insulating layer if the electrons in the two quantum wells have the same momentum and
energy. The wells are so thin that the electron may be treated as a wave– the quantum me-
chanical duality of particles and waves. The top and optional bottom control gates may be
adjusted to equalize the energy levels (resonance) of the electrons to allow conduction from
source to drain. Figure 2.60, barrier diagram red bars show unequal energy levels in the wells,
an “off-state” condition. Proper biasing of the gates equalizes the energy levels of electrons in
the wells, the “on-state” condition. The bars would be at the same level in the energy level
diagram.
bottom quantum well top depletion top quantum well

contact (drain) gate contact (drain)
top gate
GaAs depletion
top quantum well
well
barrier tunneling GaAlAs insulator
well
depletion GaAs
bottom quantum well
barrier bottom bottom gate (optional)

diagram depletion gate
Figure 2.60: Double-layer tunneling transistor (Deltt) is composed of two electron containing
wells separated by a nonconducting barrier. The gate voltages may be adjusted so that the
energy and momentum of the electrons in the wells are equal which permits electrons to tunnel
through the nonconductive barrier. (The energy levels are shown as unequal in the barrier
diagram.)
If gate bias is increased beyond that required for tunneling, the energy levels in the quan-
tum wells no longer match, tunneling is inhibited, source to drain current decreases. To sum-
marize, increasing gate bias from zero results in on, off, on conditions. This allows a pair of
Deltt’s to be stacked in the manner of a CMOS complementary pair; though, different p- and n-
type transistors are not required. Power supply voltage is about 100 mV. Experimental Deltt’s
have been produced which operate near 4.2 K, 77 K, and 0o C. Room temperature versions are
expected.[10] [12] [19]
MIIM diode: The metal-insulator-insulator-metal (MIIM) diode is a quantum tunneling de-
vice, not based on semiconductors. See “MIIM diode section” Figure 2.61. The insulator layers
must be thin compared to the de Broglie (page 31) electron wavelength, for quantum tunneling
to be possible. For diode action, there must be a prefered tunneling direction, resulting in a
sharp bend in the diode forward characteristic curve. The MIIM diode has a sharper forward
curve than the metal insulator metal (MIM) diode, not considered here.
The energy levels of M1 and M2 are equal in “no bias” Figure 2.61. However, (thermal)
electrons cannot flow due to the high I1 and I2 barriers. Electrons in metal M2 have a higher
energy level in “reverse bias” Figure 2.61, but still cannot overcome the isulator barrier. As
“forward bias” Figure 2.61 is increased, a quantum well, an area where electrons may exist,
is formed between the insulators. Electrons may pass through insulator I1 if M1 is bised at
the same energy level as the quantum well. A simple explanation is that the distance through
the insulators is shorter. A longer explanation is that as bias increases, the probability of
the electron wave everlapping from M1 to the quantum well increases. For a more detailed
quantum
Energy
Energy
Energy
well
M1
I1
I2
M2
M1 I1 I2 M2 M1 I2 I1 M2 M1 I1 I2 M2
Distance Distance Distance

MIIM diode
section No bias Forward bias Reverse bias
Figure 2.61: Metal insulator insulator metal (MIIM) diode: Cross section of diode. Energy
levels for no bias, forward bias, and reverse bias. After Figure 1 [20].
explanation see Phiar Corp. [20]

MIIM devices operate at higher frequencies (3.7 THz) than microwave transistors. [15] The
addition of a third electrode to a MIIM diode produces a transistor.
Quantum dot transistor: An isolated conductor may take on a charge, measured in
coulombs for large objects. For a nano-scale isolated conductor known as a quantum dot, the
charge is measured in electrons. A quantum dot of 1- to 3-nm may take on an incremental
charge of a single electron. This is the basis of the quantum dot transistor, also known as a
single electron transistor.
A quantum dot placed atop a thin insulator over an electron rich source is known as a single
electron box. (Figure 2.62 (a)) The energy required to transfer an electron is related to the size
of the dot and the number of electrons already on the dot.
A gate electrode above the quantum dot can adjust the energy level of the dot so that quan-
tum mechanical tunneling of an electron (as a wave) from the source through the insulator is
possible. (Figure 2.62 (b)) Thus, a single electron may tunnel to the dot.
+
gate +++
tunnel tunneling
quantum barrier ---
dot +++ source drain
---
tunnel
source barrier
(a) (b) (c)
Figure 2.62: (a) Single electron box, an isolated quantum dot separated from an electron source
by an insulator. (b) Positive charge on the gate polarizes quantum dot, tunneling an electron
from the source to the dot. (c) Quantum transistor: channel is replaced by quantum dot sur-
rounded by tunneling barrier.
If the quantum dot is surrounded by a tunnel barrier and embedded between the source
and drain of a conventional FET, as in Figure 2.62 (c) , the charge on the dot can modulate the
flow of electrons from source to drain. As gate voltage increases, the source to drain current
increases, up to a point. A further increase in gate voltage decreases drain current. This is
similar to the behavior of the RTD and Deltt resonant devices. Only one kind of transistor is
required to build a complementary logic gate.[10]
Single electron transistor: If a pair of conductors, superconductors, or semiconductors
are separated by a pair tunnel barriers (insulator), surrounding a tiny conductive island, like a
quantum dot, the flow of a single charge (a Cooper pair for superconductors) may be controlled
by a gate. This is single electron transistor similar to Figure 2.62 (c). Increasing the positive
charge on the gate, allows an electron to tunnel to the island. If it is sufficiently small, the
low capacitance will cause the dot potential to rise substantially due to the single electron. No
more electrons can tunnel to the island due the electron charge. This is known at the coulomb
blockade. The electron which tunneled to the island, can tunnel to the drain.
Single electron transistors operate at near absolute zero. The exception is the graphene
single electron transistor, having a graphene island. They are all experimental devices.
Graphene transistor: Graphite, an allotrope of carbon, does not have the rigid interlock-
ing crystalline structure of diamond. None the less, it has a crystalline structure– one atom
thick, a so called two-dimensional structure. A graphite is a three-dimensional crystal. How-
ever, it cleaves into thin sheets. Experimenters, taking this to the extreme, produce micron
sized specks as thin as a single atom known as graphene. (Figure 2.63 (a)) These membranes
have unique electronic properties. Highly conductive, conduction is by either electrons or holes,
without doping of any kind. [11]
Graphene sheets may be cut into transistor structures by lithographic techniques. The
transistors bear some resemblance to a MOSFET. A gate capacitively coupled to a graphene
channel controls conduction.
As silicon transistors scale to smaller sizes, leakage increases along with power dissipation.
And they get smaller every couple of years. Graphene transistors dissipate little power. And,
they switch at high speed. Graphene might be a replacement for silicon someday.
Graphene can be fashioned into devices as small as sixty atoms wide. Graphene quan-
tum dots within a transistor this small serve as single electron transistors. Previous single
electron transistors fashioned from either superconductors or conventional semiconductors
operate near absolute zero. Graphene single electron transistors uniquely function at room
temperature.[23]
Graphene transistors are laboratory curiosities at this time. If they are to go into produc-
tion two decades from now, graphene wafers must be produced. The first step, production of
graphene by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) has been accomplished on an experimental scale.
Though, no wafers are available to date.
Carbon nanotube transistor: If a 2-D sheet of graphene is rolled, the resulting 1-D struc-
ture is known as a carbon nanotube. (Figure 2.63 (b)) The reason to treat it as 1-dimensional is
that it is highly conductive. Electrons traverse the carbon nanotube without being scattered by
a crystal lattice. Resistance in normal metals is caused by scattering of electrons by the metal-
lic crystalline lattice. If electrons avoid this scattering, conduction is said to be by ballistic
transport. Both metallic (acting) and semiconducting carbon nanotubes have been produced.
[5]
Field effect transistors may be fashioned from a carbon nanotubes by depositing source
and drain contacts on the ends, and capacitively coupling a gate to the nanotube between the
(a) (b)
Figure 2.63: (a) Graphene: A single sheet of the graphite allotrope of carbon. The atoms are
arranged in a hexagonal pattern with a carbon at each intersection. (b) Carbon nanotube: A
rolled-up sheet of graphene.
contacts. Both p- and n-type transistors have been fabricated. Why the interest in carbon
nanotube transistors? Nanotube semiconductors are Smaller, faster, lower power compared
with silicon transistors. [6]
Spintronics: Conventional semiconductors control the flow of electron charge, current.
Digital states are represented by “on” or “off ” flow of current. As semiconductors become more
dense with the move to smaller geometry, the power that must be dissipated as heat increases
to the point that it is difficult to remove. Electrons have properties other than charge such
as spin. A tentative explanation of electron spin is the rotation of distributed electron charge
about the spin axis, analogous to diurnal rotation of the Earth. The loops of current created by
charge movement, form a magnetic field. However, the electron is more like a point charge than
a distributed charge, Thus, the rotating distributed charge analogy is not a correct explanation
of spin. Electron spin may have one of two states: up or down which may represent digital
states. More precisely the spin (ms ) quantum number may be ±1/2 the angular momentum (l)
quantum number. [1]
Controlling electron spin instead of charge flow considerably reduces power dissipation and
increases switching speed. Spintronics, an acronym for SPIN TRansport electrONICS, is not
widely applied because of the difficulty of generating, controlling, and sensing electron spin.
However, high density, non-volatile magnetic spin memory is in production using modified
semiconductor processes. This is related to the spin valve magnetic read head used in computer
harddisk drives, not mentioned further here.
A simple magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) is shown in Figure 2.64 (a), consisting of a pair of
ferromagnetic, strong magnetic properties like iron (Fe), layers separated by a thin insulator.
Electrons can tunnel through a sufficiently thin insulator due to the quantum mechanical
properties of electrons– the wave nature of electrons. The current flow through the MTJ is a
function of the magnetization, spin polarity, of the ferromagnetic layers. The resistance of the
MTJ is low if the magnetic spin of the top layer is in the same direction (polarity) as the bottom
layer. If the magnetic spins of the two layers oppose, the resistance is higher. [8]
The change in resistance can be enhanced by the addition of an antiferromagnet, material
having spins aligned but opposing, below the bottom layer in Figure 2.64 (b). This bias magnet
pins the lower ferromagnetic layer spin to a single unchanging polarity. The top layer magne-
tization (spin) may be flipped to represent data by the application of an external magnetic field
contact
ferromagnet
tunneling
insulator
ferromagnet
contact
antiferromagnet
contact
(a) (b)
Figure 2.64: (a) Magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ): Pair of ferromagnetic layers separated by
a thin insulator. The resistance varies with the magnetization polarity of the top layer (b)
Antiferromagnetic bias magnet and pinned bottom ferromagnetic layer increases resistance
sensitivity to changes in polarity of the top ferromagnetic layer. Adapted from [8] Figure 3.
not shown in the figure. The pinned layer is not affected by external magnetic fields. Again,
the MTJ resistance is lowest when the spin of the top ferromagnetic layer is the same sense as
the bottom pinned ferromagnetic layer. [8]
The MTJ may be improved further by splitting the pinned ferromagnetic layer into two
layers separated by a buffer layer in Figure 2.65 (a). This isolates the top layer. The bottom
ferromagnetic layer is pinned by the antiferromagnet as in the previous figure. The ferromag-
netic layer atop the buffer is attracted by the bottom ferromagnetic layer. Opposites attract.
Thus, the spin polarity of the additional layer is opposite of that in the bottom layer due to
attraction. The bottom and middle ferromagnetic layers remain fixed. The top ferromagnetic
layer may be set to either spin polarity by high currents in proximate conductors (not shown).
This is how data are stored. Data are read out by the difference in current flow through the
tunnel junction. Resistance is lowest if the layers on both sides of the insulting layer are of the
same spin. [8]
An array of magnetic tunnel junctions may be embedded in a silicon wafer with conductors
connecting the top and bottom terminals for reading data bits from the MTJ’s with conven-
tional CMOS circuitry. One such MTJ is shown in Figure 2.65 (b) with the read conductors.
Not shown, another crossed array of conductors carrying heavy write currents switch the mag-
netic spin of the top ferromagnetic layer to store data. A current is applied to one of many “X”
conductors and a “Y” conductor. One MTJ in the array is magnetized under the conductors’
cross-over. Data are read out by sensing the MTJ current with conventional silicon semicon-
ductor circuitry. [9]
The main reason for interest in magnetic tunnel junction memory is that it is nonvolatile. It
does not lose data when powered “off ”. Other types of nonvolatile memory are capable of only
limited storage cycles. MTJ memory is also higher speed than most semiconductor memory
types. It is now (2006) a commercial product. [17]
Not a commercial product, or even a laboratory device, is the theoretical spin transistor
top contact
ferromagnet
data
tunneling
insulator
pinned layers
ferromagnet
coupling layer
ferromagnet
anti-
ferromagnet
(a) bottom contact (b)
Figure 2.65: (a)Splitting the pinned ferromagnetic layer of (b) by a buffer layer improves stabil-
ity and isolates the top ferromagnetic unpinned layer. Data are stored in the top ferromagnetic
layer based on spin polarity (b) MTJ cell embedded in read lines of a semiconductor die– one
of many MTJ’s. Adapted from [9]
which might one day make spin logic gates possible. The spin transistor is a derivative of the
theoretical spin diode.
It has been known for some time that electrons flowing through a cobalt-iron ferromagnet
become spin polarized. The ferromagnet acts as a filter passing electrons of one spin prefer-
entially. These electrons may flow into an adjacent nonmagnetic conductor (or semiconductor)
retaining the spin polarization for a short time, nano-seconds. Though, spin polarized elec-
trons may propagate a considerable distance compared with semiconductor dimensions. The
spin polarized electrons may be detected by a nickel-iron ferromagnetic layer adjacent to the
semiconductor. [1] [14]
It has also been shown that electron spin polarization occurs when circularly polarized light
illuminates some semiconductor materials. Thus, it should be possible to inject spin polarized
electrons into a semiconductor diode or transistor. The interest in spin based transistors and
gates is because of the non-dissipative nature of spin propagation, compared with dissipative
charge flow. As conventional semiconductors are scaled down in size, power dissipation in-
creases. At some point the scaling down will no longer be practical. Researchers are looking
for a replacement for the conventional charge flow based transistor. That device may be based
on spintronics. [13]
• REVIEW:
• As MOS gate oxide thins with each generation of smaller transistors, excessive gate leak-
age causes unacceptable power dissipation and heating. The limit of scaling down con-
ventional semiconductor geometry is within sight.
• Resonant tunneling diode (RTD): Quantum mechanical effects, which degrade conven-
2.15. SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES IN SPICE 91
tional semiconductors, are employed in the RTD. The flow of electrons through a suffi-
ciently thin insulator, is by the wave nature of the electron– particle wave duality. The
RTD functions as an amplifier.
• Double layer tunneling transistor (Deltt): The Deltt is a transistor version of the RTD.
Gate bias controls the ability of electrons to tunnel through a thin insulator from one
quantum well to another (source to drain).
• Quantum dot transistor: A quantum dot, capable of holding a charge, is surrounded by a

thin tunnel barrier replacing the gate of a conventional FET. The charge on the quantum
dot controls source to drain current flow.
• Spintronics: Electrons have two basic properties: charge and spin. Conventional elec-
tronic devices control the flow of charge, dissipating energy. Spintronic devices manipu-
late electron spin, a propagative, non-dissipative process.
2.15 Semiconductor devices in SPICE

The SPICE (simulation program, integrated circuit emphesis) electronic simulation program
provides circuit elements and models for semiconductors. The SPICE element names begin
with d, q, j, or m correspond to diode, BJT, JFET and MOSFET elements, respectively. These
elements are accompanied by corresponding “models” These models have extensive lists of
parameters describing the device. Though, we do not list them here. In this section we provide
a very brief listing of simple spice models for semiconductors, just enough to get started. For
more details on models and an extensive list of model parameters see Kuphaldt. [16] This
reference also gives instructions on using SPICE.
Diode: The diode statement begins with a diode element name which must begin with “d”
plus optional characters. Some example diode element names include: d1, d2, dtest, da, db,
d101, etc. Two node numbers specify the connection of the anode and cathode, respectively, to
other components. The node numbers are followed by a model name, referring to a “.model”
statement.
The model statement line begins with “.model”, followed by the model name matching one
or more diode statements. Next is a “d” indicating that a diode is being modeled. The re-
mainder of the model statement is a list of optional diode parameters of the form Parame-
terName=ParameterValue. None are shown in the example below. For a list, see reference,
“diodes”. [16]
General form: d[name] [anode] [cathode] [model]
.model [modelname] d ( [parmtr1=x] [parmtr2=y] . . .)
Example: d1 1 2 mod1
.model mod1 d
Models for specific diode part numbers are often furnished by the semiconductor diode man-
ufacturer. These models include parameters. Otherwise, the parameters default to so called
“default values”, as in the example.
BJT, bipolar junction transistor: The BJT element statement begins with an element
name which must begin with “q” with associated circuit symbol designator characters, exam-
ple: q1, q2, qa, qgood. The BJT node numbers (connections) identify the wiring of the collector,
base, emitter respectively. A model name following the node numbers is associated with a
model statement.
General form: q[name] [collector] [base] [emitter] [model]
.model [modelname] [npn or pnp] ([parmtr1=x] . . .)
Example: q1 2 3 0 mod1
.model mod1 pnp
Example: q2 7 8 9 q2n090
.model q2n090 npn ( bf=75 )
The model statement begins with “.model”, followed by the model name, followed by one
of “npn” or “pnp”. The optional list of parameters follows, and may continue for a few lines
beginning with line continuation symbol “+”, plus. Shown above is the forward β parameter
set to 75 for the hypothetical q2n090 model. Detailed transistor models are often available
from semiconductor manufacturers.
FET, field effect transistor The field effect transistor element statement begins with an
element name beginning with “j” for JFET associated with some unique characters, example:
j101, j2b, jalpha, etc. The node numbers follow for the drain, gate and source terminals, re-
spectively. The node numbers define connectivity to other circuit components. Finally, a model
name indicates the JFET model to use.
General form: j[name] [drain] [gate] [source] [model]
.model [modelname] [njf or pjf] ( [parmtr1=x] . . .)
Example: j1 2 3 0 mod1
.model mod1 pjf
j3 4 5 0 mod2
.model mod2 njf ( vto=-4.0 )
The “.model” in the JFET model statement is followed by the model name to identify this
model to the JFET element statement(s) using it. Following the model name is either pjf or njf
for p-channel or n-channel JFET’s respectively. A long list of JFET parameters may follow. We
only show how to set Vp , pinch off voltage, to -4.0 V for an n-channel JFET model. Otherwise,
this vto parameter defaults to -2.5 V or 2.5V for n-channel or p-channel devices, respectively.
MOSFET, metal oxide field effect transistor The MOSFET element name must begin
with “m”, and is the first word in the element statement. Following are the four node numbers
for the drain, gate, source, and substrate, respectively. Next is the model name. Note that the
source and substrate are both connected to the same node “0” in the example. Discrete MOS-
FET’s are packaged as three terminal devices, the source and substrate are the same physical
terminal. Integrated MOSFET’s are four terminal devices; the substrate is a fourth terminal.
Integrated MOSFET’s may have numerous devices sharing the same substrate, separate from
the sources. Though, the sources might still be connected to the common substrate.
General form: m[name] [drain] [gate] [source] [substrate] [model]
.model [modelname] [nmos or pmos] ( [parmtr1=x] . . . )
BIBLIOGRAPHY 93
Example: m1 2 3 0 0 mod1
m5 5 6 0 0 mod4
.model mod1 pmos
.model mod4 nmos ( vto=1 )
The MOSFET model statement begins with “.model” followed by the model name followed
by either “pmos” or “nmos”. Optional MOSFET model parameters follow. The list of possible
parameters is long. See Volume 5, “MOSFET” for details. [16] MOSFET manufacturers provide
detailed models. Otherwise, defaults are in effect.
The bare minimum semiconductor SPICE information is provided in this section. The mod-
els shown here allow simulation of basic circuits. In particular, these models do not account
for high speed or high frequency operation. Simulations are shown in the Volume 5 Chapter 7,
“Using SPICE ...”.
• REVIEW:
• Semiconductors may be computer simulated with SPICE.
• SPICE provides element statements and models for the diode, BJT, JFET, and MOSFET.
Contributors
Maciej Noszczyski (December 2003): Corrected spelling of Niels Bohr’s name.
Bill Heath (September 2002): Pointed out error in illustration of carbon atom – the nucleus
was shown with seven protons instead of six.
Bibliography
[1] David D. Awschalom, Michael E. Flatte, Nitin Samarth, “Spintronics”, Scientific Ameri-
can, June 2002 at http://www.sciam.com
[2] John Bland, “The Fluxoid” in “A Mossbauer Spectroscopy and Mag-
netometry Study of Magnetic Multilayers and Oxides”, Oliver Lodge
Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Liverpool, 2002, at
http://www.cmp.liv.ac.uk/frink/thesis/thesis/node45.html ¡bib-
item¿[JBb]John Bland, “Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID)”
in “A Mssbauer Spectroscopy and Magnetometry Study of Magnetic Multilayers and
Oxides”, Oliver Lodge Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Liverpool, 2002,
at http://www.cmp.liv.ac.uk/frink/thesis/thesis/node48.html
[3] John Bland, “SQUID Magnetometer” in “A Mossbauer Spectroscopy and
Magnetometry Study of Magnetic Multilayers and Oxides”, Oliver Lodge
Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Liverpool, 2002, at
http://www.cmp.liv.ac.uk/frink/thesis/thesis/node48.html
[4] Darren K. Brock, “RSFQ Technology: Circuits and Systems”, Hypres, Inc., NY, at
http://www.hypres.com/papers/Brock-RSFQ-CirSys-Rev01.pdf
[5] Matthew Broersma , “Nanotubes break semiconducting record”, Cnet News, December
19, 2003, at http://news.com.com/2100-1006-5129761.html
[6] “Carbon Nanotube Transistor”, Physics News Graphics, May 13, 1998, at
http://www.aip.org/mgr/png/html/tubefet.htm
[7] E. R. Brown, C. D. Parker, “Resonant Tunnel Diodes as Submillimetre-Wave
Sources”, Philosophical Transactions: Mathematical, Physical and Engineer-
ing Sciences, Vol. 354, No. 1717, The Current Status of Semiconductor Tun-
nelling Devices (Oct. 15, 1996), pp. 2365-2381 at http://links.jstor.org/
sici?sici=1364-503X(19961015)354%3A1717%3C2365%3ARTDASS%3E2.0.CO%3B2-Q
[8] W. J. Gallagher, S. S. P. Parkin, “Development of the magnetic tunnel junc-
tion MRAM at IBM: From first junctions to a 16-Mb MRAM demonstrator chip”,
IBM Research and Development, Spintronics, Volume 50, Number 1, 2006, at
http://www.research.ibm.com/journal/rd/501/gallagher.html
[9] “IBM, Infineon Develop Most Advanced MRAM Technology to Date”, IBM Research, at
http://domino.research.ibm.com/comm/pr.nsf/pages/news.20030610 mram.html
[10] Linda Geppert “Quantum Transistors: toward nanoectronic”, IEEE Spectrum, September
2000, at http://www.ece.osu.edu/˜berger/press/quan0900.pdf
[11] A. K. Geim1 and K. S. Novoselov1 , “The rise of graphene”, Nature Materials, 6, 2007, at
http://www.nature.com/nmat/journal/v6/n3/full/nmat1849.html
[12] Ilan Greenberg, “Transistor Technology Takes a Quantum Leap”, Wired News, December
8, 1997, at http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,8994,00.html
[13] R. Colin Johnson, “Spintronics approach advances toward live chips,” EE Times,
11/06/2006, at http://www.eetimes.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=193500309
[14] R. Colin Johnson “ U. of Delaware researchers edge closer to spintronics,” EE Times,
07/26/2007, at http://www.eetimes.com/news/design/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=201201400
[15] R. Colin Johnson, “Can metal-insulator electronics do it better, sans semiconductors?”
http://www.eetimes.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=201200024
[16] Tony R. Kuphaldt, “Lessons in Electricity”, Reference, Vol. 5, Ch 7, 2007 at
http://www.ibiblio.org/obp/electricCircuits/Ref/spice.html
[17] Tom Lee, “Is nonvolatile MRAM right for your consumer em-
bedded device application? ”, Freescale Semiconductor at
http://www.acumeninfo.com/subscriber/article/getArticle.jhtml?
articleId=197006965
[18] HyperPhysics, “SQUID Magnetometer”, HyperPhysics at
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/solids/squid.html
BIBLIOGRAPHY 95
[19] Phillip F. Schewe, Ben Stein, “A Quantum Tunneling Transis-

tor”, Physics Nessw Update, Number 357, February 4, 1998, at
http://www.aip.org/pnu/1998/physnews.357.htm
[20] “Why MIIM?”, Phiar Corporation, at http://www.phiar.com/whyMIIM.php4
[21] “What is Quantum Tunneling?”, Phiar Corporation, at

http://www.phiar.com/whatQuantum.php4
[22] Oxford University, “Theory, Superconductor Synthesis”, Oxford University, 1996, at
http://www.chem.ox.ac.uk/vrchemistry/super/theory.htm
[23] John Walko, “Graphene transistor to rival silicon, say researchers”, EE Times Eu-
rope, 03/02/2007, at http://www.eetimes.com/news/design/showArticle.jhtml?
articleID=197700700
[24] Ying-Yu Tzou,“Power Electronics: An Introduction”, Institute

of Control Engineering, National Chiao Tung University, at
http://pemclab.cn.nctu.edu.tw/peclub/w3cnotes
Chapter 3
DIODES AND RECTIFIERS
Contents
3.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
3.2 Meter check of a diode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
3.3 Diode ratings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
3.4 Rectifier circuits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
3.5 Peak detector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
3.6 Clipper circuits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
3.7 Clamper circuits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
3.8 Voltage multipliers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
3.9 Inductor commutating circuits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
3.10 Diode switching circuits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
3.10.1 Logic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
3.10.2 Analog switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
3.11 Zener diodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
3.12 Special-purpose diodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
3.12.1 Schottky diodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
3.12.2 Tunnel diodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
3.12.3 Light-emitting diodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
3.12.4 Laser diodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
3.12.5 Photodiodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
3.12.6 Solar cells . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
3.12.7 Varicap or varactor diodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
3.12.8 Snap diode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
3.12.9 PIN diodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
3.12.10 IMPATT diode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
3.12.11 Gunn diode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
3.12.12 Shockley diode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
3.12.13 Constant-current diodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
97
98 CHAPTER 3. DIODES AND RECTIFIERS
3.13 Other diode technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163

3.13.1 SiC diodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
3.13.2 Polymer diode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
3.14 SPICE models . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
3.1 Introduction
A diode is an electrical device allowing current to move through it in one direction with far
greater ease than in the other. The most common kind of diode in modern circuit design is
the semiconductor diode, although other diode technologies exist. Semiconductor diodes are
symbolized in schematic diagrams such as Figure 3.1. The term “diode” is customarily reserved
for small signal devices, I ≤ 1 A. The term rectifier is used for power devices, I > 1 A.
Figure 3.1: Semiconductor diode schematic symbol: Arrows indicate the direction of electron
current flow.
When placed in a simple battery-lamp circuit, the diode will either allow or prevent current
through the lamp, depending on the polarity of the applied voltage. (Figure 3.2)
+ -
(a)
- (b) +
Figure 3.2: Diode operation: (a) Current flow is permitted; the diode is forward biased. (b)
Current flow is prohibited; the diode is reversed biased.
When the polarity of the battery is such that electrons are allowed to flow through the
diode, the diode is said to be forward-biased. Conversely, when the battery is “backward” and
the diode blocks current, the diode is said to be reverse-biased. A diode may be thought of as
like a switch: “closed” when forward-biased and “open” when reverse-biased.
Oddly enough, the direction of the diode symbol’s “arrowhead” points against the direction
of electron flow. This is because the diode symbol was invented by engineers, who predomi-
nantly use conventional flow notation in their schematics, showing current as a flow of charge
from the positive (+) side of the voltage source to the negative (-). This convention holds true
for all semiconductor symbols possessing “arrowheads:” the arrow points in the permitted di-
rection of conventional flow, and against the permitted direction of electron flow.
3.1. INTRODUCTION 99
+ - - +
Hydraulic
check valve
(a) Flow permitted (b) Flow prohibited
Figure 3.3: Hydraulic check valve analogy: (a) Electron current flow permitted. (b) Current
flow prohibited.
Diode behavior is analogous to the behavior of a hydraulic device called a check valve. A
check valve allows fluid flow through it in only one direction as in Figure 3.3.
Check valves are essentially pressure-operated devices: they open and allow flow if the
pressure across them is of the correct “polarity” to open the gate (in the analogy shown, greater
fluid pressure on the right than on the left). If the pressure is of the opposite “polarity,” the
pressure difference across the check valve will close and hold the gate so that no flow occurs.
Like check valves, diodes are essentially “pressure-” operated (voltage-operated) devices.
The essential difference between forward-bias and reverse-bias is the polarity of the voltage
dropped across the diode. Let’s take a closer look at the simple battery-diode-lamp circuit
shown earlier, this time investigating voltage drops across the various components in Fig-
ure 3.4.
6.0 V
0.7 V
VΩ
VΩ A COM
A COM
+ - 5.3 V - + 0.0 V
+ -
VΩ VΩ
6V A COM
6V A COM
(a)
- (b) +
Figure 3.4: Diode circuit voltage measurements: (a) Forward biased. (b) Reverse biased.
A forward-biased diode conducts current and drops a small voltage across it, leaving most
of the battery voltage dropped across the lamp. If the battery’s polarity is reversed, the diode
becomes reverse-biased, and drops all of the battery’s voltage leaving none for the lamp. If we
consider the diode to be a self-actuating switch (closed in the forward-bias mode and open in
the reverse-bias mode), this behavior makes sense. The most substantial difference is that the
diode drops a lot more voltage when conducting than the average mechanical switch (0.7 volts
versus tens of millivolts).
This forward-bias voltage drop exhibited by the diode is due to the action of the depletion
region formed by the P-N junction under the influence of an applied voltage. If no voltage
applied is across a semiconductor diode, a thin depletion region exists around the region of the
P-N junction, preventing current flow. (Figure 3.5 (a)) The depletion region is almost devoid of
available charge carriers, and acts as an insulator:
P-type N-type P-N junction representation

material material
(a)
Depletion region
Anode Cathode
Schematic symbol
(b)
Stripe marks cathode
Real component appearance

(c)
Figure 3.5: Diode representations: PN-junction model, schematic symbol, physical part.
The schematic symbol of the diode is shown in Figure 3.5 (b) such that the anode (pointing
end) corresponds to the P-type semiconductor at (a). The cathode bar, non-pointing end, at (b)
corresponds to the N-type material at (a). Also note that the cathode stripe on the physical
part (c) corresponds to the cathode on the symbol.
If a reverse-biasing voltage is applied across the P-N junction, this depletion region ex-
pands, further resisting any current through it. (Figure 3.6)
- +
P N
Reverse-biased Depletion region
Figure 3.6: Depletion region expands with reverse bias.
Conversely, if a forward-biasing voltage is applied across the P-N junction, the depletion
region collapses becoming thinner. The diode becomes less resistive to current through it. In
order for a sustained current to go through the diode; though, the depletion region must be
fully collapsed by the applied voltage. This takes a certain minimum voltage to accomplish,
called the forward voltage as illustrated in Figure 3.7.
0.4 V 0.7 V
Partial forward-biased Forward-biased
P N P N
(a) Depletion region (b) Depletion region fully collapsed
Figure 3.7: Inceasing forward bias from (a) to (b) decreases depletion region thickness.
For silicon diodes, the typical forward voltage is 0.7 volts, nominal. For germanium diodes,
the forward voltage is only 0.3 volts. The chemical constituency of the P-N junction comprising
the diode accounts for its nominal forward voltage figure, which is why silicon and germanium
diodes have such different forward voltages. Forward voltage drop remains approximately
constant for a wide range of diode currents, meaning that diode voltage drop is not like that of a
resistor or even a normal (closed) switch. For most simplified circuit analysis, the voltage drop
across a conducting diode may be considered constant at the nominal figure and not related to
the amount of current.
Actually, forward voltage drop is more complex. An equation describes the exact current
through a diode, given the voltage dropped across the junction, the temperature of the junction,
and several physical constants. It is commonly known as the diode equation:
ID = IS (eqVD/NkT - 1)
Where,
ID = Diode current in amps
IS = Saturation current in amps
(typically 1 x 10-12 amps)
e = Euler’s constant (~ 2.718281828)
q = charge of electron (1.6 x 10-19 coulombs)
VD = Voltage applied across diode in volts
N = "Nonideality" or "emission" coefficient

(typically between 1 and 2)
k = Boltzmann’s constant (1.38 x 10-23)
T = Junction temperature in Kelvins
The term kT/q describes the voltage produced within the P-N junction due to the action of
temperature, and is called the thermal voltage, or Vt of the junction. At room temperature,
this is about 26 millivolts. Knowing this, and assuming a “nonideality” coefficient of 1, we may
simplify the diode equation and re-write it as such:
ID = IS (eVD/0.026 -1)
Where,
You need not be familiar with the “diode equation” to analyze simple diode circuits. Just
understand that the voltage dropped across a current-conducting diode does change with the
amount of current going through it, but that this change is fairly small over a wide range of
currents. This is why many textbooks simply say the voltage drop across a conducting, semi-
conductor diode remains constant at 0.7 volts for silicon and 0.3 volts for germanium. However,
some circuits intentionally make use of the P-N junction’s inherent exponential current/voltage
relationship and thus can only be understood in the context of this equation. Also, since tem-
perature is a factor in the diode equation, a forward-biased P-N junction may also be used as a
temperature-sensing device, and thus can only be understood if one has a conceptual grasp on
this mathematical relationship.
A reverse-biased diode prevents current from going through it, due to the expanded deple-
tion region. In actuality, a very small amount of current can and does go through a reverse-
biased diode, called the leakage current, but it can be ignored for most purposes. The ability
of a diode to withstand reverse-bias voltages is limited, as it is for any insulator. If the ap-
plied reverse-bias voltage becomes too great, the diode will experience a condition known as
breakdown (Figure 3.8), which is usually destructive. A diode’s maximum reverse-bias voltage
rating is known as the Peak Inverse Voltage, or PIV, and may be obtained from the manufac-
turer. Like forward voltage, the PIV rating of a diode varies with temperature, except that
PIV increases with increased temperature and decreases as the diode becomes cooler – exactly
opposite that of forward voltage.
ID
forward
reverse-bias forward-bias
VD
0.7
V
breakdown! reverse
Figure 3.8: Diode curve: showing knee at 0.7 V forward bias for Si, and reverse breakdown.
Typically, the PIV rating of a generic “rectifier” diode is at least 50 volts at room tempera-
ture. Diodes with PIV ratings in the many thousands of volts are available for modest prices.
• REVIEW:
• A diode is an electrical component acting as a one-way valve for current.
• When voltage is applied across a diode in such a way that the diode allows current, the
diode is said to be forward-biased.
• When voltage is applied across a diode in such a way that the diode prohibits current, the
diode is said to be reverse-biased.
• The voltage dropped across a conducting, forward-biased diode is called the forward volt-
age. Forward voltage for a diode varies only slightly for changes in forward current and
temperature, and is fixed by the chemical composition of the P-N junction.
• Silicon diodes have a forward voltage of approximately 0.7 volts.
• Germanium diodes have a forward voltage of approximately 0.3 volts.
• The maximum reverse-bias voltage that a diode can withstand without “breaking down”
is called the Peak Inverse Voltage, or PIV rating.
3.2 Meter check of a diode

Being able to determine the polarity (cathode versus anode) and basic functionality of a diode
is a very important skill for the electronics hobbyist or technician to have. Since we know
that a diode is essentially nothing more than a one-way valve for electricity, it makes sense
we should be able to verify its one-way nature using a DC (battery-powered) ohmmeter as in
Figure 3.9. Connected one way across the diode, the meter should show a very low resistance
at (a). Connected the other way across the diode, it should show a very high resistance at (b)
(“OL” on some digital meter models).
V A V A
+ +
V A Anode
V A
OFF OFF Cathode
Cathode
Anode
A COM - A COM -
(a) (b)
Figure 3.9: Determination of diode polarity: (a) Low resistance indicates forward bias, black
lead is cathode and red lead anode (for most meters) (b) Reversing leads shows high resistance
indicating reverse bias.
Of course, to determine which end of the diode is the cathode and which is the anode, you
must know with certainty which test lead of the meter is positive (+) and which is negative (-)
when set to the “resistance” or “Ω” function. With most digital multimeters I’ve seen, the red
lead becomes positive and the black lead negative when set to measure resistance, in accor-
dance with standard electronics color-code convention. However, this is not guaranteed for all
meters. Many analog multimeters, for example, actually make their black leads positive (+)
and their red leads negative (-) when switched to the “resistance” function, because it is easier
to manufacture it that way!
One problem with using an ohmmeter to check a diode is that the readings obtained only
have qualitative value, not quantitative. In other words, an ohmmeter only tells you which way
the diode conducts; the low-value resistance indication obtained while conducting is useless. If
an ohmmeter shows a value of “1.73 ohms” while forward-biasing a diode, that figure of 1.73
Ω doesn’t represent any real-world quantity useful to us as technicians or circuit designers.
It neither represents the forward voltage drop nor any “bulk” resistance in the semiconductor
material of the diode itself, but rather is a figure dependent upon both quantities and will vary
substantially with the particular ohmmeter used to take the reading.
For this reason, some digital multimeter manufacturers equip their meters with a special
“diode check” function which displays the actual forward voltage drop of the diode in volts,
rather than a “resistance” figure in ohms. These meters work by forcing a small current
through the diode and measuring the voltage dropped between the two test leads. (Figure 3.10)
3.2. METER CHECK OF A DIODE 105
V A
+
V OFF
A Anode
A COM
Cathode
Figure 3.10: Meter with a “Diode check” function displays the forward voltage drop of 0.548
volts instead of a low resistance.
The forward voltage reading obtained with such a meter will typically be less than the
“normal” drop of 0.7 volts for silicon and 0.3 volts for germanium, because the current provided
by the meter is of trivial proportions. If a multimeter with diode-check function isn’t available,
or you would like to measure a diode’s forward voltage drop at some non-trivial current, the
circuit of Figure 3.11 may be constructed using a battery, resistor, and voltmeter
V A Resistor +
V A -
+ + Diode
OFF
V
- A COM Battery
-
(a) (b)
Figure 3.11: Measuring forward voltage of a diode without“diode check” meter function: (a)
Schematic diagram. (b) Pictorial diagram.
Connecting the diode backwards to this testing circuit will simply result in the voltmeter
indicating the full voltage of the battery.
If this circuit were designed to provide a constant or nearly constant current through the
diode despite changes in forward voltage drop, it could be used as the basis of a temperature-
measurement instrument, the voltage measured across the diode being inversely proportional
to diode junction temperature. Of course, diode current should be kept to a minimum to avoid
self-heating (the diode dissipating substantial amounts of heat energy), which would interfere
with temperature measurement.
Beware that some digital multimeters equipped with a “diode check” function may output
a very low test voltage (less than 0.3 volts) when set to the regular “resistance” (Ω) function:
too low to fully collapse the depletion region of a PN junction. The philosophy here is that
the “diode check” function is to be used for testing semiconductor devices, and the “resistance”
function for anything else. By using a very low test voltage to measure resistance, it is eas-
ier for a technician to measure the resistance of non-semiconductor components connected
to semiconductor components, since the semiconductor component junctions will not become
forward-biased with such low voltages.
Consider the example of a resistor and diode connected in parallel, soldered in place on
a printed circuit board (PCB). Normally, one would have to unsolder the resistor from the
circuit (disconnect it from all other components) before measuring its resistance, otherwise any
parallel-connected components would affect the reading obtained. When using a multimeter
which outputs a very low test voltage to the probes in the “resistance” function mode, the
diode’s PN junction will not have enough voltage impressed across it to become forward-biased,
and will only pass negligible current. Consequently, the meter “sees” the diode as an open (no
continuity), and only registers the resistor’s resistance. (Figure 3.12)
k Printed circuit board

1 kΩ
V A
D1
R1
V OFF
A
A COM
Figure 3.12: Ohmmeter equipped with a low test voltage (<0.7 V) does not see diodes allowing
it to measure parallel resistors.
If such an ohmmeter were used to test a diode, it would indicate a very high resistance
(many mega-ohms) even if connected to the diode in the “correct” (forward-biased) direction.
(Figure 3.13)
Reverse voltage strength of a diode is not as easily tested, because exceeding a normal
diode’s PIV usually results in destruction of the diode. Special types of diodes, though, which
are designed to “break down” in reverse-bias mode without damage (called zener diodes), which
are tested with the same voltage source / resistor / voltmeter circuit, provided that the voltage
3.3. DIODE RATINGS 107
V A
V OFF
A
A COM
Figure 3.13: Ohmmeter equipped with a low test voltage, too low to forward bias diodes, does
not see diodes.
source is of high enough value to force the diode into its breakdown region. More on this subject
in a later section of this chapter.
• REVIEW:
• An ohmmeter may be used to qualitatively check diode function. There should be low
resistance measured one way and very high resistance measured the other way. When
using an ohmmeter for this purpose, be sure you know which test lead is positive and
which is negative! The actual polarity may not follow the colors of the leads as you might
expect, depending on the particular design of meter.
• Some multimeters provide a “diode check” function that displays the actual forward volt-
age of the diode when its conducting current. Such meters typically indicate a slightly
lower forward voltage than what is “nominal” for a diode, due to the very small amount
of current used during the check.
3.3 Diode ratings

In addition to forward voltage drop (Vf ) and peak inverse voltage (PIV), there are many other
ratings of diodes important to circuit design and component selection. Semiconductor manu-
facturers provide detailed specifications on their products – diodes included – in publications
known as datasheets. Datasheets for a wide variety of semiconductor components may be
found in reference books and on the internet. I prefer the internet as a source of component
specifications because all the data obtained from manufacturer websites are up-to-date.
A typical diode datasheet will contain figures for the following parameters:
Maximum repetitive reverse voltage = VRRM , the maximum amount of voltage the diode
can withstand in reverse-bias mode, in repeated pulses. Ideally, this figure would be infinite.
Maximum DC reverse voltage = VR or VDC , the maximum amount of voltage the diode can
withstand in reverse-bias mode on a continual basis. Ideally, this figure would be infinite.
Maximum forward voltage = VF , usually specified at the diode’s rated forward current. Ide-
ally, this figure would be zero: the diode providing no opposition whatsoever to forward current.
In reality, the forward voltage is described by the “diode equation.”
Maximum (average) forward current = IF (AV ) , the maximum average amount of current
the diode is able to conduct in forward bias mode. This is fundamentally a thermal limitation:
how much heat can the PN junction handle, given that dissipation power is equal to current (I)
multiplied by voltage (V or E) and forward voltage is dependent upon both current and junction
temperature. Ideally, this figure would be infinite.
Maximum (peak or surge) forward current = IF SM or if (surge) , the maximum peak amount
of current the diode is able to conduct in forward bias mode. Again, this rating is limited by the
diode junction’s thermal capacity, and is usually much higher than the average current rating
due to thermal inertia (the fact that it takes a finite amount of time for the diode to reach
maximum temperature for a given current). Ideally, this figure would be infinite.
Maximum total dissipation = PD , the amount of power (in watts) allowable for the diode to
dissipate, given the dissipation (P=IE) of diode current multiplied by diode voltage drop, and
also the dissipation (P=I2 R) of diode current squared multiplied by bulk resistance. Funda-
mentally limited by the diode’s thermal capacity (ability to tolerate high temperatures).
Operating junction temperature = TJ , the maximum allowable temperature for the diode’s
PN junction, usually given in degrees Celsius (o C). Heat is the “Achilles’ heel” of semiconductor
devices: they must be kept cool to function properly and give long service life.
Storage temperature range = TST G , the range of allowable temperatures for storing a diode
(unpowered). Sometimes given in conjunction with operating junction temperature (TJ ), be-
cause the maximum storage temperature and the maximum operating temperature ratings
are often identical. If anything, though, maximum storage temperature rating will be greater
than the maximum operating temperature rating.
Thermal resistance = R(Θ), the temperature difference between junction and outside air
(R(Θ)JA ) or between junction and leads (R(Θ)JL ) for a given power dissipation. Expressed in
units of degrees Celsius per watt (o C/W). Ideally, this figure would be zero, meaning that the
diode package was a perfect thermal conductor and radiator, able to transfer all heat energy
from the junction to the outside air (or to the leads) with no difference in temperature across
the thickness of the diode package. A high thermal resistance means that the diode will build
up excessive temperature at the junction (where its critical) despite best efforts at cooling the
outside of the diode, and thus will limit its maximum power dissipation.
Maximum reverse current = IR , the amount of current through the diode in reverse-bias
operation, with the maximum rated inverse voltage applied (VDC ). Sometimes referred to as
leakage current. Ideally, this figure would be zero, as a perfect diode would block all current
when reverse-biased. In reality, it is very small compared to the maximum forward current.
Typical junction capacitance = CJ , the typical amount of capacitance intrinsic to the junc-
tion, due to the depletion region acting as a dielectric separating the anode and cathode con-
nections. This is usually a very small figure, measured in the range of picofarads (pF).
Reverse recovery time = trr , the amount of time it takes for a diode to “turn off ” when the
voltage across it alternates from forward-bias to reverse-bias polarity. Ideally, this figure would
be zero: the diode halting conduction immediately upon polarity reversal. For a typical rectifier
diode, reverse recovery time is in the range of tens of microseconds; for a “fast switching” diode,
it may only be a few nanoseconds.
Most of these parameters vary with temperature or other operating conditions, and so a
3.4. RECTIFIER CIRCUITS 109
single figure fails to fully describe any given rating. Therefore, manufacturers provide graphs
of component ratings plotted against other variables (such as temperature), so that the circuit
designer has a better idea of what the device is capable of.
3.4 Rectifier circuits
Now we come to the most popular application of the diode: rectification. Simply defined,
rectification is the conversion of alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC). This involves
a device that only allows one-way flow of electrons. As we have seen, this is exactly what a
semiconductor diode does. The simplest kind of rectifier circuit is the half-wave rectifier. It
only allows one half of an AC waveform to pass through to the load. (Figure 3.14)
+
AC
Load
voltage
source -
Figure 3.14: Half-wave rectifier circuit.
For most power applications, half-wave rectification is insufficient for the task. The har-
monic content of the rectifier’s output waveform is very large and consequently difficult to
filter. Furthermore, the AC power source only supplies power to the load once every half-cycle,
meaning that much of its capacity is unused. Half-wave rectification is, however, a very simple
way to reduce power to a resistive load. Some two-position lamp dimmer switches apply full
AC power to the lamp filament for “full” brightness and then half-wave rectify it for a lesser
light output. (Figure 3.15)
Bright
Dim
AC
voltage
source
Figure 3.15: Half-wave rectifier application: Two level lamp dimmer.
In the “Dim” switch position, the incandescent lamp receives approximately one-half the
power it would normally receive operating on full-wave AC. Because the half-wave rectified
power pulses far more rapidly than the filament has time to heat up and cool down, the lamp
does not blink. Instead, its filament merely operates at a lesser temperature than normal,
providing less light output. This principle of “pulsing” power rapidly to a slow-responding load
device to control the electrical power sent to it is common in the world of industrial electronics.
Since the controlling device (the diode, in this case) is either fully conducting or fully noncon-
ducting at any given time, it dissipates little heat energy while controlling load power, making
this method of power control very energy-efficient. This circuit is perhaps the crudest possible
method of pulsing power to a load, but it suffices as a proof-of-concept application.
If we need to rectify AC power to obtain the full use of both half-cycles of the sine wave,
a different rectifier circuit configuration must be used. Such a circuit is called a full-wave
rectifier. One kind of full-wave rectifier, called the center-tap design, uses a transformer with a
center-tapped secondary winding and two diodes, as in Figure 3.16.
AC +
voltage
source Load
-
Figure 3.16: Full-wave rectifier, center-tapped design.
This circuit’s operation is easily understood one half-cycle at a time. Consider the first half-
cycle, when the source voltage polarity is positive (+) on top and negative (-) on bottom. At this
time, only the top diode is conducting; the bottom diode is blocking current, and the load “sees”
the first half of the sine wave, positive on top and negative on bottom. Only the top half of the
transformer’s secondary winding carries current during this half-cycle as in Figure 3.17.
+ +
+
- -
-
Figure 3.17: Full-wave center-tap rectifier: Top half of secondary winding conducts during
positive half-cycle of input, delivering positive half-cycle to load..
During the next half-cycle, the AC polarity reverses. Now, the other diode and the other half
of the transformer’s secondary winding carry current while the portions of the circuit formerly
carrying current during the last half-cycle sit idle. The load still “sees” half of a sine wave, of
the same polarity as before: positive on top and negative on bottom. (Figure 3.18)
One disadvantage of this full-wave rectifier design is the necessity of a transformer with a
center-tapped secondary winding. If the circuit in question is one of high power, the size and
expense of a suitable transformer is significant. Consequently, the center-tap rectifier design
is only seen in low-power applications.
- - +
+
+
-
Figure 3.18: Full-wave center-tap rectifier: During negative input half-cycle, bottom half of
secondary winding conducts, delivering a positive half-cycle to the load.
The full-wave center-tapped rectifier polarity at the load may be reversed by changing the
direction of the diodes. Furthermore, the reversed diodes can be paralleled with an existing
positive-output rectifier. The result is dual-polarity full-wave center-tapped rectifier in Fig-
ure 3.19. Note that the connectivity of the diodes themselves is the same configuration as a
bridge.
Loads
-
+
AC voltage source -
Figure 3.19: Dual polarity full-wave center tap rectifier
Another, more popular full-wave rectifier design exists, and it is built around a four-diode
bridge configuration. For obvious reasons, this design is called a full-wave bridge. (Figure 3.20)
AC
voltage
source +
Load
-
Figure 3.20: Full-wave bridge rectifier.
Current directions for the full-wave bridge rectifier circuit are as shown in Figure 3.21 for
positive half-cycle and Figure 3.22 for negative half-cycles of the AC source waveform. Note
that regardless of the polarity of the input, the current flows in the same direction through
the load. That is, the negative half-cycle of source is a positive half-cycle at the load. The
current flow is through two diodes in series for both polarities. Thus, two diode drops of the
source voltage are lost (0.7·2=1.4 V for Si) in the diodes. This is a disadvantage compared with
a full-wave center-tap design. This disadvantage is only a problem in very low voltage power
supplies.
- +
Figure 3.21: Full-wave bridge rectifier: Electron flow for positive half-cycles.
+ +
Figure 3.22: Full-wave bridge rectifier: Electron flow for negative half=cycles.
Remembering the proper layout of diodes in a full-wave bridge rectifier circuit can often be
frustrating to the new student of electronics. I’ve found that an alternative representation of
this circuit is easier both to remember and to comprehend. It’s the exact same circuit, except
all diodes are drawn in a horizontal attitude, all “pointing” the same direction. (Figure 3.23)
One advantage of remembering this layout for a bridge rectifier circuit is that it expands
easily into a polyphase version in Figure 3.24.
Each three-phase line connects between a pair of diodes: one to route power to the positive
(+) side of the load, and the other to route power to the negative (-) side of the load. Polyphase
systems with more than three phases are easily accommodated into a bridge rectifier scheme.
Take for instance the six-phase bridge rectifier circuit in Figure 3.25.
When polyphase AC is rectified, the phase-shifted pulses overlap each other to produce a DC
output that is much “smoother” (has less AC content) than that produced by the rectification of
AC
voltage
source
+
Load
-
Figure 3.23: Alternative layout style for Full-wave bridge rectifier.
3-phase
AC source +
Load
-
Figure 3.24: Three-phase full-wave bridge rectifier circuit.
6-phase
AC source
+
Load
-
Figure 3.25: Six-phase full-wave bridge rectifier circuit.

single-phase AC. This is a decided advantage in high-power rectifier circuits, where the sheer
physical size of filtering components would be prohibitive but low-noise DC power must be
obtained. The diagram in Figure 3.26 shows the full-wave rectification of three-phase AC.
1 2 3
TIME
Resultant DC waveform
Figure 3.26: Three-phase AC and 3-phase full-wave rectifier output.
In any case of rectification – single-phase or polyphase – the amount of AC voltage mixed

with the rectifier’s DC output is called ripple voltage. In most cases, since “pure” DC is the de-
sired goal, ripple voltage is undesirable. If the power levels are not too great, filtering networks
may be employed to reduce the amount of ripple in the output voltage.
Sometimes, the method of rectification is referred to by counting the number of DC “pulses”
output for every 360o of electrical “rotation.” A single-phase, half-wave rectifier circuit, then,
would be called a 1-pulse rectifier, because it produces a single pulse during the time of one
complete cycle (360o ) of the AC waveform. A single-phase, full-wave rectifier (regardless of
design, center-tap or bridge) would be called a 2-pulse rectifier, because it outputs two pulses
of DC during one AC cycle’s worth of time. A three-phase full-wave rectifier would be called a
6-pulse unit.
Modern electrical engineering convention further describes the function of a rectifier circuit
by using a three-field notation of phases, ways, and number of pulses. A single-phase, half-
wave rectifier circuit is given the somewhat cryptic designation of 1Ph1W1P (1 phase, 1 way,
1 pulse), meaning that the AC supply voltage is single-phase, that current on each phase of
the AC supply lines moves in only one direction (way), and that there is a single pulse of DC
produced for every 360o of electrical rotation. A single-phase, full-wave, center-tap rectifier
circuit would be designated as 1Ph1W2P in this notational system: 1 phase, 1 way or direction
of current in each winding half, and 2 pulses or output voltage per cycle. A single-phase, full-
wave, bridge rectifier would be designated as 1Ph2W2P: the same as for the center-tap design,
except current can go both ways through the AC lines instead of just one way. The three-phase
bridge rectifier circuit shown earlier would be called a 3Ph2W6P rectifier.
Is it possible to obtain more pulses than twice the number of phases in a rectifier circuit?
The answer to this question is yes: especially in polyphase circuits. Through the creative use
of transformers, sets of full-wave rectifiers may be paralleled in such a way that more than
six pulses of DC are produced for three phases of AC. A 30o phase shift is introduced from
primary to secondary of a three-phase transformer when the winding configurations are not
3.5. PEAK DETECTOR 115
of the same type. In other words, a transformer connected either Y-∆ or ∆-Y will exhibit
this 30o phase shift, while a transformer connected Y-Y or ∆-∆ will not. This phenomenon
may be exploited by having one transformer connected Y-Y feed a bridge rectifier, and have
another transformer connected Y-∆ feed a second bridge rectifier, then parallel the DC outputs
of both rectifiers. (Figure 3.27) Since the ripple voltage waveforms of the two rectifiers’ outputs
are phase-shifted 30o from one another, their superposition results in less ripple than either
rectifier output considered separately: 12 pulses per 360o instead of just six:
3Ph2W12P rectifier circuit

Secondary
Primary
3-phase
AC input
DC
+
output
-
Secondary
Figure 3.27: Polyphase rectifier circuit: 3-phase 2-way 12-pulse (3Ph2W12P)
• REVIEW:
• Rectification is the conversion of alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC).
• A half-wave rectifier is a circuit that allows only one half-cycle of the AC voltage waveform
to be applied to the load, resulting in one non-alternating polarity across it. The resulting
DC delivered to the load “pulsates” significantly.
• A full-wave rectifier is a circuit that converts both half-cycles of the AC voltage waveform
to an unbroken series of voltage pulses of the same polarity. The resulting DC delivered
to the load doesn’t “pulsate” as much.
• Polyphase alternating current, when rectified, gives a much “smoother” DC waveform
(less ripple voltage) than rectified single-phase AC.
3.5 Peak detector

A peak detector is a series connection of a diode and a capacitor outputting a DC voltage equal
to the peak value of the applied AC signal. The circuit is shown in Figure 3.28 with the cor-
responding SPICE net list. An AC voltage source applied to the peak detector, charges the
capacitor to the peak of the input. The diode conducts positive “half cycles,” charging the ca-
pacitor to the waveform peak. When the input waveform falls below the DC “peak” stored
on the capacitor, the diode is reverse biased, blocking current flow from capacitor back to the
source. Thus, the capacitor retains the peak value even as the waveform drops to zero. Another
view of the peak detector is that it is the same as a half-wave rectifier with a filter capacitor
added to the output.
*SPICE 03441.eps
C1 2 0 0.1u
1.0 kΩ R1 1 3 1.0k
1 3 2 V1 1 0 SIN(0 5 1k)
D1 3 2 diode
5 Vp-p V(2) 0.1 uF .model diode d
0 Voffset output
.tran 0.01m 50mm
1 kHz 0
.end
Figure 3.28: Peak detector: Diode conducts on positive half cycles charging capacitor to the
peak voltage (less diode forward drop).
It takes a few cycles for the capacitor to charge to the peak as in Figure 3.29 due to the
series resistance (RC “time constant”). Why does the capacitor not charge all the way to 5 V?
It would charge to 5 V if an “ideal diode” were obtainable. However, the silicon diode has a
forward voltage drop of 0.7 V which subtracts from the 5 V peak of the input.
Figure 3.29: Peak detector: Capacitor charges to peak within a few cycles.
The circuit in Figure 3.28 could represent a DC power supply based on a half-wave rectifier.
The resistance would be a few Ohms instead of 1 kΩ due to a transformer secondary winding
3.6. CLIPPER CIRCUITS 117
replacing the voltage source and resistor. A larger “filter” capacitor would be used. A power
supply based on a 60 Hz source with a filter of a few hundred µF could supply up to 100 mA.
Half-wave supplies seldom supply more due to the difficulty of filtering a half-wave.
The peak detector may be combined with other components to build a crystal radio ( page
396).
3.6 Clipper circuits

A circuit which removes the peak of a waveform is known as a clipper. A negative clipper is
shown in Figure 3.30. This schematic diagram was produced with Xcircuit schematic capture
program. Xcircuit produced the SPICE net list Figure 3.30, except for the second, and next to
last pair of lines which were inserted with a text editor.
*SPICE 03437.eps
* A K ModelName
D1 0 2 diode
1 2 R1 2 1 1.0k
5 Vp V1 1 0 SIN(0 5 1k)
1.0 kΩ
V(2)
0 Voffset output
.model diode d
0 1 kHz .tran .05m 3m
.end
Figure 3.30: Clipper: clips negative peak at -0.7 V.
During the positive half cycle of the 5 V peak input, the diode is reversed biased. The diode
does not conduct. It is as if the diode were not there. The positive half cycle is unchanged
at the output V(2) in Figure 3.31. Since the output positive peaks actually overlays the input
sinewave V(1), the input has been shifted upward in the plot for clarity. In Nutmeg, the SPICE
display module, the command “plot v(1)+1)” accomplishes this.
During the negative half cycle of sinewave input of Figure 3.31, the diode is forward biased,
that is, conducting. The negative half cycle of the sinewave is shorted out. The negative half
cycle of V(2) would be clipped at 0 V for an ideal diode. The waveform is clipped at -0.7 V
due to the forward voltage drop of the silicon diode. The spice model defaults to 0.7 V unless
parameters in the model statement specify otherwise. Germanium or Schottky diodes clip at
lower voltages.
Closer examination of the negative clipped peak (Figure 3.31) reveals that it follows the
input for a slight period of time while the sinewave is moving toward -0.7 V. The clipping
action is only effective after the input sinewave exceeds -0.7 V. The diode is not conducting for
the complete half cycle, though, during most of it.
The addition of an anti-parallel diode to the existing diode in Figure 3.30 yields the sym-
metrical clipper in Figure 3.32.
Diode D1 clips the negative peak at -0.7 V as before. The additional diode D2 conducts for
positive half cycles of the sine wave as it exceeds 0.7 V, the forward diode drop. The remainder
of the voltage drops across the series resistor. Thus, both peaks of the input sinewave are
clipped in Figure 3.33. The net list is in Figure 3.32
Figure 3.31: V(1)+1 is actually V(1), a 5 Vptp sinewave, offset by 1 V for display clarity. V(2)
output is clipped at -0.7 V, by diode D1.
*SPICE 03438.eps
D1 0 2 diode
D2 2 0 diode
1 2
R1 2 1 1.0k
5 Vp
1.0 kΩ
D2 D1 V1 1 0 SIN(0 5 1k)
0 Voffset .model diode d
0 1 kHz .tran 0.05m 3m
.end
Figure 3.32: Symmetrical clipper: Anti-parallel diodes clip both positive and negative peak,
leaving a ± 0.7 V output.
3.6. CLIPPER CIRCUITS 119
Figure 3.33: Diode D1 clips at -0.7 V as it conducts during negative peaks. D2 conducts for
positive peaks, clipping at 0.7V.
The most general form of the diode clipper is shown in Figure 3.34. For an ideal diode, the
clipping occurs at the level of the clipping voltage, V1 and V2. However, the voltage sources
have been adjusted to account for the 0.7 V forward drop of the real silicon diodes. D1 clips
at 1.3V +0.7V=2.0V when the diode begins to conduct. D2 clips at -2.3V -0.7V=-3.0V when D2
conducts.
*SPICE 03439.eps
V1 3 0 1.3
1 2
V2 4 0 -2.3
V2
1.0 kΩ
V3 D1 2 3 diode
D1 D2 D2 4 2 diode
5 Vp
3 4 R1 2 1 1.0k
0 Voffset V1 V2 V3 1 0 SIN(0 5 1k)
1 kHz + +
− 1.3 V − -2.3 V .model diode d
0 .tran 0.05m 3m
.end
Figure 3.34: D1 clips the input sinewave at 2V. D2 clips at -3V.
The clipper in Figure 3.34 does not have to clip both levels. To clip at one level with one
diode and one voltage source, remove the other diode and source.
The net list is in Figure 3.34. The waveforms in Figure 3.35 show the clipping of v(1) at
output v(2).
There is also a zener diode clipper circuit in the “Zener diode” section. A zener diode replaces
Figure 3.35: D1 clips the sinewave at 2V. D2 clips at -3V.
both the diode and the DC voltage source.

A practical application of a clipper is to prevent an amplified speech signal from overdriving
a radio transmitter in Figure 3.36. Over driving the transmitter generates spurious radio
signals which causes interference with other stations. The clipper is a protective measure.
clipper
preamp transimtter
microphone
Figure 3.36: Clipper prevents over driving radio transmitter by voice peaks.
A sinewave may be squared up by overdriving a clipper. Another clipper application is the

protection of exposed inputs of integrated circuits. The input of the IC is connected to a pair of
diodes as at node “2” of Figure ??. The voltage sources are replaced by the power supply rails
of the IC. For example, CMOS IC’s use 0V and +5 V. Analog amplifiers might use ±12V for the
V1 and V2 sources.
• REVIEW
• A resistor and diode driven by an AC voltage source clips the signal observed across the
diode.
3.7. CLAMPER CIRCUITS 121
• A pair of anti-parallel Si diodes clip symmetrically at ±0.7V
• The grounded end of a clipper diode(s) can be disconnected and wired to a DC voltage to
clip at an arbitrary level.
• A clipper can serve as a protective measure, preventing a signal from exceeding the clip
limits.
3.7 Clamper circuits

The circuits in Figure 3.37 are known as clampers or DC restorers. The corresponding netlist
is in Figure 3.38. These circuits clamp a peak of a waveform to a specific DC level compared
with a capacitively coupled signal which swings about its average DC level (usually 0V). If the
diode is removed from the clamper, it defaults to a simple coupling capacitor– no clamping.
What is the clamp voltage? And, which peak gets clamped? In Figure 3.37 (a) the clamp
voltage is 0 V ignoring diode drop, (more exactly 0.7 V with Si diode drop). In Figure 3.38, the
positive peak of V(1) is clamped to the 0 V (0.7 V) clamp level. Why is this? On the first positive
half cycle, the diode conducts charging the capacitor left end to +5 V (4.3 V). This is -5 V (-4.3
V) on the right end at V(1,4). Note the polarity marked on the capacitor in Figure 3.37 (a). The
right end of the capacitor is -5 V DC (-4.3 V) with respect to ground. It also has an AC 5 V peak
sinewave coupled across it from source V(4) to node 1. The sum of the two is a 5 V peak sine
riding on a - 5 V DC (-4.3 V) level. The diode only conducts on successive positive excursions
of source V(4) if the peak V(4) exceeds the charge on the capacitor. This only happens if the
charge on the capacitor drained off due to a load, not shown. The charge on the capacitor is
equal to the positive peak of V(4) (less 0.7 diode drop). The AC riding on the negative end,
right end, is shifted down. The positive peak of the waveform is clamped to 0 V (0.7 V) because
the diode conducts on the positive peak.
1000 pF 1000 pF 1000 pF

4 + - 1 4 2 4 3
- + - +
+ 5 Vp-p -4.3 VDC - 4.3 VDC -
0 Voffset 9.3 VDC
- 1 kHz 0 +0 + 5V +
−
(a) (b) (c) 0
Figure 3.37: Clampers: (a) Positive peak clamped to 0 V. (b) Negative peak clamped to 0 V. (c)
Negative peak clamped to 5 V.
Suppose the polarity of the diode is reversed as in Figure 3.37 (b)? The diode conducts on
the negative peak of source V(4). The negative peak is clamped to 0 V (-0.7 V). See V(2) in
Figure 3.38.
The most general realization of the clamper is shown in Figure 3.37 (c) with the diode
connected to a DC reference. The capacitor still charges during the negative peak of the source.
*SPICE 03443.eps
V1 6 0 5
D1 6 3 diode
C1 4 3 1000p
D2 0 2 diode
C2 4 2 1000p
C3 4 1 1000p
D3 1 0 diode
V2 4 0 SIN(0 5 1k)
.model diode d
.tran 0.01m 5m
.end
Figure 3.38: V(4) source voltage 5 V peak used in all clampers. V(1) clamper output from
Figure 3.37 (a). V(1,4) DC voltage on capacitor in Figure (a). V(2) clamper output from Figure
(b). V(3) clamper output from Figure (c).
Note that the polarities of the AC source and the DC reference are series aiding. Thus, the
capacitor charges to the sum to the two, 10 V DC (9.3 V). Coupling the 5 V peak sinewave
across the capacitor yields Figure 3.38 V(3), the sum of the charge on the capacitor and the
sinewave. The negative peak appears to be clamped to 5 V DC (4.3V), the value of the DC
clamp reference (less diode drop).
Describe the waveform if the DC clamp reference is changed from 5 V to 10 V. The clamped
waveform will shift up. The negative peak will be clamped to 10 V (9.3). Suppose that the
amplitude of the sine wave source is increased from 5 V to 7 V? The negative peak clamp level
will remain unchanged. Though, the amplitude of the sinewave output will increase.
An application of the clamper circuit is as a “DC restorer” in “composite video” circuitry in
both television transmitters and receivers. An NTSC (US video standard) video signal “white
level” corresponds to minimum (12.5%) transmitted power. The video “black level” corresponds
to a high level (75% of transmitter power. There is a “blacker than black level” corresponding to
100% transmitted power assigned to synchronization signals. The NTSC signal contains both
video and synchronization pulses. The problem with the composite video is that its average
DC level varies with the scene, dark vs light. The video itself is supposed to vary. However,
the sync must always peak at 100%. To prevent the sync signals from drifting with changing
scenes, a “DC restorer” clamps the top of the sync pulses to a voltage corresponding to 100%
transmitter modulation. [2]
• REVIEW:
• A capacitively coupled signal alternates about its average DC level (0 V).

3.8. VOLTAGE MULTIPLIERS 123
• The signal out of a clamper appears the have one peak clamped to a DC voltage. Example:
The negative peak is clamped to 0 VDC, the waveform appears to be shifted upward. The
polarity of the diode determines which peak is clamped.
• An application of a clamper, or DC restorer, is in clamping the sync pulses of composite

video to a voltage corresponding to 100% of transmitter power.
3.8 Voltage multipliers

A voltage multiplier is a specialized rectifier circuit producing an output which is theoretically
an integer times the AC peak input, for example, 2, 3, or 4 times the AC peak input. Thus,
it is possible to get 200 VDC from a 100 Vpeak AC source using a doubler, 400 VDC from a
quadrupler. Any load in a practical circuit will lower these voltages.
A voltage doubler application is a DC power supply capable of using either a 240 VAC or 120
VAC source. The supply uses a switch selected full-wave bridge to produce about 300 VDC from
a 240 VAC source. The 120 V position of the switch rewires the bridge as a doubler producing
about 300 VDC from the 120 VAC. In both cases, 300 VDC is produced. This is the input to a
switching regulator producing lower voltages for powering, say, a personal computer.
The half-wave voltage doubler in Figure 3.39 (a) is composed of two circuits: a clamper at
(b) and peak detector (half-wave rectifier) in Figure 3.28, which is shown in modified form in
Figure 3.39 (c). C2 has been added to a peak detector (half-wave rectifier).
1000 pF D1 5V 5V D1 C1
4 1 2 - + - +
C2
5 Vp-p D2 C1 - C2 + C2 +
0 Voffset 1000 pF D2 10V
5V
1 kHz 0 + - -
(a) (b) (c)
Figure 3.39: Half-wave voltage doubler (a) is composed of (b) a clamper and (c) a half-wave
rectifier.
Referring to Figure 3.39 (b), C2 charges to 5 V (4.3 V considering the diode drop) on the
negative half cycle of AC input. The right end is grounded by the conducting D2. The left end
is charged at the negative peak of the AC input. This is the operation of the clamper.
During the positive half cycle, the half-wave rectifier comes into play at Figure 3.39 (c).
Diode D2 is out of the circuit since it is reverse biased. C2 is now in series with the voltage
source. Note the polarities of the generator and C2, series aiding. Thus, rectifier D1 sees a total
of 10 V at the peak of the sinewave, 5 V from generator and 5 V from C2. D1 conducts waveform
v(1) (Figure 3.40), charging C1 to the peak of the sine wave riding on 5 V DC (Figure 3.40 v(2)).
Waveform v(2) is the output of the doubler, which stabilizes at 10 V (8.6 V with diode drops)
after a few cycles of sinewave input.
The full-wave voltage doubler is composed of a pair of series stacked half-wave rectifiers.
(Figure 3.41) The corresponding netlist is in Figure 3.41. The bottom rectifier charges C1 on
*SPICE 03255.eps
C1 2 0 1000p
D1 1 2 diode
C2 4 1 1000p
D2 0 1 diode
V1 4 0 SIN(0 5 1k)
.model diode d
.tran 0.01m 5m
.end
Figure 3.40: Voltage doubler: v(4) input. v(1) clamper stage. v(2) half-wave rectifier stage,
which is the doubler output.
the negative half cycle of input. The top rectifier charges C2 on the positive halfcycle. Each
capacitor takes on a charge of 5 V (4.3 V considering diode drop). The output at node 5 is the
series total of C1 + C2 or 10 V (8.6 V with diode drops).
*SPICE 03273.eps
D2 *R1 3 0 100k
2 5 *R2 5 3 100k
5 Vp-p D1 0 2 diode
0 Voffset C2 1000 pF D2 2 5 diode
1 kHz 3 C1 3 0 1000p
C2 5 3 1000p
C1 1000 pF V1 2 3 SIN(0 5 1k)
0 .model diode d
.tran 0.01m 5m
D1 .end
Figure 3.41: Full-wave voltage doubler consists of two half-wave rectifiers operating on alter-
nating polarities.
Note that the output v(5) Figure 3.42 reaches full value within one cycle of the input v(2)
excursion.
Figure 3.43 illustrates the derivation of the full-wave doubler from a pair of opposite polar-
ity half-wave rectifiers (a). The negative rectifier of the pair is redrawn for clarity (b). Both
are combined at (c) sharing the same ground. At (d) the negative rectifier is re-wired to share
Figure 3.42: Full-wave voltage doubler: v(2) input, v(3)voltage at mid point, v(5) voltage at
output
one voltage source with the positive rectifier. This yields a ±5 V (4.3 V with diode drop) power
supply; though, 10 V is measurable between the two outputs. The ground reference point is
moved so that +10 V is available with respect to ground.
+5V
+5V +5V +5V +10V
+
-
+5V
+
-5V
-5V -5V -
-5V
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e)
Figure 3.43: Full-wave doubler: (a) Pair of doublers, (b) redrawn, (c) sharing the ground, (d)
share the same voltage source. (e) move the ground point.
A voltage tripler (Figure 3.44) is built from a combination of a doubler and a half wave
rectifier (C3, D3). The half-wave rectifier produces 5 V (4.3 V) at node 3. The doubler provides
another 10 V (8.4 V) between nodes 2 and 3. for a total of 15 V (12.9 V) at the output node 2
with respect to ground. The netlist is in Figure 3.45.
Note that V(3) in Figure 3.45 rises to 5 V (4.3 V) on the first negative half cycle. Input v(4)
1000 pF
4 1 2
C2
D2 D1 C1
5 Vp-p
0 Voffset 1000 pF 10V
1 kHz Doubler 3 10V
Single stage rectifier C3
(a) 1000 pF 5V
D3 0
Figure 3.44: Voltage tripler composed of doubler stacked atop a single stage rectifier.
is shifted upward by 5 V (4.3 V) due to 5 V from the half-wave rectifier. And 5 V more at v(1)
due to the clamper (C2, D2). D1 charges C1 (waveform v(2)) to the peak value of v(1).
*SPICE 03283.eps
C3 3 0 1000p
D3 0 4 diode
C1 2 3 1000p
D1 1 2 diode
C2 4 1 1000p
D2 3 1 diode
V1 4 3 SIN(0 5 1k)
.model diode d
.tran 0.01m 5m
.end
Figure 3.45: Voltage tripler: v(3) half-wave rectifier, v(4) input+ 5 V, v(1) clamper, v(2) final
output.
A voltage quadrupler is a stacked combination of two doublers shown in Figure 3.46. Each
doubler provides 10 V (8.6 V) for a series total at node 2 with respect to ground of 20 V (17.2
V). The netlist is in Figure 3.47.
The waveforms of the quadrupler are shown in Figure 3.47. Two DC outputs are available:
v(3), the doubler output, and v(2) the quadrupler output. Some of the intermediate voltages
at clampers illustrate that the input sinewave (not shown), which swings by ¡plusminus)¿5 V,
is successively clamped at higher levels: at v(5), v(4) and v(1). Strictly v(4) is not a clamper
1000 pF D1
4 1 2
C2
5 Vp-p C1
0 Voffset 1000 pF 10V
D2
1 kHz doubler 1 3 20V
doubler 2 C11
1000 pF D22 1000 pF 10V
C22 5 D11 0
Figure 3.46: Voltage quadrupler, composed of two doublers stacked in series, with output at
node 2.
output. It is simply the AC voltage source in series with the v(3) the doubler output. None the
less, v(1) is a clamped version of v(4)
*SPICE 03441.eps
*SPICE 03286.eps
C22 4 5 1000p
C11 3 0 1000p
D11 0 5 diode
D22 5 3 diode
C1 2 3 1000p
D1 1 2 diode
C2 4 1 1000p
D2 3 1 diode
V1 4 3 SIN(0 5 1k)
.model diode d
.tran 0.01m 5m
.end
Figure 3.47: Voltage quadrupler: DC voltage available at v(3) and v(2). Intermediate wave-
forms: Clampers: v(5), v(4), v(1).
Some notes on voltage multipliers are in order at this point. The circuit parameters used
in the examples (V= 5 V 1 kHz, C=1000 pf) do not provide much current, microamps. Further-
more, load resistors have been omitted. Loading reduces the voltages from those shown. If the
circuits are to be driven by a kHz source at low voltage, as in the examples, the capacitors are
usually 0.1 to 1.0 µF so that milliamps of current are available at the output. If the multipliers
are driven from 50/60 Hz, the capacitor are a few hundred to a few thousand microfarads to
provide hundreds of milliamps of output current. If driven from line voltage, pay attention to
the polarity and voltage ratings of the capacitors.

Finally, any direct line driven power supply (no transformer) is dangerous to the experi-
menter and line operated test equipment. Commercial direct driven supplies are safe because
the hazardous circuitry is in an enclosure to protect the user. When breadboarding these cir-
cuits with electrolytic capacitors of any voltage, the capacitors will explode if the polarity is
reversed. Such circuits should be powered up behind a safety shield.
A voltage multiplier of cascaded half-wave doublers of arbitrary length is known as a
Cockcroft-Walton multiplier as shown in Figure 3.48. This multiplier is used when a high
voltage at low current is required. The advantage over a conventional supply is that an expen-
sive high voltage transformer is not required– at least not as high as the output.
1000 pF 1000 pF 1000 pF 1000 pF

99 1 3 5 7
5 Vp-p
0 Voffset
2 4 6 8
1 kHz
1000 pF 1000 pF 1000 pF 1000 pF
Figure 3.48: Cockcroft-Walton x8 voltage multiplier; output at v(8).
The pair of diodes and capacitors to the left of nodes 1 and 2 in Figure 3.48 constitute a
half-wave doubler. Rotating the diodes by 45o counterclockwise, and the bottom capacitor by
90o makes it look like Figure 3.39 (a). Four of the doubler sections are cascaded to the right for
a theoretical x8 multiplication factor. Node 1 has a clamper waveform (not shown), a sinewave
shifted up by 1x (5 V). The other odd numbered nodes are sinewaves clamped to successively
higher voltages. Node 2, the output of the first doubler, is a 2x DC voltage v(2) in Figure 3.49.
Successive even numbered nodes charge to successively higher voltages: v(4), v(6), v(8)
Without diode drops, each doubler yields 2Vin or 10 V, considering two diode drops (10-
1.4)=8.6 V is realistic. For a total of 4 doublers one expects 4·8.6=34.4 V out of 40 V. Consulting
Figure 3.49, v(2) is about right;however, v(8) is <30 V instead of the anticipated 34.4 V. The
bane of the Cockcroft-Walton multiplier is that each additional stage adds less than the previ-
ous stage. Thus, a practical limit to the number of stages exist. It is possible to overcome this
limitation with a modification to the basic circuit. [3] Also note the time scale of 40 msec com-
pared with 5 ms for previous circuits. It required 40 msec for the voltages to rise to a terminal
value for this circuit. The netlist in Figure 3.49 has a “.tran 0.010m 50m” command to extend
the simulation time to 50 msec; though, only 40 msec is plotted.
The Cockcroft-Walton multiplier serves as a more efficient high voltage source for photo-
multiplier tubes requiring up to 2000 V. [3] Moreover, the tube has numerous dynodes, ter-
minals requiring connection to the lower voltage “even numbered” nodes. The series string of
multiplier taps replaces a heat generating resistive voltage divider of previous designs.
An AC line operated Cockcroft-Walton multiplier provides high voltage to “ion generators”
for neutralizing electrostatic charge and for air purifiers.
• REVIEW:
• A voltage multiplier produces a DC multiple (2,3,4, etc) of the AC peak input voltage.
D1 7 8 diode
C1 8 6 1000p
D2 6 7 diode
C2 5 7 1000p
D3 5 6 diode
C3 4 6 1000p
D4 4 5 diode
C4 3 5 1000p
D5 3 4 diode
C5 2 4 1000p
D6 2 3 diode
D7 1 2 diode
C6 1 3 1000p
C7 2 0 1000p
C8 99 1 1000p
D8 0 1 diode
V1 99 0 SIN(0 5
1k)
.model diode d
.tran 0.01m 50m
.end
Figure 3.49: Cockcroft-Walton (x8) waveforms. Output is v(8).

• The most basic multiplier is a half-wave doubler.
• The full-wave double is a superior circuit as a doubler.
• A tripler is a half-wave doubler and a conventional rectifier stage (peak detector).
• A quadrupler is a pair of half-wave doublers
• A long string of half-wave doublers is known as a Cockcroft-Walton multiplier.
3.9 Inductor commutating circuits

A popular use of diodes is for the mitigation of inductive “kickback:” the pulses of high voltage
produced when direct current through an inductor is interrupted. Take, for example, this
simple circuit in Figure 3.50 with no protection against inductive kickback.
V
+ + + + −
off on
− − − − +
off
(a) (b) (c) (d)
Figure 3.50: Inductive kickback: (a) Switch open. (b) Switch closed, electron current flows
from battery through coil which has polarity matching battery. Magnetic field stores energy.
(c) Switch open, Current still flows in coil due to collapsing magnetic field. Note polarity change
on coil changed. (d) Coil voltage vs time.
When the pushbutton switch is actuated, current goes through the inductor, producing
a magnetic field around it. When the switch is de-actuated, its contacts open, interrupting
current through the inductor, and causing the magnetic field to rapidly collapse. Because the
voltage induced in a coil of wire is directly proportional to the rate of change over time of
magnetic flux (Faraday’s Law: e = NdΦ/dt), this rapid collapse of magnetism around the coil
produces a high voltage “spike”.
If the inductor in question is an electromagnet coil, such as in a solenoid or relay (con-
structed for the purpose of creating a physical force via its magnetic field when energized), the
effect of inductive “kickback” serves no useful purpose at all. In fact, it is quite detrimental
to the switch, as it causes excessive arcing at the contacts, greatly reducing their service life.
Of the practical methods for mitigating the high voltage transient created when the switch is
opened, none so simple as the so-called commutating diode in Figure 3.51.
In this circuit, the diode is placed in parallel with the coil, such that it will be reverse-biased
when DC voltage is applied to the coil through the switch. Thus, when the coil is energized,
the diode conducts no current in Figure 3.51 (b).
However, when the switch is opened, the coil’s inductance responds to the decrease in cur-
rent by inducing a voltage of reverse polarity, in an effort to maintain current at the same
magnitude and in the same direction. This sudden reversal of voltage polarity across the coil
3.9. INDUCTOR COMMUTATING CIRCUITS 131
+ + + + - -
+
- +
- - - +
-
(a) (b) (c)
Figure 3.51: Inductive kickback with protection: (a) Switch open. (b)Switch closed, storing
energy in magnetic field. (c) Switch open, inductive kickback is shorted by diode.
forward-biases the diode, and the diode provides a current path for the inductor’s current, so
that its stored energy is dissipated slowly rather than suddenly in Figure 3.51 (c).
As a result, the voltage induced in the coil by its collapsing magnetic field is quite low:
merely the forward voltage drop of the diode, rather than hundreds of volts as before. Thus,
the switch contacts experience a voltage drop equal to the battery voltage plus about 0.7 volts
(if the diode is silicon) during this discharge time.
In electronics parlance, commutation refers to the reversal of voltage polarity or current di-
rection. Thus, the purpose of a commutating diode is to act whenever voltage reverses polarity,
for example, on an inductor coil when current through it is interrupted. A less formal term for
a commutating diode is snubber, because it “snubs” or “squelches” the inductive kickback.
A noteworthy disadvantage of this method is the extra time it imparts to the coil’s discharge.
Because the induced voltage is clamped to a very low value, its rate of magnetic flux change
over time is comparatively slow. Remember that Faraday’s Law describes the magnetic flux
rate-of-change (dΦ/dt) as being proportional to the induced, instantaneous voltage (e or v). If
the instantaneous voltage is limited to some low figure, then the rate of change of magnetic
flux over time will likewise be limited to a low (slow) figure.
If an electromagnet coil is “snubbed” with a commutating diode, the magnetic field will dis-
sipate at a relatively slow rate compared to the original scenario (no diode) where the field
disappeared almost instantly upon switch release. The amount of time in question will most
likely be less than one second, but it will be measurably slower than without a commutat-
ing diode in place. This may be an intolerable consequence if the coil is used to actuate an
electromechanical relay, because the relay will possess a natural “time delay” upon coil de-
energization, and an unwanted delay of even a fraction of a second may wreak havoc in some
circuits.
Unfortunately, one cannot eliminate the high-voltage transient of inductive kickback and
maintain fast de-magnetization of the coil: Faraday’s Law will not be violated. However, if slow
de-magnetization is unacceptable, a compromise may be struck between transient voltage and
time by allowing the coil’s voltage to rise to some higher level (but not so high as without a
commutating diode in place). The schematic in Figure 3.52 shows how this can be done.
A resistor placed in series with the commutating diode allows the coil’s induced voltage to
rise to a level greater than the diode’s forward voltage drop, thus hastening the process of de-
magnetization. This, of course, will place the switch contacts under greater stress, and so the
resistor must be sized to limit that transient voltage at an acceptable maximum level.
V
(d)
(e)
off on
(c)
(b) off
(a)
Figure 3.52: (a) Commutating diode with series resistor. (b) Voltage waveform. (c) Level with
no diode. (d) Level with diode, no resistor. (e) Compromise level with diode and resistor.
3.10 Diode switching circuits

Diodes can perform switching and digital logic operations. Forward and reverse bias switch a
diode between the low and high impedance states, respectively. Thus, it serves as a switch.
3.10.1 Logic
Diodes can perform digital logic functions: AND, and OR. Diode logic was used in early digital
computers. It only finds limited application today. Sometimes it is convenient to fashion a
single logic gate from a few diodes.
V+ V+
A B Y
Y=1 Y=0
1 A 0 A 0 0 0
0 1 0
1 B 1 B 1 0 0
1 1 1
(a) (b) (c)
Figure 3.53: Diode AND gate
An AND gate is shown in Figure 3.53. Logic gates have inputs and an output (Y) which is
a function of the inputs. The inputs to the gate are high (logic 1), say 10 V, or low, 0 V (logic
0). In the figure, the logic levels are generated by switches. If a switch is up, the input is
effectively high (1). If the switch is down, it connects a diode cathode to ground, which is low
(0). The output depends on the combination of inputs at A and B. The inputs and output are
customarily recorded in a “truth table” at (c) to describe the logic of a gate. At (a) all inputs
are high (1). This is recorded in the last line of the truth table at (c). The output, Y, is high
(1) due to the V+ on the top of the resistor. It is unaffected by open switches. At (b) switch A
pulls the cathode of the connected diode low, pulling output Y low (0.7 V). This is recorded in
the third line of the truth table. The second line of the truth table describes the output with
the switches reversed from (b). Switch B pulls the diode and output low. The first line of the
3.10. DIODE SWITCHING CIRCUITS 133
truth table recordes the Output=0 for both input low (0). The truth table describes a logical
AND function. Summary: both inputs A and B high yields a high (1) out.
A two input OR gate composed of a pair of diodes is shown in Figure ??. If both inputs are
logic low at (a) as simulated by both switches “downward,” the output Y is pulled low by the
resistor. This logic zero is recorded in the first line of the truth table at (c). If one of the inputs
is high as at (b), or the other input is high, or both inputs high, the diode(s) conduct(s), pulling
the output Y high. These results are reordered in the second through fourth lines of the truth
table. Summary: any input “high” is a high out at Y.
V+ V+
A B Y line +
Y=0 Y=1 operated
0 A 1 A 0 0 0 power
0 1 1 supply
0 B 0 B 1 0 1
1 1 1 +
backup
battery load
(a) (b) (c) (d)
Figure 3.54: OR gate: (a) First line, truth table (TT). (b) Third line TT. (d) Logical OR of power
line supply and back-up battery.
A backup battery may be OR-wired with a line operated DC power supply in Figure 3.54 (d)
to power a load, even during a power failure. With AC power present, the line supply powers
the load, assuming that it is a higher voltage than the battery. In the event of a power failure,
the line supply voltage drops to 0 V; the battery powers the load. The diodes must be is series
with the power sources to prevent a failed line supply from draining the battery, and to prevent
it from over charging the battery when line power is available. Does your PC computer retain
its BIOS setting when powered off? Does your VCR (video cassette recorder) retain the clock
setting after a power failure? (PC Yes, old VCR no, new VCR yes.)
3.10.2 Analog switch

Diodes can switch analog signals. A reverse biased diode appears to be an open circuit. A
forward biased diode is a low resistance conductor. The only problem is isolating the AC signal
being switched from the DC control signal. The circuit in Figure 3.55 is a parallel resonant
network: resonant tuning inductor paralleled by one (or more) of the switched resonator ca-
pacitors. This parallel LC resonant circuit could be a preselector filter for a radio receiver. It
could be the frequency determining network of an oscillator (not shown). The digital control
lines may be driven by a microprocessor interface.
The large value DC blocking capacitor grounds the resonant tuning inductor for AC while
blocking DC. It would have a low reactance compared to the parallel LC reactances. This
prevents the anode DC voltage from being shorted to ground by the resonant tuning inductor.
A switched resonator capacitor is selected by pulling the corresponding digital control low. This
switching switched
diode resonator resonant
capacitor tuning
inductor
RFC
RFC
RFC
RFC
large value
DC blocking
capacitor
decoupling
capacitor
+5V
digital control
Figure 3.55: Diode switch: A digital control signal (low) selects a resonator capacitor by forward
biasing the switching diode.
forward biases the switching diode. The DC current path is from +5 V through an RF choke
(RFC), a switching diode, and an RFC to ground via the digital control. The purpose of the RFC
at the +5 V is to keep AC out of the +5 V supply. The RFC in series with the digital control is to
keep AC out of the external control line. The decoupling capacitor shorts the little AC leaking
through the RFC to ground, bypassing the external digital control line.
With all three digital control lines high (≥+5 V), no switched resonator capacitors are se-
lected due to diode reverse bias. Pulling one or more lines low, selects one or more switched
resonator capacitors, respectively. As more capacitors are switched in parallel with the reso-
nant tuning inductor, the resonant frequency decreases.
The reverse biased diode capacitance may be substantial compared with very high fre-
quency or ultra high frequency circuits. PIN diodes may be used as switches for lower ca-
pacitance.
3.11 Zener diodes

If we connect a diode and resistor in series with a DC voltage source so that the diode is
forward-biased, the voltage drop across the diode will remain fairly constant over a wide range
of power supply voltages as in Figure 3.56 (a).
According to the “diode equation”, the current through a forward-biased PN junction is
proportional to e raised to the power of the forward voltage drop. Because this is an exponential
function, current rises quite rapidly for modest increases in voltage drop. Another way of
considering this is to say that voltage dropped across a forward-biased diode changes little
for large variations in diode current. In the circuit shown above, diode current is limited by
the voltage of the power supply, the series resistor, and the diode’s voltage drop, which as we
know doesn’t vary much from 0.7 volts. If the power supply voltage were to be increased, the
resistor’s voltage drop would increase almost the same amount, and the diode’s voltage drop
just a little. Conversely, a decrease in power supply voltage would result in an almost equal
decrease in resistor voltage drop, with just a little decrease in diode voltage drop. In a word,
we could summarize this behavior by saying that the diode is regulating the voltage drop at
3.11. ZENER DIODES 135
approximately 0.7 volts.

Voltage regulation is a useful diode property to exploit. Suppose we were building some
kind of circuit which could not tolerate variations in power supply voltage, but needed to be
powered by a chemical battery, whose voltage changes over its lifetime. We could form a circuit
as shown and connect the circuit requiring steady voltage across the diode, where it would
receive an unchanging 0.7 volts.
This would certainly work, but most practical circuits of any kind require a power supply
voltage in excess of 0.7 volts to properly function. One way we could increase our voltage
regulation point would be to connect multiple diodes in series, so that their individual forward
voltage drops of 0.7 volts each would add to create a larger total. For instance, if we had ten
diodes in series, the regulated voltage would be ten times 0.7, or 7 volts in Figure 3.56 (b).
≈ 0.7 V
≈≈ 7.0 V
(a) (b)
Figure 3.56: Forward biased Si reference: (a) single diode, 0.7V, (b) 10-diodes in series 7.0V.
So long as the battery voltage never sagged below 7 volts, there would always be about 7
volts dropped across the ten-diode “stack.”
If larger regulated voltages are required, we could either use more diodes in series (an in-
elegant option, in my opinion), or try a fundamentally different approach. We know that diode
forward voltage is a fairly constant figure under a wide range of conditions, but so is reverse
breakdown voltage, and breakdown voltage is typically much, much greater than forward volt-
age. If we reversed the polarity of the diode in our single-diode regulator circuit and increased
the power supply voltage to the point where the diode “broke down” (could no longer withstand
the reverse-bias voltage impressed across it), the diode would similarly regulate the voltage at
that breakdown point, not allowing it to increase further as in Figure 3.57 (a).
≈ 50 V
Zener diode
+ Cathode
150 V ≈ 100 V
(a)
- (b) Anode
Figure 3.57: (a) Reverse biased Si small-signal diode breaks down at about 100V. (b) Symbol
for Zener diode.
Unfortunately, when normal rectifying diodes “break down,” they usually do so destruc-
tively. However, it is possible to build a special type of diode that can handle breakdown
without failing completely. This type of diode is called a zener diode, and its symbol looks like
Figure 3.57 (b).
When forward-biased, zener diodes behave much the same as standard rectifying diodes:
they have a forward voltage drop which follows the “diode equation” and is about 0.7 volts.
In reverse-bias mode, they do not conduct until the applied voltage reaches or exceeds the so-
called zener voltage, at which point the diode is able to conduct substantial current, and in
doing so will try to limit the voltage dropped across it to that zener voltage point. So long as
the power dissipated by this reverse current does not exceed the diode’s thermal limits, the
diode will not be harmed.
Zener diodes are manufactured with zener voltages ranging anywhere from a few volts to
hundreds of volts. This zener voltage changes slightly with temperature, and like common
carbon-composition resistor values, may be anywhere from 5 percent to 10 percent in error
from the manufacturer’s specifications. However, this stability and accuracy is generally good
enough for the zener diode to be used as a voltage regulator device in common power supply
circuit in Figure 3.58.
+
≈ 12.6 V
-
Figure 3.58: Zener diode regulator circuit, Zener voltage = 12.6V).
Please take note of the zener diode’s orientation in the above circuit: the diode is reverse-
biased, and intentionally so. If we had oriented the diode in the “normal” way, so as to be
forward-biased, it would only drop 0.7 volts, just like a regular rectifying diode. If we want
to exploit this diode’s reverse breakdown properties, we must operate it in its reverse-bias
mode. So long as the power supply voltage remains above the zener voltage (12.6 volts, in this
example), the voltage dropped across the zener diode will remain at approximately 12.6 volts.
Like any semiconductor device, the zener diode is sensitive to temperature. Excessive tem-
perature will destroy a zener diode, and because it both drops voltage and conducts current,
it produces its own heat in accordance with Joule’s Law (P=IE). Therefore, one must be care-
ful to design the regulator circuit in such a way that the diode’s power dissipation rating is
not exceeded. Interestingly enough, when zener diodes fail due to excessive power dissipation,
they usually fail shorted rather than open. A diode failed in this manner is readily detected: it
drops almost zero voltage when biased either way, like a piece of wire.
Let’s examine a zener diode regulating circuit mathematically, determining all voltages,
currents, and power dissipations. Taking the same form of circuit shown earlier, we’ll perform
calculations assuming a zener voltage of 12.6 volts, a power supply voltage of 45 volts, and a
series resistor value of 1000 Ω (we’ll regard the zener voltage to be exactly 12.6 volts so as to
avoid having to qualify all figures as “approximate” in Figure 3.59 (a)
If the zener diode’s voltage is 12.6 volts and the power supply’s voltage is 45 volts, there will
be 32.4 volts dropped across the resistor (45 volts - 12.6 volts = 32.4 volts). 32.4 volts dropped
across 1000 Ω gives 32.4 mA of current in the circuit. (Figure 3.59 (b))
32.4 V
1 kΩ 1 kΩ
+ + 32.4 mA
45 V 12.6 V 45 V 12.6 V
- - 32.4 mA
(a) (b)
Figure 3.59: (a) Zener Voltage regulator with 1000 Ω resistor. (b) Calculation of voltage drops
and current.
Power is calculated by multiplying current by voltage (P=IE), so we can calculate power

dissipations for both the resistor and the zener diode quite easily:
Presistor = (32.4 mA)(32.4 V)
Presistor = 1.0498 W
Pdiode = (32.4 mA)(12.6 V)

Pdiode = 408.24 mW
A zener diode with a power rating of 0.5 watt would be adequate, as would a resistor rated
for 1.5 or 2 watts of dissipation.
If excessive power dissipation is detrimental, then why not design the circuit for the least
amount of dissipation possible? Why not just size the resistor for a very high value of resis-
tance, thus severely limiting current and keeping power dissipation figures very low? Take this
circuit, for example, with a 100 kΩ resistor instead of a 1 kΩ resistor. Note that both the power
supply voltage and the diode’s zener voltage in Figure 3.60 are identical to the last example:
32.4 V
100 kΩ
+ 324 µA
45 V 12.6 V
- 324 µA
Figure 3.60: Zener regulator with 100 kΩ resistor.
With only 1/100 of the current we had before (324 µA instead of 32.4 mA), both power
dissipation figures should be 100 times smaller:
Presistor = (324 µA)(32.4 V)

Presistor = 10.498 mW
Pdiode = (324 µA)(12.6 V)

Pdiode = 4.0824 mW
Seems ideal, doesn’t it? Less power dissipation means lower operating temperatures for
both the diode and the resistor, and also less wasted energy in the system, right? A higher
resistance value does reduce power dissipation levels in the circuit, but it unfortunately intro-
duces another problem. Remember that the purpose of a regulator circuit is to provide a stable
voltage for another circuit. In other words, we’re eventually going to power something with
12.6 volts, and this something will have a current draw of its own. Consider our first regulator
circuit, this time with a 500 Ω load connected in parallel with the zener diode in Figure 3.61.
32.4 V
1 kΩ 25.2 mA
+ 32.4 mA
Rload
45 V 12.6 V
7.2 mA 500 Ω
- 32.4 mA 25.2 mA
Figure 3.61: Zener regulator with 1000 Ω series resistor and 500 Ω load.
If 12.6 volts is maintained across a 500 Ω load, the load will draw 25.2 mA of current. In
order for the 1 kΩ series “dropping” resistor to drop 32.4 volts (reducing the power supply’s
voltage of 45 volts down to 12.6 across the zener), it still must conduct 32.4 mA of current.
This leaves 7.2 mA of current through the zener diode.
Now consider our “power-saving” regulator circuit with the 100 kΩ dropping resistor, deliv-
ering power to the same 500 Ω load. What it is supposed to do is maintain 12.6 volts across
the load, just like the last circuit. However, as we will see, it cannot accomplish this task.
(Figure 3.62)
With the larger value of dropping resistor in place, there will only be about 224 mV of
voltage across the 500 Ω load, far less than the expected value of 12.6 volts! Why is this? If we
actually had 12.6 volts across the load, it would draw 25.2 mA of current, as before. This load
current would have to go through the series dropping resistor as it did before, but with a new
(much larger!) dropping resistor in place, the voltage dropped across that resistor with 25.2
mA of current going through it would be 2,520 volts! Since we obviously don’t have that much
voltage supplied by the battery, this cannot happen.
The situation is easier to comprehend if we temporarily remove the zener diode from the
circuit and analyze the behavior of the two resistors alone in Figure 3.63.
Both the 100 kΩ dropping resistor and the 500 Ω load resistance are in series with each
other, giving a total circuit resistance of 100.5 kΩ. With a total voltage of 45 volts and a total
44.776 V
100 kΩ 447.76 µA
447.76 µA 0 µA
Rload
45 V 224 mV
500 Ω
447.76 µA 447.76 µA
Figure 3.62: Zener non-regulator with 100 KΩ series resistor with 500 Ω load.¿
44.776 V
100 kΩ 447.76 µA
447.76 µA
Rload
45 V 224 mV
500 Ω
447.76 µA 447.76 µA
Figure 3.63: Non-regulator with Zener removed.
resistance of 100.5 kΩ, Ohm’s Law (I=E/R) tells us that the current will be 447.76 µA. Figuring
voltage drops across both resistors (E=IR), we arrive at 44.776 volts and 224 mV, respectively.
If we were to re-install the zener diode at this point, it would “see” 224 mV across it as well,
being in parallel with the load resistance. This is far below the zener breakdown voltage of the
diode and so it will not “break down” and conduct current. For that matter, at this low voltage
the diode wouldn’t conduct even if it were forward-biased! Thus, the diode ceases to regulate
voltage. At least 12.6 volts must be dropped across to “activate” it.
The analytical technique of removing a zener diode from a circuit and seeing whether or
not enough voltage is present to make it conduct is a sound one. Just because a zener diode
happens to be connected in a circuit doesn’t guarantee that the full zener voltage will always
be dropped across it! Remember that zener diodes work by limiting voltage to some maximum
level; they cannot make up for a lack of voltage.
In summary, any zener diode regulating circuit will function so long as the load’s resistance
is equal to or greater than some minimum value. If the load resistance is too low, it will
draw too much current, dropping too much voltage across the series dropping resistor, leaving
insufficient voltage across the zener diode to make it conduct. When the zener diode stops
conducting current, it can no longer regulate voltage, and the load voltage will fall below the
regulation point.
Our regulator circuit with the 100 kΩ dropping resistor must be good for some value of
load resistance, though. To find this acceptable load resistance value, we can use a table to
calculate resistance in the two-resistor series circuit (no diode), inserting the known values of
total voltage and dropping resistor resistance, and calculating for an expected load voltage of
12.6 volts:
Rdropping Rload Total
E 12.6 45 Volts
I Amps
R 100 k Ohms
With 45 volts of total voltage and 12.6 volts across the load, we should have 32.4 volts across
Rdropping :

E 32.4 12.6 45 Volts
I Amps
R 100 k Ohms
With 32.4 volts across the dropping resistor, and 100 kΩ worth of resistance in it, the current
through it will be 324 µA:
E 32.4 12.6 45 Volts
I 324 µ Amps
R 100 k Ohms
Ohm’s Law
I= E
R
Being a series circuit, the current is equal through all components at any given time:
E 32.4 12.6 45 Volts
I 324 µ 324 µ 324 µ Amps
R 100 k Ohms
Rule of series circuits:

ITotal = I1 = I2 = . . . In
Calculating load resistance is now a simple matter of Ohm’s Law (R = E/I), giving us 38.889
kΩ:

E 32.4 12.6 45 Volts
I 324 µ 324 µ 324 µ Amps
R 100 k 38.889 k Ohms
Ohm’s Law
R= E
I
Thus, if the load resistance is exactly 38.889 kΩ, there will be 12.6 volts across it, diode or
no diode. Any load resistance smaller than 38.889 kΩ will result in a load voltage less than
12.6 volts, diode or no diode. With the diode in place, the load voltage will be regulated to a
maximum of 12.6 volts for any load resistance greater than 38.889 kΩ.
With the original value of 1 kΩ for the dropping resistor, our regulator circuit was able
to adequately regulate voltage even for a load resistance as low as 500 Ω. What we see is a
tradeoff between power dissipation and acceptable load resistance. The higher-value dropping
resistor gave us less power dissipation, at the expense of raising the acceptable minimum load
resistance value. If we wish to regulate voltage for low-value load resistances, the circuit must
be prepared to handle higher power dissipation.
Zener diodes regulate voltage by acting as complementary loads, drawing more or less cur-
rent as necessary to ensure a constant voltage drop across the load. This is analogous to
regulating the speed of an automobile by braking rather than by varying the throttle position:
not only is it wasteful, but the brakes must be built to handle all the engine’s power when
the driving conditions don’t demand it. Despite this fundamental inefficiency of design, zener
diode regulator circuits are widely employed due to their sheer simplicity. In high-power ap-
plications where the inefficiencies would be unacceptable, other voltage-regulating techniques
are applied. But even then, small zener-based circuits are often used to provide a “reference”
voltage to drive a more efficient amplifier circuit controlling the main power.
Zener diodes are manufactured in standard voltage ratings listed in Table 3.1. The table
“Common zener diode voltages” lists common voltages for 0.3W and 1.3W parts. The wattage
corresponds to die and package size, and is the power that the diode may dissipate without
damage.
Zener diode clipper: A clipping circuit which clips the peaks of waveform a approximately
the zener voltage of the diodes. The circuit of Figure 3.64 has two zeners connected series
opposing to symmetrically clip a waveform at nearly the Zener voltage. The resistor limits
current drawn by the zeners to a safe value.
The zener breakdown voltage for the diodes is set at 10 V by the diode model parameter
“bv=10” in the spice net list in Figure 3.64. This causes the zeners to clip at about 10 V. The
back-to-back diodes clip both peaks. For a positive half-cycle, the top zener is reverse biased,
breaking down at the zener voltage of 10 V. The lower zener drops approximately 0.7 V since
it is forward biased. Thus, a more accurate clipping level is 10+0.7=10.7V. Similar negative
Table 3.1: Common zener diode voltages

0.5W
2.7V 3.0V 3.3V 3.6V 3.9V 4.3V 4.7V
5.1V 5.6V 6.2V 6.8V 7.5V 8.2V 9.1V
10V 11V 12V 13V 15V 16V 18V
20V 24V 27V 30V
1.3W
4.7V 5.1V 5.6V 6.2V 6.8V 7.5V 8.2V
9.1V 10V 11V 12V 13V 15V 16V
18V 20V 22V 24V 27V 30V 33V
36V 39V 43V 47V 51V 56V 62V
68V 75V 100V 200V
*SPICE 03445.eps
D1 4 0 diode
D2 4 2 diode
1 2 R1 2 1 1.0k
V1 1 0 SIN(0 20
1.0 kΩ
1k)
V(2)
20 Vp output .model diode d
0 Voffset bv=10
0 1 kHz .tran 0.001m 2m
.end
Figure 3.64: Zener diode clipper:

3.12. SPECIAL-PURPOSE DIODES 143
half-cycle clipping occurs a -10.7 V. (Figure 3.65) shows the clipping level at a little over ±10 V.
Figure 3.65: Zener diode clipper: v(1) input is clipped at waveform v(2).
• REVIEW:
• Zener diodes are designed to be operated in reverse-bias mode, providing a relatively low,
stable breakdown, or zener voltage at which they being to conduct substantial reverse
current.
• A zener diode may function as a voltage regulator by acting as an accessory load, drawing
more current from the source if the voltage is too high, and less if it is too low.
3.12 Special-purpose diodes

3.12.1 Schottky diodes
Schottky diodes are constructed of a metal-to-N junction rather than a P-N semiconductor
junction. Also known as hot-carrier diodes, Schottky diodes are characterized by fast switching
times (low reverse-recovery time), low forward voltage drop (typically 0.25 to 0.4 volts for a
metal-silicon junction), and low junction capacitance.
The schematic symbol for a schottky diode is shown in Figure 3.66.
The forward voltage drop (VF ), reverse-recovery time (trr ), and junction capacitance (CJ ) of
Schottky diodes are closer to ideal than the average “rectifying” diode. This makes them well
suited for high-frequency applications. Unfortunately, though, Schottky diodes typically have
lower forward current (IF ) and reverse voltage (VRRM and VDC ) ratings than rectifying diodes
and are thus unsuitable for applications involving substantial amounts of power. Though they
are used in low voltage switching regulator power supplies.
Anode
Cathode
Figure 3.66: Schottky diode schematic symbol.
Schottky diode technology finds broad application in high-speed computer circuits, where
the fast switching time equates to high speed capability, and the low forward voltage drop
equates to less power dissipation when conducting.
Switching regulator power supplies operating at 100’s of kHz cannot use conventional sil-
icon diodes as rectifiers because of their slow switching speed . When the signal applied to a
diode changes from forward to reverse bias, conduction continues for a short time, while car-
riers are being swept out of the depletion region. Conduction only ceases after this tr reverse
recovery time has expired. Schottky diodes have a shorter reverse recovery time.
Regardless of switching speed, the 0.7 V forward voltage drop of silicon diodes causes poor
efficiency in low voltage supplies. This is not a problem in, say, a 10 V supply. In a 1 V supply
the 0.7 V drop is a substantial portion of the output. One solution is to use a schottky power
diode which has a lower forward drop.
3.12.2 Tunnel diodes

Tunnel diodes exploit a strange quantum phenomenon called resonant tunneling to provide a
negative resistance forward-bias characteristics. When a small forward-bias voltage is applied
across a tunnel diode, it begins to conduct current. (Figure 3.67(b)) As the voltage is increased,
the current increases and reaches a peak value called the peak current (IP ). If the voltage
is increased a little more, the current actually begins to decrease until it reaches a low point
called the valley current (IV ). If the voltage is increased further yet, the current begins to
increase again, this time without decreasing into another “valley.” The schematic symbol for
the tunnel diode shown in Figure 3.67(a).
Tunnel diode
Anode Forward
current
IP +
Cathode
IV
−
(a) (b) VP VV Forward voltage (c)
Figure 3.67: Tunnel diode (a) Schematic symbol. (b) Current vs voltage plot (c) Oscillator.
The forward voltages necessary to drive a tunnel diode to its peak and valley currents are
known as peak voltage (VP ) and valley voltage (VV ), respectively. The region on the graph
where current is decreasing while applied voltage is increasing (between VP and VV on the
horizontal scale) is known as the region of negative resistance.
Tunnel diodes, also known as Esaki diodes in honor of their Japanese inventor Leo Esaki,
are able to transition between peak and valley current levels very quickly, “switching” between
high and low states of conduction much faster than even Schottky diodes. Tunnel diode char-
acteristics are also relatively unaffected by changes in temperature.
1000
Ge
Ga
Breakdown voltage (V)
Si As
100
Ga
P
10
g
lin
ne
tun
1
1014 1015 1016 1017 1018
Doping concentration (cm-3)
Figure 3.68: Reverse breakdown voltage versus doping level. After Sze [22]
Tunnel diodes are heavily doped in both the P and N regions, 1000 times the level in a
rectifier. This can be seen in Figure 3.68. Standard diodes are to the far left, zener diodes near
to the left, and tunnel diodes to the right of the dashed line. The heavy doping produces an
unusually thin depletion region. This produces an unusually low reverse breakdown voltage
with high leakage. The thin depletion region causes high capacitance. To overcome this, the
tunnel diode junction area must be tiny. The forward diode characteristic consists of two re-
gions: a normal forward diode characteristic with current rising exponentially beyond VF , 0.3
V for Ge, 0.7 V for Si. Between 0 V and VF is an additional “negative resistance” characteristic
peak. This is due to quantum mechanical tunneling involving the dual particle-wave nature
of electrons. The depletion region is thin enough compared with the equivalent wavelength of
the electron that they can tunnel through. They do not have to overcome the normal forward
diode voltage VF . The energy level of the conduction band of the N-type material overlaps
the level of the valence band in the P-type region. With increasing voltage, tunneling begins;
the levels overlap; current increases, up to a point. As current increases further, the energy
levels overlap less; current decreases with increasing voltage. This is the “negative resistance”
portion of the curve.
Tunnel diodes are not good rectifiers, as they have relatively high “leakage” current when
reverse-biased. Consequently, they find application only in special circuits where their unique
tunnel effect has value. To exploit the tunnel effect, these diodes are maintained at a bias
voltage somewhere between the peak and valley voltage levels, always in a forward-biased
polarity (anode positive, and cathode negative).
Perhaps the most common application of a tunnel diode is in simple high-frequency oscilla-
tor circuits as in Figure 3.67(c), where it allows a DC voltage source to contribute power to an
LC “tank” circuit, the diode conducting when the voltage across it reaches the peak (tunnel)
level and effectively insulating at all other voltages. The resistors bias the tunnel diode at a
few tenths of a volt centered on the negative resistance portion of the characteristic curve. The
L-C resonant circuit may be a section of waveguide for microwave operation. Oscillation to 5
GHz is possible.
At one time the tunnel diode was the only solid-state microwave amplifier available. Tunnel
diodes were popular starting in the 1960’s. They were longer lived than traveling wave tube
amplifiers, an important consideration in satellite transmitters. Tunnel diodes are also resis-
tant to radiation because of the heavy doping. Today various transistors operate at microwave
frequencies. Even small signal tunnel diodes are expensive and difficult to find today. There is
one remaining manufacturer of germanium tunnel diodes, and none for silicon devices. They
are sometimes used in military equipment because they are insensitive to radiation and large
temperature changes.
There has been some research involving possible integration of silicon tunnel diodes into
CMOS integrated circuits. They are thought to be capable of switching at 100 GHz in digital
circuits. The sole manufacturer of germanium devices produces them one at a time. A batch
process for silicon tunnel diodes must be developed, then integrated with conventional CMOS
processes. [21]
The Esaki tunnel diode should not be confused with the resonant tunneling diode (page
84), of more complex construction from compound semiconductors. The RTD is a more recent
development capable of higher speed.
3.12.3 Light-emitting diodes

Diodes, like all semiconductor devices, are governed by the principles described in quantum
physics. One of these principles is the emission of specific-frequency radiant energy whenever
electrons fall from a higher energy level to a lower energy level. This is the same principle
at work in a neon lamp, the characteristic pink-orange glow of ionized neon due to the specific
energy transitions of its electrons in the midst of an electric current. The unique color of a neon
lamp’s glow is due to the fact that its neon gas inside the tube, and not due to the particular
amount of current through the tube or voltage between the two electrodes. Neon gas glows
pinkish-orange over a wide range of ionizing voltages and currents. Each chemical element
has its own “signature” emission of radiant energy when its electrons “jump” between different,
quantized energy levels. Hydrogen gas, for example, glows red when ionized; mercury vapor
glows blue. This is what makes spectrographic identification of elements possible.
Electrons flowing through a PN junction experience similar transitions in energy level, and
emit radiant energy as they do so. The frequency of this radiant energy is determined by the
crystal structure of the semiconductor material, and the elements comprising it. Some semi-
conductor junctions, composed of special chemical combinations, emit radiant energy within
the spectrum of visible light as the electrons change energy levels. Simply put, these junc-
tions glow when forward biased. A diode intentionally designed to glow like a lamp is called a
light-emitting diode, or LED.
Forward biased silicon diodes give off heat as electron and holes from the N-type and P-type
regions, respectively, recombine at the junction. In a forward biased LED, the recombination of
electrons and holes in the active region in Figure 3.69 (c) yields photons. This process is known
as electroluminescence. To give off photons, the potential barrier through which the electrons
fall must be higher than for a silicon diode. The forward diode drop can range to a few volts for
some color LEDs.
Diodes made from a combination of the elements gallium, arsenic, and phosphorus (called
gallium-arsenide-phosphide) glow bright red, and are some of the most common LEDs man-
ufactured. By altering the chemical constituency of the PN junction, different colors may be
obtained. Some of the currently available colors other than red are green, blue, and infra-red
(invisible light at a frequency lower than red). Other colors may be obtained by combining two
or more primary-color (red, green, and blue) LEDs together in the same package, sharing the
same optical lens. For instance, a yellow LED may be made by merging a red LED with a green
LED.
The schematic symbol for an LED is a regular diode shape inside of a circle, with two small
arrows pointing away (indicating emitted light), shown in Figure 3.69.
+ p-type
active region
Anode long n-type
substrate
Cathode short electron
flat
(a) (b) (c) hole
−
Figure 3.69: LED, Light Emitting Diode: (a) schematic symbol. (b) Flat side and short lead of
device correspond to cathode. (c) Cross section of Led die.
This notation of having two small arrows pointing away from the device is common to the
schematic symbols of all light-emitting semiconductor devices. Conversely, if a device is light-
activated (meaning that incoming light stimulates it), then the symbol will have two small
arrows pointing toward it. LEDs can sense light. They generate a small voltage when exposed
to light, much like a solar cell on a small scale. This property can be gainfully applied in a
variety of light-sensing circuits.
Because LEDs are made of different chemical substances than silicon diodes, their forward
voltage drops will be different. Typically, LEDs have much larger forward voltage drops than
rectifying diodes, anywhere from about 1.6 volts to over 3 volts, depending on the color. Typical
operating current for a standard-sized LED is around 20 mA. When operating an LED from
a DC voltage source greater than the LED’s forward voltage, a series-connected “dropping”
resistor must be included to prevent full source voltage from damaging the LED. Consider the
example circuit in Figure 3.70 (a) using a 6 V source.
With the LED dropping 1.6 volts, there will be 4.4 volts dropped across the resistor. Sizing
the resistor for an LED current of 20 mA is as simple as taking its voltage drop (4.4 volts) and
dividing by circuit current (20 mA), in accordance with Ohm’s Law (R=E/I). This gives us a
figure of 220 Ω. Calculating power dissipation for this resistor, we take its voltage drop and
multiply by its current (P=IE), and end up with 88 mW, well within the rating of a 1/8 watt
Rdropping Rdropping
+ 220 Ω Red LED, + 1.12 kΩ

6V VF = 1.6 V typical 24 V
− IF = 20 mA typical −
(a) (b)
Figure 3.70: Setting LED current at 20 ma. (a) for a 6 V source, (b) for a 24 V source.
resistor. Higher battery voltages will require larger-value dropping resistors, and possibly
higher-power rating resistors as well. Consider the example in Figure ?? (b) for a supply
voltage of 24 volts:
Here, the dropping resistor must be increased to a size of 1.12 kΩ to drop 22.4 volts at 20
mA so that the LED still receives only 1.6 volts. This also makes for a higher resistor power
dissipation: 448 mW, nearly one-half a watt of power! Obviously, a resistor rated for 1/8 watt
power dissipation or even 1/4 watt dissipation will overheat if used here.
Dropping resistor values need not be precise for LED circuits. Suppose we were to use a
1 kΩ resistor instead of a 1.12 kΩ resistor in the circuit shown above. The result would be a
slightly greater circuit current and LED voltage drop, resulting in a brighter light from the
LED and slightly reduced service life. A dropping resistor with too much resistance (say, 1.5
kΩ instead of 1.12 kΩ) will result in less circuit current, less LED voltage, and a dimmer light.
LEDs are quite tolerant of variation in applied power, so you need not strive for perfection in
sizing the dropping resistor.
Multiple LEDs are sometimes required, say in lighting. If LEDs are operated in parallel,
each must have its own current limiting resistor as in Figure ?? (a) to ensure currents dividing
more equally. However, it is more efficient to operate LEDs in series (Figure 3.71 (b)) with a
single dropping resistor. As the number of series LEDs increases the series resistor value must
decrease to maintain current, to a point. The number of LEDs in series (Vf ) cannot exceed the
capability of the power supply. Multiple series strings may be employed as in Figure 3.71 (c).
In spite of equalizing the currents in multiple LEDs, the brightness of the devices may not
match due to variations in the individual parts. Parts can be selected for brightness matching
for critical applications.
140 Ω 140 Ω
+ 220 Ω + +
6V 6V 6V
− − −
(a) (b) (c)
Figure 3.71: Multiple LEDs: (a) In parallel, (b) in series, (c) series-parallel
Also because of their unique chemical makeup, LEDs have much, much lower peak-inverse
voltage (PIV) ratings than ordinary rectifying diodes. A typical LED might only be rated at
5 volts in reverse-bias mode. Therefore, when using alternating current to power an LED,
connect a protective rectifying diode anti-parallel with the LED to prevent reverse breakdown
every other half-cycle as in Figure 3.72 (a).
Rdropping
Red LED,
+ 1.12 kΩ
VF = 1.6 V typical
+ 0.22 1.2
µF kΩ
24 V IF = 20 mA typical
240 V
− rectifying diode VR = 5 V maximum −
(a) (b)
Figure 3.72: Safely driving an LED with AC: (a) from 24 VAC, (b) from 240 VAC.
If the LED is driven from a 240 VAC source, the Figure 3.72 (a) voltage source is increased
from 24 VAC to 240 VAC, the resistor from 1.12 kΩ to 12 kΩ. The power dissipated in the 12
kΩ resistor is an unattractive 4.8 watts.
P = VI = (240 V)(20 mA) = 4.8 watt
A potential solution is to replace the 12 kΩ resistor with a non-dissipative 12 kΩ capacitive

reactance. This would be Figure 3.72 (b) with the resistor shorted. That circuit at (b), missing
the resistor, was published in an electrical engineering journal. This author constructed the
circuit. It worked the first time it was powered “on,” but not thereafter upon “power on”. Each
time it was powered “on,” it got dimmer until it failed completely. Why? If “power on” occurs
near a zero crossing of the AC sinewave, the circuit works. However, if powered “on” at, say,
the peak of the sinewave, the voltage rises abruptly from zero to the peak. Since the current
through the capacitor is i = C(dv/dt), the current spikes to a very large value exceeding the
“surge current” rating of the LED, destroying it.
The solution is to design a capacitor for the continuous current of the LED, and a series re-
sistor to limit current during “power on” to the surge current rating of the LED. Often the surge
current rating of an LED is ten times higher than the continuous current rating. (Though, this
is not true of high current illumination grade LED’s.) We calculate a capacitor to supply 20 mA
continuous current, then select a resistor having resistance of 1/10 th the capacitive reactance.
I = 20 mA
Xc = (240 V) / (20 mA) = 12 kΩ
Xc = 1/2πfc
C = 1/2πXc = 1/2π60(12 kΩ = 0.22 µF
R = (0.10)Xc = (0.10)(12kΩ) = 1.2 kΩ
P = I2 R = (20 mA)2 (1.2 kΩ) = 0.48 watt
The resistor limits the LED current to 200 mA during the “power on” surge. Thereafter it
passes 20 mA as limited by the capacitor. The 1.2 k¡OMEGA ¿resistor dissipates 0.48 watts
compared with 4.8 watts for the 12 kΩ resistor circuit.
What component values would be required to operate the circuit on 120 VAC? One solution
is to use the 240 VAC circuit on 120 VAC with no change in component values, halving the LED
continuous current to 10 mA. If operation at 20 mA is required, double the capacitor value and
halve the resistor value.
The anti-parallel diodes in Figure 3.72 can be replaced with an anti-parallel LED. The
resulting pair of anti-parallel LED’s illuminate on alternating half-cycles of the AC sinewave.
This configuration draws 20 ma, splitting it equally between the LED’s on alternating AC half
cycles. Each LED only receives 10 mA due to this sharing. The same is true of the LED anti-
parallel combination with a rectifier. The LED only receives 10 ma. If 20 mA was required for
the LED(s), The capacitor value in µF could be doubled and the resistor halved.
The forward voltage drop of LED’s is inversely proportional to the wavelength (λ). As wave-
length decreases going from infrared to visible colors to ultraviolet, Vf increases. While this
trend is most obvious in the various devices from a single manufacturer, The voltage range for
a particular color LED from various manufacturers varies. This range of voltages is shown in
Table 3.2.
Table 3.2: Optical and electrical properties of LED’s

LED λ nm (= 10 −9 m) Vf (from) Vf (to)
infrared 940 1.2 1.7
red 660 1.5 2.4
orange 602-620 2.1 2.2
yellow, green 560-595 1.7 2.8
white, blue, violet - 3 4
ultraviolet 370 4.2 4.8
As lamps, LEDs are superior to incandescent bulbs in many ways. First and foremost is
efficiency: LEDs output far more light power per watt of electrical input than an incandescent
lamp. This is a significant advantage if the circuit in question is battery-powered, efficiency
translating to longer battery life. Second is the fact that LEDs are far more reliable, having
a much greater service life than incandescent lamps. This is because LEDs are “cold” devices:
they operate at much cooler temperatures than an incandescent lamp with a white-hot metal
filament, susceptible to breakage from mechanical and thermal shock. Third is the high speed
at which LEDs may be turned on and off. This advantage is also due to the “cold” operation
of LEDs: they don’t have to overcome thermal inertia in transitioning from off to on or vice
versa. For this reason, LEDs are used to transmit digital (on/off) information as pulses of light,
conducted in empty space or through fiber-optic cable, at very high rates of speed (millions of
pulses per second).
LEDs excel in monochromatic lighting applications like traffic signals and automotive tail
lights. Incandescents are abysmal in this application since they require filtering, decreasing
efficiency. LEDs do not require filtering.
One major disadvantage of using LEDs as sources of illumination is their monochromatic
(single-color) emission. No one wants to read a book under the light of a red, green, or blue
LED. However, if used in combination, LED colors may be mixed for a more broad-spectrum
glow. A new broad spectrum light source is the white LED. While small white panel indicators
have been available for many years, illumination grade devices are still in development.
A white LED is a blue LED exciting a phosphor which emits yellow light. The blue plus
yellow approximates white light. The nature of the phosphor determines the characteristics of
Table 3.3: Efficiency of lighting

Lamp type Efficiency lumen/watt Life hrs notes
White LED 35 100,000 costly
White LED, future 100 100,000 R&D target
Incandescent 12 1000 inexpensive
Halogen 15-17 2000 high quality light
Compact fluorescent 50-100 10,000 cost effective
Sodium vapor, lp 70-200 20,000 outdoor
Mercury vapor 13-48 18,000 outdoor
the light. A red phosphor may be added to improve the quality of the yellow plus blue mixture
at the expense of efficiency. Table 3.3 compares white illumination LEDs to expected future
devices and other conventional lamps. Efficiency is measured in lumens of light output per
watt of input power. If the 50 lumens/watt device can be improved to 100 lumens/watt, white
LEDs will be comparable to compact fluorescent lamps in efficiency.
3.12.4 Laser diodes

The laser diode is a further development upon the regular light-emitting diode, or LED. The
term “laser” itself is actually an acronym, despite the fact its often written in lower-case letters.
“Laser” stands for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation, and refers to
another strange quantum process whereby characteristic light emitted by electrons falling
from high-level to low-level energy states in a material stimulate other electrons in a substance
to make similar “jumps,” the result being a synchronized output of light from the material. This
synchronization extends to the actual phase of the emitted light, so that all light waves emitted
from a “lasing” material are not just the same frequency (color), but also the same phase as
each other, so that they reinforce one another and are able to travel in a very tightly-confined,
nondispersing beam. This is why laser light stays so remarkably focused over long distances:
each and every light wave coming from the laser is in step with each other.
Incandescent lamps produce “white” (mixed-frequency, or mixed-color) light as in Figure 3.73
(a). Regular LEDs produce monochromatic light: same frequency (color), but different phases,
resulting in similar beam dispersion in Figure 3.73 (b). Laser LEDs produce coherent light:
light that is both monochromatic (single-color) and monophasic (single-phase), resulting in
precise beam confinement as in Figure 3.73 (c).
Laser light finds wide application in the modern world: everything from surveying, where
a straight and nondispersing light beam is very useful for precise sighting of measurement
markers, to the reading and writing of optical disks, where only the narrowness of a focused
laser beam is able to resolve the microscopic “pits” in the disk’s surface comprising the binary
1’s and 0’s of digital information.
Some laser diodes require special high-power “pulsing” circuits to deliver large quantities of
voltage and current in short bursts. Other laser diodes may be operated continuously at lower
power. In the continuous laser, laser action occurs only within a certain range of diode current,
necessitating some form of current-regulator circuit. As laser diodes age, their power require-
ments may change (more current required for less output power), but it should be remembered
"white"
light
source
(a)
mono-
chromatic
light
source
(b)
laser
light
source
(c)
Figure 3.73: (a) White light of many wavelengths. (b) Mono-chromatic LED light, a single
wavelength. (c) Phase coherent laser light.
that low-power laser diodes, like LEDs, are fairly long-lived devices, with typical service lives
in the tens of thousands of hours.
3.12.5 Photodiodes
A photodiode is a diode optimized to produce an electron current flow in response to irradia-
tion by ultraviolet, visible, or infrared light. Silicon is most often used to fabricate photodiodes;
though, germanium and gallium arsenide can be used. The junction through which light en-
ters the semiconductor must be thin enough to pass most of the light on to the active region
(depletion region) where light is converted to electron hole pairs.
In Figure 3.74 a shallow P-type diffusion into an N-type wafer produces a PN junction near
the surface of the wafer. The P-type layer needs to be thin to pass as much light as possible.
A heavy N+ diffusion on the back of the wafer makes contact with metalization. The top
metalization may be a fine grid of metallic fingers on the top of the wafer for large cells. In
small photodiodes, the top contact might be a sole bond wire contacting the bare P-type silicon
top.
Light entering the top of the photodiode stack fall off exponentially in with depth of the
silicon. A thin top P-type layer allows most photons to pass into the depletion region where
electron-hole pairs are formed. The electric field across the depletion region due to the built in
diode potential causes electrons to be swept into the N-layer, holes into the P-layer. Actually
electron-hole pairs may be formed in any of the semiconductor regions. However, those formed
in the depletion region are most likely to be separated into the respective N and P-regions.
Many of the electron-hole pairs formed in the P and N-regions recombine. Only a few do so
in the depletion region. Thus, a few electron-hole pairs in the N and P-regions, and most in
the depletion region contribute to photocurrent, that current resulting from light falling on the
photodiode.
The voltage out of a photodiode may be observed. However, operation in this photovoltaic
+
+ top metal contact
p diffusion
depletion region
n type
- n+ contact region
bottom metal contact
Figure 3.74: Photodiode: Schematic symbol and cross section.
(PV) mode is not linear over a large dynamic range. Though, it is sensitive and low noise at
low frequencies, < 100 kHz. The preferred mode of operation is often photocurrent (PC) mode
because the current is linearly proportional to light flux over several decades of intensity, and
higher frequency response can be achieved. PC mode is achieved with reverse bias or zero
bias on the photodiode. A current amplifier (transimpedance amplifier) should be used with
a photodiode in PC mode. Linearity and PC mode are achieved as long as the diode does not
become forward biased.
High speed operation is often required of photodiodes, as opposed to solar cells. Speed
is a function of diode capacitance, which can be minimized by decreasing cell area. Thus, a
sensor for a high speed fiber optic link will use an area no larger than necessary, say 1 mm2 .
Capacitance may also be decreased by increasing the thickness of the depletion region, in the
manufacturing process or by increasing the reverse bias on the diode.
PIN diode The p-i-n diode or PIN diode is a photodiode with an intrinsic layer between
the P and N-regions as in Figure 3.75. The P-Intrinsic-N structure increases the distance
between the P and N conductive layers, decreasing capacitance, increasing speed. The volume
of the photo sensitive region also increases, enhancing conversion efficiency. The bandwidth
can extend to 10’s of gHz. PIN photodiodes are the preferred for high sensitivity, and high
speed at moderate cost.
Avalanche photo diode:An avalanche photodiode (APD)designed to operate at high re-
verse bias exhibits an electron multiplier effect analogous to a photomultiplier tube. The re-
verse bias can run from 10’s of volts to nearly 2000 V. The high level of reverse bias accelerates
photon created electron-hole pairs in the intrinsic region to a high enough velocity to free addi-
tional carriers from collisions with the crystal lattice. Thus, many electrons per photon result.
The motivation for the APD is to achieve amplification within the photodiode to overcome noise
in external amplifiers. This works to some extent. However, the APD creates noise of its own.
At high speed the APD is superior to a PIN diode amplifier combination, though not for low
speed applications. APD’s are expensive, roughly the price of a photomultiplier tube. So, they
are only competitive with PIN photodiodes for niche applications. One such application is
single photon counting as applied to nuclear physics.
+
top metal contact
p diffusion
intrinsic region
(larger depletion
region)
n type
n+ contact region
Figure 3.75: PIN photodiode: The intrinsic region increases the thickness of the depletion
region.
3.12.6 Solar cells

A photodiode optimized for efficiently delivering power to a load is the solar cell. It operates in
photovoltaic mode (PV) because it is forward biased by the voltage developed across the load
resistance.
Monocrystalline solar cells are manufactured in a process similar to semiconductor pro-
cessing. This involves growing a single crystal boule from molten high purity silicon (P-type),
though, not as high purity as for semiconductors. The boule is diamond sawed or wire sawed
into wafers. The ends of the boule must be discarded or recycled, and silicon is lost in the saw
kerf. Since modern cells are nearly square, silicon is lost in squaring the boule. Cells may be
etched to texture (roughen) the surface to help trap light within the cell. Considerable silicon
is lost in producing the 10 or 15 cm square wafers. These days (2007) it is common for solar
cell manufacturer to purchase the wafers at this stage from a supplier to the semiconductor
industry.
P-type Wafers are loaded back-to-back into fused silica boats exposing only the outer surface
to the N-type dopant in the diffusion furnace. The diffusion process forms a thin n-type layer on
the top of the cell. The diffusion also shorts the edges of the cell front to back. The periphery
must be removed by plasma etching to unshort the cell. Silver and or aluminum paste is
screened on the back of the cell, and a silver grid on the front. These are sintered in a furnace
for good electrical contact. (Figure 3.76)
The cells are wired in series with metal ribbons. For charging 12 V batteries, 36 cells at
approximately 0.5 V are vacuum laminated between glass, and a polymer metal back. The
glass may have a textured surface to help trap light.
The ultimate commercial high efficiency (21.5%) single crystal silicon solar cells have all
contacts on the back of the cell. The active area of the cell is increased by moving the top (-)
contact conductors to the back of the cell. The top (-) contacts are normally made to the N-type
silicon on top of the cell. In Figure 3.77 the (-) contacts are made to N+ diffusions on the bottom
-
top metal contact
N diffusion
depletion region
P type wafer
bottom metal
contact
Figure 3.76: Silicon Solar cell
interleaved with (+) contacts. The top surface is textured to aid in trapping light within the
cell.. [18]
Antireflectrive coating
Silicon dioxide passivation
N-type diffusion
P-type wafer
N+ diffusion
- contact
P+ diffusion
+ contact
N+ diffusion
- contact
Figure 3.77: High efficiency solar cell with all contacts on the back. Adapted from Figure 1 [18]
Multicyrstalline silicon cells start out as molten silicon cast into a rectangular mold. As
the silicon cools, it crystallizes into a few large (mm to cm sized) randomly oriented crystals
instead of a single one. The remainder of the process is the same as for single crystal cells. The
finished cells show lines dividing the individual crystals, as if the cells were cracked. The high
efficiency is not quite as high as single crystal cells due to losses at crystal grain boundaries.
The cell surface cannot be roughened by etching due to the random orientation of the crystals.
However, an antireflectrive coating improves efficiency. These cells are competitive for all but
space applications.
Three layer cell: The highest efficiency solar cell is a stack of three cells tuned to absorb
different portions of the solar spectrum. Though three cells can be stacked atop one another,
a monolithic single crystal structure of 20 semiconductor layers is more compact. At 32 %

efficiency, it is now (2007) favored over silicon for space application. The high cost prevents
it from finding many earth bound applications other than concentrators based on lenses or
mirrors.
Intensive research has recently produced a version enhanced for terrestrial concentrators
at 400 - 1000 suns and 40.7% efficiency. This requires either a big inexpensive Fresnel lens or
reflector and a small area of the expensive semiconductor. This combination is thought to be
competitive with inexpensive silicon cells for solar power plants. [9] [23]
Metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) deposits the layers atop a P-type ger-
manium substrate. The top layers of N and P-type gallium indium phosphide (GaInP) having
a band gap of 1.85 eV, absorbs ultraviolet and visible light. These wavelengths have enough
energy to exceed the band gap. Longer wavelengths (lower energy) do not have enough energy
to create electron-hole pairs, and pass on through to the next layer. A gallium arsenide layers
having a band gap of 1.42 eV, absorbs near infrared light. Finally the germanium layer and
substrate absorb far infrared. The series of three cells produce a voltage which is the sum of
the voltages of the three cells. The voltage developed by each material is 0.4 V less than the
band gap energy listed in Table 3.4. For example, for GaInP: 1.8 eV/e - 0.4 V = 1.4 V. For all
three the voltage is 1.4 V + 1.0 V + 0.3 V = 2.7 V. [4]
Table 3.4: High efficiency triple layer solar cell.

Layer Band gap Light absorbed
Gallium indium phosphide 1.8 eV UV, visible
Gallium arsenide 1.4 eV near infrared
Germanium 0.7 eV far infrared
Crystalline solar cell arrays have a long useable life. Many arrays are guaranteed for 25
years, and believed to be good for 40 years. They do not suffer initial degradation compared
with amorphous silicon.
Both single and multicrystalline solar cells are based on silicon wafers. The silicon is both
the substrate and the active device layers. Much silicon is consumed. This kind of cell has
been around for decades, and takes approximately 86% of the solar electric market. For further
information about crystalline solar cells see Honsberg. [8]
Amorphous silicon thin film solar cells use tiny amounts of the active raw material, sil-
icon. Approximately half the cost of conventional crystalline solar cells is the solar cell grade
silicon. The thin film deposition process reduces this cost. The downside is that efficiency is
about half that of conventional crystalline cells. Moreover, efficiency degrades by 15-35% upon
exposure to sunlight. A 7% efficient cell soon ages to 5% efficiency. Thin film amorphous silicon
cells work better than crystalline cells in dim light. They are put to good use in solar powered
calculators.
Non-silicon based solar cells make up about 7% of the market. These are thin-film poly-
crystalline products. Various compound semiconductors are the subject of research and devel-
opment. Some non-silicon products are in production. Generally, the efficiency is better than
amorphous silicon, but not nearly as good as crystalline silicon.
Cadmium telluride as a polycrystalline thin film on metal or glass can have a higher
efficiency than amorphous silicon thin films. If deposited on metal, that layer is the negative
contact to the cadmium telluride thin film. The transparent P-type cadmium sulfide atop the
cadmium telluride serves as a buffer layer. The positive top contact is transparent, electrically
conductive fluorine doped tin oxide. These layers may be laid down on a sacrificial foil in place
of the glass in the process in the following pargraph. The sacrificial foil is removed after the
cell is mounted to a permanent substrate.
−
glass substrate
n Tin oxide
cadmium suflide
p cadmium telluride
(phosphorus doped)
p+ lead telluride
metal substrate
+ metal contact -
Figure 3.78: Cadmium telluride solar cell on glass or metal.
A process for depositing cadmium telluride on glass begins with the deposition of N-type
transparent, electrically conducive, tin oxide on a glass substrate. The next layer is P-type
cadmium telluride; though, N-type or intrinsic may be used. These two layers constitute the
NP junction. A P+ (heavy P-type) layer of lead telluride aids in establishing a low resistance
contact. A metal layer makes the final contact to the lead telluride. These layers may be laid
down by vacuum deposition, chemical vapor deposition (CVD), screen printing, electrodeposi-
tion, or atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition (APCVD) in helium. [10]
A variation of cadmium telluride is mercury cadmium telluride. Having lower bulk resis-
tance and lower contact resistance improves efficiency over cadmium telluride.
Cadmium Indium Gallium diSelenide: A most promising thin film solar cell at this
time (2007) is manufactured on a ten inch wide roll of flexible polyimide– Cadmium Indium
Gallium diSelenide (CIGS). It has a spectacular efficiency of 10%. Though, commercial grade
crystalline silicon cells surpassed this decades ago, CIGS should be cost competitive. The
deposition processes are at a low enough temperature to use a polyimide polymer as a substrate
instead of metal or glass. (Figure 3.79) The CIGS is manufactured in a roll to roll process,
which should drive down costs. GIGS cells may also be produced by an inherently low cost
electrochemical process. [7]
• REVIEW:
• Most solar cells are silicon single crystal or multicrystal because of their good efficiency
and moderate cost.
• Less efficient thin films of various amorphous or polycrystalline materials comprise the
rest of the market.
top contact
Tin oxide
Zinc oxide N-type transparent
conductor
Cadmium suflide
buffer layer
CIGS Cadmium Indium
Gallium diSelenide P type
Molybdenum bottom contact
Polyimide substrate
Figure 3.79: Cadmium Indium Gallium diSelenide solar cell (CIGS)
• Table 3.5 compares selected solar cells.
3.12.7 Varicap or varactor diodes

A variable capacitance diode is known as a varicap diode or as a varactor. If a diode is reverse
biased, an insulating depletion region forms between the two semiconductive layers. In many
diodes the width of the depletion region may be changed by varying the reverse bias. This
varies the capacitance. This effect is accentuated in varicap diodes. The schematic symbols is
shown in Figure 3.80, one of which is packaged as common cathode dual diode.
capacitance
Clarge
Vcontrol Coptional
−
L
+
symbol voltage varicap diode
Figure 3.80: Varicap diode: Capacitance varies with reverse bias. This varies the frequency of
a resonant network.
If a varicap diode is part of a resonant circuit as in Figure 3.80, the frequency my be varied
with a control voltage, Vcontrol . A large capacitance, low Xc , in series with the varicap prevents
Vcontrol from being shorted out by inductor L. As long as the series capacitor is large, it has
minimal effect on the frequency of resonant circuit. Coptional may be used to set the center
resonant frequency. Vcontrol can then vary the frequency about this point. Note that the re-
quired active circuitry to make the resonant network oscillate is not shown. For an example of
Table 3.5: Solar cell properties

Solar cell type Maximum Practical Notes
effi- effi-
ciency ciency
Selenium, polycrystalline 0.7% - 1883, Charles Fritts
Silicon, single crystal - 4% 1950’s, first silicon solar cell
Silicon, single crystal PERL, 25% - solar cars, cost=100x commer-
terrestrial, space cial
Silicon, single crystal, commer- 24% 14-17% $5-$10/peak watt
cial terrestrial
Cypress Semiconductor, Sun- 21.5% 19% all contacts on cell back
power, silicon single crystal
Gallium Indium Phosphide/ - 32% Preferred for space.
Gallium Arsenide/ Germa-
nium, single crystal, multilayer
Advanced terrestrial version of - 40.7% Uses optical concentrator.
above.
Silicon, multicrystalline 18.5% 15.5% -
Thin films, - - -
Silicon, amorphous 13% 5-7% Degrades in sun light. Good in-
doors for calculators or cloudy
outdoors.
Cadmium telluride, polycrys- 16% - glass or metal substrate
talline
Copper indium arsenide dise- 18% 10% 10 inch flexible polymer web.
lenide, polycrystalline [17]
Organic polymer, 100% plastic 4.5% - R&D project
a varicap diode tuned AM radio receiver see “electronic varicap diode tuning,” (page 398)
Some varicap diodes may be referred to as abrupt, hyperabrupt, or super hyper abrupt.
These refer to the change in junction capacitance with changing reverse bias as being abrupt
or hyper-abrupt, or super hyperabrupt. These diodes offer a relatively large change in ca-
pacitance. This is useful when oscillators or filters are swept over a large frequency range.
Varying the bias of abrupt varicaps over the rated limits, changes capacitance by a 4:1 ratio,
hyperabrupt by 10:1, super hyperabrupt by 20:1.
Varactor diodes may be used in frequency multiplier circuits. See “Practical analog semi-
conductor circuits,” Varactor multiplier
3.12.8 Snap diode

The snap diode, also known as the step recovery diode is designed for use in high ratio fre-
quency multipliers up to 20 gHz. When the diode is forward biased, charge is stored in the PN
junction. This charge is drawn out as the diode is reverse biased. The diode looks like a low
impedance current source during forward bias. When reverse bias is applied it still looks like
a low impedance source until all the charge is withdrawn. It then “snaps” to a high impedance
state causing a voltage impulse, rich in harmonics. An applications is a comb generator, a
generator of many harmonics. Moderate power 2x and 4x multipliers are another application.
3.12.9 PIN diodes

A PIN diode is a fast low capacitance switching diode. Do not confuse a PIN switching diode
with a PIN photo diode (page 153). A PIN diode is manufactured like a silicon switching diode
with an intrinsic region added between the PN junction layers. This yields a thicker depletion
region, the insulating layer at the junction of a reverse biased diode. This results in lower
capacitance than a reverse biased switching diode.
PIN diodes are used in place of switching diodes in radio frequency (RF) applications, for
example, a T/R switch (page 400). The 1n4007 1000 V, 1 A general purpose power diode is
reported to be useable as a PIN switching diode. The high voltage rating of this diode is
achieved by the inclusion of an intrinsic layer dividing the PN junction. This intrinsic layer
makes the 1n4007 a PIN diode. Another PIN diode application is a the antenna switch (page
400) for a direction finder receiver.
PIN diodes serve as variable resistors when the forward bias is varied. One such application
is the voltage variable attenuator (page 400). The low capacitance characteristic of PIN diodes,
extends the frequency flat response of the attenuator to microwave frequencies.
3.12.10 IMPATT diode

¡The IMPact Avalanche Transit Time diode is a high power radio frequency (RF) generator
operating from 3 to 100 gHz. IMPATT diodes are fabricated from silicon, gallium arsenide, or
silicon carbide.
An IMPATT diode is reverse biased above the breakdown voltage. The high doping levels
produce a thin depletion region. The resulting high electric field rapidly accelerates carriers
which free other carriers in collisions with the crystal lattice. Holes are swept into the P+
top metal contact

p+ contact region
p diffusion
intrinsic region
(larger depletion
region)
n type
n+ contact region
Figure 3.81: Pin diode: Cross section aligned with schematic symbol.
region. Electrons drift toward the N regions. The cascading effect creates an avalanche current
which increases even as voltage across the junction decreases. The pulses of current lag the
voltage peak across the junction. A “negative resistance” effect in conjunction with a resonant
circuit produces oscillations at high power levels (high for semiconductors).
N+
choke N-
+ drift
−
N+
avalanche
P+
resonant circuit
Figure 3.82: IMPATT diode: Oscillator circuit and heavily doped P and N layers.
The resonant circuit in the schematic diagram of Figure 3.82 is the lumped circuit equiva-
lent of a waveguide section, where the IMPATT diode is mounted. DC reverse bias is applied
through a choke which keeps RF from being lost in the bias supply. This may be a section of
waveguide known as a bias Tee. Low power RADAR transmitters may use an IMPATT diode
as a power source. They are too noisy for use in the receiver. [20]
3.12.11 Gunn diode

Diode, gunn Gunn diode
A gunn diode is solely composed of N-type semiconductor. As such, it is not a true diode.
Figure 3.83 shows a lightly doped N− layer surrounded by heavily doped N+ layers. A voltage
applied across the N-type gallium arsenide gunn diode creates a strong electric field across the
lightly doped N− layer.
I
choke
N+ threshold
+
− N-
N+
resonant circuit
1 V
Figure 3.83: Gunn diode: Oscillator circuit and cross section of only N-type semiconductor
diode.
As voltage is increased, conduction increases due to electrons in a low energy conduction

band. As voltage is increased beyond the threshold of approximately 1 V, electrons move from
the lower conduction band to the higher energy conduction band where they no longer con-
tribute to conduction. In other words, as voltage increases, current decreases, a negative resis-
tance condition. The oscillation frequency is determined by the transit time of the conduction
electrons, which is inversely related to the thickness of the N− layer.
The frequency may be controlled to some extent by embedding the gunn diode into a reso-
nant circuit. The lumped circuit equivalent shown in Figure 3.83 is actually a coaxial trans-
mission line or waveguide. Gallium arsenide gunn diodes are available for operation from 10
to 200 gHz at 5 to 65 mw power. Gunn diodes may also serve as amplifiers. [19] [14]
3.12.12 Shockley diode

The Shockley diodeis a 4-layer thyristor used to trigger larger thyristors. It only conducts in
one direction when triggered by a voltage exceeding the breakover voltage, about 20 V. See
“Thyristors,” The Shockley Diode. The bidirectional version is called a diac. See “Thyristors,”
The DIAC.
3.12.13 Constant-current diodes

A constant-current diode, also known as a current-limiting diode, or current-regulating diode,
does exactly what its name implies: it regulates current through it to some maximum level.
The constant current diode is a two terminal version of a JFET. If we try to force more current
through a constant-current diode than its current-regulation point, it simply “fights back” by
dropping more voltage. If we were to build the circuit in Figure 3.84(a) and plot diode current
3.13. OTHER DIODE TECHNOLOGIES 163
against diode voltage, we’d get a graph that rises at first and then levels off at the current
regulation point as in Figure 3.84(b).
Rdropping
Idiode
constant-current
diode
(a) (b)
Vdiode
Figure 3.84: Constant current diode: (a) Test circuit, (b) current vs voltage characteristic.
One application for a constant-current diode is to automatically limit current through an

LED or laser diode over a wide range of power supply voltages as in Figure ??.
Of course, the constant-current diode’s regulation point should be chosen to match the LED
or laser diode’s optimum forward current. This is especially important for the laser diode, not
so much for the LED, as regular LEDs tend to be more tolerant of forward current variations.
Another application is in the charging of small secondary-cell batteries, where a constant
charging current leads to predictable charging times. Of course, large secondary-cell battery
banks might also benefit from constant-current charging, but constant-current diodes tend to
be very small devices, limited to regulating currents in the milliamp range.
3.13 Other diode technologies

3.13.1 SiC diodes
Diodes manufactured from silicon carbide are capable of high temperature operation to 400o C.
This could be in a high temperature environment: down hole oil well logging, gas turbine
engines, auto engines. Or, operation in a moderate environment at high power dissipation.
Nuclear and space applications are promising as SiC is 100 times more resistant to radiation
compared with silicon. SiC is a better conductor of heat than any metal. Thus, SiC is better
than silicon at conducting away heat. Breakdown voltage is several kV. SiC power devices are
expected to reduce electrical energy losses in the power industry by a factor of 100.
3.13.2 Polymer diode

Diodes based on organic chemicals have been produce using low temperature processes. Hole
rich and electron rich conductive polymers may be ink jet printed in layers. Most of the re-
search and development is of the organic LED (OLED). However, development of inexpensive
printable organic RFID (radio frequency identification) tags is on going. In this effort, a pen-
tacene organic rectifier has been operated at 50 MHz. Rectification to 800 MHz is a develop-
ment goal. An inexpensive metal insulator metal (MIM) diode acting like a back-to-back zener
diode clipper has been delveloped. Also, a tunnel diode like device has been fabricated.
3.14 SPICE models

The SPICE circuit simulation program provides for modeling diodes in circuit simulations.
The diode model is based on characterization of individual devices as described in a product
data sheet and manufacturing process characteristics not listed. Some information has been
extracted from a 1N4004 data sheet in Figure 3.85.
10 100
IF instaneous forward current (I)
CJ junction capacitance (pF)

30
1.0
10
0.1
0.925
0.01 1
0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 1 10 100
VF instaneous forward voltage (V) VR reverse voltage (V)
Max avg rectified current IO (A) 1 Forward voltage drop VF (V) 1

Peak repetitive reverse voltage VRRM (V) 400 @ IF (A) 1
Peak forward surge current IFSM (A) 30 Max reverse current IR (µΑ) 5
Total capacitance CT (pF) 15 @ VR (V) 400
Figure 3.85: Data sheet 1N4004 excerpt, after [6].
The diode statement begins with a diode element name which must begin with “d” plus
optional characters. Example diode element names include: d1, d2, dtest, da, db, d101. Two
node numbers specify the connection of the anode and cathode, respectively, to other compo-
nents. The node numbers are followed by a model name, referring to a subsequent “.model”
statement.
The model statement line begins with “.model,” followed by the model name matching
one or more diode statements. Next, a “d” indicates a diode is being modeled. The remain-
der of the model statement is a list of optional diode parameters of the form Parameter-
Name=ParameterValue. None are used in Example below. Example2 has some parameters
defined. For a list of diode parameters, see Table 3.6.
General form: d[name] [anode] [cathode] [model]

.model ([modelname] d [parmtr1=x] [parmtr2=y] . . .)
Example: d1 1 2 mod1
.model mod1 d
3.14. SPICE MODELS 165
Example2: D2 1 2 Da1N4004
.model Da1N4004 D (IS=18.8n RS=0 BV=400 IBV=5.00u CJO=30
M=0.333 N=2)
The easiest approach to take for a SPICE model is the same as for a data sheet: consult
the manufacturer’s web site. Table 3.7 lists the model parameters for some selected diodes. A
fallback strategy is to build a SPICE model from those parameters listed on the data sheet.
A third strategy, not considered here, is to take measurements of an actual device. Then,
calculate, compare and adjust the SPICE parameters to the measurements.
Table 3.6: Diode SPICE parameters

Symbol Name Parameter Units Default
IS IS Saturation current (diode equa- A 1E-14
tion)
RS RS Parsitic resistance (series resis- Ω 0
tance)
n N Emission coefficient, 1 to 2 - 1
τD TT Transit time s 0
CD (0) CJO Zero-bias junction capacitance F 0
φ0 VJ Junction potential V 1
m M Junction grading coefficient - 0.5
- - 0.33 for linearly graded junc- - -
tion
- - 0.5 for abrupt junction - -
Eg EG Activation energy: eV 1.11
- - Si: 1.11 - -
- - Ge: 0.67 - -
- - Schottky: 0.69 - -
pi XTI IS temperature exponent - 3.0
- - pn junction: 3.0 - -
- - Schottky: 2.0 - -
kf KF Flicker noise coefficient - 0
af AF Flicker noise exponent - 1
FC FC Forward bias depletion capaci- - 0.5
tance coefficient
BV BV Reverse breakdown voltage V ∞
IBV IBV Reverse breakdown current A 1E-3
If diode parameters are not specified as in “Example” model above, the parameters take on
the default values listed in Table 3.6 and Table 3.7. These defaults model integrated circuit
diodes. These are certainly adequate for preliminary work with discrete devices For more
critical work, use SPICE models supplied by the manufacturer [5], SPICE vendors, and other
sources. [16]
Otherwise, derive some of the parameters from the data sheet. First select a value for spice
Table 3.7: SPICE parameters for selected diodes; sk=schottky Ge=germanium; else silicon.
Part IS RS N TT CJO M VJ EG XTI BV IBV
Default 1E-14 0 1 0 0 0.5 1 1.11 3 ∞ 1m
1N5711 sk 315n 2.8 2.03 1.44n 2.00p 0.333 - 0.69 2 70 10u
1N5712 sk 680p 12 1.003 50p 1.0p 0.5 0.6 0.69 2 20 -
1N34 Ge 200p 84m 2.19 144n 4.82p 0.333 0.75 0.67 - 60 15u
1N4148 35p 64m 1.24 5.0n 4.0p 0.285 0.6 - - 75 -
1N3891 63n 9.6m 2 110n 114p 0.255 0.6 - - 250 -
10A04 10A 844n 2.06m 2.06 4.32u 277p 0.333 - - - 400 10u
1N4004 76.9n 42.2m 1.45 4.32u 39.8p 0.333 - - - 400 5u
1A
1N4004 18.8n - 2 - 30p 0.333 - - - 400 5u
data sheet
parameter N between 1 and 2. It is required for the diode equation (n). Massobrio [1] pp 9,
recommends ”.. n, the emission coefficient is usually about 2.” In Table 3.7, we see that power
rectifiers 1N3891 (12 A), and 10A04 (10 A) both use about 2. The first four in the table are not
relevant because they are schottky, schottky, germanium, and silicon small signal, respectively.
The saturation current, IS, is derived from the diode equation, a value of (VD , ID ) on the graph
in Figure 3.85, and N=2 (n in the diode equation).
ID = IS (eVD /nVT − 1)
VT = 26 mV at 25o C n = 2.0 VD = 0.925 V at 1 A from graph
1 A = IS (e(0.925V )/(2)(26mV ) − 1)
IS = 18.8E-9
The numerical values of IS=18.8n and N=2 are entered in last line of Table 3.7 for compar-
ison to the manufacturers model for 1N4004, which is considerably different. RS defaults to 0
for now. It will be estimated later. The important DC static parameters are N, IS, and RS.
Rashid [15] suggests that TT, τ D , the transit time, be approximated from the reverse re-
covery stored charge QRR , a data sheet parameter (not available on our data sheet) and IF ,
forward current.
ID = IS (eVD /nVT − 1)
τD = QRR /IF
We take the TT=0 default for lack of QRR . Though it would be reasonable to take TT for a
similar rectifier like the 10A04 at 4.32u. The 1N3891 TT is not a valid choice because it is a
fast recovery rectifier. CJO, the zero bias junction capacitance is estimated from the VR vs CJ
graph in Figure 3.85. The capacitance at the nearest to zero voltage on the graph is 30 pF at
1 V. If simulating high speed transient response, as in switching regulator power supplies, TT
and CJO parameters must be provided.
The junction grading coefficient M is related to the doping profile of the junction. This is not
a data sheet item. The default is 0.5 for an abrupt junction. We opt for M=0.333 corresponding
to a linearly graded junction. The power rectifiers in Table 3.7 use lower values for M than 0.5.
We take the default values for VJ and EG. Many more diodes use VJ=0.6 than shown in
Table 3.7. However the 10A04 rectifier uses the default, which we use for our 1N4004 model
(Da1N4001 in Table 3.6). Use the default EG=1.11 for silicon diodes and rectifiers. Table 3.6
lists values for schottky and germanium diodes. Take the XTI=3, the default IS temperature
coefficient for silicon devices. See Table 3.6 for XTI for schottky diodes.
The abbreviated data sheet, Figure 3.85, lists IR = 5 µA @ VR = 400 V, corresponding to
IBV=5u and BV=400 respectively. The 1n4004 SPICE parameters derived from the data sheet
are listed in the last line of Table 3.7 for comparison to the manufacturer’s model listed above
it. BV is only necessary if the simulation exceeds the reverse breakdown voltage of the diode,
as is the case for zener diodes. IBV, reverse breakdown current, is frequently omitted, but may
be entered if provided with BV.
Figure 3.86 shows a circuit to compare the manufacturers model, the model derived from
the datasheet, and the default model using default parameters. The three dummy 0 V sources
are necessary for diode current measurement. The 1 V source is swept from 0 to 1.4 V in 0.2
mV steps. See .DC statement in the netlist in Table 3.8. DI1N4004 is the manufacturer’s diode
model, Da1N4004 is our derived diode model.
D1 D2 D3
1
+
− 1V
+ + +
0V − 0V − 0V −
0
Figure 3.86: SPICE circuit for comparison of manufacturer model (D1), calculated datasheet
model (D2), and default model (D3).
We compare the three models in Figure 3.87. and to the datasheet graph data in Table 3.9.
VD is the diode voltage versus the diode currents for the manufacturer’s model, our calculated
datasheet model and the default diode model. The last column “1N4004 graph” is from the
datasheet voltage versus current curve in Figure 3.85 which we attempt to match. Comparison
of the currents for the three model to the last column shows that the default model is good at
low currents, the manufacturer’s model is good at high currents, and our calculated datasheet
model is best of all up to 1 A. Agreement is almost perfect at 1 A because the IS calculation is
based on diode voltage at 1 A. Our model grossly over states current above 1 A.
The solution is to increase RS from the default RS=0. Changing RS from 0 to 8m in the
datasheet model causes the curve to intersect 10 A (not shown) at the same voltage as the
manufacturer’s model. Increasing RS to 28.6m shifts the curve further to the right as shown in
Figure 3.88. This has the effect of more closely matching our datasheet model to the datasheet
Table 3.8: SPICE netlist parameters: (D1) DI1N4004 manufacturer’s model, (D2) Da1N40004
datasheet derived, (D3) default diode model.
*SPICE circuit <03468.eps> from XCircuit v3.20
D1 1 5 DI1N4004
V1 5 0 0
D2 1 3 Da1N4004
V2 3 0 0
D3 1 4 Default
V3 4 0 0
V4 1 0 1
.DC V4 0 1400mV 0.2m
.model Da1N4004 D (IS=18.8n RS=0 BV=400 IBV=5.00u CJO=30
+M=0.333 N=2.0 TT=0)
.MODEL DI1N4004 D (IS=76.9n RS=42.0m BV=400 IBV=5.00u CJO=39.8p
+M=0.333 N=1.45 TT=4.32u)
.MODEL Default D
.end
Figure 3.87: First trial of manufacturer model, calculated datasheet model, and default model.
Table 3.9: Comparison of manufacturer model, calculated datasheet model, and default model
to 1N4004 datasheet graph of V vs I.
model model model

1N4004
index VD manufacturer datasheet default
graph
3500 7.000000e-01 1.612924e+00 1.416211e-02 5.674683e-03
0.01
4001 8.002000e-01 3.346832e+00 9.825960e-02 2.731709e-01
0.13
4500 9.000000e-01 5.310740e+00 6.764928e-01 1.294824e+01
0.7
4625 9.250000e-01 5.823654e+00 1.096870e+00 3.404037e+01
1.0
5000 1.000000e-00 7.395953e+00 4.675526e+00 6.185078e+02
2.0
5500 1.100000e+00 9.548779e+00 3.231452e+01 2.954471e+04
3.3
6000 1.200000e+00 1.174489e+01 2.233392e+02 1.411283e+06
5.3
6500 1.300000e+00 1.397087e+01 1.543591e+03 6.741379e+07
8.0
7000 1.400000e+00 1.621861e+01 1.066840e+04 3.220203e+09 12.
graph (Figure 3.85). Table 3.10 shows that the current 1.224470e+01 A at 1.4 V matches the
graph at 12 A. However, the current at 0.925 V has degraded from 1.096870e+00 above to
7.318536e-01.
Figure 3.88: Second trial to improve calculated datasheet model compared with manufacturer
model and default model.
Table 3.10: Changing Da1N4004 model statement RS=0 to RS=28.6m decreases the current at
VD=1.4 V to 12.2 A.
.model Da1N4004 D (IS=18.8n RS=28.6m BV=400 IBV=5.00u CJO=30
+M=0.333 N=2.0 TT=0)
model model 1N4001
index VD manufacturer datasheet graph
3505 7.010000e-01 1.628276e+00 1.432463e-02 0.01
4000 8.000000e-01 3.343072e+00 9.297594e-02 0.13
4500 9.000000e-01 5.310740e+00 5.102139e-01 0.7
4625 9.250000e-01 5.823654e+00 7.318536e-01 1.0
5000 1.000000e-00 7.395953e+00 1.763520e+00 2.0
5500 1.100000e+00 9.548779e+00 3.848553e+00 3.3
6000 1.200000e+00 1.174489e+01 6.419621e+00 5.3
6500 1.300000e+00 1.397087e+01 9.254581e+00 8.0
7000 1.400000e+00 1.621861e+01 1.224470e+01 12.
Suggested reader exercise: decrease N so that the current at VD=0.925 V is restored to 1

A. This may increase the current (12.2 A) at VD=1.4 V requiring an increase of RS to decrease
current to 12 A.
Zener diode: There are two approaches to modeling a zener diode: set the BV parameter
to the zener voltage in the model statement, or model the zener with a subcircuit containing a
diode clamper set to the zener voltage. An example of the first approach sets the breakdown
voltage BV to 15 for the 1n4469 15 V zener diode model (IBV optional):
.model D1N4469 D ( BV=15 IBV=17m )
The second approach models the zener with a subcircuit. Clamper D1 and VZ in Figure ??
models the 15 V reverse breakdown voltage of a 1N4477A zener diode. Diode DR accounts for
the forward conduction of the zener in the subcircuit.
.SUBCKT DI-1N4744A
1 2
* Terminals A K
D1 1 2 DF
DZ 3 1 DR
VZ 2 3 13.7
.MODEL DF D (
IS=27.5p RS=0.620
N=1.10
+ CJO=78.3p
A 1 VJ=1.00 M=0.330
D1
−3
TT=50.1n )
+ 13.7 V
.MODEL DR D (
IS=5.49f RS=0.804
K 2 N=1.77 )
.ENDS
Figure 3.89: Zener diode subcircuit uses clamper (D1 and VZ) to model zener.
Tunnel diode: A tunnel diode may be modeled by a pair of field effect transistors (JFET)
in a SPICE subcircuit. [11] An oscillator circuit is also shown in this reference.
Gunn diode: A Gunn diode may also be modeled by a pair of JFET’s. [12] This reference
shows a microwave relaxation oscillator.
• REVIEW:
• Diodes are described in SPICE by a diode component statement referring to .model state-
ment. The .model statement contains parameters describing the diode. If parameters are
not provided, the model takes on default values.
• Static DC parameters include N, IS, and RS. Reverse breakdown parameters: BV, IBV.
• Accurate dynamic timing requires TT and CJO parameters
• Models provided by the manufacturer are highly recommended.

Contributors
Jered Wierzbicki (December 2002): Pointed out error in diode equation – Boltzmann’s
constant shown incorrectly.
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http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=48033&src=rss
[18] P.J. Verlinden, Sinton, K. Wickham, R.M. Swanson Crane, “BACKSIDE-
CONTACT SILICON SOLAR CELLS WITH IMPROVED EFFICIENCY.” at
http://www.sunpowercorp.com/techpapers/EPSEC97.pdf
[19] Christian Wolff, “Radar Principles,” Radar components, Gunn diodes at at
http://www.radartutorial.eu/17.bauteile/bt12.en.htm
[20] L. Yuan, M. R. Melloch, J. A. Cooper, K. J. Webb,“Silicon Carbide IM-

PATT Oscillators for High-Power Microwave and Millimeter-Wave Gen-
eration,” IEEE/Cornell Conference on Advanced Concepts in High Speed
Semiconductor Devices and Circuits, Ithaca, NY, August 7-9, 2000. at
http://www.ecn.purdue.edu/WBG/Device Research/IMPATT Diodes/Index.html
[21] Alan Seabaugh, Zhaoming HU, Qingmin LIU, David Rink, Jinli
Wang, “Silicon Based Tunnel Diodes and Integrated Circuits,” at
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http://www.physorg.com/news99904887.html
Chapter 4
BIPOLAR JUNCTION
TRANSISTORS
Contents
4.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
4.2 The transistor as a switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
4.3 Meter check of a transistor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
4.4 Active mode operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
4.5 The common-emitter amplifier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
4.6 The common-collector amplifier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
4.7 The common-base amplifier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
4.8 Biasing techniques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
4.9 Input and output coupling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
4.10 Feedback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
4.11 Amplifier impedances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
4.12 Current mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
4.13 Transistor ratings and packages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
4.14 BJT quirks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
*** INCOMPLETE ***
4.1 Introduction
The invention of the bipolar transistor in 1948 ushered in a revolution in electronics. Technical
feats previously requiring relatively large, mechanically fragile, power-hungry vacuum tubes
were suddenly achievable with tiny, mechanically rugged, power-thrifty specks of crystalline
silicon. This revolution made possible the design and manufacture of lightweight, inexpensive
175
176 CHAPTER 4. BIPOLAR JUNCTION TRANSISTORS
electronic devices that we now take for granted. Understanding how transistors function is of
paramount importance to anyone interested in understanding modern electronics.
My intent here is to focus as exclusively as possible on the practical function and application
of bipolar transistors, rather than to explore the quantum world of semiconductor theory. Dis-
cussions of holes and electrons are better left to another chapter in my opinion. Here I want
to explore how to use these components, not analyze their intimate internal details. I don’t
mean to downplay the importance of understanding semiconductor physics, but sometimes
an intense focus on solid-state physics detracts from understanding these devices’ functions
on a component level. In taking this approach, however, I assume that the reader possesses
a certain minimum knowledge of semiconductors: the difference between ”P” and ”N” doped
semiconductors, the functional characteristics of a PN (diode) junction, and the meanings of
the terms ”reverse biased” and ”forward biased.” If these concepts are unclear to you, it is best
to refer to earlier chapters in this book before proceeding with this one.
A bipolar transistor consists of a three-layer ”sandwich” of doped (extrinsic) semiconductor

materials, either P-N-P or N-P-N. Each layer forming the transistor has a specific name, and
each layer is provided with a wire contact for connection to a circuit. Shown here are schematic
symbols and physical diagrams of these two transistor types:
PNP transistor
collector
collector
P
base base N
P
emitter
emitter
schematic symbol physical diagram

NPN transistor
collector
collector
N
base base P
N
emitter
emitter

The only functional difference between a PNP transistor and an NPN transistor is the
proper biasing (polarity) of the junctions when operating. For any given state of operation, the
current directions and voltage polarities for each type of transistor are exactly opposite each
other.
Bipolar transistors work as current-controlled current regulators. In other words, they
restrict the amount of current that can go through them according to a smaller, controlling
current. The main current that is controlled goes from collector to emitter, or from emitter
to collector, depending on the type of transistor it is (PNP or NPN, respectively). The small
current that controls the main current goes from base to emitter, or from emitter to base, once
again depending on the type of transistor it is (PNP or NPN, respectively). According to the
confusing standards of semiconductor symbology, the arrow always points against the direction
of electron flow:
C C
B B
E E
= small, controlling current
= large, controlled current

Bipolar transistors are called bipolar because the main flow of electrons through them takes
place in two types of semiconductor material: P and N, as the main current goes from emitter
to collector (or vice versa). In other words, two types of charge carriers – electrons and holes –
comprise this main current through the transistor.
As you can see, the controlling current and the controlled current always mesh together
through the emitter wire, and their electrons always flow against the direction of the transis-
tor’s arrow. This is the first and foremost rule in the use of transistors: all currents must be
going in the proper directions for the device to work as a current regulator. The small, con-
trolling current is usually referred to simply as the base current because it is the only current
that goes through the base wire of the transistor. Conversely, the large, controlled current is
referred to as the collector current because it is the only current that goes through the collector
wire. The emitter current is the sum of the base and collector currents, in compliance with
Kirchhoff ’s Current Law.
If there is no current through the base of the transistor, it shuts off like an open switch and
prevents current through the collector. If there is a base current, then the transistor turns
on like a closed switch and allows a proportional amount of current through the collector.
Collector current is primarily limited by the base current, regardless of the amount of voltage
available to push it. The next section will explore in more detail the use of bipolar transistors
as switching elements.
• REVIEW:
• Bipolar transistors are so named because the controlled current must go through two
types of semiconductor material: P and N. The current consists of both electron and hole
flow, in different parts of the transistor.
• Bipolar transistors consist of either a P-N-P or an N-P-N semiconductor ”sandwich” struc-

ture.
• The three leads of a bipolar transistor are called the Emitter, Base, and Collector.
• Transistors function as current regulators by allowing a small current to control a larger

current. The amount of current allowed between collector and emitter is primarily deter-
mined by the amount of current moving between base and emitter.
• In order for a transistor to properly function as a current regulator, the controlling (base)
current and the controlled (collector) currents must be going in the proper directions:
meshing additively at the emitter and going against the emitter arrow symbol.
4.2 The transistor as a switch

Because a transistor’s collector current is proportionally limited by its base current, it can be
used as a sort of current-controlled switch. A relatively small flow of electrons sent through
the base of the transistor has the ability to exert control over a much larger flow of electrons
through the collector.
Suppose we had a lamp that we wanted to turn on and off by means of a switch. Such a
circuit would be extremely simple:
4.2. THE TRANSISTOR AS A SWITCH 179
switch
For the sake of illustration, let’s insert a transistor in place of the switch to show how it can
control the flow of electrons through the lamp. Remember that the controlled current through
a transistor must go between collector and emitter. Since its the current through the lamp
that we want to control, we must position the collector and emitter of our transistor where the
two contacts of the switch are now. We must also make sure that the lamp’s current will move
against the direction of the emitter arrow symbol to ensure that the transistor’s junction bias
will be correct:
NPN
transistor
In this example I happened to choose an NPN transistor. A PNP transistor could also have
been chosen for the job, and its application would look like this:
PNP
transistor
The choice between NPN and PNP is really arbitrary. All that matters is that the proper
current directions are maintained for the sake of correct junction biasing (electron flow going
against the transistor symbol’s arrow).
Going back to the NPN transistor in our example circuit, we are faced with the need to
add something more so that we can have base current. Without a connection to the base wire
of the transistor, base current will be zero, and the transistor cannot turn on, resulting in a
lamp that is always off. Remember that for an NPN transistor, base current must consist of
electrons flowing from emitter to base (against the emitter arrow symbol, just like the lamp
current). Perhaps the simplest thing to do would be to connect a switch between the base and
collector wires of the transistor like this:
switch
If the switch is open, the base wire of the transistor will be left ”floating” (not connected
to anything) and there will be no current through it. In this state, the transistor is said to be
cutoff. If the switch is closed, however, electrons will be able to flow from the emitter through
to the base of the transistor, through the switch and up to the left side of the lamp, back to
the positive side of the battery. This base current will enable a much larger flow of electrons
from the emitter through to the collector, thus lighting up the lamp. In this state of maximum
circuit current, the transistor is said to be saturated.
switch
Of course, it may seem pointless to use a transistor in this capacity to control the lamp.
After all, we’re still using a switch in the circuit, aren’t we? If we’re still using a switch to
control the lamp – if only indirectly – then what’s the point of having a transistor to control
the current? Why not just go back to our original circuit and use the switch directly to control
the lamp current?
There are a couple of points to be made here, actually. First is the fact that when used in
this manner, the switch contacts need only handle what little base current is necessary to turn
the transistor on, while the transistor itself handles the majority of the lamp’s current. This
may be an important advantage if the switch has a low current rating: a small switch may be
used to control a relatively high-current load. Perhaps more importantly, though, is the fact
that the current-controlling behavior of the transistor enables us to use something completely
different to turn the lamp on or off. Consider this example, where a solar cell is used to control
the transistor, which in turn controls the lamp:
solar
cell
Or, we could use a thermocouple to provide the necessary base current to turn the transistor
on:
thermocouple
+
-
source of
heat
Even a microphone of sufficient voltage and current output could be used to turn the tran-
sistor on, provided its output is rectified from AC to DC so that the emitter-base PN junction
within the transistor will always be forward-biased:
microphone
source of
sound
The point should be quite apparent by now: any sufficient source of DC current may be
used to turn the transistor on, and that source of current need only be a fraction of the amount
of current needed to energize the lamp. Here we see the transistor functioning not only as a
switch, but as a true amplifier: using a relatively low-power signal to control a relatively large
amount of power. Please note that the actual power for lighting up the lamp comes from the
battery to the right of the schematic. It is not as though the small signal current from the
solar cell, thermocouple, or microphone is being magically transformed into a greater amount
of power. Rather, those small power sources are simply controlling the battery’s power to light
up the lamp.
• REVIEW:
• Transistors may be used as switching elements to control DC power to a load. The

switched (controlled) current goes between emitter and collector, while the controlling
current goes between emitter and base.
• When a transistor has zero current through it, it is said to be in a state of cutoff (fully
nonconducting).
• When a transistor has maximum current through it, it is said to be in a state of saturation
(fully conducting).
4.3 Meter check of a transistor
Bipolar transistors are constructed of a three-layer semiconductor ”sandwich,” either PNP or

NPN. As such, they register as two diodes connected back-to-back when tested with a multi-
meter’s ”resistance” or ”diode check” functions:
V A
V A
OFF
PNP transistor
A COM collector
+
collector
- P
base base N
- P
emitter
+
emitter
V A
V A
OFF
Both meters show continuity (low
resistance) through collector-base
A COM and emitter-base PN junctions.
Here I’m assuming the use of a multimeter with only a single continuity range (resistance)
function to check the PN junctions. Some multimeters are equipped with two separate conti-
nuity check functions: resistance and ”diode check,” each with its own purpose. If your meter
has a designated ”diode check” function, use that rather than the ”resistance” range, and the
meter will display the actual forward voltage of the PN junction and not just whether or not it
conducts current.
4.3. METER CHECK OF A TRANSISTOR 183
V A
V A
OFF
PNP transistor
A COM collector
-
collector
+ P
base base N
+ P
emitter
-
emitter
V A
V A
OFF
Both meters show non-continuity
(high resistance) through collector-
A COM base and emitter-base PN junctions.
Meter readings will be exactly opposite, of course, for an NPN transistor, with both PN
junctions facing the other way. If a multimeter with a ”diode check” function is used in this
test, it will be found that the emitter-base junction possesses a slightly greater forward voltage
drop than the collector-base junction. This forward voltage difference is due to the disparity in
doping concentration between the emitter and collector regions of the transistor: the emitter
is a much more heavily doped piece of semiconductor material than the collector, causing its
junction with the base to produce a higher forward voltage drop.
Knowing this, it becomes possible to determine which wire is which on an unmarked tran-
sistor. This is important because transistor packaging, unfortunately, is not standardized. All
bipolar transistors have three wires, of course, but the positions of the three wires on the actual
physical package are not arranged in any universal, standardized order.
Suppose a technician finds a bipolar transistor and proceeds to measure continuity with a
multimeter set in the ”diode check” mode. Measuring between pairs of wires and recording the
values displayed by the meter, the technician obtains the following data:
Unknown bipolar transistor
Which wires are emitter,

base, and collector?
1
2 3
• Meter touching wire 1 (+) and 2 (-): ”OL”
• Meter touching wire 1 (-) and 2 (+): ”OL”
• Meter touching wire 1 (+) and 3 (-): 0.655 volts
• Meter touching wire 2 (+) and 3 (-): 0.621 volts
The only combinations of test points giving conducting meter readings are wires 1 and 3
(red test lead on 1 and black test lead on 3), and wires 2 and 3 (red test lead on 2 and black test
lead on 3). These two readings must indicate forward biasing of the emitter-to-base junction
(0.655 volts) and the collector-to-base junction (0.621 volts).
Now we look for the one wire common to both sets of conductive readings. It must be the
base connection of the transistor, because the base is the only layer of the three-layer device
common to both sets of PN junctions (emitter-base and collector-base). In this example, that
wire is number 3, being common to both the 1-3 and the 2-3 test point combinations. In both
those sets of meter readings, the black (-) meter test lead was touching wire 3, which tells us
that the base of this transistor is made of N-type semiconductor material (black = negative).
Thus, the transistor is an PNP type with base on wire 3, emitter on wire 1 and collector on
wire 2:
1
Emitter
2 3
Collector Base
Please note that the base wire in this example is not the middle lead of the transistor, as one
might expect from the three-layer ”sandwich” model of a bipolar transistor. This is quite often
the case, and tends to confuse new students of electronics. The only way to be sure which lead
is which is by a meter check, or by referencing the manufacturer’s ”data sheet” documentation
on that particular part number of transistor.
Knowing that a bipolar transistor behaves as two back-to-back diodes when tested with a
conductivity meter is helpful for identifying an unknown transistor purely by meter readings.
It is also helpful for a quick functional check of the transistor. If the technician were to mea-
sure continuity in any more than two or any less than two of the six test lead combinations,
he or she would immediately know that the transistor was defective (or else that it wasn’t a
bipolar transistor but rather something else – a distinct possibility if no part numbers can be
referenced for sure identification!). However, the ”two diode” model of the transistor fails to
explain how or why it acts as an amplifying device.
To better illustrate this paradox, let’s examine one of the transistor switch circuits using
the physical diagram rather than the schematic symbol to represent the transistor. This way
the two PN junctions will be easier to see:
N collector
P base
N emitter
solar
cell
A grey-colored diagonal arrow shows the direction of electron flow through the emitter-base
junction. This part makes sense, since the electrons are flowing from the N-type emitter to the
P-type base: the junction is obviously forward-biased. However, the base-collector junction is
another matter entirely. Notice how the grey-colored thick arrow is pointing in the direction of
electron flow (upwards) from base to collector. With the base made of P-type material and the
collector of N-type material, this direction of electron flow is clearly backwards to the direction
normally associated with a PN junction! A normal PN junction wouldn’t permit this ”back-
ward” direction of flow, at least not without offering significant opposition. However, when the
transistor is saturated, there is very little opposition to electrons all the way from emitter to
collector, as evidenced by the lamp’s illumination!
Clearly then, something is going on here that defies the simple ”two-diode” explanatory
model of the bipolar transistor. When I was first learning about transistor operation, I tried to
construct my own transistor from two back-to-back diodes, like this:
no light!
no current!
solar
cell
Back-to-back diodes don’t act
like a transistor!
My circuit didn’t work, and I was mystified. However useful the ”two diode” description of
a transistor might be for testing purposes, it doesn’t explain how a transistor can behave as a
controlled switch.
What happens in a transistor is this: the reverse bias of the base-collector junction pre-
vents collector current when the transistor is in cutoff mode (that is, when there is no base
current). However, when the base-emitter junction is forward biased by the controlling signal,
the normally-blocking action of the base-collector junction is overridden and current is permit-
ted through the collector, despite the fact that electrons are going the ”wrong way” through that
PN junction. This action is dependent on the quantum physics of semiconductor junctions, and
can only take place when the two junctions are properly spaced and the doping concentrations
of the three layers are properly proportioned. Two diodes wired in series fail to meet these
criteria, and so the top diode can never ”turn on” when it is reversed biased, no matter how
much current goes through the bottom diode in the base wire loop.
That doping concentrations play a crucial part in the special abilities of the transistor is
further evidenced by the fact that collector and emitter are not interchangeable. If the tran-
sistor is merely viewed as two back-to-back PN junctions, or merely as a plain N-P-N or P-N-P
sandwich of materials, it may seem as though either end of the transistor could serve as collec-
tor or emitter. This, however, is not true. If connected ”backwards” in a circuit, a base-collector
current will fail to control current between collector and emitter. Despite the fact that both the
emitter and collector layers of a bipolar transistor are of the same doping type (either N or P),
4.4. ACTIVE MODE OPERATION 187
they are definitely not identical!

So, current through the emitter-base junction allows current through the reverse-biased
base-collector junction. The action of base current can be thought of as ”opening a gate” for
current through the collector. More specifically, any given amount of emitter-to-base current
permits a limited amount of base-to-collector current. For every electron that passes through
the emitter-base junction and on through the base wire, there is allowed a certain, restricted
number of electrons to pass through the base-collector junction and no more.
In the next section, this current-limiting behavior of the transistor will be investigated in
more detail.
• REVIEW:
• Tested with a multimeter in the ”resistance” or ”diode check” modes, a transistor behaves
like two back-to-back PN (diode) junctions.
• The emitter-base PN junction has a slightly greater forward voltage drop than the collector-
base PN junction, due to more concentrated doping of the emitter semiconductor layer.
• The reverse-biased base-collector junction normally blocks any current from going through
the transistor between emitter and collector. However, that junction begins to conduct if
current is drawn through the base wire. Base current can be thought of as ”opening a
gate” for a certain, limited amount of current through the collector.
4.4 Active mode operation

When a transistor is in the fully-off state (like an open switch), it is said to be cutoff. Con-
versely, when it is fully conductive between emitter and collector (passing as much current
through the collector as the collector power supply and load will allow), it is said to be sat-
urated. These are the two modes of operation explored thus far in using the transistor as a
switch.
However, bipolar transistors don’t have to be restricted to these two extreme modes of oper-
ation. As we learned in the previous section, base current ”opens a gate” for a limited amount
of current through the collector. If this limit for the controlled current is greater than zero
but less than the maximum allowed by the power supply and load circuit, the transistor will
”throttle” the collector current in a mode somewhere between cutoff and saturation. This mode
of operation is called the active mode.
An automotive analogy for transistor operation is as follows: cutoff is the condition where
there is no motive force generated by the mechanical parts of the car to make it move. In cutoff
mode, the brake is engaged (zero base current), preventing motion (collector current). Active
mode is when the automobile is cruising at a constant, controlled speed (constant, controlled
collector current) as dictated by the driver. Saturation is when the automobile is driving up a
steep hill that prevents it from going as fast as the driver would wish. In other words, a ”satu-
rated” automobile is one where the accelerator pedal is pushed all the way down (base current
calling for more collector current than can be provided by the power supply/load circuit).
I’ll set up a circuit for SPICE simulation to demonstrate what happens when a transistor
is in its active mode of operation:
Vammeter
2 3
0V
1 V1
Q1
Current I1
source
0 0 0
”Q” is the standard letter designation for a transistor in a schematic diagram, just as ”R” is
for resistor and ”C” is for capacitor. In this circuit, we have an NPN transistor powered by a
battery (V1 ) and controlled by current through a current source (I1 ). A current source is a device
that outputs a specific amount of current, generating as much or as little voltage as necessary
across its terminals to ensure that exact amount of current through it. Current sources are
notoriously difficult to find in nature (unlike voltage sources, which by contrast attempt to
maintain a constant voltage, outputting as much or as little current in the fulfillment of that
task), but can be simulated with a small collection of electronic components. As we are about
to see, transistors themselves tend to mimic the constant-current behavior of a current source
in their ability to regulate current at a fixed value.
In the SPICE simulation, I’ll set the current source at a constant value of 20 µA, then vary
the voltage source (V1 ) over a range of 0 to 2 volts and monitor how much current goes through
it. The ”dummy” battery (Vammeter ) with its output of 0 volts serves merely to provide SPICE
with a circuit element for current measurement.
bipolar transistor simulation

i1 0 1 dc 20u
q1 2 1 0 mod1
vammeter 3 2 dc 0
v1 3 0 dc
.model mod1 npn
.dc v1 0 2 0.05
.plot dc i(vammeter)
.end
type npn
is 1.00E-16
bf 100.000
nf 1.000
br 1.000
nr 1.000
The constant base current of 20 µA sets a collector current limit of 2 mA, exactly 100 times
as much. Notice how flat the curve is for collector current over the range of battery voltage
from 0 to 2 volts. The only exception to this featureless plot is at the very beginning, where the
battery increases from 0 volts to 0.25 volts. There, the collector current increases rapidly from
0 amps to its limit of 2 mA.
Let’s see what happens if we vary the battery voltage over a wider range, this time from 0
to 50 volts. We’ll keep the base current steady at 20 µA:

i1 0 1 dc 20u
q1 2 1 0 mod1
vammeter 3 2 dc 0
v1 3 0 dc
.model mod1 npn
.dc v1 0 50 2
.end
type npn
is 1.00E-16
bf 100.000
nf 1.000
br 1.000
nr 1.000
Same result! The collector current holds absolutely steady at 2 mA despite the fact that the
battery (v1) voltage varies all the way from 0 to 50 volts. It would appear from our simulation
that collector-to-emitter voltage has little effect over collector current, except at very low levels
(just above 0 volts). The transistor is acting as a current regulator, allowing exactly 2 mA
through the collector and no more.
Now let’s see what happens if we increase the controlling (I1 ) current from 20 µA to 75
µA, once again sweeping the battery (V1 ) voltage from 0 to 50 volts and graphing the collector
current:

i1 0 1 dc 75u
q1 2 1 0 mod1
vammeter 3 2 dc 0
v1 3 0 dc
.model mod1 npn
.dc v1 0 50 2
.end
type npn
is 1.00E-16
bf 100.000
nf 1.000
br 1.000
nr 1.000
Not surprisingly, SPICE gives us a similar plot: a flat line, holding steady this time at 7.5
mA – exactly 100 times the base current – over the range of battery voltages from just above
0 volts to 50 volts. It appears that the base current is the deciding factor for collector current,
the V1 battery voltage being irrelevant so long as its above a certain minimum level.
This voltage/current relationship is entirely different from what we’re used to seeing across
a resistor. With a resistor, current increases linearly as the voltage across it increases. Here,
with a transistor, current from emitter to collector stays limited at a fixed, maximum value no
matter how high the voltage across emitter and collector increases.
Often it is useful to superimpose several collector current/voltage graphs for different base
currents on the same graph. A collection of curves like this – one curve plotted for each distinct
level of base current – for a particular transistor is called the transistor’s characteristic curves:
9
8 Ibase = 75 µA
7
6
Icollector
(mA) 5
Ibase = 40 µA
4
Ibase = 20 µA
2
1 Ibase = 5 µA
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Ecollector-to-emitter (V)
Each curve on the graph reflects the collector current of the transistor, plotted over a range
of collector-to-emitter voltages, for a given amount of base current. Since a transistor tends to
act as a current regulator, limiting collector current to a proportion set by the base current, it is
useful to express this proportion as a standard transistor performance measure. Specifically,
the ratio of collector current to base current is known as the Beta ratio (symbolized by the
Greek letter β):
Icollector
β=
Ibase
β is also known as hfe
Sometimes the β ratio is designated as ”hf e ,” a label used in a branch of mathematical

semiconductor analysis known as ”hybrid parameters” which strives to achieve very precise
predictions of transistor performance with detailed equations. Hybrid parameter variables are
many, but they are all labeled with the general letter ”h” and a specific subscript. The variable
”hf e ” is just another (standardized) way of expressing the ratio of collector current to base
current, and is interchangeable with ”β.” Like all ratios, β is unitless.
β for any transistor is determined by its design: it cannot be altered after manufacture.
However, there are so many physical variables impacting β that it is rare to have two tran-
sistors of the same design exactly match. If a circuit design relies on equal β ratios between
multiple transistors, ”matched sets” of transistors may be purchased at extra cost. However, it
is generally considered bad design practice to engineer circuits with such dependencies.
It would be nice if the β of a transistor remained stable for all operating conditions, but this
is not true in real life. For an actual transistor, the β ratio may vary by a factor of over 3 within
its operating current limits. For example, a transistor with advertised β of 50 may actually
test with Ic /Ib ratios as low as 30 and as high as 100, depending on the amount of collector
current, the transistor’s temperature, and frequency of amplified signal, among other factors.
For tutorial purposes it is adequate to assume a constant β for any given transistor (which is
what SPICE tends to do in a simulation), but just realize that real life is not that simple!
Sometimes it is helpful for comprehension to ”model” complex electronic components with

a collection of simpler, better-understood components. The following is a popular model shown
in many introductory electronics texts:
NPN diode-rheostat model
This model casts the transistor as a combination of diode and rheostat (variable resistor).
Current through the base-emitter diode controls the resistance of the collector-emitter rheo-
stat (as implied by the dashed line connecting the two components), thus controlling collector
current. An NPN transistor is modeled in the figure shown, but a PNP transistor would be
only slightly different (only the base-emitter diode would be reversed). This model succeeds
in illustrating the basic concept of transistor amplification: how the base current signal can
exert control over the collector current. However, I personally don’t like this model because it
tends to miscommunicate the notion of a set amount of collector-emitter resistance for a given
amount of base current. If this were true, the transistor wouldn’t regulate collector current at
all like the characteristic curves show. Instead of the collector current curves flattening out
after their brief rise as the collector-emitter voltage increases, the collector current would be
directly proportional to collector-emitter voltage, rising steadily in a straight line on the graph.
A better transistor model, often seen in more advanced textbooks, is this:

NPN diode-current source model
It casts the transistor as a combination of diode and current source, the output of the cur-
rent source being set at a multiple (β ratio) of the base current. This model is far more accurate
in depicting the true input/output characteristics of a transistor: base current establishes a cer-
tain amount of collector current, rather than a certain amount of collector-emitter resistance
as the first model implies. Also, this model is favored when performing network analysis on
transistor circuits, the current source being a well-understood theoretical component. Unfor-
tunately, using a current source to model the transistor’s current-controlling behavior can be
misleading: in no way will the transistor ever act as a source of electrical energy, which the
current source symbol implies is a possibility.
My own personal suggestion for a transistor model substitutes a constant-current diode for
the current source:
4.5. THE COMMON-EMITTER AMPLIFIER 195
NPN diode-regulating diode model
E
Since no diode ever acts as a source of electrical energy, this analogy escapes the false
implication of the current source model as a source of power, while depicting the transis-
tor’s constant-current behavior better than the rheostat model. Another way to describe the
constant-current diode’s action would be to refer to it as a current regulator, so this transistor
illustration of mine might also be described as a diode-current regulator model. The greatest
disadvantage I see to this model is the relative obscurity of constant-current diodes. Many peo-
ple may be unfamiliar with their symbology or even of their existence, unlike either rheostats
or current sources, which are commonly known.
• REVIEW:
• A transistor is said to be in its active mode if it is operating somewhere between fully on
(saturated) and fully off (cutoff).
• Base current tends to regulate collector current. By regulate, we mean that no more
collector current may exist than what is allowed by the base current.
• The ratio between collector current and base current is called ”Beta” (β) or ”hf e ”.
• β ratios are different for every transistor, and they tend to change for different operating
conditions.
4.5 The common-emitter amplifier

At the beginning of this chapter we saw how transistors could be used as switches, operating in
either their ”saturation” or ”cutoff ” modes. In the last section we saw how transistors behave
within their ”active” modes, between the far limits of saturation and cutoff. Because transistors
are able to control current in an analog (infinitely divisible) fashion, they find use as amplifiers
for analog signals.
One of the simpler transistor amplifier circuits to study is the one used previously for illus-
trating the transistor’s switching ability:
solar
cell
It is called the common-emitter configuration because (ignoring the power supply battery)
both the signal source and the load share the emitter lead as a common connection point. This
is not the only way in which a transistor may be used as an amplifier, as we will see in later
sections of this chapter:
Vout
C Load
B
Vin E
solar
cell
Before, this circuit was shown to illustrate how a relatively small current from a solar cell
could be used to saturate a transistor, resulting in the illumination of a lamp. Knowing now
that transistors are able to ”throttle” their collector currents according to the amount of base
current supplied by an input signal source, we should be able to see that the brightness of the
lamp in this circuit is controllable by the solar cell’s light exposure. When there is just a little
light shone on the solar cell, the lamp will glow dimly. The lamp’s brightness will steadily
increase as more light falls on the solar cell.
Suppose that we were interested in using the solar cell as a light intensity instrument. We
want to be able to measure the intensity of incident light with the solar cell by using its output
current to drive a meter movement. It is possible to directly connect a meter movement to a
solar cell for this purpose. In fact, the simplest light-exposure meters for photography work
are designed like this:
meter movement
+ -
solar
cell
While this approach might work for moderate light intensity measurements, it would not
work as well for low light intensity measurements. Because the solar cell has to supply the
meter movement’s power needs, the system is necessarily limited in its sensitivity. Supposing
that our need here is to measure very low-level light intensities, we are pressed to find another
solution.
Perhaps the most direct solution to this measurement problem is to use a transistor to
amplify the solar cell’s current so that more meter movement needle deflection may be obtained
for less incident light. Consider this approach:
- +
+
+ -
solar -
cell
Current through the meter movement in this circuit will be β times the solar cell current.
With a transistor β of 100, this represents a substantial increase in measurement sensitivity.
It is prudent to point out that the additional power to move the meter needle comes from the
battery on the far right of the circuit, not the solar cell itself. All the solar cell’s current does
is control battery current to the meter to provide a greater meter reading than the solar cell
could provide unaided.
Because the transistor is a current-regulating device, and because meter movement indi-
cations are based on the amount of current through their movement coils, meter indication in
this circuit should depend only on the amount of current from the solar cell, not on the amount
of voltage provided by the battery. This means the accuracy of the circuit will be independent of
battery condition, a significant feature! All that is required of the battery is a certain minimum
voltage and current output ability to be able to drive the meter full-scale if needed.
Another way in which the common-emitter configuration may be used is to produce an

output voltage derived from the input signal, rather than a specific output current. Let’s replace
the meter movement with a plain resistor and measure voltage between collector and emitter:
+ Voutput -
solar -
cell
With the solar cell darkened (no current), the transistor will be in cutoff mode and behave
as an open switch between collector and emitter. This will produce maximum voltage drop
between collector and emitter for maximum Voutput , equal to the full voltage of the battery.
At full power (maximum light exposure), the solar cell will drive the transistor into satu-
ration mode, making it behave like a closed switch between collector and emitter. The result
will be minimum voltage drop between collector and emitter, or almost zero output voltage.
In actuality, a saturated transistor can never achieve zero voltage drop between collector and
emitter due to the two PN junctions through which collector current must travel. However,
this ”collector-emitter saturation voltage” will be fairly low, around several tenths of a volt,
depending on the specific transistor used.
For light exposure levels somewhere between zero and maximum solar cell output, the tran-
sistor will be in its active mode, and the output voltage will be somewhere between zero and
full battery voltage. An important quality to note here about the common-emitter configuration
is that the output voltage is inversely proportional to the input signal strength. That is, the
output voltage decreases as the input signal increases. For this reason, the common-emitter
amplifier configuration is referred to as an inverting amplifier.
A quick SPICE simulation will verify our qualitative conclusions about this amplifier cir-
cuit:
2 R 3
5 kΩ +
1 V1 15 V
Q1
Voutput -
I1
0 0 0
common-emitter amplifier
i1 0 1 dc
q1 2 1 0 mod1
r 3 2 5000
v1 3 0 dc 15
.model mod1 npn
.dc i1 0 50u 2u
.plot dc v(2,0)
.end
type npn
is 1.00E-16
bf 100.000
nf 1.000
br 1.000
nr 1.000
At the beginning of the simulation where the current source (solar cell) is outputting zero
current, the transistor is in cutoff mode and the full 15 volts from the battery is shown at
the amplifier output (between nodes 2 and 0). As the solar cell’s current begins to increase,
the output voltage proportionally decreases, until the transistor reaches saturation at 30 µA
of base current (3 mA of collector current). Notice how the output voltage trace on the graph
is perfectly linear (1 volt steps from 15 volts to 1 volt) until the point of saturation, where it
never quite reaches zero. This is the effect mentioned earlier, where a saturated transistor can
never achieve exactly zero voltage drop between collector and emitter due to internal junction
effects. What we do see is a sharp output voltage decrease from 1 volt to 0.2261 volts as the
input current increases from 28 µA to 30 µA, and then a continuing decrease in output voltage
from then on (albeit in progressively smaller steps). The lowest the output voltage ever gets in
this simulation is 0.1299 volts, asymptotically approaching zero.
So far, we’ve seen the transistor used as an amplifier for DC signals. In the solar cell light
meter example, we were interested in amplifying the DC output of the solar cell to drive a
DC meter movement, or to produce a DC output voltage. However, this is not the only way in
which a transistor may be employed as an amplifier. In many cases, what is desired is an AC
amplifier for amplifying alternating current and voltage signals. One common application of
this is in audio electronics (radios, televisions, and public-address systems). Earlier, we saw
an example where the audio output of a tuning fork could be used to activate a transistor as a
switch. Let’s see if we can modify that circuit to send power to a speaker rather than to a lamp:
microphone
source of
sound
In the original circuit, a full-wave bridge rectifier was used to convert the microphone’s AC
output signal into a DC voltage to drive the input of the transistor. All we cared about here was
turning the lamp on with a sound signal from the microphone, and this arrangement sufficed
for that purpose. But now we want to actually reproduce the AC signal and drive a speaker.
This means we cannot rectify the microphone’s output anymore, because we need undistorted
AC signal to drive the transistor! Let’s remove the bridge rectifier and replace the lamp with a
speaker:
speaker
microphone
source of
sound
Since the microphone may produce voltages exceeding the forward voltage drop of the base-
emitter PN (diode) junction, I’ve placed a resistor in series with the microphone. Let’s simulate
this circuit now in SPICE and see what happens:
speaker
3 8Ω 4
R1 2
1 Q1 V1 15 V
Vinput 1 kΩ
1.5 V
2 kHz
0 0 0
vinput 1 0 sin (0 1.5 2000 0 0)
r1 1 2 1k
q1 3 2 0 mod1
rspkr 3 4 8
v1 4 0 dc 15
.model mod1 npn
.tran 0.02m 0.74m
.plot tran v(1,0) i(v1)
.end
The simulation plots both the input voltage (an AC signal of 1.5 volt peak amplitude and
2000 Hz frequency) and the current through the 15 volt battery, which is the same as the
current through the speaker. What we see here is a full AC sine wave alternating in both
positive and negative directions, and a half-wave output current waveform that only pulses in
one direction. If we were actually driving a speaker with this waveform, the sound produced
would be horribly distorted.
What’s wrong with the circuit? Why won’t it faithfully reproduce the entire AC waveform
from the microphone? The answer to this question is found by close inspection of the transistor
diode-regulating diode model:
NPN diode-regulating diode model
Collector current is controlled, or regulated, through the constant-current mechanism ac-

cording to the pace set by the current through the base-emitter diode. Note that both current
paths through the transistor are monodirectional: one way only! Despite our intent to use the
transistor to amplify an AC signal, it is essentially a DC device, capable of handling currents
in a single direction only. We may apply an AC voltage input signal between the base and emit-
ter, but electrons cannot flow in that circuit during the part of the cycle that reverse-biases the
base-emitter diode junction. Therefore, the transistor will remain in cutoff mode throughout
that portion of the cycle. It will ”turn on” in its active mode only when the input voltage is
of the correct polarity to forward-bias the base-emitter diode, and only when that voltage is
sufficiently high to overcome the diode’s forward voltage drop. Remember that bipolar tran-
sistors are current-controlled devices: they regulate collector current based on the existence of
base-to-emitter current, not base-to-emitter voltage.
The only way we can get the transistor to reproduce the entire waveform as current through
the speaker is to keep the transistor in its active mode the entire time. This means we must
maintain current through the base during the entire input waveform cycle. Consequently, the
base-emitter diode junction must be kept forward-biased at all times. Fortunately, this can
be accomplished with the aid of a DC bias voltage added to the input signal. By connecting a
sufficient DC voltage in series with the AC signal source, forward-bias can be maintained at
all points throughout the wave cycle:
speaker
3 8Ω 4
R1 2
1 Q1 V1 15 V
Vinput 1 kΩ
1.5 V
2 kHz + -
5 0 0
Vbias
2.3 V
vinput 1 5 sin (0 1.5 2000 0 0)
vbias 5 0 dc 2.3
r1 1 2 1k
q1 3 2 0 mod1
rspkr 3 4 8
v1 4 0 dc 15
.model mod1 npn
.tran 0.02m 0.78m
.end
With the bias voltage source of 2.3 volts in place, the transistor remains in its active mode
throughout the entire cycle of the wave, faithfully reproducing the waveform at the speaker.
Notice that the input voltage (measured between nodes 1 and 0) fluctuates between about 0.8
volts and 3.8 volts, a peak-to-peak voltage of 3 volts just as expected (source voltage = 1.5 volts
peak). The output (speaker) current varies between zero and almost 300 mA, 180o out of phase
with the input (microphone) signal.
The following illustration is another view of the same circuit, this time with a few oscillo-
scopes (”scopemeters”) connected at crucial points to display all the pertinent signals:
speaker
8Ω
R1
Q1 V1 15 V
Vinput 1 kΩ
1.5 V
2 kHz + -
Vbias
The need for biasing a transistor amplifier circuit to obtain full waveform reproduction is
an important consideration. A separate section of this chapter will be devoted entirely to the
subject biasing and biasing techniques. For now, it is enough to understand that biasing may
be necessary for proper voltage and current output from the amplifier.
Now that we have a functioning amplifier circuit, we can investigate its voltage, current,
and power gains. The generic transistor used in these SPICE analyses has a β of 100, as
indicated by the short transistor statistics printout included in the text output (these statistics
were cut from the last two analyses for brevity’s sake):
type npn
is 1.00E-16
bf 100.000
nf 1.000
br 1.000
nr 1.000
β is listed under the abbreviation ”bf,” which actually stands for ”beta, forward”. If we
wanted to insert our own β ratio for an analysis, we could have done so on the .model line of
the SPICE netlist.
Since β is the ratio of collector current to base current, and we have our load connected in
series with the collector terminal of the transistor and our source connected in series with the
base, the ratio of output current to input current is equal to beta. Thus, our current gain for
this example amplifier is 100, or 40 dB.
Voltage gain is a little more complicated to figure than current gain for this circuit. As
always, voltage gain is defined as the ratio of output voltage divided by input voltage. In order
to experimentally determine this, we need to modify our last SPICE analysis to plot output
voltage rather than output current so we have two voltage plots to compare:
vinput 1 5 sin (0 1.5 2000 0 0)
vbias 5 0 dc 2.3
r1 1 2 1k
q1 3 2 0 mod1
rspkr 3 4 8
v1 4 0 dc 15
.model mod1 npn
.tran 0.02m 0.78m
.plot tran v(1,0) v(4,3)
.end
Plotted on the same scale (from 0 to 4 volts), we see that the output waveform (”+”) has
a smaller peak-to-peak amplitude than the input waveform (”*”), in addition to being at a
lower bias voltage, not elevated up from 0 volts like the input. Since voltage gain for an AC
amplifier is defined by the ratio of AC amplitudes, we can ignore any DC bias separating the
two waveforms. Even so, the input waveform is still larger than the output, which tells us that
the voltage gain is less than 1 (a negative dB figure).
To be honest, this low voltage gain is not characteristic to all common-emitter amplifiers.
In this case it is a consequence of the great disparity between the input and load resistances.
Our input resistance (R1 ) here is 1000 Ω, while the load (speaker) is only 8 Ω. Because the
current gain of this amplifier is determined solely by the β of the transistor, and because that
β figure is fixed, the current gain for this amplifier won’t change with variations in either of
these resistances. However, voltage gain is dependent on these resistances. If we alter the load
resistance, making it a larger value, it will drop a proportionately greater voltage for its range
of load currents, resulting in a larger output waveform. Let’s try another simulation, only this
time with a 30 Ω load instead of an 8 Ω load:
vinput 1 5 sin (0 1.5 2000 0 0)
vbias 5 0 dc 2.3
r1 1 2 1k
q1 3 2 0 mod1
rspkr 3 4 30
v1 4 0 dc 15
.model mod1 npn
.tran 0.02m 0.78m
.end
This time the output voltage waveform is significantly greater in amplitude than the input
waveform. Looking closely, we can see that the output waveform (”+”) crests between 0 and
about 9 volts: approximately 3 times the amplitude of the input voltage.
We can perform another computer analysis of this circuit, only this time instructing SPICE
to analyze it from an AC point of view, giving us peak voltage figures for input and output
instead of a time-based plot of the waveforms:
vinput 1 5 ac 1.5
vbias 5 0 dc 2.3
r1 1 2 1k
q1 3 2 0 mod1
rspkr 3 4 30
v1 4 0 dc 15
.model mod1 npn
.ac lin 1 2000 2000
.print ac v(1,0) v(4,3)
.end
freq v(1) v(4,3)

2.000E+03 1.500E+00 4.418E+00
Peak voltage measurements of input and output show an input of 1.5 volts and an output
of 4.418 volts. This gives us a voltage gain ratio of 2.9453 (4.418 V / 1.5 V), or 9.3827 dB.
Vout
AV =
Vin
AV = 4.418 V
1.5 V
AV = 2.9453
AV(dB) = 20 log AV(ratio)
AV(dB) = 20 log 2.9453
AV(dB) = 9.3827 dB
Because the current gain of the common-emitter amplifier is fixed by β, and since the in-
put and output voltages will be equal to the input and output currents multiplied by their
respective resistors, we can derive an equation for approximate voltage gain:
Rout
AV = β
Rin
AV = (100) 30 Ω
1000 Ω
AV = 3
AV(dB) = 20 log 3
AV(dB) = 9.5424 dB
As you can see, the predicted results for voltage gain are quite close to the simulated results.
With perfectly linear transistor behavior, the two sets of figures would exactly match. SPICE
does a reasonable job of accounting for the many ”quirks” of bipolar transistor function in its
analysis, hence the slight mismatch in voltage gain based on SPICE’s output.
These voltage gains remain the same regardless of where we measure output voltage in
the circuit: across collector and emitter, or across the series load resistor as we did in the
last analysis. The amount of output voltage change for any given amount of input voltage
will remain the same. Consider the two following SPICE analyses as proof of this. The first
simulation is time-based, to provide a plot of input and output voltages. You will notice that
the two signals are 180o out of phase with each other. The second simulation is an AC analysis,
to provide simple, peak voltage readings for input and output:
vinput 1 5 sin (0 1.5 2000 0 0)
vbias 5 0 dc 2.3
r1 1 2 1k
q1 3 2 0 mod1
rspkr 3 4 30
v1 4 0 dc 15
.model mod1 npn
.tran 0.02m 0.74m
.end
vinput 1 5 ac 1.5
vbias 5 0 dc 2.3
r1 1 2 1k
q1 3 2 0 mod1
rspkr 3 4 30
v1 4 0 dc 15
.model mod1 npn
.ac lin 1 2000 2000
.print ac v(1,0) v(3,0)
.end
freq v(1) v(3)

2.000E+03 1.500E+00 4.418E+00
We still have a peak output voltage of 4.418 volts with a peak input voltage of 1.5 volts. The
only difference from the last set of simulations is the phase of the output voltage.
So far, the example circuits shown in this section have all used NPN transistors. PNP tran-
sistors are just as valid to use as NPN in any amplifier configuration, so long as the proper
polarity and current directions are maintained, and the common-emitter amplifier is no excep-
tion. The inverting behavior and gain properties of a PNP transistor amplifier are the same as
its NPN counterpart, just the polarities are different:
Vinput
- +
Vbias
• REVIEW:
• Common-emitter transistor amplifiers are so-called because the input and output voltage
points share the emitter lead of the transistor in common with each other, not considering
any power supplies.
• Transistors are essentially DC devices: they cannot directly handle voltages or currents
that reverse direction. In order to make them work for amplifying AC signals, the input
signal must be offset with a DC voltage to keep the transistor in its active mode through-
out the entire cycle of the wave. This is called biasing.
• If the output voltage is measured between emitter and collector on a common-emitter

amplifier, it will be 180o out of phase with the input voltage waveform. For this reason,
the common-emitter amplifier is called an inverting amplifier circuit.
• The current gain of a common-emitter transistor amplifier with the load connected in
series with the collector is equal to β. The voltage gain of a common-emitter transistor
amplifier is approximately given here:
Rout
AV = β
• Rin
• Where ”Rout ” is the resistor connected in series with the collector and ”Rin ” is the resistor
connected in series with the base.
4.6 The common-collector amplifier

Our next transistor configuration to study is a bit simpler in terms of gain calculations. Called
the common-collector configuration, its schematic diagram looks like this:
Vin
Vout Rload
It is called the common-collector configuration because (ignoring the power supply battery)
both the signal source and the load share the collector lead as a common connection point:
C
B
E
Vin
Vout Rload
It should be apparent that the load resistor in the common-collector amplifier circuit re-
ceives both the base and collector currents, being placed in series with the emitter. Since the
emitter lead of a transistor is the one handling the most current (the sum of base and collector
4.6. THE COMMON-COLLECTOR AMPLIFIER 211
currents, since base and collector currents always mesh together to form the emitter current),
it would be reasonable to presume that this amplifier will have a very large current gain (max-
imum output current for minimum input current). This presumption is indeed correct: the
current gain for a common-collector amplifier is quite large, larger than any other transistor
amplifier configuration. However, this is not necessarily what sets it apart from other amplifier
designs.
Let’s proceed immediately to a SPICE analysis of this amplifier circuit, and you will be able
to immediately see what is unique about this amplifier:
2
1 2
Q1
1
V1 15 V
Vin 3
Rload
5 kΩ
0 0 0
common-collector amplifier
vin 1 0
q1 2 1 3 mod1
v1 2 0 dc 15
rload 3 0 5k
.model mod1 npn
.dc vin 0 5 0.2
.plot dc v(3,0)
.end
type npn
is 1.00E-16
bf 100.000
nf 1.000
br 1.000
nr 1.000
Unlike the common-emitter amplifier from the previous section, the common-collector pro-
duces an output voltage in direct rather than inverse proportion to the rising input voltage. As
the input voltage increases, so does the output voltage. More than that, a close examination
reveals that the output voltage is nearly identical to the input voltage, lagging behind only
about 0.77 volts.
This is the unique quality of the common-collector amplifier: an output voltage that is
nearly equal to the input voltage. Examined from the perspective of output voltage change
for a given amount of input voltage change, this amplifier has a voltage gain of almost exactly
unity (1), or 0 dB. This holds true for transistors of any β value, and for load resistors of any
resistance value.
It is simple to understand why the output voltage of a common-collector amplifier is al-

ways nearly equal to the input voltage. Referring back to the diode-regulating diode transistor
model, we see that the base current must go through the base-emitter PN junction, which is
equivalent to a normal rectifying diode. So long as this junction is forward-biased (the tran-
sistor conducting current in either its active or saturated modes), it will have a voltage drop of
approximately 0.7 volts, assuming silicon construction. This 0.7 volt drop is largely irrespective
of the actual magnitude of base current, so we can regard it as being constant:
C
B
+
0.7 V
- E
Vin
+
Rload
-
Given the voltage polarities across the base-emitter PN junction and the load resistor, we
see that they must add together to equal the input voltage, in accordance with Kirchhoff ’s
Voltage Law. In other words, the load voltage will always be about 0.7 volts less than the input
voltage for all conditions where the transistor is conducting. Cutoff occurs at input voltages
below 0.7 volts, and saturation at input voltages in excess of battery (supply) voltage plus 0.7
volts.
Because of this behavior, the common-collector amplifier circuit is also known as the voltage-
follower or emitter-follower amplifier, in reference to the fact that the input and load voltages
follow each other so closely.
Applying the common-collector circuit to the amplification of AC signals requires the same
input ”biasing” used in the common-emitter circuit: a DC voltage must be added to the AC
input signal to keep the transistor in its active mode during the entire cycle. When this is
done, the result is a non-inverting amplifier:
2
1 2
Q1
1
V1 15 V
Vin 1.5 V 3
2 kHz Rload
5 kΩ
+ -
4 0 0
Vbias
2.3 V
common-collector amplifier
vin 1 4 sin(0 1.5 2000 0 0)
vbias 4 0 dc 2.3
q1 2 1 3 mod1
v1 2 0 dc 15
rload 3 0 5k
.model mod1 npn
.tran .02m .78m
.end
Here’s another view of the circuit, this time with oscilloscopes connected to several points
of interest:
V1 15 V
Vin 1.5 V
2 kHz Rload
5 kΩ
+ -
Since this amplifier configuration doesn’t provide any voltage gain (in fact, in practice it
actually has a voltage gain of slightly less than 1), its only amplifying factor is current. The
common-emitter amplifier configuration examined in the previous section had a current gain
equal to the β of the transistor, being that the input current went through the base and the
output (load) current went through the collector, and β by definition is the ratio between the
collector and base currents. In the common-collector configuration, though, the load is situated
in series with the emitter, and thus its current is equal to the emitter current. With the emitter
carrying collector current and base current, the load in this type of amplifier has all the current
of the collector running through it plus the input current of the base. This yields a current gain
of β plus 1:
Iemitter
AI =
Ibase
Icollector+ Ibase
AI =
Ibase
Icollector
AI = +1
Ibase
AI = β + 1
Once again, PNP transistors are just as valid to use in the common-collector configuration
as NPN transistors. The gain calculations are all the same, as is the non-inverting behavior of
the amplifier. The only difference is in voltage polarities and current directions:
Vin
Rload
- +
A popular application of the common-collector amplifier is for regulated DC power supplies,

where an unregulated (varying) source of DC voltage is clipped at a specified level to supply
regulated (steady) voltage to a load. Of course, zener diodes already provide this function of
voltage regulation:
Unregulated Zener Regulated voltage

DC voltage Rload
diode across load
source
However, when used in this direct fashion, the amount of current that may be supplied to
the load is usually quite limited. In essence, this circuit regulates voltage across the load by
keeping current through the series resistor at a high enough level to drop all the excess power
source voltage across it, the zener diode drawing more or less current as necessary to keep
the voltage across itself steady. For high-current loads, an plain zener diode voltage regulator
would have to be capable of shunting a lot of current through the diode in order to be effective
at regulating load voltage in the event of large load resistance or voltage source changes.
One popular way to increase the current-handling ability of a regulator circuit like this is to
use a common-collector transistor to amplify current to the load, so that the zener diode circuit
only has to handle the amount of current necessary to drive the base of the transistor:
Unregulated Zener
DC voltage Rload
diode
source
There’s really only one caveat to this approach: the load voltage will be approximately
0.7 volts less than the zener diode voltage, due to the transistor’s 0.7 volt base-emitter drop.
However, since this 0.7 volt difference is fairly constant over a wide range of load currents, a
zener diode with a 0.7 volt higher rating can be chosen for the application.
Sometimes the high current gain of a single-transistor, common-collector configuration isn’t

enough for a particular application. If this is the case, multiple transistors may be staged to-
gether in a popular configuration known as a Darlington pair, just an extension of the common-
collector concept:
An NPN "Darlington pair"
E
Darlington pairs essentially place one transistor as the common-collector load for another
transistor, thus multiplying their individual current gains. Base current through the upper-
left transistor is amplified through that transistor’s emitter, which is directly connected to the
base of the lower-right transistor, where the current is again amplified. The overall current
gain is as follows:
Darlington pair current gain
AI = (β1 + 1)(β2 + 1)
Where,
β1 = Beta of first transistor
β2 = Beta of second transistor
Voltage gain is still nearly equal to 1 if the entire assembly is connected to a load in common-
collector fashion, although the load voltage will be a full 1.4 volts less than the input voltage:
+
0.7 V -
+
+ 0.7 V -
Vin
Rload Vout
-
Vout = Vin - 1.4

Darlington pairs may be purchased as discrete units (two transistors in the same package),
or may be built up from a pair of individual transistors. Of course, if even more current gain
is desired than what may be obtained with a pair, Darlington triplet or quadruplet assemblies
may be constructed.
• REVIEW:
• Common-collector transistor amplifiers are so-called because the input and output volt-
age points share the collector lead of the transistor in common with each other, not con-
sidering any power supplies.
• The output voltage on a common-collector amplifier will be in phase with the input volt-
age, making the common-collector a non-inverting amplifier circuit.
• The current gain of a common-collector amplifier is equal to β plus 1. The voltage gain is
approximately equal to 1 (in practice, just a little bit less).
• A Darlington pair is a pair of transistors ”piggybacked” on one another so that the emitter
of one feeds current to the base of the other in common-collector form. The result is an
overall current gain equal to the product (multiplication) of their individual common-
collector current gains (β plus 1).
4.7 The common-base amplifier

The final transistor amplifier configuration we need to study is the common-base. This config-
uration is more complex than the other two, and is less common due to its strange operating
characteristics.
Rload
Vin
− + − +
It is called the common-base configuration because (DC power source aside), the signal
source and the load share the base of the transistor as a common connection point:
E C
B Rload V
out
Vin
− + − +
Perhaps the most striking characteristic of this configuration is that the input signal source
must carry the full emitter current of the transistor, as indicated by the heavy arrows in the
first illustration. As we know, the emitter current is greater than any other current in the
4.7. THE COMMON-BASE AMPLIFIER 219
transistor, being the sum of base and collector currents. In the last two amplifier configura-
tions, the signal source was connected to the base lead of the transistor, thus handling the least
current possible.
Because the input current exceeds all other currents in the circuit, including the output
current, the current gain of this amplifier is actually less than 1 (notice how Rload is connected
to the collector, thus carrying slightly less current than the signal source). In other words,
it attenuates current rather than amplifying it. With common-emitter and common-collector
amplifier configurations, the transistor parameter most closely associated with gain was β.
In the common-base circuit, we follow another basic transistor parameter: the ratio between
collector current and emitter current, which is a fraction always less than 1. This fractional
value for any transistor is called the alpha ratio, or α ratio.
Since it obviously can’t boost signal current, it only seems reasonable to expect it to boost
signal voltage. A SPICE simulation will vindicate that assumption:
2 Q1 4
R1 Rload
100 Ω 5.0 kΩ
Vin V1
1 − + 0 − + 3
15 V
common-base amplifier
vin 0 1
r1 1 2 100
q1 4 0 2 mod1
v1 3 0 dc 15
rload 3 4 5k
.model mod1 npn
.dc vin 0.6 1.2 .02
.plot dc v(3,4)
.end
Notice how in this simulation the output voltage goes from practically nothing (cutoff) to
15.75 volts (saturation) with the input voltage being swept over a range of 0.6 volts to 1.2 volts.
In fact, the output voltage plot doesn’t show a rise until about 0.7 volts at the input, and cuts
off (flattens) at about 1.12 volts input. This represents a rather large voltage gain with an
output voltage span of 15.75 volts and an input voltage span of only 0.42 volts: a gain ratio of
37.5, or 31.48 dB. Notice also how the output voltage (measured across Rload ) actually exceeds
the power supply (15 volts) at saturation, due to the series-aiding effect of the the input voltage
source.
A second set of SPICE analyses with an AC signal source (and DC bias voltage) tells the
same story: a high voltage gain.
Vin
2 5 Q1 4
R1 Rload
2 kHz
0 Voffset
0.12 Vp-p
100 Ω 5.0 kΩ Vout
V1
1 − + 0 − + 3
Vbias 0.95 V 15 V
vin 5 2 sin (0 0.12 2000 0 0)
vbias 0 1 dc 0.95
r1 2 1 100
q1 4 0 5 mod1
v1 3 0 dc 15
rload 3 4 5k
.model mod1 npn
.tran 0.02m 0.78m
.end
As you can see, the input and output waveforms are in phase with each other. This tells us
that the common-base amplifier is non-inverting.
vin 5 2 sin (0 0.12 2000 0 0)
vbias 0 1 dc 0.95
r1 2 1 100
q1 4 0 5 mod1
v1 3 0 dc 15
rload 3 4 5k
.model mod1 npn
.ac lin 1 2000 2000
.print ac v(5,2) v(3,4)
.end
freq v(1) v(3,4)

2.000E+03 1.200E-01 5.129E+00
Voltage figures from the second analysis (AC mode) show a voltage gain of 42.742 (5.129 V
/ 0.12 V), or 32.617 dB:
Vout
AV =
Vin
AV = 5.129 V
0.12 V
AV = 42.742
AV(dB) = 20 log 42.742
AV(dB) = 32.617 dB
Here’s another view of the circuit, showing the phase relations and DC offsets of various
signals in the circuit just simulated:
Vin
Q1
Rload
V1
− + − +
Vbias
. . . and for a PNP transistor:
Vin
Q1
Rload
Vbias V1
+ − + −
Predicting voltage gain for the common-base amplifier configuration is quite difficult, and
involves approximations of transistor behavior that are difficult to measure directly. Unlike the
other amplifier configurations, where voltage gain was either set by the ratio of two resistors
(common-emitter), or fixed at an unchangeable value (common-collector), the voltage gain of
the common-base amplifier depends largely on the amount of DC bias on the input signal. As
it turns out, the internal transistor resistance between emitter and base plays a major role in
determining voltage gain, and this resistance changes with different levels of current through
the emitter.
While this phenomenon is difficult to explain, it is rather easy to demonstrate through the
use of computer simulation. What I’m going to do here is run several SPICE simulations on
a common-base amplifier circuit, changing the DC bias voltage slightly while keeping the AC
signal amplitude and all other circuit parameters constant. As the voltage gain changes from
one simulation to another, different output voltage amplitudes will be noticed as a result.
Although these analyses will all be conducted in the AC mode, they were first ”proofed”
in the transient analysis mode (voltage plotted over time) to ensure that the entire wave was
being faithfully reproduced and not ”clipped” due to improper biasing. No meaningful calcula-
tions of gain can be based on waveforms that are distorted:
vin 5 2 sin (0 0.12 2000 0 0)
vbias 0 1 dc 0.95
r1 2 1 100
q1 4 0 5 mod1
v1 3 0 dc 15
rload 3 4 5k
.model mod1 npn
.ac lin 1 2000 2000
.print ac v(5,2) v(3,4)
.end
freq v(5,2) v(3,4)

2.000E+03 8.000E-02 3.005E+00
vin 5 2 sin (0 0.12 2000 0 0)
vbias 0 1 dc 0.95
r1 2 1 100
q1 4 0 5 mod1
v1 3 0 dc 15
rload 3 4 5k
.model mod1 npn
.ac lin 1 2000 2000
.print ac v(5,2) v(3,4)
.end
freq v(5,2) v(3,4)

2.000E+03 8.000E-02 3.264E+00
vin 5 2 sin (0 0.12 2000 0 0)
vbias 0 1 dc 0.95
r1 2 1 100
q1 4 0 5 mod1
v1 3 0 dc 15
rload 3 4 5k
.model mod1 npn
.ac lin 1 2000 2000
.print ac v(5,2) v(3,4)
.end
freq v(5,2) v(3,4)

2.000E+03 8.000E-02 3.419E+00
A trend should be evident here: with increases in DC bias voltage, voltage gain increases
as well. We can see that the voltage gain is increasing because each subsequent simulation
produces greater output voltage for the exact same input signal voltage (0.08 volts). As you can
see, the changes are quite large, and they are caused by miniscule variations in bias voltage!
The combination of very low current gain (always less than 1) and somewhat unpredictable
voltage gain conspire against the common-base design, relegating it to few practical applica-
tions.
• REVIEW:
• Common-base transistor amplifiers are so-called because the input and output voltage
points share the base lead of the transistor in common with each other, not considering
any power supplies.
• The current gain of a common-base amplifier is always less than 1. The voltage gain is a
function of input and output resistances, and also the internal resistance of the emitter-
base junction, which is subject to change with variations in DC bias voltage. Suffice to
say that the voltage gain of a common-base amplifier can be very high.
• The ratio of a transistor’s collector current to emitter current is called α. The α value for
any transistor is always less than unity, or in other words, less than 1.
4.8 Biasing techniques

In the common-emitter section of this chapter, we saw a SPICE analysis where the output
waveform resembled a half-wave rectified shape: only half of the input waveform was repro-
duced, with the other half being completely cut off. Since our purpose at that time was to
reproduce the entire waveshape, this constituted a problem. The solution to this problem was
to add a small bias voltage to the amplifier input so that the transistor stayed in active mode
throughout the entire wave cycle. This addition was called a bias voltage.
There are applications, though, where a half-wave output is not problematic. In fact, some
applications may necessitate this very type of amplification. Because it is possible to operate an
amplifier in modes other than full-wave reproduction, and because there are specific applica-
tions requiring different ranges of reproduction, it is useful to describe the degree to which an
amplifier reproduces the input waveform by designating it according to class. Amplifier class
operation is categorized by means of alphabetical letters: A, B, C, and AB.
4.8. BIASING TECHNIQUES 225
Class A operation is where the entire input waveform is faithfully reproduced. Although I
didn’t introduce this concept back in the common-emitter section, this is what we were hop-
ing to attain in our simulations. Class A operation can only be obtained when the transistor
spends its entire time in the active mode, never reaching either cutoff or saturation. To achieve
this, sufficient DC bias voltage is usually set at the level necessary to drive the transistor ex-
actly halfway between cutoff and saturation. This way, the AC input signal will be perfectly
”centered” between the amplifier’s high and low signal limit levels.
Class A operation
Vinput
Amplifier
Vbias
Class B operation is what we had the first time an AC signal was applied to the common-
emitter amplifier with no DC bias voltage. The transistor spent half its time in active mode
and the other half in cutoff with the input voltage too low (or even of the wrong polarity!) to
forward-bias its base-emitter junction.
Class B operation
Vinput
Amplifier
Little or no
DC bias voltage
By itself, an amplifier operating in class B mode is not very useful. In most circumstances,
the severe distortion introduced into the waveshape by eliminating half of it would be unac-
ceptable. However, class B operation is a useful mode of biasing if two amplifiers are operated
as a push-pull pair, each amplifier handling only half of the waveform at a time:
Q1
Input components Power

omitted for simplicity supply
Voutput
Q2
Transistor Q1 ”pushes” (drives the output voltage in a positive direction with respect to
ground), while transistor Q2 ”pulls” the output voltage (in a negative direction, toward 0 volts
with respect to ground). Individually, each of these transistors is operating in class B mode,
active only for one-half of the input waveform cycle. Together, however, they function as a team
to produce an output waveform identical in shape to the input waveform.
A decided advantage of the class B (push-pull) amplifier design over the class A design is
greater output power capability. With a class A design, the transistor dissipates a lot of energy
in the form of heat because it never stops conducting current. At all points in the wave cycle
it is in the active (conducting) mode, conducting substantial current and dropping substantial
voltage. This means there is substantial power dissipated by the transistor throughout the
cycle. In a class B design, each transistor spends half the time in cutoff mode, where it dissi-
pates zero power (zero current = zero power dissipation). This gives each transistor a time to
”rest” and cool while the other transistor carries the burden of the load. Class A amplifiers are
simpler in design, but tend to be limited to low-power signal applications for the simple reason
of transistor heat dissipation.
There is another class of amplifier operation known as class AB, which is somewhere be-
tween class A and class B: the transistor spends more than 50% but less than 100% of the time
conducting current.
If the input signal bias for an amplifier is slightly negative (opposite of the bias polarity
for class A operation), the output waveform will be further ”clipped” than it was with class B
biasing, resulting in an operation where the transistor spends the majority of the time in cutoff
mode:
Class C operation
Vinput
Amplifier
Vbias
At first, this scheme may seem utterly pointless. After all, how useful could an amplifier be
if it clips the waveform as badly as this? If the output is used directly with no conditioning of
any kind, it would indeed be of questionable utility. However, with the application of a tank
circuit (parallel resonant inductor-capacitor combination) to the output, the occasional output
surge produced by the amplifier can set in motion a higher-frequency oscillation maintained
by the tank circuit. This may be likened to a machine where a heavy flywheel is given an
occasional ”kick” to keep it spinning:
Class C operation
with resonant output
Vinput
Amplifier
Vbias
Called class C operation, this scheme also enjoys high power efficiency due to the fact that
the transistor(s) spend the vast majority of time in the cutoff mode, where they dissipate zero
power. The rate of output waveform decay (decreasing oscillation amplitude between ”kicks”
from the amplifier) is exaggerated here for the benefit of illustration. Because of the tuned
tank circuit on the output, this type of circuit is usable only for amplifying signals of definite,
fixed frequency.
Another type of amplifier operation, significantly different from Class A, B, AB, or C, is
called Class D. It is not obtained by applying a specific measure of bias voltage as are the other
classes of operation, but requires a radical re-design of the amplifier circuit itself. It’s a little
too early in this chapter to investigate exactly how a class D amplifier is built, but not too early
to discuss its basic principle of operation.
A class D amplifier reproduces the profile of the input voltage waveform by generating a
rapidly-pulsing squarewave output. The duty cycle of this output waveform (time ”on” versus
total cycle time) varies with the instantaneous amplitude of the input signal. The following
plots demonstrate this principle:
Class D operation
Input
Output
The greater the instantaneous voltage of the input signal, the greater the duty cycle of
the output squarewave pulse. If there can be any goal stated of the class D design, it is to
avoid active-mode transistor operation. Since the output transistor of a class D amplifier is
never in the active mode, only cutoff or saturated, there will be little heat energy dissipated
by it. This results in very high power efficiency for the amplifier. Of course, the disadvantage
of this strategy is the overwhelming presence of harmonics on the output. Fortunately, since
these harmonic frequencies are typically much greater than the frequency of the input signal,
they can be filtered out by a low-pass filter with relative ease, resulting in an output more
closely resembling the original input signal waveform. Class D technology is typically seen
where extremely high power levels and relatively low frequencies are encountered, such as
in industrial inverters (devices converting DC into AC power to run motors and other large
devices) and high-performance audio amplifiers.
A term you will likely come across in your studies of electronics is something called quies-
cent, which is a modifier designating the normal, or zero input signal, condition of a circuit.
Quiescent current, for example, is the amount of current in a circuit with zero input signal
voltage applied. Bias voltage in a transistor circuit forces the transistor to operate at a dif-
ferent level of collector current with zero input signal voltage than it would without that bias
voltage. Therefore, the amount of bias in an amplifier circuit determines its quiescent values.
In a class A amplifier, the quiescent current should be exactly half of its saturation value
(halfway between saturation and cutoff, cutoff by definition being zero). Class B and class C
amplifiers have quiescent current values of zero, since they are supposed to be cutoff with no
signal applied. Class AB amplifiers have very low quiescent current values, just above cutoff.
To illustrate this graphically, a ”load line” is sometimes plotted over a transistor’s characteristic
curves to illustrate its range of operation while connected to a load resistance of specific value:
Ibase = 75 µA
"Load line"
Icollector
Ibase = 40 µA
Ibase = 20 µA
Ibase = 5 µA
0 Ecollector-to-emitter
Vsupply
A load line is a plot of collector-to-emitter voltage over a range of base currents. At the
lower-right corner of the load line, voltage is at maximum and current is at zero, representing
a condition of cutoff. At the upper-left corner of the line, voltage is at zero while current is at a
maximum, representing a condition of saturation. Dots marking where the load line intersects
the various transistor curves represent realistic operating conditions for those base currents
given.
Quiescent operating conditions may be shown on this type of graph in the form of a single
dot along the load line. For a class A amplifier, the quiescent point will be in the middle of the
load line, like this:
Ibase = 75 µA
Quiescent point
Icollector for class A
Ibase = 40 µA operation
Ibase = 20 µA
Ibase = 5 µA
Vsupply
In this illustration, the quiescent point happens to fall on the curve representing a base
current of 40 µA. If we were to change the load resistance in this circuit to a greater value, it
would affect the slope of the load line, since a greater load resistance would limit the maximum
collector current at saturation, but would not change the collector-emitter voltage at cutoff.
Graphically, the result is a load line with a different upper-left point and the same lower-right
point:
Ibase = 75 µA
Icollector
Ibase = 40 µA
The non- Ibase = 20 µA

horizontal
portion of
the curve Ibase = 5 µA
represents
transistor
saturation
Vsupply
Note how the new load line doesn’t intercept the 75 µA curve along its flat portion as before.
This is very important to realize because the non-horizontal portion of a characteristic curve
represents a condition of saturation. Having the load line intercept the 75 µA curve outside
of the curve’s horizontal range means that the amplifier will be saturated at that amount of
base current. Increasing the load resistor value is what caused the load line to intercept the
75 µA curve at this new point, and it indicates that saturation will occur at a lesser value of
base current than before.
With the old, lower-value load resistor in the circuit, a base current of 75 µA would yield
a proportional collector current (base current multiplied by β). In the first load line graph, a
base current of 75 µA gave a collector current almost twice what was obtained at 40 µA, as
the β ratio would predict. Now, however, there is only a marginal increase in collector current
between base current values of 75 µA and 40 µA, because the transistor begins to lose sufficient
collector-emitter voltage to continue to regulate collector current.
In order to maintain linear (no-distortion) operation, transistor amplifiers shouldn’t be op-

erated at points where the transistor will saturate; that is, in any case where the load line will
not potentially fall on the horizontal portion of a collector current curve. In this case, we’d have
to add a few more curves to the graph before we could tell just how far we could ”push” this
transistor with increased base currents before it saturates.
Ibase = 75 µA
Ibase = 60 µA
Icollector Ibase = 50 µA
Ibase = 40 µA
Ibase = 20 µA
Ibase = 5 µA
Vsupply
It appears in this graph that the highest-current point on the load line falling on the
straight portion of a curve is the point on the 50 µA curve. This new point should be considered
the maximum allowable input signal level for class A operation. Also for class A operation, the
bias should be set so that the quiescent point is halfway between this new maximum point and
cutoff:
Ibase = 75 µA
Ibase = 60 µA
Icollector Ibase = 50 µA
Ibase = 40 µA
New quiescent point

Ibase = 20 µA
Ibase = 5 µA
Vsupply
Now that we know a little more about the consequences of different DC bias voltage levels,
it is time to investigate practical biasing techniques. So far, I’ve shown a small DC voltage
source (battery) connected in series with the AC input signal to bias the amplifier for whatever
desired class of operation. In real life, the connection of a precisely-calibrated battery to the
input of an amplifier is simply not practical. Even if it were possible to customize a battery to
produce just the right amount of voltage for any given bias requirement, that battery would
not remain at its manufactured voltage indefinitely. Once it started to discharge and its output
voltage drooped, the amplifier would begin to drift in the direction of class B operation.
Take this circuit, illustrated in the common-emitter section for a SPICE simulation, for
instance:
speaker
3 8Ω 4
R1 2
1 Q1 V1 15 V
Vinput 1 kΩ
1.5 V
2 kHz + -
5 0 0
Vbias
2.3 V
That 2.3 volt ”Vbias ” battery would not be practical to include in a real amplifier circuit. A
far more practical method of obtaining bias voltage for this amplifier would be to develop the
necessary 2.3 volts using a voltage divider network connected across the 15 volt battery. After
all, the 15 volt battery is already there by necessity, and voltage divider circuits are very easy
to design and build. Let’s see how this might look:
speaker
4 3 8Ω 4
R2
R1 2
1 Q1 V1 15 V
Vinput 1 kΩ
1.5 V R3
Vbias
2 kHz
0 0 0 0
If we choose a pair of resistor values for R2 and R3 that will produce 2.3 volts across R3 from
a total of 15 volts (such as 8466 Ω for R2 and 1533 Ω for R3 ), we should have our desired value
of 2.3 volts between base and emitter for biasing with no signal input. The only problem is,
this circuit configuration places the AC input signal source directly in parallel with R3 of our
voltage divider. This is not acceptable, as the AC source will tend to overpower any DC voltage
dropped across R3 . Parallel components must have the same voltage, so if an AC voltage source
is directly connected across one resistor of a DC voltage divider, the AC source will ”win” and
there will be no DC bias voltage added to the signal.
One way to make this scheme work, although it may not be obvious why it will work, is to
place a coupling capacitor between the AC voltage source and the voltage divider like this:
speaker
4 3 8Ω 4
R2 8.466 kΩ
C
1 5 5 R1 2 V1 15 V
Q1
Vinput 1 kΩ
1.5 V R3
1.533 kΩ
2 kHz
0 0 0 0
The capacitor forms a high-pass filter between the AC source and the DC voltage divider,
passing almost all of the AC signal voltage on to the transistor while blocking all DC voltage
from being shorted through the AC signal source. This makes much more sense if you un-
derstand the superposition theorem and how it works. According to superposition, any linear,
bilateral circuit can be analyzed in a piecemeal fashion by only considering one power source
at a time, then algebraically adding the effects of all power sources to find the final result.
If we were to separate the capacitor and R2 −−R3 voltage divider circuit from the rest of the
amplifier, it might be easier to understand how this superposition of AC and DC would work.
With only the AC signal source in effect, and a capacitor with an arbitrarily low impedance
at signal frequency, almost all the AC voltage appears across R3 :
≈ 1.5 V
2 kHz
R2 8.466
kΩ
Vinput
1.5 V R3 1.533
kΩ
2 kHz
Due to the capacitor’s very low impedance at

signal frequency, it behaves much like a straight
piece of wire and thus can be omitted for the
purpose of this step in superposition analysis.
With only the DC source in effect, the capacitor appears to be an open circuit, and thus
neither it nor the shorted AC signal source will have any effect on the operation of the R2 −−R3
voltage divider:
2.3 V
R2 8.466
kΩ
V1 15 V
R3 1.533
kΩ
The capacitor appears to be an open circuit

as far as DC analysis is concerned
Combining these two separate analyses, we get a superposition of (almost) 1.5 volts AC and
2.3 volts DC, ready to be connected to the base of the transistor:
R2 8.466
C kΩ
V1 15 V
Vinput
1.5 V R3 1.533
kΩ
2 kHz
Enough talk – its about time for a SPICE simulation of the whole amplifier circuit. I’ll use
a capacitor value of 100 µF to obtain an arbitrarily low (0.796 Ω) impedance at 2000 Hz:
voltage divider biasing

vinput 1 0 sin (0 1.5 2000 0 0)
c1 1 5 100u
r1 5 2 1k
r2 4 5 8466
r3 5 0 1533
q1 3 2 0 mod1
rspkr 3 4 8
v1 4 0 dc 15
.model mod1 npn
.tran 0.02m 0.78m
.end
Notice that there is substantial distortion in the output waveform here: the sine wave is
being clipped during most of the input signal’s negative half-cycle. This tells us the transistor
is entering into cutoff mode when it shouldn’t (I’m assuming a goal of class A operation as
before). Why is this? This new biasing technique should give us exactly the same amount of
DC bias voltage as before, right?
With the capacitor and R2 −−R3 resistor network unloaded, it will provide exactly 2.3 volts
worth of DC bias. However, once we connect this network to the transistor, it is no longer
unloaded. Current drawn through the base of the transistor will load the voltage divider, thus
reducing the DC bias voltage available for the transistor. Using the diode-regulating diode
transistor model to illustrate, the bias problem becomes evident:
speaker
R2 IR3 + Ibias
C R1
Q1
Vinput Ibias V1
R3 IR3
IR3
A voltage divider’s output depends not only on the size of its constituent resistors, but also
on how much current is being divided away from it through a load. In this case, the base-
emitter PN junction of the transistor is a load that decreases the DC voltage dropped across
R3 , due to the fact that the bias current joins with R3 ’s current to go through R2 , upsetting the
divider ratio formerly set by the resistance values of R2 and R3 . In order to obtain a DC bias
voltage of 2.3 volts, the values of R2 and/or R3 must be adjusted to compensate for the effect of
base current loading. In this case, we want to increase the DC voltage dropped across R3 , so
we can lower the value of R2 , raise the value of R3 , or both.
voltage divider biasing

vinput 1 0 sin (0 1.5 2000 0 0)
c1 1 5 100u
r1 5 2 1k
r2 4 5 6k <--- R2 decreased to 6 k ohms
r3 5 0 4k <--- R3 increased to 4 k ohms
q1 3 2 0 mod1
rspkr 3 4 8
v1 4 0 dc 15
.model mod1 npn
.tran 0.02m 0.78m
.end
As you can see, the new resistor values of 6 kΩ and 4 kΩ (R2 and R3 , respectively) results
in class A waveform reproduction, just the way we wanted.
• REVIEW:
• Class A operation is where an amplifier is biased so as to be in the active mode throughout
the entire waveform cycle, thus faithfully reproducing the whole waveform.
• Class B operation is where an amplifier is biased so that only half of the input waveform
gets reproduced: either the positive half or the negative half. The transistor spends half
its time in the active mode and half its time cutoff. Complementary pairs of transistors
running in class B operation are often used to deliver high power amplification in audio
signal systems, each transistor of the pair handling a separate half of the waveform cycle.
Class B operation delivers better power efficiency than a class A amplifier of similar
output power.
• Class AB operation is where an amplifier is biased at a point somewhere between class A
and class B.
• Class C operation is where an amplifier’s bias forces it to amplify only a small portion of
the waveform. A majority of the transistor’s time is spent in cutoff mode. In order for
there to be a complete waveform at the output, a resonant tank circuit is often used as
a ”flywheel” to maintain oscillations for a few cycles after each ”kick” from the amplifier.
Because the transistor is not conducting most of the time, power efficiencies are very high
for a class C amplifier.
• Class D operation requires an advanced circuit design, and functions on the principle of
representing instantaneous input signal amplitude by the duty cycle of a high-frequency
squarewave. The output transistor(s) never operate in active mode, only cutoff and satu-
ration. Thus, there is very little heat energy dissipated and energy efficiency is high.
• DC bias voltage on the input signal, necessary for certain classes of operation (especially
class A and class C), may be obtained through the use of a voltage divider and coupling
capacitor rather than a battery connected in series with the AC signal source.
4.9 Input and output coupling
To overcome the challenge of creating necessary DC bias voltage for an amplifier’s input signal
without resorting to the insertion of a battery in series with the AC signal source, we used a
voltage divider connected across the DC power source. To make this work in conjunction with
an AC input signal, we ”coupled” the signal source to the divider through a capacitor, which
acted as a high-pass filter. With that filtering in place, the low impedance of the AC signal
source couldn’t ”short out” the DC voltage dropped across the bottom resistor of the voltage
divider. A simple solution, but not without any disadvantages.
Most obvious is the fact that using a high-pass filter capacitor to couple the signal source
to the amplifier means that the amplifier can only amplify AC signals. A steady, DC voltage
applied to the input would be blocked by the coupling capacitor just as much as the voltage
divider bias voltage is blocked from the input source. Furthermore, since capacitive reactance
is frequency-dependent, lower-frequency AC signals will not be amplified as much as higher-
frequency signals. Non-sinusoidal signals will tend to be distorted, as the capacitor responds
differently to each of the signal’s constituent harmonics. An extreme example of this would be
a low-frequency square-wave signal:
C R2
V1
Vinput R3
Incidentally, this same problem occurs when oscilloscope inputs are set to the ”AC coupling”
mode. In this mode, a coupling capacitor is inserted in series with the measured voltage signal
to eliminate any vertical offset of the displayed waveform due to DC voltage combined with
the signal. This works fine when the AC component of the measured signal is of a fairly high
frequency, and the capacitor offers little impedance to the signal. However, if the signal is of a
low frequency, and/or contains considerable levels of harmonics over a wide frequency range,
the oscilloscope’s display of the waveform will not be accurate.
4.9. INPUT AND OUTPUT COUPLING 239
FUNCTION GENERATOR
40.00 Hz
1 10 100 1k 10k 100k 1M
coarse fine DC output
OSCILLOSCOPE
vertical
Y
DC GND AC
V/div
trigger
timebase
X
DC GND AC
s/div
With DC coupling, the oscilloscope properly indicates the shape

of the square wave coming from the signal generator.
FUNCTION GENERATOR
40.00 Hz
1 10 100 1k 10k 100k 1M
coarse fine DC output
OSCILLOSCOPE
vertical
Y
DC GND AC
V/div
trigger
timebase
X
DC GND AC
s/div
With AC coupling, the high-pass filtering of the coupling capacitor

distorts the square wave’s shape so that what is seen is not
an accurate representation of the real voltage signal.
In applications where the limitations of capacitive coupling would be intolerable, another

solution may be used: direct coupling. Direct coupling avoids the use of capacitors or any
other frequency-dependent coupling component in favor of resistors. A direct-coupled amplifier
circuit might look something like this:
speaker
4 3 4
R2
Rinput 2
1 Q1 V1
Vinput R3
0 0 0 0
With no capacitor to filter the input signal, this form of coupling exhibits no frequency
dependence. DC and AC signals alike will be amplified by the transistor with the same gain
(the transistor itself may tend to amplify some frequencies better than others, but that is
another subject entirely!).
If direct coupling works for DC as well as for AC signals, then why use capacitive coupling
for any application? One reason might be to avoid any unwanted DC bias voltage naturally
present in the signal to be amplified. Some AC signals may be superimposed on an uncon-
trolled DC voltage right from the source, and an uncontrolled DC voltage would make reliable
transistor biasing impossible. The high-pass filtering offered by a coupling capacitor would
work well here to avoid biasing problems.
Another reason to use capacitive coupling rather than direct is its relative lack of signal
attenuation. Direct coupling through a resistor has the disadvantage of diminishing, or at-
tenuating, the input signal so that only a fraction of it reaches the base of the transistor. In
many applications, some attenuation is necessary anyway to prevent normal signal levels from
”overdriving” the transistor into cutoff and saturation, so any attenuation inherent to the cou-
pling network is useful anyway. However, some applications require that there be no signal
loss from the input connection to the transistor’s base for maximum voltage gain, and a direct
coupling scheme with a voltage divider for bias simply won’t suffice.
So far, we’ve discussed a couple of methods for coupling an input signal to an amplifier, but
haven’t addressed the issue of coupling an amplifier’s output to a load. The example circuit
used to illustrate input coupling will serve well to illustrate the issues involved with output
coupling.
In our example circuit, the load is a speaker. Most speakers are electromagnetic in design:
that is, they use the force generated by an lightweight electromagnet coil suspended within a
strong permanent-magnet field to move a thin paper or plastic cone, producing vibrations in
the air which our ears interpret as sound. An applied voltage of one polarity moves the cone
outward, while a voltage of the opposite polarity will move the cone inward. To exploit cone’s
full freedom of motion, the speaker must receive true (unbiased) AC voltage. DC bias applied
to the speaker coil tends to offset the cone from its natural center position, and this tends to
limit the amount of back-and-forth motion it can sustain from the applied AC voltage without
overtraveling. However, our example circuit applies a varying voltage of only one polarity
across the speaker, because the speaker is connected in series with the transistor which can
only conduct current one way. This situation would be unacceptable in the case of any high-
power audio amplifier.
Somehow we need to isolate the speaker from the DC bias of the collector current so that
it only receives AC voltage. One way to achieve this goal is to couple the transistor collector
circuit to the speaker through a transformer:
speaker
R
R
Q1 V1
Vinput R
Voltage induced in the secondary (speaker-side) of the transformer will be strictly due to
variations in collector current, because the mutual inductance of a transformer only works on
changes in winding current. In other words, only the AC portion of the collector current signal
will be coupled to the secondary side for powering the speaker. The speaker will ”see” true
alternating current at its terminals, without any DC bias.
Transformer output coupling works, and has the added benefit of being able to provide
impedance matching between the transistor circuit and the speaker coil with custom winding
ratios. However, transformers tend to be large and heavy, especially for high-power applica-
tions. Also, it is difficult to engineer a transformer to handle signals over a wide range of
frequencies, which is almost always required for audio applications. To make matters worse,
DC current through the primary winding adds to the magnetization of the core in one polarity
only, which tends to make the transformer core saturate more easily in one AC polarity cycle
than the other. This problem is reminiscent of having the speaker directly connected in se-
ries with the transistor: a DC bias current tends to limit how much output signal amplitude
the system can handle without distortion. Generally, though, a transformer can be designed to
handle a lot more DC bias current than a speaker without running into trouble, so transformer
coupling is still a viable solution in most cases.
Another method to isolate the speaker from DC bias in the output signal is to alter the
circuit a bit and use a coupling capacitor in a manner similar to coupling the input signal to
the amplifier:
R C
R speaker
R
Q1 V1
Vinput R
This circuit resembles the more conventional form of common-emitter amplifier, with the
transistor collector connected to the battery through a resistor. The capacitor acts as a high-
pass filter, passing most of the AC voltage to the speaker while blocking all DC voltage. Again,
the value of this coupling capacitor is chosen so that its impedance at the expected signal
frequency will be arbitrarily low.
The blocking of DC voltage from an amplifier’s output, be it via a transformer or a capacitor,
is useful not only in coupling an amplifier to a load, but also in coupling one amplifier to another
amplifier. ”Staged” amplifiers are often used to achieve higher power gains than what would
be possible using a single transistor:
Three-stage common-emitter amplifier
Voutput
Vinput
First stage Second stage Third stage

While it is possible to directly couple each stage to the next (via a resistor rather than a
capacitor), this makes the whole amplifier very sensitive to variations in the DC bias voltage of
the first stage, since that DC voltage will be amplified along with the AC signal until the last
stage. In other words, the biasing of the first stage will affect the biasing of the second stage,
and so on. However, if the stages are capacitively coupled as shown in the above illustration,
the biasing of one stage has no effect on the biasing of the next, because DC voltage is blocked
from passing on to the next stage.
Transformer coupling between amplifier stages is also a possibility, but less often seen due
to some of the problems inherent to transformers mentioned previously. One notable excep-
tion to this rule is in the case of radio-frequency amplifiers where coupling transformers are
typically small, have air cores (making them immune to saturation effects), and can be made
part of a resonant circuit so as to block unwanted harmonic frequencies from passing on to
subsequent stages. The use of resonant circuits assumes that the signal frequency remains
constant, of course, but this is typically the case in radio circuitry. Also, the ”flywheel” effect of
LC tank circuits allows for class C operation for high efficiency:
Three-stage tuned (RF) amplifier
Voutput
Vinput
First stage Second stage Third stage

Having said all this, it must be mentioned that it is possible to use direct coupling within a
multi-stage transistor amplifier circuit. In cases where the amplifier is expected to handle DC
signals, this is the only alternative.
• REVIEW:
• Capacitive coupling acts like a high-pass filter on the input of an amplifier. This tends
to make the amplifier’s voltage gain decrease at lower signal frequencies. Capacitive-
coupled amplifiers are all but unresponsive to DC input signals.
• Direct coupling with a series resistor instead of a series capacitor avoids the problem of
frequency-dependent gain, but has the disadvantage of reducing amplifier gain for all
signal frequencies by attenuating the input signal.
• Transformers and capacitors may be used to couple the output of an amplifier to a load,
to eliminate DC voltage from getting to the load.
• Multi-stage amplifiers often make use of capacitive coupling between stages to eliminate
problems with the bias from one stage affecting the bias of another.
4.10 Feedback
If some percentage of an amplifier’s output signal is connected to the input, so that the am-
plifier amplifies part of its own output signal, we have what is known as feedback. Feedback
comes in two varieties: positive (also called regenerative), and negative (also called degenera-
tive). Positive feedback reinforces the direction of an amplifier’s output voltage change, while
negative feedback does just the opposite.
A familiar example of feedback happens in public-address (”PA”) systems where someone

holds the microphone too close to a speaker: a high-pitched ”whine” or ”howl” ensues, because
the audio amplifier system is detecting and amplifying its own noise. Specifically, this is an
example of positive or regenerative feedback, as any sound detected by the microphone is ampli-
fied and turned into a louder sound by the speaker, which is then detected by the microphone
again, and so on . . . the result being a noise of steadily increasing volume until the system
becomes ”saturated” and cannot produce any more volume.
One might wonder what possible benefit feedback is to an amplifier circuit, given such an
annoying example as PA system ”howl.” If we introduce positive, or regenerative, feedback into
an amplifier circuit, it has the tendency of creating and sustaining oscillations, the frequency
of which determined by the values of components handling the feedback signal from output to
input. This is one way to make an oscillator circuit to produce AC from a DC power supply.
Oscillators are very useful circuits, and so feedback has a definite, practical application for us.
Negative feedback, on the other hand, has a ”dampening” effect on an amplifier: if the
output signal happens to increase in magnitude, the feedback signal introduces a decreasing
influence into the input of the amplifier, thus opposing the change in output signal. While
positive feedback drives an amplifier circuit toward a point of instability (oscillations), negative
feedback drives it the opposite direction: toward a point of stability.
An amplifier circuit equipped with some amount of negative feedback is not only more sta-
ble, but it tends to distort the input waveform to a lesser degree and is generally capable of
amplifying a wider range of frequencies. The tradeoff for these advantages (there just has to
be a disadvantage to negative feedback, right?) is decreased gain. If a portion of an ampli-
fier’s output signal is ”fed back” to the input in such a way as to oppose any changes in the
output, it will require a greater input signal amplitude to drive the amplifier’s output to the
same amplitude as before. This constitutes a decreased gain. However, the advantages of sta-
bility, lower distortion, and greater bandwidth are worth the tradeoff in reduced gain for many
applications.
Let’s examine a simple amplifier circuit and see how we might introduce negative feedback
into it:
4.10. FEEDBACK 245
Rload
R1
R3
Voutput
Vinput R2
The amplifier configuration shown here is a common-emitter, with a resistor bias network
formed by R1 and R2 . The capacitor couples Vinput to the amplifier so that the signal source
doesn’t have a DC voltage imposed on it by the R1 /R2 divider network. Resistor R3 serves
the purpose of controlling voltage gain. We could omit if for maximum voltage gain, but since
base resistors like this are common in common-emitter amplifier circuits, we’ll keep it in this
schematic.
Like all common-emitter amplifiers, this one inverts the input signal as it is amplified. In
other words, a positive-going input voltage causes the output voltage to decrease, or go in the
direction of negative, and vice versa. If we were to examine the waveforms with oscilloscopes,
it would look something like this:
Rload
R1
R3
Vinput R2
Because the output is an inverted, or mirror-image, reproduction of the input signal, any
connection between the output (collector) wire and the input (base) wire of the transistor will
result in negative feedback:
Rload
R1 Rfeedback
R3
Vinput R2
The resistances of R1 , R2 , R3 , and Rf eedback function together as a signal-mixing network

so that the voltage seen at the base of the transistor (in reference to ground) is a weighted
average of the input voltage and the feedback voltage, resulting in signal of reduced amplitude
going into the transistor. As a result, the amplifier circuit will have reduced voltage gain, but
improved linearity (reduced distortion) and increased bandwidth.
A resistor connecting collector to base is not the only way to introduce negative feedback
into this amplifier circuit, though. Another method, although more difficult to understand at
first, involves the placement of a resistor between the transistor’s emitter terminal and circuit
ground, like this:
A different method of introducing

negative feedback into the circuit
Rload
R1
R3
Vinput R2
Rfeedback
This new feedback resistor drops voltage proportional to the emitter current through the
transistor, and it does so in such a way as to oppose the input signal’s influence on the base-
emitter junction of the transistor. Let’s take a closer look at the emitter-base junction and see
what difference this new resistor makes:
4.10. FEEDBACK 247
Ibase Icollector
+
+ -
Vinput VB-E
- Iemitter
With no feedback resistor connecting the emitter to ground, whatever level of input signal
(Vinput ) makes it through the coupling capacitor and R1 /R2 /R3 resistor network will be im-
pressed directly across the base-emitter junction as the transistor’s input voltage (VB−E ). In
other words, with no feedback resistor, VB−E equals Vinput . Therefore, if Vinput increases by
100 mV, then VB−E likewise increases by 100 mV: a change in one is the same as a change in
the other, since the two voltages are equal to each other.
Now let’s consider the effects of inserting a resistor (Rf eedback ) between the transistor’s
emitter lead and ground:
Ibase Icollector
+
+ - Iemitter
Vinput VB-E +
- Rfeedback Vfeedback
-
Note how the voltage dropped across Rf eedback adds with VB−E to equal Vinput . With
Rf eedback in the Vinput −− VB−E loop, VB−E will no longer be equal to Vinput . We know that
Rf eedback will drop a voltage proportional to emitter current, which is in turn controlled by the
base current, which is in turn controlled by the voltage dropped across the base-emitter junc-
tion of the transistor (VB−E ). Thus, if Vinput were to increase in a positive direction, it would
increase VB−E , causing more base current, causing more collector (load) current, causing more
emitter current, and causing more feedback voltage to be dropped across Rf eedback . This in-
crease of voltage drop across the feedback resistor, though, subtracts from Vinput to reduce the
VB−E , so that the actual voltage increase for VB−E will be less than the voltage increase of
Vinput . No longer will a 100 mV increase in Vinput result in a full 100 mV increase for VB−E ,
because the two voltages are not equal to each other.
Consequently, the input voltage has less control over the transistor than before, and the
voltage gain for the amplifier is reduced: just what we expected from negative feedback.
In practical common-emitter circuits, negative feedback isn’t just a luxury; its a necessity
for stable operation. In a perfect world, we could build and operate a common-emitter transis-
tor amplifier with no negative feedback, and have the full amplitude of Vinput impressed across
the transistor’s base-emitter junction. This would give us a large voltage gain. Unfortunately,
though, the relationship between base-emitter voltage and base-emitter current changes with
temperature, as predicted by the ”diode equation.” As the transistor heats up, there will be
less of a forward voltage drop across the base-emitter junction for any given current. This
causes a problem for us, as the R1 /R2 voltage divider network is designed to provide the correct
quiescent current through the base of the transistor so that it will operate in whatever class
of operation we desire (in this example, I’ve shown the amplifier working in class-A mode). If
the transistor’s voltage/current relationship changes with temperature, the amount of DC bias
voltage necessary for the desired class of operation will change. In this case, a hot transistor
will draw more bias current for the same amount of bias voltage, making it heat up even more,
drawing even more bias current. The result, if unchecked, is called thermal runaway.
Common-collector amplifiers, however, do not suffer from thermal runaway. Why is this?
The answer has everything to do with negative feedback:
A common-collector amplifier
R1
R3
Vinput R2
Rload
Note that the common-collector amplifier has its load resistor placed in exactly the same
spot as we had the Rf eedback resistor in the last circuit: between emitter and ground. This
means that the only voltage impressed across the transistor’s base-emitter junction is the dif-
ference between Vinput and Voutput , resulting in a very low voltage gain (usually close to 1 for a
common-collector amplifier). Thermal runaway is impossible for this amplifier: if base current
happens to increase due to transistor heating, emitter current will likewise increase, drop-
ping more voltage across the load, which in turn subtracts from Vinput to reduce the amount
of voltage dropped between base and emitter. In other words, the negative feedback afforded
by placement of the load resistor makes the problem of thermal runaway self-correcting. In ex-
change for a greatly reduced voltage gain, we get superb stability and immunity from thermal
runaway.
By adding a ”feedback” resistor between emitter and ground in a common-emitter amplifier,
we make the amplifier behave a little less like an ”ideal” common-emitter and a little more like
a common-collector. The feedback resistor value is typically quite a bit less than the load,
minimizing the amount of negative feedback and keeping the voltage gain fairly high.
Another benefit of negative feedback, seen clearly in the common-collector circuit, is that
4.10. FEEDBACK 249
it tends to make the voltage gain of the amplifier less dependent on the characteristics of the
transistor. Note that in a common-collector amplifier, voltage gain is nearly equal to unity
(1), regardless of the transistor’s β. This means, among other things, that we could replace
the transistor in a common-collector amplifier with one having a different β and not see any
significant changes in voltage gain. In a common-emitter circuit, the voltage gain is highly de-
pendent on β. If we were to replace the transistor in a common-emitter circuit with another of
differing β, the voltage gain for the amplifier would change significantly. In a common-emitter
amplifier equipped with negative feedback, the voltage gain will still be dependent upon tran-
sistor β to some degree, but not as much as before, making the circuit more predictable despite
variations in transistor β.
The fact that we have to introduce negative feedback into a common-emitter amplifier to
avoid thermal runaway is an unsatisfying solution. It would be nice, after all, to avoid thermal
runaway without having to suppress the amplifier’s inherently high voltage gain. A best-of-
both-worlds solution to this dilemma is available to us if we closely examine the nature of the
problem: the voltage gain that we have to minimize in order to avoid thermal runaway is the
DC voltage gain, not the AC voltage gain. After all, it isn’t the AC input signal that fuels ther-
mal runaway: its the DC bias voltage required for a certain class of operation: that quiescent
DC signal that we use to ”trick” the transistor (fundamentally a DC device) into amplifying
an AC signal. We can suppress DC voltage gain in a common-emitter amplifier circuit without
suppressing AC voltage gain if we figure out a way to make the negative feedback function
with DC only. That is, if we only feed back an inverted DC signal from output to input, but not
an inverted AC signal.
The Rf eedback emitter resistor provides negative feedback by dropping a voltage proportional
to load current. In other words, negative feedback is accomplished by inserting an impedance
into the emitter current path. If we want to feed back DC but not AC, we need an impedance
that is high for DC but low for AC. What kind of circuit presents a high impedance to DC but
a low impedance to AC? A high-pass filter, of course!
By connecting a capacitor in parallel with the feedback resistor, we create the very situation
we need: a path from emitter to ground that is easier for AC than it is for DC:
High AC voltage gain re-established

by adding Cbypass in parallel with Rfeedback
Rload
R1
R3
Vinput R2
Rfeedback Cbypass
The new capacitor ”bypasses” AC from the transistor’s emitter to ground, so that no ap-
preciable AC voltage will be dropped from emitter to ground to ”feed back” to the input and
suppress voltage gain. Direct current, on the other hand, cannot go through the bypass capac-
itor, and so must travel through the feedback resistor, dropping a DC voltage between emitter
and ground which lowers the DC voltage gain and stabilizes the amplifier’s DC response, pre-
venting thermal runaway. Because we want the reactance of this capacitor (XC ) to be as low
as possible, Cbypass should be sized relatively large. Because the polarity across this capacitor
will never change, it is safe to use a polarized (electrolytic) capacitor for the task.
Another approach to the problem of negative feedback reducing voltage gain is to use multi-
stage amplifiers rather than single-transistor amplifiers. If the attenuated gain of a single
transistor is insufficient for the task at hand, we can use more than one transistor to make up
for the reduction caused by feedback. Here is an example circuit showing negative feedback in
a three-stage common-emitter amplifier:
Rfeedback
Rin
Voutput
Vinput
Note how there is but one ”path” for feedback, from the final output to the input through a
single resistor, Rf eedback . Since each stage is a common-emitter amplifier – and thus inverting
in nature – and there are an odd number of stages from input to output, the output signal will
be inverted with respect to the input signal, and the feedback will be negative (degenerative).
Relatively large amounts of feedback may be used without sacrificing voltage gain, because the
three amplifier stages provide so much gain to begin with.
At first, this design philosophy may seem inelegant and perhaps even counter-productive.
Isn’t this a rather crude way to overcome the loss in gain incurred through the use of negative
feedback, to simply recover gain by adding stage after stage? What is the point of creating a
huge voltage gain using three transistor stages if we’re just going to attenuate all that gain
anyway with negative feedback? The point, though perhaps not apparent at first, is increased
predictability and stability from the circuit as a whole. If the three transistor stages are de-
signed to provide an arbitrarily high voltage gain (in the tens of thousands, or greater) with no
feedback, it will be found that the addition of negative feedback causes the overall voltage gain
to become less dependent of the individual stage gains, and approximately equal to the simple
ratio Rf eedback /Rin . The more voltage gain the circuit has (without feedback), the more closely
the voltage gain will approximate Rf eedback /Rin once feedback is established. In other words,
voltage gain in this circuit is fixed by the values of two resistors, and nothing more.
This advantage has profound impact on mass-production of electronic circuitry: if amplifiers
of predictable gain may be constructed using transistors of widely varied β values, it makes
4.11. AMPLIFIER IMPEDANCES 251
the selection and replacement of components very easy and inexpensive. It also means the
amplifier’s gain varies little with changes in temperature. This principle of stable gain control
through a high-gain amplifier ”tamed” by negative feedback is elevated almost to an art form
in electronic circuits called operational amplifiers, or op-amps. You may read much more about
these circuits in a later chapter of this book!
• REVIEW:
• Feedback is the coupling of an amplifier’s output to its input.
• Positive, or regenerative feedback has the tendency of making an amplifier circuit unsta-
ble, so that it produces oscillations (AC). The frequency of these oscillations is largely
determined by the components in the feedback network.
• Negative, or degenerative feedback has the tendency of making an amplifier circuit more
stable, so that its output changes less for a given input signal than without feedback.
This reduces the gain of the amplifier, but has the advantage of decreasing distortion and
increasing bandwidth (the range of frequencies the amplifier can handle).
• Negative feedback may be introduced into a common-emitter circuit by coupling collector
to base, or by inserting a resistor between emitter and ground.
• An emitter-to-ground ”feedback” resistor is usually found in common-emitter circuits as
a preventative measure against thermal runaway.
• Negative feedback also has the advantage of making amplifier voltage gain more depen-
dent on resistor values and less dependent on the transistor’s characteristics.
• Common-collector amplifiers have a lot of negative feedback, due to the placement of
the load resistor between emitter and ground. This feedback accounts for the extremely
stable voltage gain of the amplifier, as well as its immunity against thermal runaway.
• Voltage gain for a common-emitter circuit may be re-established without sacrificing im-
munity to thermal runaway, by connecting a bypass capacitor in parallel with the emitter
”feedback resistor.”
• If the voltage gain of an amplifier is arbitrarily high (tens of thousands, or greater), and
negative feedback is used to reduce the gain to reasonable levels, it will be found that
the gain will approximately equal Rf eedback /Rin . Changes in transistor β or other internal
component values will have comparatively little effect on voltage gain with feedback in
operation, resulting in an amplifier that is stable and easy to design.
4.11 Amplifier impedances

*** PENDING ***
• REVIEW:
•
4.12 Current mirrors

An interesting and often-used circuit applying the bipolar junction transistor is the so-called
current mirror, which serves as a simple current regulator, supplying nearly constant current
to a load over a wide range of load resistances.
We know that in a transistor operating in its active mode, collector current is equal to base
current multiplied by the ratio β. We also know that the ratio between collector current and
emitter current is called α. Because collector current is equal to base current multiplied by β,
and emitter current is the sum of the base and collector currents, α should be mathematically
derivable from β. If you do the algebra, you’ll find that α = β/(β+1) for any transistor.
We’ve seen already how maintaining a constant base current through an active transistor
results in the regulation of collector current, according to the β ratio. Well, the α ratio works
similarly: if emitter current is held constant, collector current will remain at a stable, regulated
value so long as the transistor has enough collector-to-emitter voltage drop to maintain it in
its active mode. Therefore, if we have a way of holding emitter current constant through a
transistor, the transistor will work to regulate collector current at a constant value.
Remember that the base-emitter junction of a BJT is nothing more than a PN junction, just
like a diode, and that the ”diode equation” specifies how much current will go through a PN
junction given forward voltage drop and junction temperature:
ID = IS (eqVD/NkT - 1)
Where,
q = charge of electron (1.6 x 10-19 coulombs)
N = "Nonideality" or "emission" coefficient

(typically between 1 and 2)
k = Boltzmann’s constant (1.38 x 10-23)
T = Junction temperature in Kelvins
If both junction voltage and temperature are held constant, then the PN junction current
will likewise be constant. Following this rationale, if we were to hold the base-emitter voltage
of a transistor constant, then its emitter current should likewise be constant, given a constant
temperature:
4.12. CURRENT MIRRORS 253
Icollector Rload
(constant)
(constant)
Ibase
β (constant)
α (constant)
Vbase Iemitter
(constant)
(constant)
This constant emitter current, multiplied by a constant α ratio, gives a constant collector
current through Rload , provided that there is enough battery voltage to keep the transistor in
its active mode for any change in Rload ’s resistance.
Maintaining a constant voltage across the transistor’s base-emitter junction is easy: use a
forward-biased diode to establish a constant voltage of approximately 0.7 volts, and connect it
in parallel with the base-emitter junction:
Rbias Icollector Rload

(constant)
Ibase (constant)
β (constant)
α (constant)
0.7 V Idiode Iemitter

(constant)
(constant)
(constant)
Now, here’s where it gets interesting. The voltage dropped across the diode probably won’t
be 0.7 volts exactly. The exact amount of forward voltage dropped across it depends on the
current through the diode, and the diode’s temperature, all in accordance with the diode equa-
tion. If diode current is increased (say, by reducing the resistance of Rbias ), its voltage drop
will increase slightly, increasing the voltage drop across the transistor’s base-emitter junction,
which will increase the emitter current by the same proportion, assuming the diode’s PN junc-
tion and the transistor’s base-emitter junction are well-matched to each other. In other words,
transistor emitter current will closely equal diode current at any given time. If you change the
diode current by changing the resistance value of Rbias , then the transistor’s emitter current
will follow suit, because the emitter current is described by the same equation as the diode’s,
and both PN junctions experience the same voltage drop.
Remember, the transistor’s collector current is almost equal to its emitter current, as the
α ratio of a typical transistor is almost unity (1). If we have control over the transistor’s
emitter current by setting diode current with a simple resistor adjustment, then we likewise
have control over the transistor’s collector current. In other words, collector current mimics, or
mirrors, diode current.
Current through resistor Rload is therefore a function of current set by the bias resistor, the
two being nearly equal. This is the function of the current mirror circuit: to regulate current
through the load resistor by conveniently adjusting the value of Rbias . It is very easy to create
a set amount of diode current, as current through the diode is described by a simple equation:
power supply voltage minus diode voltage (almost a constant value), divided by the resistance
of Rbias .
To better match the characteristics of the two PN junctions (the diode junction and the
transistor base-emitter junction), a transistor may be used in place of a regular diode, like
this:
A current mirror circuit

using two transistors
Rbias Rload
Because temperature is a factor in the ”diode equation,” and we want the two PN junctions
to behave identically under all operating conditions, we should maintain the two transistors at
exactly the same temperature. This is easily done using discrete components by gluing the two
transistor cases back-to-back. If the transistors are manufactured together on a single chip of
silicon (as a so-called integrated circuit, or IC), the designers should locate the two transistors
very close to one another to facilitate heat transfer between them.
The current mirror circuit shown with two NPN transistors is sometimes called a current-
sinking type, because the regulating transistor conducts current to the load from ground (”sink-
ing” current), rather than from the positive side of the battery (”sourcing” current). If we wish
to have a grounded load, and a current sourcing mirror circuit, we could use PNP transistors
like this:
4.13. TRANSISTOR RATINGS AND PACKAGES 255
A current-sourcing mirror circuit
Rbias Rload
• REVIEW:
• A current mirror is a transistor circuit that regulates current through a load resistance,
the regulation point being set by a simple resistor adjustment.
• Transistors in a current mirror circuit must be maintained at the same temperature for
precise operation. When using discrete transistors, you may glue their cases together to
help accomplish this.
• Current mirror circuits may be found in two basic varieties: the current sinking config-
uration, where the regulating transistor connects the load to ground; and the current
sourcing configuration, where the regulating transistor connects the load to the positive
terminal of the DC power supply.
4.13 Transistor ratings and packages

*** INCOMPLETE ***
Like all electrical and electronic components, transistors are limited in the amounts of
voltage and current they can handle without sustaining damage. Since transistors are a bit
more complex than some of the other components you’re used to seeing at this point, they
tend to have more kinds of ratings. What follows is an itemized description of some typical
transistor ratings.
Power dissipation: When a transistor conducts current between collector and emitter, it also
drops voltage between those two points. At any given time, the power dissipated by a transis-
tor is equal to the product (multiplication) of collector current and collector-emitter voltage.
Just like resistors, transistors are rated in terms of how many watts they can safely dissipate
without sustaining damage. High temperature is the mortal enemy of all semiconductor de-
vices, and bipolar transistors tend to be more susceptible to thermal damage than most. Power
ratings are always given in reference to the temperature of ambient (surrounding) air. When
transistors are to be used in hotter-than-normal environments, their power ratings must be
derated to avoid a shortened service life.
Reverse voltages: As with diodes, bipolar transistors are rated for maximum allowable
reverse-bias voltage across their PN junctions. This includes voltage ratings for the base-
emitter junction, base-collector junction, and also from collector to emitter. The rating for
maximum collector-emitter voltage can be thought of in terms of the maximum voltage it can
withstand while in full-cutoff mode (no base current). This rating is of particular importance
when using a bipolar transistor as a switch.
Collector current: A maximum value for collector current will be given by the manufacturer
in amps. Understand that this maximum figure assumes a saturated state (minimum collector-
emitter voltage drop). If the transistor is not saturated, and in fact is dropping substantial
voltage between collector and emitter, the maximum power dissipation rating will probably be
exceeded before the maximum collector current rating will. Just something to keep in mind
when designing a transistor circuit!
Saturation voltages: Ideally, a saturated transistor acts as a closed switch contact between
collector and emitter, dropping zero voltage at full collector current. In reality this is never
true. Manufacturers will specify the maximum voltage drop of a transistor at saturation, both
between the collector and emitter, and also between base and emitter (forward voltage drop
of that PN junction). Collector-emitter voltage drop at saturation is generally expected to be
0.3 volts or less, but this figure is of course dependent on the specific type of transistor. Base-
emitter forward voltage drop is very similar to that of an equivalent diode, which should come
as no surprise.
Beta: The ratio of collector current to base current, β is the fundamental parameter char-
acterizing the amplifying ability of a bipolar transistor. β is usually assumed to be a constant
figure in circuit calculations, but unfortunately this is far from true in practice. As such,
manufacturers provide a set of β (or ”hf e ”) figures for a given transistor over a wide range of
operating conditions, usually in the form of maximum/minimum/typical ratings. It may sur-
prise you to see just how widely β can be expected to vary within normal operating limits. One
popular small-signal transistor, the 2N3903, is advertised as having a β ranging from 15 to
150 depending on the amount of collector current. Generally, β is highest for medium collector
currents, decreasing for very low and very high collector currents.
Alpha: the ratio of collector current to emitter current, α may be derived from β, being
equal to β/(β+1).
Bipolar transistors come in a wide variety of physical packages. Package type is primarily
dependent upon the power dissipation of the transistor, much like resistors: the greater the
maximum power dissipation, the larger the device has to be to stay cool. There are several
standardized package types for three-terminal semiconductor devices, any of which may be
used to house a bipolar transistor. This is an important fact to consider: there are many other
semiconductor devices other than bipolar transistors which have three connection points. It
is impossible to positively identify a three-terminal semiconductor device without referencing
the part number printed on it, and/or subjecting it to a set of electrical tests.
• REVIEW:
•
4.14. BJT QUIRKS 257
4.14 BJT quirks

*** PENDING ***
Nonlinearity Temperature drift Thermal runaway Junction capacitance Noise Mismatch
(problem with paralleling transistors) β cutoff frequency Alpha cutoff frequency
• REVIEW:
•
Chapter 5
JUNCTION FIELD-EFFECT
TRANSISTORS
Contents
5.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
5.2 The transistor as a switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
5.3 Meter check of a transistor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
5.4 Active-mode operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
5.5 The common-source amplifier – PENDING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
5.6 The common-drain amplifier – PENDING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
5.7 The common-gate amplifier – PENDING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
5.8 Biasing techniques – PENDING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
5.9 Transistor ratings and packages – PENDING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
5.10 JFET quirks – PENDING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
*** INCOMPLETE ***
5.1 Introduction
A transistor is a linear semiconductor device that controls current with the application of a
lower-power electrical signal. Transistors may be roughly grouped into two major divisions:
bipolar and field-effect. In the last chapter we studied bipolar transistors, which utilize a small
current to control a large current. In this chapter, we’ll introduce the general concept of the
field-effect transistor – a device utilizing a small voltage to control current – and then focus
on one particular type: the junction field-effect transistor. In the next chapter we’ll explore
another type of field-effect transistor, the insulated gate variety.
All field-effect transistors are unipolar rather than bipolar devices. That is, the main cur-
rent through them is comprised either of electrons through an N-type semiconductor or holes
259
260 CHAPTER 5. JUNCTION FIELD-EFFECT TRANSISTORS
through a P-type semiconductor. This becomes more evident when a physical diagram of the
device is seen:
N-channel JFET
drain
drain
gate gate P N
source
source

In a junction field-effect transistor, or JFET, the controlled current passes from source to
drain, or from drain to source as the case may be. The controlling voltage is applied between
the gate and source. Note how the current does not have to cross through a PN junction on
its way between source and drain: the path (called a channel) is an uninterrupted block of
semiconductor material. In the image just shown, this channel is an N-type semiconductor.
P-type channel JFETs are also manufactured:
P-channel JFET
drain
drain
gate gate N P
source
source

Generally, N-channel JFETs are more commonly used than P-channel. The reasons for this
have to do with obscure details of semiconductor theory, which I’d rather not discuss in this
chapter. As with bipolar transistors, I believe the best way to introduce field-effect transistor
usage is to avoid theory whenever possible and concentrate instead on operational character-
istics. The only practical difference between N- and P-channel JFETs you need to concern
yourself with now is biasing of the PN junction formed between the gate material and the
channel.
With no voltage applied between gate and source, the channel is a wide-open path for elec-
trons to flow. However, if a voltage is applied between gate and source of such polarity that it
reverse-biases the PN junction, the flow between source and drain connections becomes lim-
ited, or regulated, just as it was for bipolar transistors with a set amount of base current.
Maximum gate-source voltage ”pinches off ” all current through source and drain, thus forcing
the JFET into cutoff mode. This behavior is due to the depletion region of the PN junction
expanding under the influence of a reverse-bias voltage, eventually occupying the entire width
of the channel if the voltage is great enough. This action may be likened to reducing the flow of
a liquid through a flexible hose by squeezing it: with enough force, the hose will be constricted
enough to completely block the flow.
water
hose nozzle
water
Hose constricted by squeezing,

water flow reduced or stopped
Note how this operational behavior is exactly opposite of the bipolar junction transistor.
Bipolar transistors are normally-off devices: no current through the base, no current through
the collector or the emitter. JFETs, on the other hand, are normally-on devices: no voltage
applied to the gate allows maximum current through the source and drain. Also take note
that the amount of current allowed through a JFET is determined by a voltage signal rather
than a current signal as with bipolar transistors. In fact, with the gate-source PN junction
reverse-biased, there should be nearly zero current through the gate connection. For this
reason, we classify the JFET as a voltage-controlled device, and the bipolar transistor as a
current-controlled device.
If the gate-source PN junction is forward-biased with a small voltage, the JFET channel
will ”open” a little more to allow greater currents through. However, the PN junction of a
JFET is not built to handle any substantial current itself, and thus it is not recommended to
forward-bias the junction under any circumstances.
This is a very condensed overview of JFET operation. In the next section, we’ll explore the
use of the JFET as a switching device.
5.2 The transistor as a switch

Like its bipolar cousin, the field-effect transistor may be used as an on/off switch controlling
electrical power to a load. Let’s begin our investigation of the JFET as a switch with our
familiar switch/lamp circuit:
switch
Remembering that the controlled current in a JFET flows between source and drain, we
substitute the source and drain connections of a JFET for the two ends of the switch in the
above circuit:
If you haven’t noticed by now, the source and drain connections on a JFET look identical
on the schematic symbol. Unlike the bipolar junction transistor where the emitter is clearly
distinguished from the collector by the arrowhead, a JFET’s source and drain lines both run
perpendicular into the bar representing the semiconductor channel. This is no accident, as the
source and drain lines of a JFET are often interchangeable in practice! In other words, JFETs
are usually able to handle channel current in either direction, from source to drain or from
drain to source.
Now all we need in the circuit is a way to control the JFET’s conduction. With zero applied
voltage between gate and source, the JFET’s channel will be ”open,” allowing full current to
the lamp. In order to turn the lamp off, we will need to connect another source of DC voltage
between the gate and source connections of the JFET like this:
switch
Closing this switch will ”pinch off ” the JFET’s channel, thus forcing it into cutoff and turn-
ing the lamp off:
switch
Note that there is no current going through the gate. As a reverse-biased PN junction, it
firmly opposes the flow of any electrons through it. As a voltage-controlled device, the JFET
requires negligible input current. This is an advantageous trait of the JFET over the bipolar
transistor: there is virtually zero power required of the controlling signal.
Opening the control switch again should disconnect the reverse-biasing DC voltage from
the gate, thus allowing the transistor to turn back on. Ideally, anyway, this is how it works. In
practice this may not work at all:
switch
No lamp current after the switch opens!

Why is this? Why doesn’t the JFET’s channel open up again and allow lamp current through
like it did before with no voltage applied between gate and source? The answer lies in the oper-
ation of the reverse-biased gate-source junction. The depletion region within that junction acts
as an insulating barrier separating gate from source. As such, it possesses a certain amount of
capacitance capable of storing an electric charge potential. After this junction has been forcibly
reverse-biased by the application of an external voltage, it will tend to hold that reverse-biasing
voltage as a stored charge even after the source of that voltage has been disconnected. What
is needed to turn the JFET on again is to bleed off that stored charge between the gate and
source through a resistor:
switch
Resistor bleeds off stored charge in

PN junction to allow transistor to
turn on once again.
This resistor’s value is not very important. The capacitance of the JFET’s gate-source junc-
tion is very small, and so even a rather high-value bleed resistor creates a fast RC time con-
stant, allowing the transistor to resume conduction with little delay once the switch is opened.
Like the bipolar transistor, it matters little where or what the controlling voltage comes
from. We could use a solar cell, thermocouple, or any other sort of voltage-generating device to
supply the voltage controlling the JFET’s conduction. All that is required of a voltage source
for JFET switch operation is sufficient voltage to achieve pinch-off of the JFET channel. This
level is usually in the realm of a few volts DC, and is termed the pinch-off or cutoff voltage.
The exact pinch-off voltage for any given JFET is a function of its unique design, and is not a
universal figure like 0.7 volts is for a silicon BJT’s base-emitter junction voltage.
• REVIEW:
• Field-effect transistors control the current between source and drain connections by a
voltage applied between the gate and source. In a junction field-effect transistor (JFET),
there is a PN junction between the gate and source which is normally reverse-biased for
control of source-drain current.
• JFETs are normally-on (normally-saturated) devices. The application of a reverse-biasing

voltage between gate and source causes the depletion region of that junction to expand,
thereby ”pinching off ” the channel between source and drain through which the controlled
current travels.
• It may be necessary to attach a ”bleed-off ” resistor between gate and source to discharge
the stored charge built up across the junction’s natural capacitance when the controlling
voltage is removed. Otherwise, a charge may remain to keep the JFET in cutoff mode
even after the voltage source has been disconnected.
5.3 Meter check of a transistor

Testing a JFET with a multimeter might seem to be a relatively easy task, seeing as how it
has only one PN junction to test: either measured between gate and source, or between gate
and drain.
V A
V A
OFF N-channel transistor
A COM drain
+
drain
-
gate gate P N
-
source
+
source
V A
physical diagram
V A Both meters show non-continuity

OFF
(high resistance) through gate-
channel junction.
A COM
V A
V A
OFF N-channel transistor
A COM drain
-
drain
+
gate gate P N
+
source
-
source
V A
physical diagram
V A
OFF
Both meters show continuity (low

resistance) through gate-channel
A COM junction.
Testing continuity through the drain-source channel is another matter, though. Remem-
ber from the last section how a stored charge across the capacitance of the gate-channel PN
junction could hold the JFET in a pinched-off state without any external voltage being applied
across it? This can occur even when you’re holding the JFET in your hand to test it! Conse-
quently, any meter reading of continuity through that channel will be unpredictable, since you
don’t necessarily know if a charge is being stored by the gate-channel junction. Of course, if you
know beforehand which terminals on the device are the gate, source, and drain, you may con-
nect a jumper wire between gate and source to eliminate any stored charge and then proceed
to test source-drain continuity with no problem. However, if you don’t know which terminals
are which, the unpredictability of the source-drain connection may confuse your determination
of terminal identity.
A good strategy to follow when testing a JFET is to insert the pins of the transistor into
anti-static foam (the material used to ship and store static-sensitive electronic components)
just prior to testing. The conductivity of the foam will make a resistive connection between all
terminals of the transistor when it is inserted. This connection will ensure that all residual
voltage built up across the gate-channel PN junction will be neutralized, thus ”opening up” the
channel for an accurate meter test of source-to-drain continuity.
Since the JFET channel is a single, uninterrupted piece of semiconductor material, there is
usually no difference between the source and drain terminals. A resistance check from source
to drain should yield the same value as a check from drain to source. This resistance should be
relatively low (a few hundred ohms at most) when the gate-source PN junction voltage is zero.
By applying a reverse-bias voltage between gate and source, pinch-off of the channel should be
apparent by an increased resistance reading on the meter.
5.4 Active-mode operation
JFETs, like bipolar transistors, are able to ”throttle” current in a mode between cutoff and
saturation called the active mode. To better understand JFET operation, let’s set up a SPICE
simulation similar to the one used to explore basic bipolar transistor function:
Vammeter
2 3
0V
1 V1
Q1
Vin
0 0 0
jfet simulation
vin 0 1 dc 1
j1 2 1 0 mod1
vammeter 3 2 dc 0
v1 3 0 dc
.model mod1 njf
.dc v1 0 2 0.05
.end
Note that the transistor labeled ”Q1 ” in the schematic is represented in the SPICE netlist as
j1. Although all transistor types are commonly referred to as ”Q” devices in circuit schematics
– just as resistors are referred to by ”R” designations, and capacitors by ”C” – SPICE needs to
be told what type of transistor this is by means of a different letter designation: q for bipolar
junction transistors, and j for junction field-effect transistors.
5.4. ACTIVE-MODE OPERATION 267
Here, the controlling signal is a steady voltage of 1 volt, applied with negative towards the
JFET gate and positive toward the JFET source, to reverse-bias the PN junction. In the first
BJT simulation of chapter 4, a constant-current source of 20 µA was used for the controlling
signal, but remember that a JFET is a voltage-controlled device, not a current-controlled device
like the bipolar junction transistor.
Like the BJT, the JFET tends to regulate the controlled current at a fixed level above a
certain power supply voltage, no matter how high that voltage may climb. Of course, this
current regulation has limits in real life – no transistor can withstand infinite voltage from
a power source – and with enough drain-to-source voltage the transistor will ”break down”
and drain current will surge. But within normal operating limits the JFET keeps the drain
current at a steady level independent of power supply voltage. To verify this, we’ll run another
computer simulation, this time sweeping the power supply voltage (V1 ) all the way to 50 volts:
jfet simulation
vin 0 1 dc 1
j1 2 1 0 mod1
vammeter 3 2 dc 0
v1 3 0 dc
.model mod1 njf
.dc v1 0 50 2
.end
Sure enough, the drain current remains steady at a value of 100 µA (1.000E-04 amps) no
matter how high the power supply voltage is adjusted.
Because the input voltage has control over the constriction of the JFET’s channel, it makes
sense that changing this voltage should be the only action capable of altering the current
regulation point for the JFET, just like changing the base current on a BJT is the only action
capable of altering collector current regulation. Let’s decrease the input voltage from 1 volt to
0.5 volts and see what happens:
jfet simulation
vin 0 1 dc 0.5
j1 2 1 0 mod1
vammeter 3 2 dc 0
v1 3 0 dc
.model mod1 njf
.dc v1 0 50 2
.end
As expected, the drain current is greater now than it was in the previous simulation. With
less reverse-bias voltage impressed across the gate-source junction, the depletion region is not
as wide as it was before, thus ”opening” the channel for charge carriers and increasing the
drain current figure.
Please note, however, the actual value of this new current figure: 225 µA (2.250E-04 amps).
The last simulation showed a drain current of 100 µA, and that was with a gate-source voltage
of 1 volt. Now that we’ve reduced the controlling voltage by a factor of 2 (from 1 volt down to
0.5 volts), the drain current increased, but not by the same 2:1 proportion! Let’s reduce our
gate-source voltage once more by another factor of 2 (down to 0.25 volts) and see what happens:
jfet simulation
vin 0 1 dc 0.25
j1 2 1 0 mod1
vammeter 3 2 dc 0
v1 3 0 dc
.model mod1 njf
.dc v1 0 50 2
.end
With the gate-source voltage set to 0.25 volts, one-half what it was before, the drain current
is 306.3 µA. Although this is still an increase over the 225 µA from the prior simulation, it isn’t
proportional to the change of the controlling voltage.
To obtain a better understanding of what is going on here, we should run a different kind
of simulation: one that keeps the power supply voltage constant and instead varies the con-
trolling (voltage) signal. When this kind of simulation was run on a BJT, the result was a
straight-line graph, showing how the input current / output current relationship of a BJT is
linear. Let’s see what kind of relationship a JFET exhibits:
jfet simulation
vin 0 1 dc
j1 2 1 0 mod1
vammeter 3 2 dc 0
v1 3 0 dc 25
.model mod1 njf
.dc vin 0 2 0.1
.end
This simulation directly reveals an important characteristic of the junction field-effect tran-
sistor: the control effect of gate voltage over drain current is nonlinear. Notice how the drain
current does not decrease linearly as the gate-source voltage is increased. With the bipolar
junction transistor, collector current was directly proportional to base current: output signal
proportionately followed input signal. Not so with the JFET! The controlling signal (gate-
source voltage) has less and less effect over the drain current as it approaches cutoff. In this
simulation, most of the controlling action (75 percent of drain current decrease – from 400
µA to 100 µA) takes place within the first volt of gate-source voltage (from 0 to 1 volt), while
the remaining 25 percent of drain current reduction takes another whole volt worth of input
signal. Cutoff occurs at 2 volts input.
Linearity is generally important for a transistor because it allows it to faithfully amplify a

waveform without distorting it. If a transistor is nonlinear in its input/output amplification,
the shape of the input waveform will become corrupted in some way, leading to the production
of harmonics in the output signal. The only time linearity is not important in a transistor
circuit is when its being operated at the extreme limits of cutoff and saturation (off and on,
respectively, like a switch).
A JFET’s characteristic curves display the same current-regulating behavior as for a BJT,
and the nonlinearity between gate-to-source voltage and drain current is evident in the dispro-
portionate vertical spacings between the curves:
|VDS| = |VP| - |VGS|

Below pinch-off Above pinch-off
Triode region Saturation region
Vgate-to-source = 0 V
n
regio
Idrain Vgate-to-source = 0.5 V

Ohmic
Vgate-to-source = 2 V = VP (pinch-off)
Edrain-to-source
To better comprehend the current-regulating behavior of the JFET, it might be helpful to
draw a model made up of simpler, more common components, just as we did for the BJT:
N-channel JFET diode-regulating diode model
S
In the case of the JFET, it is the voltage across the reverse-biased gate-source diode which
sets the current regulation point for the pair of constant-current diodes. A pair of opposing
constant-current diodes is included in the model to facilitate current in either direction be-
tween source and drain, a trait made possible by the unipolar nature of the channel. With
no PN junctions for the source-drain current to traverse, there is no polarity sensitivity in the
controlled current. For this reason, JFETs are often referred to as bilateral devices.
A contrast of the JFET’s characteristic curves against the curves for a bipolar transistor
reveals a notable difference: the linear (straight) portion of each curve’s non-horizontal area is
surprisingly long compared to the respective portions of a BJT’s characteristic curves:
Idrain Vgate-to-source = 0.5 V
Vgate-to-source = 2 V (pinch-off)
Edrain-to-source
"Ohmic regions"
Ibase = 75 µA
Icollector
Ibase = 40 µA
Ibase = 20 µA
Ibase = 5 µA
Ecollector-to-emitter
A JFET transistor operated in the triode region tends to act very much like a plain resistor
as measured from drain to source. Like all simple resistances, its current/voltage graph is a
straight line. For this reason, the triode region (non-horizontal) portion of a JFET’s character-
istic curve is sometimes referred to as the ohmic region. In this mode of operation where there
isn’t enough drain-to-source voltage to bring drain current up to the regulated point, the drain
current is directly proportional to the drain-to-source voltage. In a carefully designed circuit,
this phenomenon can be used to an advantage. Operated in this region of the curve, the JFET
acts like a voltage-controlled resistance rather than a voltage-controlled current regulator, and
the appropriate model for the transistor is different:
N-channel JFET diode-rheostat model

(for saturation, or "ohmic," mode only!)
S
Here and here alone the rheostat (variable resistor) model of a transistor is accurate. It
must be remembered, however, that this model of the transistor holds true only for a narrow
range of its operation: when it is extremely saturated (far less voltage applied between drain
and source than what is needed to achieve full regulated current through the drain). The
amount of resistance (measured in ohms) between drain and source in this mode is controlled
by how much reverse-bias voltage is applied between gate and source. The less gate-to-source
voltage, the less resistance (steeper line on graph).
Because JFETs are voltage-controlled current regulators (at least when they’re allowed to
operate in their active), their inherent amplification factor cannot be expressed as a unitless
ratio as with BJTs. In other words, there is no β ratio for a JFET. This is true for all voltage-
controlled active devices, including other types of field-effect transistors and even electron
tubes. There is, however, an expression of controlled (drain) current to controlling (gate-source)
voltage, and it is called transconductance. Its unit is Siemens, the same unit for conductance
(formerly known as the mho).
Why this choice of units? Because the equation takes on the general form of current (output
signal) divided by voltage (input signal).
5.5. THE COMMON-SOURCE AMPLIFIER – PENDING 275
∆ID
gfs =
∆VGS
Where,
gfs = Transconductance in Siemens
∆ID = Change in drain current
∆VGS = Change in gate-source voltage
Unfortunately, the transconductance value for any JFET is not a stable quantity: it varies
significantly with the amount of gate-to-source control voltage applied to the transistor. As we
saw in the SPICE simulations, the drain current does not change proportionally with changes
in gate-source voltage. To calculate drain current for any given gate-source voltage, there is
another equation that may be used. It is obviously nonlinear upon inspection (note the power
of 2), reflecting the nonlinear behavior we’ve already experienced in simulation:
VGS 2
ID = IDSS ( 1 - )
VGS(cutoff)
Where,
ID = Drain current
IDSS = Drain current with gate shorted to source
VGS = Gate-to-source voltage
VGS(cutoff) = Pinch-off gate-to-source voltage
• REVIEW:
• In their active modes, JFETs regulate drain current according to the amount of reverse-
bias voltage applied between gate and source, much like a BJT regulates collector current
according to base current. The mathematical ratio between drain current (output) and
gate-to-source voltage (input) is called transconductance, and it is measured in units of
Siemens.
• The relationship between gate-source (control) voltage and drain (controlled) current is
nonlinear: as gate-source voltage is decreased, drain current increases exponentially.
That is to say, the transconductance of a JFET is not constant over its range of operation.
• In their triode region, JFETs regulate drain-to-source resistance according to the amount
of reverse-bias voltage applied between gate and source. In other words, they act like
voltage-controlled resistances.
5.5 The common-source amplifier – PENDING

*** PENDING ***
• REVIEW:
5.6 The common-drain amplifier – PENDING

*** PENDING ***
• REVIEW:
5.7 The common-gate amplifier – PENDING

*** PENDING ***
• REVIEW:
5.8 Biasing techniques – PENDING

*** PENDING ***
• REVIEW:
•
5.9. TRANSISTOR RATINGS AND PACKAGES – PENDING 277
5.9 Transistor ratings and packages – PENDING

*** PENDING ***
• REVIEW:
5.10 JFET quirks – PENDING

*** PENDING ***
• REVIEW:
•
Chapter 6
INSULATED-GATE
FIELD-EFFECT TRANSISTORS
Contents
6.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
6.2 Depletion-type IGFETs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
6.3 Enhancement-type IGFETs – PENDING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
6.4 Active-mode operation – PENDING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
6.5 The common-source amplifier – PENDING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
6.6 The common-drain amplifier – PENDING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
6.7 The common-gate amplifier – PENDING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
6.8 Biasing techniques – PENDING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
6.9 Transistor ratings and packages – PENDING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
6.10 IGFET quirks – PENDING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
6.11 MESFETs – PENDING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
6.12 IGBTs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
*** INCOMPLETE ***
6.1 Introduction
As was stated in the last chapter, there is more than one type of field-effect transistor. The
junction field-effect transistor, or JFET, uses voltage applied across a reverse-biased PN junc-
tion to control the width of that junction’s depletion region, which then controls the conduc-
tivity of a semiconductor channel through which the controlled current moves. Another type
of field-effect device – the insulated gate field-effect transistor, or IGFET – exploits a similar
principle of a depletion region controlling conductivity through a semiconductor channel, but
it differs primarily from the JFET in that there is no direct connection between the gate lead
279
280 CHAPTER 6. INSULATED-GATE FIELD-EFFECT TRANSISTORS
and the semiconductor material itself. Rather, the gate lead is insulated from the transistor
body by a thin barrier, hence the term insulated gate. This insulating barrier acts like the di-
electric layer of a capacitor, and allows gate-to-source voltage to influence the depletion region
electrostatically rather than by direct connection.
In addition to a choice of N-channel versus P-channel design, IGFETs come in two major
types: enhancement and depletion. The depletion type is more closely related to the JFET, so
we will begin our study of IGFETs with it.
6.2 Depletion-type IGFETs
Insulated gate field-effect transistors are unipolar devices just like JFETs: that is, the con-
trolled current does not have to cross a PN junction. There is a PN junction inside the tran-
sistor, but its only purpose is to provide that nonconducting depletion region which is used to
restrict current through the channel.
Here is a diagram of an N-channel IGFET of the ”depletion” type:
N-channel, D-type IGFET
drain
drain
substrate gate N P substrate

gate
insulating
source barrier
source
Notice how the source and drain leads connect to either end of the N channel, and how the
gate lead attaches to a metal plate separated from the channel by a thin insulating barrier.
That barrier is sometimes made from silicon dioxide (the primary chemical compound found in
sand), which is a very good insulator. Due to this Metal (gate) - Oxide (barrier) - Semiconductor
(channel) construction, the IGFET is sometimes referred to as a MOSFET. There are other
types of IGFET construction, though, and so ”IGFET” is the better descriptor for this general
class of transistors.
Notice also how there are four connections to the IGFET. In practice, the substrate lead
is directly connected to the source lead to make the two electrically common. Usually, this
connection is made internally to the IGFET, eliminating the separate substrate connection,
resulting in a three-terminal device with a slightly different schematic symbol:
6.2. DEPLETION-TYPE IGFETS 281
N-channel, D-type IGFET
drain
drain
gate N P substrate
gate
insulating
source barrier
source

With source and substrate common to each other, the N and P layers of the IGFET end up
being directly connected to each other through the outside wire. This connection prevents any
voltage from being impressed across the PN junction. As a result, a depletion region exists
between the two materials, but it can never be expanded or collapsed. JFET operation is based
on the expansion of the PN junction’s depletion region, but here in the IGFET that cannot
happen, so IGFET operation must be based on a different effect.
Indeed it is, for when a controlling voltage is applied between gate and source, the conduc-
tivity of the channel is changed as a result of the depletion region moving closer to or further
away from the gate. In other words, the channel’s effective width changes just as with the
JFET, but this change in channel width is due to depletion region displacement rather than
depletion region expansion.
In an N-channel IGFET, a controlling voltage applied positive (+) to the gate and negative
(-) to the source has the effect of repelling the PN junction’s depletion region, expanding the
N-type channel and increasing conductivity:
Rload
drain
gate
N P
controlling
voltage
source
Channel expands for greater conductivity

Reversing the controlling voltage’s polarity has the opposite effect, attracting the depletion
region and narrowing the channel, consequently reducing channel conductivity:
Rload
drain
gate N
P
controlling
voltage
source
Channel narrows for less conductivity
The insulated gate allows for controlling voltages of any polarity without danger of forward-
biasing a junction, as was the concern with JFETs. This type of IGFET, although its called
a ”depletion-type,” actually has the capability of having its channel either depleted (channel
narrowed) or enhanced (channel expanded). Input voltage polarity determines which way the
channel will be influenced.
Understanding which polarity has which effect is not as difficult as it may seem. The key
is to consider the type of semiconductor doping used in the channel (N-channel or P-channel?),
then relate that doping type to the side of the input voltage source connected to the channel by
means of the source lead. If the IGFET is an N-channel and the input voltage is connected so
that the positive (+) side is on the gate while the negative (-) side is on the source, the channel
will be enhanced as extra electrons build up on the channel side of the dielectric barrier. Think,
”negative (-) correlates with N-type, thus enhancing the channel with the right type of charge
carrier (electrons) and making it more conductive.” Conversely, if the input voltage is connected
to an N-channel IGFET the other way, so that negative (-) connects to the gate while positive
(+) connects to the source, free electrons will be ”robbed” from the channel as the gate-channel
capacitor charges, thus depleting the channel of majority charge carriers and making it less
conductive.
For P-channel IGFETs, the input voltage polarity and channel effects follow the same rule.
That is to say, it takes just the opposite polarity as an N-channel IGFET to either deplete or
enhance:
Rload
drain
gate
P N
controlling
voltage
source
Channel expands for greater conductivity
Rload
drain
gate P
N
controlling
voltage
source
Channel narrows for less conductivity
Illustrating the proper biasing polarities with standard IGFET symbols:

N-channel P-channel
+ -
Enhanced
- +
(more drain
current)
- +
Depleted
+ -
(less drain
current)
When there is zero voltage applied between gate and source, the IGFET will conduct cur-
rent between source and drain, but not as much current as it would if it were enhanced by
the proper gate voltage. This places the depletion-type, or simply D-type, IGFET in a category
of its own in the transistor world. Bipolar junction transistors are normally-off devices: with
no base current, they block any current from going through the collector. Junction field-effect
transistors are normally-on devices: with zero applied gate-to-source voltage, they allow max-
imum drain current (actually, you can coax a JFET into greater drain currents by applying
a very small forward-bias voltage between gate and source, but this should never be done in
practice for risk of damaging its fragile PN junction). D-type IGFETs, however, are normally
half-on devices: with no gate-to-source voltage, their conduction level is somewhere between
cutoff and full saturation. Also, they will tolerate applied gate-source voltages of any polarity,
the PN junction being immune from damage due to the insulating barrier and especially the
direct connection between source and substrate preventing any voltage differential across the
junction.
Ironically, the conduction behavior of a D-type IGFET is strikingly similar to that of an elec-
tron tube of the triode/tetrode/pentode variety. These devices were voltage-controlled current
regulators that likewise allowed current through them with zero controlling voltage applied. A
controlling voltage of one polarity (grid negative and cathode positive) would diminish conduc-
tivity through the tube while a voltage of the other polarity (grid positive and cathode negative)
would enhance conductivity. I find it curious that one of the later transistor designs invented
exhibits the same basic properties of the very first active (electronic) device.
A few SPICE analyses will demonstrate the current-regulating behavior of D-type IGFETs.
First, a test with zero input voltage (gate shorted to source) and the power supply swept from
0 to 50 volts. The graph shows drain current:
Vammeter
1 2
0V
Q1 V1
0
0 0
n-channel igfet characteristic curve

m1 1 0 0 0 mod1
vammeter 2 1 dc 0
v1 2 0
.model mod1 nmos vto=-1
.dc v1 0 50 2
.end
As expected for any transistor, the controlled current holds steady at a regulated value over
a wide range of power supply voltages. In this case, that regulated point is 10 µA (1.000E-05).
Now let’s see what happens when we apply a negative voltage to the gate (with reference to
the source) and sweep the power supply over the same range of 0 to 50 volts:
Vammeter
1 2
0V
Q1 V1
3
0 0
0.5 V

m1 1 3 0 0 mod1
vin 0 3 dc 0.5
vammeter 2 1 dc 0
v1 2 0
.dc v1 0 50 2
.end
Not surprisingly, the drain current is now regulated at a lower value of 2.5 µA (down from
10 µA with zero input voltage). Now let’s apply an input voltage of the other polarity, to enhance
the IGFET:
Vammeter
1 2
0V
Q1 V1
3
0 0
0.5 V

m1 1 3 0 0 mod1
vin 3 0 dc 0.5
vammeter 2 1 dc 0
v1 2 0
.dc v1 0 50 2
.end
With the transistor enhanced by the small controlling voltage, the drain current is now
at an increased value of 22.5 µA (2.250E-05). It should be apparent from these three sets
of voltage and current figures that the relationship of drain current to gate-source voltage is
nonlinear just as it was with the JFET. With 1/2 volt of depleting voltage, the drain current is
2.5 µA; with 0 volts input the drain current goes up to 10 µA; and with 1/2 volt of enhancing
voltage, the current is at 22.5 µA. To obtain a better understanding of this nonlinearity, we
can use SPICE to plot the drain current over a range of input voltage values, sweeping from
a negative (depleting) figure to a positive (enhancing) figure, maintaining the power supply
voltage of V1 at a constant value:
n-channel igfet
m1 1 3 0 0 mod1
vin 3 0
vammeter 2 1 dc 0
v1 2 0 dc 24
.dc vin -1 1 0.1
.end
Just as it was with JFETs, this inherent nonlinearity of the IGFET has the potential to
cause distortion in an amplifier circuit, as the input signal will not be reproduced with 100
percent accuracy at the output. Also notice that a gate-source voltage of about 1 volt in the
depleting direction is able to pinch off the channel so that there is virtually no drain current.
D-type IGFETs, like JFETs, have a certain pinch-off voltage rating. This rating varies with
the precise unique of the transistor, and may not be the same as in our simulation here.
Plotting a set of characteristic curves for the IGFET, we see a pattern not unlike that of the
JFET:
6.3. ENHANCEMENT-TYPE IGFETS – PENDING 289
Vgate-to-source = +0.5 V
Idrain
Vgate-to-source = -0.5 V
Edrain-to-source
• REVIEW:
6.3 Enhancement-type IGFETs – PENDING

• REVIEW:
6.4 Active-mode operation – PENDING

• REVIEW:
•
6.5 The common-source amplifier – PENDING

• REVIEW:
•
•
•
6.6 The common-drain amplifier – PENDING

• REVIEW:
•
•
•
6.7 The common-gate amplifier – PENDING

• REVIEW:
•
•
•
6.8 Biasing techniques – PENDING

• REVIEW:
•
•
•
6.9 Transistor ratings and packages – PENDING

• REVIEW:
•
•
•
6.10. IGFET QUIRKS – PENDING 291
6.10 IGFET quirks – PENDING

• REVIEW:
•
•
•
6.11 MESFETs – PENDING

• REVIEW:
•
•
•
6.12 IGBTs
Because of their insulated gates, IGFETs of all types have extremely high current gain: there
can be no sustained gate current if there is no continuous gate circuit in which electrons may
continually flow. The only current we see through the gate terminal of an IGFET, then, is
whatever transient (brief surge) may be required to charge the gate-channel capacitance and
displace the depletion region as the transistor switches from an ”on” state to an ”off ” state, or
vice versa.
This high current gain would at first seem to place IGFET technology at a decided ad-
vantage over bipolar transistors for the control of very large currents. If a bipolar junction
transistor is used to control a large collector current, there must be a substantial base current
sourced or sunk by some control circuitry, in accordance with the β ratio. To give an example,
in order for a power BJT with a β of 20 to conduct a collector current of 100 amps, there must be
at least 5 amps of base current, a substantial amount of current in itself for miniature discrete
or integrated control circuitry to handle:
Rload
100 A
Control 5A
β = 20
circuitry
105 A
It would be nice from the standpoint of control circuitry to have power transistors with high
current gain, so that far less current is needed for control of load current. Of course, we can
use Darlington pair transistors to increase the current gain, but this kind of arrangement still
requires far more controlling current than an equivalent power IGFET:
Rload
0.238 A
Control 100 A
circuitry
β = 20
5A
105 A
Rload
100 A
Control ≈0A
circuitry
100 A
Unfortunately, though, IGFETs have problems of their own controlling high current: they
typically exhibit greater drain-to-source voltage drop while saturated than the collector-to-
emitter voltage drop of a saturated BJT. This greater voltage drop equates to higher power
dissipation for the same amount of load current, limiting the usefulness of IGFETs as high-
power devices. Although some specialized designs such as the so-called VMOS transistor have
been designed to minimize this inherent disadvantage, the bipolar junction transistor is still
superior in its ability to switch high currents.
An interesting solution to this dilemma leverages the best features of IGFETs with the
best of features of BJTs, in one device called an Insulated-Gate Bipolar Transistor, or IGBT.
Also known as an Bipolar-mode MOSFET, a Conductivity-Modulated Field-Effect Transistor
(COMFET), or simply as an Insulated-Gate Transistor (IGT), it is equivalent to a Darlington
pair of IGFET and BJT:
6.12. IGBTS 293
Insulated-Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT)

(N-channel)
Schematic symbols Equivalent circuit
Collector Collector Collector
Gate
Gate
Emitter Emitter Gate
Emitter
In essence, the IGFET controls the base current of a BJT, which handles the main load
current between collector and emitter. This way, there is extremely high current gain (since
the insulated gate of the IGFET draws practically no current from the control circuitry), but
the collector-to-emitter voltage drop during full conduction is as low as that of an ordinary BJT.
One disadvantage of the IGBT over a standard BJT is its slower turn-off time. For fast
switching and high current-handling capacity, its difficult to beat the bipolar junction transis-
tor. Faster turn-off times for the IGBT may be achieved by certain changes in design, but only
at the expense of a higher saturated voltage drop between collector and emitter. However, the
IGBT provides a good alternative to IGFETs and BJTs for high-power control applications.
• REVIEW:
•
Chapter 7
THYRISTORS
Contents
7.1 Hysteresis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
7.2 Gas discharge tubes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
7.3 The Shockley Diode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
7.4 The DIAC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
7.5 The Silicon-Controlled Rectifier (SCR) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
7.6 The TRIAC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
7.7 Optothyristors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 321
7.8 The Unijunction Transistor (UJT) – PENDING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
7.9 The Silicon-Controlled Switch (SCS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
7.10 Field-effect-controlled thyristors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324
Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
*** INCOMPLETE ***
7.1 Hysteresis
Thyristors are a class of semiconductor components exhibiting hysteresis, that property whereby
a system fails to return to its original state after some cause of state change has been removed.
A very simple example of hysteresis is the mechanical action of a toggle switch: when the
lever is pushed, it flips to one of two extreme states (positions) and will remain there even
after the source of motion is removed (after you remove your hand from the switch lever). To
illustrate the absence of hysteresis, consider the action of a ”momentary” pushbutton switch,
which returns to its original state after the button is no longer pressed: when the stimulus is
removed (your hand), the system (switch) immediately and fully returns to its prior state with
no ”latching” behavior.
Bipolar, junction field-effect, and insulated gate field-effect transistors are all non-hysteretic
devices. That is, they do not inherently ”latch” into a state after being stimulated by a volt-
age or current signal. For any given input signal at any given time, a transistor will exhibit
295
296 CHAPTER 7. THYRISTORS
a predictable output response as defined by its characteristic curve. Thyristors, on the other
hand, are semiconductor devices that tend to stay ”on” once turned on, and tend to stay ”off ”
once turned off. A momentary event is able to flip these devices into either their on or off states
where they will remain that way on their own, even after the cause of the state change is taken
away. As such, they are useful only as on/off switching devices – much like a toggle switch –
and cannot be used as analog signal amplifiers.
Thyristors are constructed using the same technology as bipolar junction transistors, and
in fact may be analyzed as circuits comprised of transistor pairs. How then, can a hysteretic
device (a thyristor) be made from non-hysteretic devices (transistors)? The answer to this ques-
tion is positive feedback, also known as regenerative feedback. As you should recall, feedback
is the condition where a percentage of the output signal is ”fed back” to the input of an ampli-
fying device. Negative, or degenerative, feedback results in a diminishing of voltage gain with
increases in stability, linearity, and bandwidth. Positive feedback, on the other hand, results in
a kind of instability where the amplifier’s output tends to ”saturate.” In the case of thyristors,
this saturating tendency equates to the device ”wanting” to stay on once turned on, and off
once turned off.
In this chapter we will explore several different kinds of thyristors, most of which stem from
a single, basic two-transistor core circuit. Before we do that, though, it would be beneficial to
study the technological predecessor to thyristors: gas discharge tubes.
7.2 Gas discharge tubes

If you’ve ever witnessed a lightning storm, you’ve seen electrical hysteresis in action (and
probably didn’t realize what you were seeing). The action of strong wind and rain accumu-
lates tremendous static electric charges between cloud and earth, and between clouds as well.
Electric charge imbalances manifest themselves as high voltages, and when the electrical re-
sistance of air can no longer hold these high voltages at bay, huge surges of current travel
between opposing poles of electrical charge which we call ”lightning.”
The buildup of high voltages by wind and rain is a fairly continuous process, the rate of
charge accumulation increasing under the proper atmospheric conditions. However, lightning
bolts are anything but continuous: they exist as relatively brief surges rather than continuous
discharges. Why is this? Why don’t we see soft, glowing lightning arcs instead of violently brief
lightning bolts? The answer lies in the nonlinear (and hysteretic) resistance of air.
Under ordinary conditions, air has an extremely high amount of resistance. It is so high, in
fact, that we typically treat its resistance as infinite and electrical conduction through the air
as negligible. The presence of water and/or dust in air lowers its resistance some, but it is still
an insulator for most practical purposes. When a sufficient amount of high voltage is applied
across a distance of air, though, its electrical properties change: electrons become ”stripped”
from their normal positions around their respective atoms and are liberated to constitute a
current. In this state, air is considered to be ionized and is referred to as a plasma rather
than a normal gas. This usage of the word ”plasma” is not to be confused with the medical
term (meaning the fluid portion of blood), but is a fourth state of matter, the other three being
solid, liquid, and vapor (gas). Plasma is a relatively good conductor of electricity, its specific
resistance being much lower than that of the same substance in its gaseous state.
As an electric current moves through the plasma, there is energy dissipated in the plasma
7.2. GAS DISCHARGE TUBES 297
in the form of heat, just as current through a solid resistor dissipates energy in the form of heat.
In the case of lightning, the temperatures involved are extremely high. High temperatures are
also sufficient to convert gaseous air into a plasma or maintain plasma in that state without
the presence of high voltage. As the voltage between cloud and earth, or between cloud and
cloud, decreases as the charge imbalance is neutralized by the current of the lightning bolt, the
heat dissipated by the bolt maintains the air path in a plasma state, keeping its resistance low.
The lightning bolt remains a plasma until the voltage decreases to too low a level to sustain
enough current to dissipate enough heat. Finally, the air returns to a normal, gaseous state
and stops conducting current, thus allowing voltage to build up once more.
Note how throughout this cycle, the air exhibits hysteresis. When not conducting electricity,
it tends to remain an insulator until voltage builds up past a critical threshold point. Then,
once it changes state and becomes a plasma, it tends to remain a conductor until voltage falls
below a lower critical threshold point. Once ”turned on” it tends to stay ”on,” and once ”turned
off ” it tends to stay ”off.” This hysteresis, combined with a steady buildup of voltage due to the
electrostatic effects of wind and rain, explains the action of lightning as brief bursts.
In electronic terms, what we have here in the action of lightning is a simple relaxation oscil-
lator. Oscillators are electronic circuits that produce an oscillating (AC) voltage from a steady
supply of DC power. A relaxation oscillator is one that works on the principle of a charging
capacitor that is suddenly discharged every time its voltage reaches a critical threshold value.
One of the simplest relaxation oscillators in existence is comprised of three components (not
counting the DC power supply): a resistor, capacitor, and neon lamp:
Simple relaxation oscillator
C Neon lamp
Neon lamps are nothing more than two metal electrodes inside a sealed glass bulb, sepa-
rated by the neon gas inside. At room temperatures and with no applied voltage, the lamp
has nearly infinite resistance. However, once a certain threshold voltage is exceeded (this volt-
age depends on the gas pressure and geometry of the lamp), the neon gas will become ionized
(turned into a plasma) and its resistance dramatically reduced. In effect, the neon lamp ex-
hibits the same characteristics as air in a lightning storm, complete with the emission of light
as a result of the discharge, albeit on a much smaller scale.
The capacitor in the relaxation oscillator circuit shown above charges at an inverse expo-
nential rate determined by the size of the resistor. When its voltage reaches the threshold
voltage of the lamp, the lamp suddenly ”turns on” and quickly discharges the capacitor to a
low voltage value. Once discharged, the lamp ”turns off ” and allows the capacitor to build up
a charge once more. The result is a series of brief flashes of light from the lamp, the rate of
which dictated by battery voltage, resistor resistance, capacitor capacitance, and lamp thresh-
old voltage.
While gas-discharge lamps are more commonly used as sources of illumination, their hys-
teretic properties were leveraged in slightly more sophisticated variants known as thyratron
tubes. Essentially a gas-filled triode tube (a triode being a three-element vacuum electron tube
performing much a similar function to the N-channel, D-type IGFET), the thyratron tube could
be turned on with a small control voltage applied between grid and cathode, and turned off by
reducing the plate-to-cathode voltage.
(Simple) Thyratron control circuit
+
Rload
-
Thyratron high voltage

Tube
AC source
control
voltage
In essence, thyratron tubes were controlled versions of neon lamps built specifically for
switching current to a load. The dot inside the circle of the schematic symbol indicates a gas
fill, as opposed to the hard vacuum normally seen in other electron tube designs. In the circuit
shown above, the thyratron tube allows current through the load in one direction (note the
polarity across the load resistor) when triggered by the small DC control voltage connected
between grid and cathode. Note that the load’s power source is AC, which provides a clue as
to how the thyratron turns off after its been triggered on: since AC voltage periodically passes
through a condition of 0 volts between half-cycles, the current through an AC-powered load
must also periodically halt. This brief pause of current between half-cycles gives the tube’s gas
time to cool, letting it return to its normal ”off ” state. Conduction may resume only if there is
enough voltage applied by the AC power source (some other time in the wave’s cycle) and if the
DC control voltage allows it.
An oscilloscope display of load voltage in such a circuit would look something like this:
7.2. GAS DISCHARGE TUBES 299
Threshold voltage
AC supply voltage
Load voltage
As the AC supply voltage climbs from zero volts to its first peak, the load voltage remains at
zero (no load current) until the threshold voltage is reached. At that point, the tube switches
”on” and begins to conduct, the load voltage now following the AC voltage through the rest
of the half cycle. Notice how there is load voltage (and thus load current) even when the AC
voltage waveform has dropped below the threshold value of the tube. This is hysteresis at
work: the tube stays in its conductive mode past the point where it first turned on, continuing
to conduct until there the supply voltage drops off to almost zero volts. Because thyratron
tubes are one-way (diode) devices, there is no voltage across the load through the negative
half-cycle of AC. In practical thyratron circuits, multiple tubes arranged in some form of full-
wave rectifier circuit to facilitate full-wave DC power to the load.
The thyratron tube has been applied to a relaxation oscillator circuit. [1] The frequency is
controlled by a small DC voltage between grid and cathode. This voltage-controlled oscillator is
known as a VCO. Relaxation oscillators produce a very non-sinusoidal output, and so they exist
mostly as demonstration circuits (as is the case here) or in applications where the harmonic
rich waveform is desirable. [2]
R
Controlling
voltage
I speak of thyratron tubes in the past tense for good reason: modern semiconductor compo-
nents have obsoleted thyratron tube technology for all but a few very special applications. It
is no coincidence that the word thyristor bears so much similarity to the word thyratron, for
this class of semiconductor components does much the same thing: use hysteretically switch
current on and off. It is these modern devices that we now turn our attention to.
• REVIEW:
• Electrical hysteresis, the tendency for a component to remain ”on” (conducting) after it
begins to conduct and to remain ”off ” (nonconducting) after it ceases to conduct, helps to
explain why lightning bolts exist as momentary surges of current rather than continuous
discharges through the air.
• Simple gas-discharge tubes such as neon lamps exhibit electrical hysteresis.
• More advanced gas-discharge tubes have been made with control elements so that their
”turn-on” voltage could be adjusted by an external signal. The most common of these
tubes was called the thyratron.
• Simple oscillator circuits called relaxation oscillators may be created with nothing more
than a resistor-capacitor charging network and a hysteretic device connected across the
capacitor.
7.3 The Shockley Diode
Our exploration of thyristors begins with a device called the four-layer diode, also known as
a PNPN diode, or a Shockley diode after its inventor, William Shockley. This is not to be
confused with a Schottky diode, that two-layer metal-semiconductor device known for its high
switching speed. A crude illustration of the Shockley diode, often seen in textbooks, is a four-
layer sandwich of P-N-P-N semiconductor material:
Shockley, or 4-layer,
diode
Anode
P
N
P
N
Cathode
Unfortunately, this simple illustration does nothing to enlighten the viewer on how it works
or why. Consider an alternative rendering of the device’s construction:
7.3. THE SHOCKLEY DIODE 301
Shockley, or 4-layer,
diode
Anode
P
N N
P P
N
Cathode
Shown like this, it appears to be a set of interconnected bipolar transistors, one PNP and
the other NPN. Drawn using standard schematic symbols, and respecting the layer doping
concentrations not shown in the last image, the Shockley diode looks like this:
Anode Anode
P
N N
P P
N
Cathode Cathode
Physical diagram Equivalent schematic Schematic symbol
Let’s connect one of these devices to a source of variable voltage and see what happens:
Shockley diode
equivalent circuit
With no voltage applied, of course there will be no current. As voltage is initially increased,
there will still be no current because neither transistor is able to turn on: both will be in cutoff
mode. To understand why this is, consider what it takes to turn a bipolar junction transistor
on: current through the base-emitter junction. As you can see in the diagram, base current
through the lower transistor is controlled by the upper transistor, and the base current through
the upper transistor is controlled by the lower transistor. In other words, neither transistor
can turn on until the other transistor turns on. What we have here, in vernacular terms, is
known as a Catch-22.
So how can a Shockley diode ever conduct current, if its constituent transistors stubbornly
maintain themselves in a state of cutoff? The answer lies in the behavior of real transistors as
opposed to ideal transistors. An ideal bipolar transistor will never conduct collector current if
there is no base current, no matter how much or little voltage we apply between collector and
emitter. Real transistors, on the other hand, have definite limits to how much collector-emitter
voltage they can withstand before they break down and conduct. If two real transistors are
connected together in this fashion to form a Shockley diode, they will be able to conduct if
there is sufficient voltage applied by the battery between anode and cathode to cause one of
them to break down. Once one transistor breaks down and begins to conduct, it will allow base
current through the other transistor, causing it to turn on in a normal fashion, which then
allows base current through the first transistor. The end result is that both transistors will be
saturated, now keeping each other turned on instead of off.
So, we can force a Shockley diode to turn on by applying sufficient voltage between anode
and cathode. As we have seen, this will inevitably cause one of the transistors to turn on, which
then turns the other transistor on, ultimately ”latching” both transistors on where they will
tend to remain. But how do we now get the two transistors to turn off again? Even if the applied
voltage is reduced to a point well below what it took to get the Shockley diode conducting, it
will remain conducting because both transistors now have base current to maintain regular,
controlled conduction. The answer to this is to reduce the applied voltage to a much lower
point where there is too little current to maintain transistor bias, at which point one of the
transistors will cutoff, which then halts base current through the other transistor, sealing both
transistors in the ”off ” state as they were before any voltage was applied at all.
If we graph this sequence of events and plot the results on an I/V graph, the hysteresis is
very evident. First, we will observe the circuit as the DC voltage source (battery) is set to zero
voltage:
Circuit
current
Applied voltage
Zero applied voltage; zero current
Next, we will steadily increase the DC voltage. Current through the circuit is at or nearly
at zero, as the breakdown limit has not been reached for either transistor:
Circuit
current
Applied voltage
Some voltage applied, still no appreciable current
When the voltage breakdown limit of one transistor is reached, it will begin to conduct
collector current even though no base current has gone through it yet. Normally, this sort
of treatment would destroy a bipolar junction transistor, but the PNP junctions comprising a
Shockley diode are engineered to take this kind of abuse, similar to the way a Zener diode is
built to handle reverse breakdown without sustaining damage. For the sake of illustration I’ll
assume the lower transistor breaks down first, sending current through the base of the upper
transistor:
Circuit
current
Applied voltage
More voltage applied; lower transistor breaks down
As the upper transistor receives base current, it turns on as expected. This action allows
the lower transistor to conduct normally, the two transistors ”sealing” themselves in the ”on”
state. Full current is very quickly seen in the circuit:
Circuit
current
Applied voltage
Transistors now fully conducting
The positive feedback mentioned earlier in this chapter is clearly evident here. When one
transistor breaks down, it allows current through the device structure. This current may be
viewed as the ”output” signal of the device. Once an output current is established, it works
to hold both transistors in saturation, thus ensuring the continuation of a substantial output
current. In other words, an output current ”feeds back” positively to the input (transistor base
current) to keep both transistors in the ”on” state, thus reinforcing (or regenerating) itself.
With both transistors maintained in a state of saturation with the presence of ample base
current, they will continue to conduct even if the applied voltage is greatly reduced from the
breakdown level. The effect of positive feedback is to keep both transistors in a state of satu-
ration despite the loss of input stimulus (the original, high voltage needed to break down one
transistor and cause a base current through the other transistor):
Circuit
current
Applied voltage
Current maintained even when voltage is reduced
If the DC voltage source is turned down too far, though, the circuit will eventually reach a
point where there isn’t enough current to sustain both transistors in saturation. As one tran-
sistor passes less and less collector current, it reduces the base current for the other transistor,
thus reducing base current for the first transistor. The vicious cycle continues rapidly until
both transistors fall into cutoff:
Circuit
current
Applied voltage
If the voltage drops too low, both transistors shut off

Here, positive feedback is again at work: the fact that the cause/effect cycle between both
transistors is ”vicious” (a decrease in current through one works to decrease current through
the other, further decreasing current through the first transistor) indicates a positive relation-
ship between output (controlled current) and input (controlling current through the transistors’
bases).
The resulting curve on the graph is classicly hysteretic: as the input signal (voltage) is
increased and decreased, the output (current) does not follow the same path going down as it
did going up:
Circuit
current
Applied voltage
Put in simple terms, the Shockley diode tends to stay on once its turned on, and stay off
once its turned off. There is no ”in-between” or ”active” mode in its operation: it is a purely on
or off device, as are all thyristors.
There are a few special terms applied to Shockley diodes and all other thyristor devices
built upon the Shockley diode foundation. First is the term used to describe its ”on” state:
latched. The word ”latch” is reminiscent of a door lock mechanism, which tends to keep the
door closed once it has been pushed shut. The term firing refers to the initiation of a latched
state. In order to get a Shockley diode to latch, the applied voltage must be increased until
breakover is attained. Despite the fact that this action is best described in terms of transistor
breakdown, the term breakover is used instead because the end result is a pair of transistors
in mutual saturation rather than destruction as would be the case with a normal transistor. A
latched Shockley diode is re-set back into its nonconducting state by reducing current through
it until low-current dropout occurs.
It should be noted that Shockley diodes may be fired in a way other than breakover: exces-
sive voltage rise, or dv/dt. This is when the applied voltage across the diode increases at a high
rate of change. This is able to cause latching (turning on) of the diode due to inherent junction
capacitances within the transistors. Capacitors, as you may recall, oppose changes in voltage
by drawing or supplying current. If the applied voltage across a Shockley diode rises at too
fast a rate, those tiny capacitances will draw enough current during that time to activate the
transistor pair, turning them both on. Usually, this form of latching is undesirable, and can be
minimized by filtering high-frequency (fast voltage rises) from the diode with series inductors
and/or parallel resistor-capacitor networks called snubbers:
Series inductor
Shockley RC "snubber"
diode
Both the series inductor and the parallel

resistor-capacitor "snubber" circuit help
minimize the Shockley diode’s exposure
to excessively rising voltages.
The voltage rise limit of a Shockley diode is referred to as the critical rate of voltage rise.
Manufacturers usually provide this specification for the devices they sell.
• REVIEW:
• Shockley diodes are four-layer PNPN semiconductor devices. They behave as a pair of
interconnected PNP and NPN transistors.
• Like all thyristors, Shockley diodes tend to stay on once they’ve been turned on (latched),
and stay off once they’ve been turned off.
• There are two ways to latch a Shockley diode: exceed the anode-to-cathode breakover
voltage, or exceed the anode-to-cathode critical rate of voltage rise.
• There is only one way to cause a Shockley diode to stop conducting, and that is to reduce
the current going through it to a level below its low-current dropout threshold.
7.4 The DIAC

Like all diodes, Shockley diodes are unidirectional devices; that is, they only conduct current
in one direction. If bidirectional (AC) operation is desired, two Shockley diodes may be joined
in parallel facing different directions to form a new kind of thyristor, the DIAC:
7.5. THE SILICON-CONTROLLED RECTIFIER (SCR) 307
DIAC equivalent circuit DIAC schematic symbol
A DIAC operated with a DC voltage across it behaves exactly the same as a Shockley diode.
With AC, however, the behavior is different from what one might expect. Because alternating
current repeatedly reverses direction, DIACs will not stay latched longer than one-half cycle.
If a DIAC becomes latched, it will continue to conduct current only as long as there is volt-
age available to push enough current in that direction. When the AC polarity reverses, as it
must twice per cycle, the DIAC will drop out due to insufficient current, necessitating another
breakover before it conducts again. The result is a current waveform that looks like this:
Breakover voltage
AC supply voltage Breakover voltage
DIAC current
DIACs are almost never used alone, but in conjunction with other thyristor devices.
7.5 The Silicon-Controlled Rectifier (SCR)
Shockley diodes are curious devices, but rather limited in application. Their usefulness may
be expanded, however, by equipping them with another means of latching. In doing so, they
become true amplifying devices (if only in an on/off mode), and we refer to them as silicon-
controlled rectifiers, or SCRs.
The progression from Shockley diode to SCR is achieved with one small addition, actually
nothing more than a third wire connection to the existing PNPN structure:
The Silicon-Controlled Rectifier (SCR)
Anode Anode
P Anode
N N
Gate P P Gate
Gate
N Cathode
Cathode Cathode
If an SCR’s gate is left floating (disconnected), it behaves exactly as a Shockley diode. It

may be latched by breakover voltage or by exceeding the critical rate of voltage rise between
anode and cathode, just as with the Shockley diode. Dropout is accomplished by reducing
current until one or both internal transistors fall into cutoff mode, also like the Shockley diode.
However, because the gate terminal connects directly to the base of the lower transistor, it
may be used as an alternative means to latch the SCR. By applying a small voltage between
gate and cathode, the lower transistor will be forced on by the resulting base current, which
will cause the upper transistor to conduct, which then supplies the lower transistor’s base
with current so that it no longer needs to be activated by a gate voltage. The necessary gate
current to initiate latch-up, of course, will be much lower than the current through the SCR
from cathode to anode, so the SCR does achieve a measure of amplification.
This method of securing SCR conduction is called triggering, and it is by far the most com-
mon way that SCRs are latched in actual practice. In fact, SCRs are usually chosen so that
their breakover voltage is far beyond the greatest voltage expected to be experienced from the
power source, so that it can be turned on only by an intentional voltage pulse applied to the
gate.
It should be mentioned that SCRs may sometimes be turned off by directly shorting their
gate and cathode terminals together, or by ”reverse-triggering” the gate with a negative voltage
(in reference to the cathode), so that the lower transistor is forced into cutoff. I say this is
”sometimes” possible because it involves shunting all of the upper transistor’s collector current
past the lower transistor’s base. This current may be substantial, making triggered shut-off
of an SCR difficult at best. A variation of the SCR, called a Gate-Turn-Off thyristor, or GTO,
makes this task easier. But even with a GTO, the gate current required to turn it off may be
as much as 20% of the anode (load) current! The schematic symbol for a GTO is shown in the
following illustration:
Gate Turn-Off thyristor (GTO)
Anode
Gate
Cathode
SCRs and GTOs share the same equivalent schematics (two transistors connected in a
positive-feedback fashion), the only differences being details of construction designed to grant
the NPN transistor a greater β than the PNP. This allows a smaller gate current (forward or
reverse) to exert a greater degree of control over conduction from cathode to anode, with the
PNP transistor’s latched state being more dependent upon the NPN’s than vice versa. The
Gate-Turn-Off thyristor is also known by the name of Gate-Controlled Switch, or GCS.
A rudimentary test of SCR function, or at least terminal identification, may be performed

with an ohmmeter. Because the internal connection between gate and cathode is a single PN
junction, a meter should indicate continuity between these terminals with the red test lead on
the gate and the black test lead on the cathode like this:
gate
cathode
V A
V A
OFF
A COM
All other continuity measurements performed on an SCR will show ”open” (”OL” on some
digital multimeter displays). It must be understood that this test is very crude and does not
constitute a comprehensive assessment of the SCR. It is possible for an SCR to give good
ohmmeter indications and still be defective. Ultimately, the only way to test an SCR is to
subject it to a load current.
If you are using a multimeter with a ”diode check” function, the gate-to-cathode junction
voltage indication you get may or may not correspond to what’s expected of a silicon PN junc-
tion (approximately 0.7 volts). In some cases, you will read a much lower junction voltage:
mere hundredths of a volt. This is due to an internal resistor connected between the gate and
cathode incorporated within some SCRs. This resistor is added to make the SCR less suscep-
tible to false triggering by spurious voltage spikes, from circuit ”noise” or from static electric
discharge. In other words, having a resistor connected across the gate-cathode junction re-
quires that a strong triggering signal (substantial current) be applied to latch the SCR. This
feature is often found in larger SCRs, not on small SCRs. Bear in mind that an SCR with an
internal resistor connected between gate and cathode will indicate continuity in both directions
between those two terminals:
Anode
Gate
Gate-to-Cathode
resistor Cathode
”Normal” SCRs, lacking this internal resistor, are sometimes referred to as sensitive gate
SCRs due to their ability to be triggered by the slightest positive gate signal.
The test circuit for an SCR is both practical as a diagnostic tool for checking suspected SCRs
and also an excellent aid to understanding basic SCR operation. A DC voltage source is used
for powering the circuit, and two pushbutton switches are used to latch and unlatch the SCR,
respectively:
SCR testing circuit
off
on
SCR under
test
Actuating the normally-open ”on” pushbutton switch connects the gate to the anode, allow-
ing current from the negative terminal of the battery, through the cathode-gate PN junction,
through the switch, through the load resistor, and back to the battery. This gate current should
force the SCR to latch on, allowing current to go directly from cathode to anode without further
triggering through the gate. When the ”on” pushbutton is released, the load should remain en-
ergized.
Pushing the normally-closed ”off ” pushbutton switch breaks the circuit, forcing current
through the SCR to halt, thus forcing it to turn off (low-current dropout).
If the SCR fails to latch, the problem may be with the load and not the SCR. There is a
certain minimum amount of load current required to hold the SCR latched in the ”on” state.
This minimum current level is called the holding current. A load with too great a resistance
value may not draw enough current to keep an SCR latched when gate current ceases, thus
giving the false impression of a bad (unlatchable) SCR in the test circuit. Holding current
values for different SCRs should be available from the manufacturers. Typical holding current
values range from 1 milliamp to 50 milliamps or more for larger units.

For the test to be fully comprehensive, more than the triggering action needs to be tested.
The forward breakover voltage limit of the SCR could be tested by increasing the DC voltage
supply (with no pushbuttons actuated) until the SCR latches all on its own. Beware that
a breakover test may require very high voltage: many power SCRs have breakover voltage
ratings of 600 volts or more! Also, if a pulse voltage generator is available, the critical rate of
voltage rise for the SCR could be tested in the same way: subject it to pulsing supply voltages
of different V/time rates with no pushbutton switches actuated and see when it latches.
In this simple form, the SCR test circuit could suffice as a start/stop control circuit for a DC
motor, lamp, or other practical load:
DC motor start/stop
control circuit
Motor off
on
SCR under
test
Another practical use for the SCR in a DC circuit is as a crowbar device for overvoltage
protection. A ”crowbar” circuit consists of an SCR placed in parallel with the output of a DC
power supply, for the purpose of placing a direct short-circuit on the output of that supply to
prevent excessive voltage from reaching the load. Damage to the SCR and power supply is
prevented by the judicious placement of a fuse or substantial series resistance ahead of the
SCR to limit short-circuit current:
Crowbar as used in an AC-DC power supply
Transformer
Filter Fuse Load
AC Rectifier
power
source Crowbar
(triggering circuit
omitted for simplicity)
Some device or circuit sensing the output voltage will be connected to the gate of the SCR,
so that when an overvoltage condition occurs, voltage will be applied between the gate and
cathode, triggering the SCR and forcing the fuse to blow. The effect will be approximately the
same as dropping a solid steel crowbar directly across the output terminals of the power supply,
hence the name of the circuit.
Most applications of the SCR are for AC power control, despite the fact that SCRs are
inherently DC (unidirectional) devices. If bidirectional circuit current is required, multiple
SCRs may be used, with one or more facing each direction to handle current through both
half-cycles of the AC wave. The primary reason SCRs are used at all for AC power control
applications is the unique response of a thyristor to an alternating current. As we saw in the
case of the thyratron tube (the electron tube version of the SCR) and the DIAC, a hysteretic
device triggered on during a portion of an AC half-cycle will latch and remain on throughout
the remainder of the half-cycle until the AC current decreases to zero, as it must to begin the
next half-cycle. Just prior to the zero-crossover point of the current waveform, the thyristor
will turn off due to insufficient current (this behavior is also known as natural commutation)
and must be fired again during the next cycle. The result is a circuit current equivalent to a
”chopped up” sine wave. For review, here is the graph of a DIAC’s response to an AC voltage
whose peak exceeds the breakover voltage of the DIAC:
Breakover voltage
AC supply voltage Breakover voltage

DIAC current
With the DIAC, that breakover voltage limit was a fixed quantity. With the SCR, we have
control over exactly when the device becomes latched by triggering the gate at any point in
time along the waveform. By connecting a suitable control circuit to the gate of an SCR, we
can ”chop” the sine wave at any point to allow for time-proportioned power control to a load.
Take the following circuit as an example. Here, an SCR is positioned in a circuit to control
power to a load from an AC source:
Load
AC SCR
source
Being a unidirectional (one-way) device, at most we can only deliver half-wave power to
the load, in the half-cycle of AC where the supply voltage polarity is positive on the top and
negative on the bottom. However, for demonstrating the basic concept of time-proportional
control, this simple circuit is better than one controlling full-wave power (which would require
two SCRs).
With no triggering to the gate, and the AC source voltage well below the SCR’s breakover
voltage rating, the SCR will never turn on. Connecting the SCR gate to the anode through
a normal rectifying diode (to prevent reverse current through the gate in the event of the
SCR containing a built-in gate-cathode resistor), will allow the SCR to be triggered almost
immediately at the beginning of every positive half-cycle:
Gate connected directly to anode through a diode;

nearly complete half-wave current through load
Load
AC
source
Load current
AC source voltage
We can delay the triggering of the SCR, however, by inserting some resistance into the gate
circuit, thus increasing the amount of voltage drop required before there is enough gate current
to trigger the SCR. In other words, if we make it harder for electrons to flow through the gate
by adding a resistance, the AC voltage will have to reach a higher point in its cycle before there
will be enough gate current to turn the SCR on. The result looks like this:
Resistance inserted in gate circuit;

less than half-wave current through load
Load
AC
source
Load current
AC source voltage
With the half-sine wave chopped up to a greater degree by delayed triggering of the SCR,
the load receives less average power (power is delivered for less time throughout a cycle). By
making the series gate resistor variable, we can make adjustments to the time-proportioned
power:
Load
AC
source
trigger
threshold
Increasing the resistance raises the threshold level,

causing less power to be delivered to the load.
Decreasing the resistance lowers the threshold level,

causing more power to be delivered to the load.
Unfortunately, this control scheme has a significant limitation. In using the AC source
waveform for our SCR triggering signal, we limit control to the first half of the waveform’s
half-cycle. In other words, there is no way for us to wait until after the wave’s peak to trigger
the SCR. This means we can turn down the power only to the point where the SCR turns on at
the very peak of the wave:
Circuit at minimum power setting
Load
AC
source
trigger
threshold
Raising the trigger threshold any more will cause the circuit to not trigger at all, since not
even the peak of the AC power voltage will be enough to trigger the SCR. The result will be no
power to the load.
An ingenious solution to this control dilemma is found in the addition of a phase-shifting

capacitor to the circuit:
Load
AC
source
Capacitor voltage
The smaller waveform shown on the graph is voltage across the capacitor. For the sake of
illustrating the phase shift, I’m assuming a condition of maximum control resistance where
the SCR is not triggering at all and there is no load current, save for what little current goes
through the control resistor and capacitor. This capacitor voltage will be phase-shifted any-
where from 0o to 90o lagging behind the power source AC waveform. When this phase-shifted
voltage reaches a high enough level, the SCR will trigger.
Assuming there is periodically enough voltage across the capacitor to trigger the SCR, the
resulting load current waveform will look something like this:
Load
AC
source
trigger
load threshold
current
Capacitor voltage
Because the capacitor waveform is still rising after the main AC power waveform has
reached its peak, it becomes possible to trigger the SCR at a threshold level beyond that peak,
thus chopping the load current wave further than it was possible with the simpler circuit.
In reality, the capacitor voltage waveform is a bit more complex that what is shown here, its
sinusoidal shape distorted every time the SCR latches on. However, what I’m trying to illus-
trate here is the delayed triggering action gained with the phase-shifting RC network, and so
a simplified, undistorted waveform serves the purpose well.
SCRs may also be triggered, or ”fired,” by more complex circuits. While the circuit previ-
ously shown is sufficient for a simple application like a lamp control, large industrial motor
controls often rely on more sophisticated triggering methods. Sometimes, pulse transformers
are used to couple a triggering circuit to the gate and cathode of an SCR to provide electrical
isolation between the triggering and power circuits:
...
pulse SCR
transformer
... to power
to triggering circuit
circuit
... ...
When multiple SCRs are used to control power, their cathodes are often not electrically com-
mon, making it difficult to connect a single triggering circuit to all SCRs equally. An example
of this is the controlled bridge rectifier shown here:
Controlled bridge rectifier
SCR1 SCR4
SCR2 SCR3 Load
In any bridge rectifier circuit, the rectifying diodes (or in this case, the rectifying SCRs)
must conduct in opposite pairs. SCR1 and SCR3 must be fired simultaneously, and likewise
SCR2 and SCR4 must be fired together as a pair. As you will notice, though, these pairs of
SCRs do not share the same cathode connections, meaning that it would not work to simply
parallel their respective gate connections and connect a single voltage source to trigger both:
This strategy will not work for

triggering SCR2 and SCR4
together as a pair!
triggering
SCR4 voltage
SCR1 (pulse voltage
source)
SCR2 SCR3 Load
Although the triggering voltage source shown will trigger SCR4 , it will not trigger SCR2
properly because the two thyristors do not share a common cathode connection to reference
that triggering voltage. Pulse transformers connecting the two thyristor gates to a common
triggering voltage source will work, however:
SCR4 pulse
SCR1 voltage
source
SCR2 SCR3 Load
Bear in mind that this circuit only shows the gate connections for two out of the four SCRs.
Pulse transformers and triggering sources for SCR1 and SCR3 , as well as the details of the
pulse sources themselves, have been omitted for the sake of simplicity.
Controlled bridge rectifiers are not limited to single-phase designs. In most industrial con-
trol systems, AC power is available in three-phase form for maximum efficiency, and solid-state
control circuits are built to take advantage of that. A three-phase controlled rectifier circuit
built with SCRs, without pulse transformers or triggering circuitry shown, would look like this:
3-phase source
Controlled
rectifier
+
Load
-
• REVIEW:
• A Silicon-Controlled Rectifier, or SCR, is essentially a Shockley diode with an extra ter-
minal added. This extra terminal is called the gate, and it is used to trigger the device
into conduction (latch it) by the application of a small voltage.
• To trigger, or fire, an SCR, voltage must be applied between the gate and cathode, positive
to the gate and negative to the cathode. When testing an SCR, a momentary connection
between the gate and anode is sufficient in polarity, intensity, and duration to trigger it.
• SCRs may be fired by intentional triggering of the gate terminal, excessive voltage (break-
down) between anode and cathode, or excessive rate of voltage rise between anode and
cathode. SCRs may be turned off by anode current falling below the holding current value
(low-current dropout), or by ”reverse-firing” the gate (applying a negative voltage to the
gate). Reverse-firing is only sometimes effective, and always involves high gate current.
• A variant of the SCR, called a Gate-Turn-Off thyristor (GTO), is specifically designed to
be turned off by means of reverse triggering. Even then, reverse triggering requires fairly
high current: typically 20% of the anode current.
• SCR terminals may be identified by a continuity meter: the only two terminals showing
any continuity between them at all should be the gate and cathode. Gate and cathode
terminals connect to a PN junction inside the SCR, so a continuity meter should obtain
a diode-like reading between these two terminals with the red (+) lead on the gate and
the black (-) lead on the cathode. Beware, though, that some large SCRs have an internal
resistor connected between gate and cathode, which will affect any continuity readings
taken by a meter.
• SCRs are true rectifiers: they only allow current through them in one direction. This
means they cannot be used alone for full-wave AC power control.
• If the diodes in a rectifier circuit are replaced by SCRs, you have the makings of a con-
trolled rectifier circuit, whereby DC power to a load may be time-proportioned by trigger-
ing the SCRs at different points along the AC power waveform.
7.6. THE TRIAC 319
7.6 The TRIAC
SCRs are unidirectional (one-way) current devices, making them useful for controlling DC
only. If two SCRs are joined in back-to-back parallel fashion just like two Shockley diodes were
joined together to form a DIAC, we have a new device known as the TRIAC:
Main Terminal 2
(MT2)
Main Terminal 2
(MT2)
Gate Gate
Main Terminal 1
(MT1)
Main Terminal 1
(MT1)
TRIAC equivalent circuit TRIAC schematic symbol

Because individual SCRs are more flexible to use in advanced control systems, they are
more commonly seen in circuits like motor drives, while TRIACs are usually seen in sim-
ple, low-power applications like household dimmer switches. A simple lamp dimmer circuit
is shown here, complete with the phase-shifting resistor-capacitor network necessary for after-
peak firing.
Lamp
AC
source
TRIACs are notorious for not firing symmetrically. This means they usually won’t trigger
at the exact same gate voltage level for one polarity as for the other. Generally speaking, this
is undesirable, because unsymmetrical firing results in a current waveform with a greater va-
riety of harmonic frequencies. Waveforms that are symmetrical above and below their average
centerlines are comprised of only odd-numbered harmonics. Unsymmetrical waveforms, on
the other hand, contain even-numbered harmonics (which may or may not be accompanied by
odd-numbered harmonics as well).
In the interest of reducing total harmonic content in power systems, the fewer and less
diverse the harmonics, the better – one more reason why individual SCRs are favored over
TRIACs for complex, high-power control circuits. One way to make the TRIAC’s current wave-
form more symmetrical is to use a device external to the TRIAC to time the triggering pulse.
A DIAC placed in series with the gate does a fair job of this:
Lamp
AC
source
DIAC breakover voltages tend to be much more symmetrical (the same in one polarity
as the other) than TRIAC triggering voltage thresholds. Since the DIAC prevents any gate
current until the triggering voltage has reached a certain, repeatable level in either direction,
the firing point of the TRIAC from one half-cycle to the next tends to be more consistent, and
the waveform more symmetrical above and below its centerline.
Practically all the characteristics and ratings of SCRs apply equally to TRIACs, except
that TRIACs of course are bidirectional (can handle current in both directions). Not much
more needs to be said about this device except for an important caveat concerning its terminal
designations.
From the equivalent circuit diagram shown earlier, one might think that main terminals
1 and 2 were interchangeable. They are not! Although it is helpful to imagine the TRIAC as
being composed of two SCRs joined together, it in fact is constructed from a single piece of
semiconducting material, appropriately doped and layered. The actual operating characteris-
tics may differ slightly from that of the equivalent model.
This is made most evident by contrasting two simple circuit designs, one that works and
one that doesn’t. The following two circuits are a variation of the lamp dimmer circuit shown
earlier, the phase-shifting capacitor and DIAC removed for simplicity’s sake. Although the
resulting circuit lacks the fine control ability of the more complex version (with capacitor and
DIAC), it does function:
Lamp
AC
source
Suppose we were to swap the two main terminals of the TRIAC around. According to the
equivalent circuit diagram shown earlier in this section, the swap should make no difference.
The circuit ought to work:
7.7. OPTOTHYRISTORS 321
This circuit will not work!
Lamp
AC
source
However, if this circuit is built, it will be found that it does not work! The load will receive
no power, the TRIAC refusing to fire at all, no matter how low or high a resistance value the
control resistor is set to. The key to successfully triggering a TRIAC is to make sure the gate
receives its triggering current from the main terminal 2 side of the circuit (the main terminal
on the opposite side of the TRIAC symbol from the gate terminal). Identification of the MT1
and MT2 terminals must be done via the TRIAC’s part number with reference to a data sheet
or book.
• REVIEW:
• A TRIAC acts much like two SCRs connected back-to-back for bidirectional (AC) opera-
tion.
• TRIAC controls are more often seen in simple, low-power circuits than complex, high-
power circuits. In large power control circuits, multiple SCRs tend to be favored.
• When used to control AC power to a load, TRIACs are often accompanied by DIACs con-
nected in series with their gate terminals. The DIAC helps the TRIAC fire more symmet-
rically (more consistently from one polarity to another).
• Main terminals 1 and 2 on a TRIAC are not interchangeable.
• To successfully trigger a TRIAC, gate current must come from the main terminal 2 (MT2 )
side of the circuit!
7.7 Optothyristors
Like bipolar transistors, SCRs and TRIACs are also manufactured as light-sensitive devices,
the action of impinging light replacing the function of triggering voltage.
Optically-controlled SCRs are often known by the acronym LASCR, or Light Activated
SCR. Its symbol, not surprisingly, looks like this:
Light Activated SCR
LASCR
Optically-controlled TRIACs don’t receive the honor of having their own acronym, but in-
stead are humbly known as opto-TRIACs. Their schematic symbol looks like this:
Opto-TRIAC
Optothyristors (a general term for either the LASCR or the opto-TRIAC) are commonly
found inside sealed ”optoisolator” modules.
7.8 The Unijunction Transistor (UJT) – PENDING

Programmable Unijunction Transistors (PUTs).
• REVIEW:
7.9 The Silicon-Controlled Switch (SCS)

If we take the equivalent circuit for an SCR and add another external terminal, connected to
the base of the top transistor and the collector of the bottom transistor, we have a device known
as a silicon-controlled-switch, or SCS:
The Silicon-Controlled Switch (SCS)
Anode Anode
P Anode Anode
Anode Gate Anode
N N
Cathode Gate Gate
P P Cathode Cathode
Gate Gate
Gate
N Cathode
Cathode Cathode
This extra terminal allows more control to be exerted over the device, particularly in the
mode of forced commutation, where an external signal forces it to turn off while the main
current through the device has not yet fallen below the holding current value. Consider the
following circuit:
7.9. THE SILICON-CONTROLLED SWITCH (SCS) 323
DC motor start/stop Equivalent schematic

circuit using an SCS with two transistors
Motor Motor
R1 R1 R2
R2 SCS
+ on + on
SCS
− −
off off
When the ”on” pushbutton switch is actuated, there is a voltage applied between the cath-
ode gate and the cathode, forward-biasing the lower transistor’s base-emitter junction, and
turning it on. The top transistor of the SCS is ready to conduct, having been supplied with a
current path from its emitter terminal (the SCS’s anode terminal) through resistor R2 to the
positive side of the power supply. As in the case of the SCR, both transistors turn on and main-
tain each other in the ”on” mode. When the lower transistor turns on, it conducts the motor’s
load current, and the motor starts and runs.
The motor may be stopped by interrupting the power supply, as with an SCR, and this is
called natural commutation. However, the SCS provides us with another means of turning
off: forced commutation by shorting the anode terminal to the cathode. [3] If this is done
(by actuating the ”off ” pushbutton switch), the upper transistor within the SCS will lose its
emitter current, thus halting current through the base of the lower transistor. When the lower
transistor turns off, it breaks the circuit for base current through the top transistor (securing
its ”off ” state), and the motor (making it stop). The SCS will remain in the off condition until
such time that the ”on” pushbutton switch is re-actuated.
• REVIEW:
• A silicon-controlled switch, or SCS, is essentially an SCR with an extra gate terminal.
• Typically, the load current through an SCS is carried by the anode gate and cathode
terminals, with the cathode gate and anode terminals sufficing as control leads.
• An SCS is turned on by applying a positive voltage between the cathode gate and cathode
terminals. It may be turned off (forced commutation) by applying a negative voltage
between the anode and cathode terminals, or simply by shorting those two terminals
together. The anode terminal must be kept positive with respect to the cathode in order
for the SCS to latch.
7.10 Field-effect-controlled thyristors
Two relatively recent technologies designed to reduce the ”driving” (gate trigger current) re-
quirements of classic thyristor devices are the MOS-gated thyristor and the MOS Controlled
Thyristor, or MCT.
The MOS-gated thyristor uses a MOSFET to initiate conduction through the upper (PNP)
transistor of a normal thyristor structure, thus triggering the device. Since a MOSFET re-
quires negligible current to ”drive” (cause it to saturate), this makes the thyristor as a whole
very easy to trigger:
MOS-gated thyristor Anode

equivalent circuit
Gate
Cathode
Given the fact that ordinary SCRs are quite easy to ”drive” as it is, the practical advantage
of using an even more sensitive device (a MOSFET) to initiate triggering is debatable. Also,
placing a MOSFET at the gate input of the thyristor now makes it impossible to turn it off by a
reverse-triggering signal. Only low-current dropout can make this device stop conducting after
it has been latched.
A device of arguably greater value would be a fully-controllable thyristor, whereby a small

gate signal could both trigger the thyristor and force it to turn off. Such a device does exist,
and it is called the MOS Controlled Thyristor, or MCT. It uses a pair of MOSFETs connected
to a common gate terminal, one to trigger the thyristor and the other to ”untrigger” it:
7.10. FIELD-EFFECT-CONTROLLED THYRISTORS 325
MOS Controlled Thyristor Anode

(MCT) equivalent circuit
Gate
Cathode
A positive gate voltage (with respect to the cathode) turns on the upper (N-channel) MOS-
FET, allowing base current through the upper (PNP) transistor, which latches the transistor
pair in an ”on” state. Once both transistors are fully latched, there will be little voltage dropped
between anode and cathode, and the thyristor will remain latched so long as the controlled
current exceeds the minimum (holding) current value. However, if a negative gate voltage is
applied (with respect to the anode, which is at nearly the same voltage as the cathode in the
latched state), the lower MOSFET will turn on and ”short” between the lower (NPN) transis-
tor’s base and emitter terminals, thus forcing it into cutoff. Once the NPN transistor cuts off,
the PNP transistor will drop out of conduction, and the whole thyristor turns off. Gate voltage
has full control over conduction through the MCT: to turn it on and to turn it off.
This device is still a thyristor, though. If there is zero voltage applied between gate and
cathode, neither MOSFET will turn on. Consequently, the bipolar transistor pair will remain
in whatever state it was last in (hysteresis). So, a brief positive pulse to the gate turns the MCT
on, a brief negative pulse forces it off, and no applied gate voltage lets it remain in whatever
state it is already in. In essence, the MCT is a latching version of the IGBT (Insulated Gate
Bipolar Transistor).
• REVIEW:
• A MOS-gated thyristor uses an N-channel MOSFET to trigger a thyristor, resulting in an

extremely low gate current requirement.
• A MOS Controlled Thyristor, or MCT, uses two MOSFETS to exert full control over the
thyristor. A positive gate voltage triggers the device, while a negative gate voltage forces
it to turn off. Zero gate voltage allows the thyristor to remain in whatever state it was
previously in (off, or latched on).
Bibliography
[1] ”Phattytron PT-1 Vacuum Tube Synthesizer”, The Audio Playground Synthesizer Mu-
seum at http://www.keyboardmuseum.com/ar/m/meta/pt1.html
[2] ”At last, a pitch source with tube power”, METASONIX,

PMB 109, 881 11th Street, Lakeport CA 95453 USA at
http://www.metasonix.com/index.php?option=com content&task=view&id=14&Itemid=31
[3] ”Silicon Contolled Switches”, GE Transistor Manual, The General Electric Company,
1964, Figure 16.19(M).
Chapter 8
OPERATIONAL AMPLIFIERS
Contents
8.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
8.2 Single-ended and differential amplifiers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328
8.3 The ”operational” amplifier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332
8.4 Negative feedback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 338
8.5 Divided feedback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 341
8.6 An analogy for divided feedback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 344
8.7 Voltage-to-current signal conversion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350
8.8 Averager and summer circuits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 352
8.9 Building a differential amplifier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 354
8.10 The instrumentation amplifier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 356
8.11 Differentiator and integrator circuits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 357
8.12 Positive feedback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360
8.13 Practical considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 364
8.13.1 Common-mode gain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 365
8.13.2 Offset voltage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 368
8.13.3 Bias current . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 370
8.13.4 Drift . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 376
8.13.5 Frequency response . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 376
8.13.6 Input to output phase shift . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 377
8.14 Operational amplifier models . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 380
8.15 Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 385
8.1 Introduction
The operational amplifier is arguably the most useful single device in analog electronic cir-
cuitry. With only a handful of external components, it can be made to perform a wide variety
327
328 CHAPTER 8. OPERATIONAL AMPLIFIERS
of analog signal processing tasks. It is also quite affordable, most general-purpose amplifiers
selling for under a dollar apiece. Modern designs have been engineered with durability in
mind as well: several ”op-amps” are manufactured that can sustain direct short-circuits on
their outputs without damage.
One key to the usefulness of these little circuits is in the engineering principle of feedback,
particularly negative feedback, which constitutes the foundation of almost all automatic control
processes. The principles presented here in operational amplifier circuits, therefore, extend
well beyond the immediate scope of electronics. It is well worth the electronics student’s time
to learn these principles and learn them well.
8.2 Single-ended and differential amplifiers

For ease of drawing complex circuit diagrams, electronic amplifiers are often symbolized by a
simple triangle shape, where the internal components are not individually represented. This
symbology is very handy for cases where an amplifier’s construction is irrelevant to the greater
function of the overall circuit, and it is worthy of familiarization:
General amplifier circuit symbol

+Vsupply
Input Output
-Vsupply
The +V and -V connections denote the positive and negative sides of the DC power supply,
respectively. The input and output voltage connections are shown as single conductors, because
it is assumed that all signal voltages are referenced to a common connection in the circuit called
ground. Often (but not always!), one pole of the DC power supply, either positive or negative,
is that ground reference point. A practical amplifier circuit (showing the input voltage source,
load resistance, and power supply) might look like this:
+V
+
Input Output 30 V
Vinput -
Rload
-V
Without having to analyze the actual transistor design of the amplifier, you can readily
discern the whole circuit’s function: to take an input signal (Vin ), amplify it, and drive a load
8.2. SINGLE-ENDED AND DIFFERENTIAL AMPLIFIERS 329
resistance (Rload ). To complete the above schematic, it would be good to specify the gains of
that amplifier (AV , AI , AP ) and the Q (bias) point for any needed mathematical analysis.
If it is necessary for an amplifier to be able to output true AC voltage (reversing polarity)
to the load, a split DC power supply may be used, whereby the ground point is electrically
”centered” between +V and -V. Sometimes the split power supply configuration is referred to
as a dual power supply.
+V
+
Input Output 15 V
Vinput -
Rload
-V
+
15 V
-
The amplifier is still being supplied with 30 volts overall, but with the split voltage DC
power supply, the output voltage across the load resistor can now swing from a theoretical
maximum of +15 volts to -15 volts, instead of +30 volts to 0 volts. This is an easy way to
get true alternating current (AC) output from an amplifier without resorting to capacitive or
inductive (transformer) coupling on the output. The peak-to-peak amplitude of this amplifier’s
output between cutoff and saturation remains unchanged.
By signifying a transistor amplifier within a larger circuit with a triangle symbol, we ease
the task of studying and analyzing more complex amplifiers and circuits. One of these more
complex amplifier types that we’ll be studying is called the differential amplifier. Unlike nor-
mal amplifiers, which amplify a single input signal (often called single-ended amplifiers), differ-
ential amplifiers amplify the voltage difference between two input signals. Using the simplified
triangle amplifier symbol, a differential amplifier looks like this:
Differential amplifier
+Vsupply
Input1 −
Output
Input2 +
-Vsupply
The two input leads can be seen on the left-hand side of the triangular amplifier symbol, the
output lead on the right-hand side, and the +V and -V power supply leads on top and bottom.
As with the other example, all voltages are referenced to the circuit’s ground point. Notice that
one input lead is marked with a (-) and the other is marked with a (+). Because a differential
amplifier amplifies the difference in voltage between the two inputs, each input influences the
output voltage in opposite ways. Consider the following table of input/output voltages for a
differential amplifier with a voltage gain of 4:
(-) Input1 0 0 0 0 1 2.5 7 3 -3 -2
(+) Input2 0 1 2.5 7 0 0 0 3 3 -7
Output 0 4 10 28 -4 -10 -28 0 24 -20
Voltage output equation: Vout = AV(Input2 - Input1)

or
Vout = AV(Input(+) - Input(-))
An increasingly positive voltage on the (+) input tends to drive the output voltage more
positive, and an increasingly positive voltage on the (-) input tends to drive the output voltage
more negative. Likewise, an increasingly negative voltage on the (+) input tends to drive the
output negative as well, and an increasingly negative voltage on the (-) input does just the
opposite. Because of this relationship between inputs and polarities, the (-) input is commonly
referred to as the inverting input and the (+) as the noninverting input.
It may be helpful to think of a differential amplifier as a variable voltage source controlled
by a sensitive voltmeter, as such:
+V
-
-
G
+
+ -V
Bear in mind that the above illustration is only a model to aid in understanding the behav-
ior of a differential amplifier. It is not a realistic schematic of its actual design. The ”G” symbol
represents a galvanometer, a sensitive voltmeter movement. The potentiometer connected be-
tween +V and -V provides a variable voltage at the output pin (with reference to one side of
the DC power supply), that variable voltage set by the reading of the galvanometer. It must be
understood that any load powered by the output of a differential amplifier gets its current from
the DC power source (battery), not the input signal. The input signal (to the galvanometer)
merely controls the output.
This concept may at first be confusing to students new to amplifiers. With all these polar-
ities and polarity markings (- and +) around, its easy to get confused and not know what the
output of a differential amplifier will be. To address this potential confusion, here’s a simple
rule to remember:
8.2. SINGLE-ENDED AND DIFFERENTIAL AMPLIFIERS 331
- −
Differential +
input voltage Output
+ +
- voltage
+ −
Differential -
input voltage Output
- + voltage
+
When the polarity of the differential voltage matches the markings for inverting and nonin-
verting inputs, the output will be positive. When the polarity of the differential voltage clashes
with the input markings, the output will be negative. This bears some similarity to the math-
ematical sign displayed by digital voltmeters based on input voltage polarity. The red test lead
of the voltmeter (often called the ”positive” lead because of the color red’s popular association
with the positive side of a power supply in electronic wiring) is more positive than the black,
the meter will display a positive voltage figure, and vice versa:
blk -
-
Differential + 6.00 V
input voltage 6V Digital Voltmeter
+ red +
blk -
+
Differential - 6.00 V
input voltage 6V Digital Voltmeter
- red +
Just as a voltmeter will only display the voltage between its two test leads, an ideal differ-
ential amplifier only amplifies the potential difference between its two input connections, not
the voltage between any one of those connections and ground. The output polarity of a differ-
ential amplifier, just like the signed indication of a digital voltmeter, depends on the relative
polarities of the differential voltage between the two input connections.
If the input voltages to this amplifier represented mathematical quantities (as is the case
within analog computer circuitry), or physical process measurements (as is the case within
analog electronic instrumentation circuitry), you can see how a device such as a differential
amplifier could be very useful. We could use it to compare two quantities to see which is
greater (by the polarity of the output voltage), or perhaps we could compare the difference
between two quantities (such as the level of liquid in two tanks) and flag an alarm (based on the
absolute value of the amplifier output) if the difference became too great. In basic automatic
control circuitry, the quantity being controlled (called the process variable) is compared with
a target value (called the setpoint), and decisions are made as to how to act based on the
discrepancy between these two values. The first step in electronically controlling such a scheme
is to amplify the difference between the process variable and the setpoint with a differential
amplifier. In simple controller designs, the output of this differential amplifier can be directly
utilized to drive the final control element (such as a valve) and keep the process reasonably
close to setpoint.
• REVIEW:
• A ”shorthand” symbol for an electronic amplifier is a triangle, the wide end signifying
the input side and the narrow end signifying the output. Power supply lines are often
omitted in the drawing for simplicity.
• To facilitate true AC output from an amplifier, we can use what is called a split or dual
power supply, with two DC voltage sources connected in series with the middle point
grounded, giving a positive voltage to ground (+V) and a negative voltage to ground (-V).
Split power supplies like this are frequently used in differential amplifier circuits.
• Most amplifiers have one input and one output. Differential amplifiers have two inputs
and one output, the output signal being proportional to the difference in signals between
the two inputs.
• The voltage output of a differential amplifier is determined by the following equation:

Vout = AV (Vnoninv - Vinv )
8.3 The ”operational” amplifier

Long before the advent of digital electronic technology, computers were built to electronically
perform calculations by employing voltages and currents to represent numerical quantities.
This was especially useful for the simulation of physical processes. A variable voltage, for in-
stance, might represent velocity or force in a physical system. Through the use of resistive
voltage dividers and voltage amplifiers, the mathematical operations of division and multipli-
cation could be easily performed on these signals.
The reactive properties of capacitors and inductors lend themselves well to the simulation
of variables related by calculus functions. Remember how the current through a capacitor
was a function of the voltage’s rate of change, and how that rate of change was designated
in calculus as the derivative? Well, if voltage across a capacitor were made to represent the
velocity of an object, the current through the capacitor would represent the force required to
accelerate or decelerate that object, the capacitor’s capacitance representing the object’s mass:
iC = C dv F = m dv
dt dt
Where, Where,
iC = Instantaneous current F = Force applied to object
through capacitor
C = Capacitance in farads m = Mass of object
dv = Rate of change of dv = Rate of change of
dt voltage over time dt velocity over time
8.3. THE ”OPERATIONAL” AMPLIFIER 333
This analog electronic computation of the calculus derivative function is technically known
as differentiation, and it is a natural function of a capacitor’s current in relation to the voltage
applied across it. Note that this circuit requires no ”programming” to perform this relatively
advanced mathematical function as a digital computer would.
Electronic circuits are very easy and inexpensive to create compared to complex physical
systems, so this kind of analog electronic simulation was widely used in the research and
development of mechanical systems. For realistic simulation, though, amplifier circuits of high
accuracy and easy configurability were needed in these early computers.
It was found in the course of analog computer design that differential amplifiers with ex-
tremely high voltage gains met these requirements of accuracy and configurability better than
single-ended amplifiers with custom-designed gains. Using simple components connected to
the inputs and output of the high-gain differential amplifier, virtually any gain and any func-
tion could be obtained from the circuit, overall, without adjusting or modifying the internal
circuitry of the amplifier itself. These high-gain differential amplifiers came to be known as
operational amplifiers, or op-amps, because of their application in analog computers’ mathe-
matical operations.
Modern op-amps, like the popular model 741, are high-performance, inexpensive integrated
circuits. Their input impedances are quite high, the inputs drawing currents in the range of
half a microamp (maximum) for the 741, and far less for op-amps utilizing field-effect input
transistors. Output impedance is typically quite low, about 75 Ω for the model 741, and many
models have built-in output short circuit protection, meaning that their outputs can be directly
shorted to ground without causing harm to the internal circuitry. With direct coupling between
op-amps’ internal transistor stages, they can amplify DC signals just as well as AC (up to
certain maximum voltage-risetime limits). It would cost far more in money and time to design
a comparable discrete-transistor amplifier circuit to match that kind of performance, unless
high power capability was required. For these reasons, op-amps have all but obsoleted discrete-
transistor signal amplifiers in many applications.
The following diagram shows the pin connections for single op-amps (741 included) when
housed in an 8-pin DIP (Dual Inline Package) integrated circuit:
Typical 8-pin "DIP" op-amp

integrated circuit
No +V Offset
connection Output null
8 7 6 5
+
1 2 3 4
Offset -V
null
Some models of op-amp come two to a package, including the popular models TL082 and
1458. These are called ”dual” units, and are typically housed in an 8-pin DIP package as well,
with the following pin connections:
Dual op-amp in 8-pin DIP
+V
8 7 6 5
+
+
1 2 3 4
-V
Operational amplifiers are also available four to a package, usually in 14-pin DIP arrange-
ments. Unfortunately, pin assignments aren’t as standard for these ”quad” op-amps as they
are for the ”dual” or single units. Consult the manufacturer datasheet(s) for details.
Practical operational amplifier voltage gains are in the range of 200,000 or more, which
makes them almost useless as an analog differential amplifier by themselves. For an op-amp
with a voltage gain (AV ) of 200,000 and a maximum output voltage swing of +15V/-15V, all
it would take is a differential input voltage of 75 µV (microvolts) to drive it to saturation or
cutoff! Before we take a look at how external components are used to bring the gain down to a
reasonable level, let’s investigate applications for the ”bare” op-amp by itself.
One application is called the comparator. For all practical purposes, we can say that the
output of an op-amp will be saturated fully positive if the (+) input is more positive than the (-)
input, and saturated fully negative if the (+) input is less positive than the (-) input. In other
words, an op-amp’s extremely high voltage gain makes it useful as a device to compare two
voltages and change output voltage states when one input exceeds the other in magnitude.
+V
Vin − LED
-V
In the above circuit, we have an op-amp connected as a comparator, comparing the input
voltage with a reference voltage set by the potentiometer (R1 ). If Vin drops below the voltage
set by R1 , the op-amp’s output will saturate to +V, thereby lighting up the LED. Otherwise, if
Vin is above the reference voltage, the LED will remain off. If Vin is a voltage signal produced
by a measuring instrument, this comparator circuit could function as a ”low” alarm, with the
trip-point set by R1 . Instead of an LED, the op-amp output could drive a relay, a transistor, an
SCR, or any other device capable of switching power to a load such as a solenoid valve, to take
action in the event of a low alarm.
Another application for the comparator circuit shown is a square-wave converter. Suppose
that the input voltage applied to the inverting (-) input was an AC sine wave rather than a
stable DC voltage. In that case, the output voltage would transition between opposing states
of saturation whenever the input voltage was equal to the reference voltage produced by the
potentiometer. The result would be a square wave:
+V
−
Vin Vout
+
-V
Vin Vout
Adjustments to the potentiometer setting would change the reference voltage applied to
the noninverting (+) input, which would change the points at which the sine wave would cross,
changing the on/off times, or duty cycle of the square wave:
+V
−
Vin Vout
+
-V
Vin Vout
It should be evident that the AC input voltage would not have to be a sine wave in particular
for this circuit to perform the same function. The input voltage could be a triangle wave,
sawtooth wave, or any other sort of wave that ramped smoothly from positive to negative to
positive again. This sort of comparator circuit is very useful for creating square waves of
varying duty cycle. This technique is sometimes referred to as pulse-width modulation, or
PWM (varying, or modulating a waveform according to a controlling signal, in this case the
signal produced by the potentiometer).
Another comparator application is that of the bargraph driver. If we had several op-amps
connected as comparators, each with its own reference voltage connected to the inverting input,
but each one monitoring the same voltage signal on their noninverting inputs, we could build a
bargraph-style meter such as what is commonly seen on the face of stereo tuners and graphic
equalizers. As the signal voltage (representing radio signal strength or audio sound level)
increased, each comparator would ”turn on” in sequence and send power to its respective LED.
With each comparator switching ”on” at a different level of audio sound, the number of LED’s
illuminated would indicate how strong the signal was.
+V
Simple bargraph driver circuit
− LED4
− LED3
− LED2
− LED1
+
-V
-V
Vin
In the circuit shown above, LED1 would be the first to light up as the input voltage increased
in a positive direction. As the input voltage continued to increase, the other LED’s would
illuminate in succession, until all were lit.
This very same technology is used in some analog-to-digital signal converters, namely the
flash converter, to translate an analog signal quantity into a series of on/off voltages represent-
ing a digital number.
• REVIEW:
• A triangle shape is the generic symbol for an amplifier circuit, the wide end signifying
the input and the narrow end signifying the output.
• Unless otherwise specified, all voltages in amplifier circuits are referenced to a common
ground point, usually connected to one terminal of the power supply. This way, we can
speak of a certain amount of voltage being ”on” a single wire, while realizing that voltage
is always measured between two points.
• A differential amplifier is one amplifying the voltage difference between two signal inputs.
In such a circuit, one input tends to drive the output voltage to the same polarity of the
input signal, while the other input does just the opposite. Consequently, the first input is
called the noninverting (+) input and the second is called the inverting (-) input.
• An operational amplifier (or op-amp for short) is a differential amplifier with an extremely
high voltage gain (AV = 200,000 or more). Its name hails from its original use in analog
computer circuitry (performing mathematical operations).
• Op-amps typically have very high input impedances and fairly low output impedances.
• Sometimes op-amps are used as signal comparators, operating in full cutoff or saturation
mode depending on which input (inverting or noninverting) has the greatest voltage.
Comparators are useful in detecting ”greater-than” signal conditions (comparing one to
the other).
• One comparator application is called the pulse-width modulator, and is made by compar-
ing a sine-wave AC signal against a DC reference voltage. As the DC reference voltage
is adjusted, the square-wave output of the comparator changes its duty cycle (positive
versus negative times). Thus, the DC reference voltage controls, or modulates the pulse
width of the output voltage.
8.4 Negative feedback

If we connect the output of an op-amp to its inverting input and apply a voltage signal to
the noninverting input, we find that the output voltage of the op-amp closely follows that
input voltage (I’ve neglected to draw in the power supply, +V/-V wires, and ground symbol for
simplicity):
−
Vout
Vin +
As Vin increases, Vout will increase in accordance with the differential gain. However, as
Vout increases, that output voltage is fed back to the inverting input, thereby acting to decrease
the voltage differential between inputs, which acts to bring the output down. What will happen
for any given voltage input is that the op-amp will output a voltage very nearly equal to Vin ,
but just low enough so that there’s enough voltage difference left between Vin and the (-) input
to be amplified to generate the output voltage.
The circuit will quickly reach a point of stability (known as equilibrium in physics), where
the output voltage is just the right amount to maintain the right amount of differential, which
in turn produces the right amount of output voltage. Taking the op-amp’s output voltage and
coupling it to the inverting input is a technique known as negative feedback, and it is the key
to having a self-stabilizing system (this is true not only of op-amps, but of any dynamic system
in general). This stability gives the op-amp the capacity to work in its linear (active) mode, as
8.4. NEGATIVE FEEDBACK 339
opposed to merely being saturated fully ”on” or ”off ” as it was when used as a comparator, with
no feedback at all.
Because the op-amp’s gain is so high, the voltage on the inverting input can be maintained
almost equal to Vin . Let’s say that our op-amp has a differential voltage gain of 200,000. If Vin
equals 6 volts, the output voltage will be 5.999970000149999 volts. This creates just enough
differential voltage (6 volts - 5.999970000149999 volts = 29.99985 µV) to cause 5.999970000149999
volts to be manifested at the output terminal, and the system holds there in balance. As you
can see, 29.99985 µV is not a lot of differential, so for practical calculations, we can assume
that the differential voltage between the two input wires is held by negative feedback exactly
at 0 volts.
The effects of negative feedback
−
29.99985 µV
+
5.999970000149999 V
6V
The effects of negative feedback

(rounded figures)
−
0V
+ 6V
6V
One great advantage to using an op-amp with negative feedback is that the actual voltage
gain of the op-amp doesn’t matter, so long as its very large. If the op-amp’s differential gain
were 250,000 instead of 200,000, all it would mean is that the output voltage would hold just
a little closer to Vin (less differential voltage needed between inputs to generate the required
output). In the circuit just illustrated, the output voltage would still be (for all practical pur-
poses) equal to the non-inverting input voltage. Op-amp gains, therefore, do not have to be
precisely set by the factory in order for the circuit designer to build an amplifier circuit with
precise gain. Negative feedback makes the system self-correcting. The above circuit as a whole
will simply follow the input voltage with a stable gain of 1.
Going back to our differential amplifier model, we can think of the operational amplifier
as being a variable voltage source controlled by an extremely sensitive null detector, the kind
of meter movement or other sensitive measurement device used in bridge circuits to detect a
condition of balance (zero volts). The ”potentiometer” inside the op-amp creating the variable
voltage will move to whatever position it must to ”balance” the inverting and noninverting
input voltages so that the ”null detector” has zero voltage across it:
+V
-
6V
0V null
+ -V
6V
As the ”potentiometer” will move to provide an output voltage necessary to satisfy the ”null
detector” at an ”indication” of zero volts, the output voltage becomes equal to the input voltage:
in this case, 6 volts. If the input voltage changes at all, the ”potentiometer” inside the op-amp
will change position to hold the ”null detector” in balance (indicating zero volts), resulting in
an output voltage approximately equal to the input voltage at all times.
This will hold true within the range of voltages that the op-amp can output. With a power
supply of +15V/-15V, and an ideal amplifier that can swing its output voltage just as far, it
will faithfully ”follow” the input voltage between the limits of +15 volts and -15 volts. For this
reason, the above circuit is known as a voltage follower. Like its one-transistor counterpart,
the common-collector (”emitter-follower”) amplifier, it has a voltage gain of 1, a high input
impedance, a low output impedance, and a high current gain. Voltage followers are also known
as voltage buffers, and are used to boost the current-sourcing ability of voltage signals too weak
(too high of source impedance) to directly drive a load. The op-amp model shown in the last
illustration depicts how the output voltage is essentially isolated from the input voltage, so
that current on the output pin is not supplied by the input voltage source at all, but rather
from the power supply powering the op-amp.
It should be mentioned that many op-amps cannot swing their output voltages exactly to
+V/-V power supply rail voltages. The model 741 is one of those that cannot: when saturated,
its output voltage peaks within about one volt of the +V power supply voltage and within about
2 volts of the -V power supply voltage. Therefore, with a split power supply of +15/-15 volts,
a 741 op-amp’s output may go as high as +14 volts or as low as -13 volts (approximately), but
no further. This is due to its bipolar transistor design. These two voltage limits are known
8.5. DIVIDED FEEDBACK 341
as the positive saturation voltage and negative saturation voltage, respectively. Other op-amps,
such as the model 3130 with field-effect transistors in the final output stage, have the ability to
swing their output voltages within millivolts of either power supply rail voltage. Consequently,
their positive and negative saturation voltages are practically equal to the supply voltages.
• REVIEW:
• Connecting the output of an op-amp to its inverting (-) input is called negative feedback.
This term can be broadly applied to any dynamic system where the output signal is ”fed
back” to the input somehow so as to reach a point of equilibrium (balance).
• When the output of an op-amp is directly connected to its inverting (-) input, a voltage
follower will be created. Whatever signal voltage is impressed upon the noninverting (+)
input will be seen on the output.
• An op-amp with negative feedback will try to drive its output voltage to whatever level
necessary so that the differential voltage between the two inputs is practically zero. The
higher the op-amp differential gain, the closer that differential voltage will be to zero.
• Some op-amps cannot produce an output voltage equal to their supply voltage when sat-
urated. The model 741 is one of these. The upper and lower limits of an op-amp’s output
voltage swing are known as positive saturation voltage and negative saturation voltage,
respectively.
8.5 Divided feedback

If we add a voltage divider to the negative feedback wiring so that only a fraction of the output
voltage is fed back to the inverting input instead of the full amount, the output voltage will be
a multiple of the input voltage (please bear in mind that the power supply connections to the
op-amp have been omitted once again for simplicity’s sake):
The effects of divided negative feedback
6 mA R1 6V R2 6 mA
1 kΩ 1 kΩ
−
6V
0V 12 V
+
All voltage figures shown in

reference to ground
6V
If R1 and R2 are both equal and Vin is 6 volts, the op-amp will output whatever voltage is
needed to drop 6 volts across R1 (to make the inverting input voltage equal to 6 volts, as well,
keeping the voltage difference between the two inputs equal to zero). With the 2:1 voltage
divider of R1 and R2 , this will take 12 volts at the output of the op-amp to accomplish.
Another way of analyzing this circuit is to start by calculating the magnitude and direction
of current through R1 , knowing the voltage on either side (and therefore, by subtraction, the
voltage across R1 ), and R1 ’s resistance. Since the left-hand side of R1 is connected to ground (0
volts) and the right-hand side is at a potential of 6 volts (due to the negative feedback holding
that point equal to Vin ), we can see that we have 6 volts across R1 . This gives us 6 mA of current
through R1 from left to right. Because we know that both inputs of the op-amp have extremely
high impedance, we can safely assume they won’t add or subtract any current through the
divider. In other words, we can treat R1 and R2 as being in series with each other: all of the
electrons flowing through R1 must flow through R2 . Knowing the current through R2 and the
resistance of R2 , we can calculate the voltage across R2 (6 volts), and its polarity. Counting up
voltages from ground (0 volts) to the right-hand side of R2 , we arrive at 12 volts on the output.
Upon examining the last illustration, one might wonder, ”where does that 6 mA of current
go?” The last illustration doesn’t show the entire current path, but in reality it comes from the
negative side of the DC power supply, through ground, through R1 , through R2 , through the
output pin of the op-amp, and then back to the positive side of the DC power supply through the
output transistor(s) of the op-amp. Using the null detector/potentiometer model of the op-amp,
the current path looks like this:
R1 R2
1 kΩ 1 kΩ
+V
-
null
+ -V
6V
The 6 volt signal source does not have to supply any current for the circuit: it merely
commands the op-amp to balance voltage between the inverting (-) and noninverting (+) input
pins, and in so doing produce an output voltage that is twice the input due to the dividing effect
of the two 1 kΩ resistors.
We can change the voltage gain of this circuit, overall, just by adjusting the values of R1
and R2 (changing the ratio of output voltage that is fed back to the inverting input). Gain can
be calculated by the following formula:
8.5. DIVIDED FEEDBACK 343
R2
AV = +1
R1
Note that the voltage gain for this design of amplifier circuit can never be less than 1. If
we were to lower R2 to a value of zero ohms, our circuit would be essentially identical to the
voltage follower, with the output directly connected to the inverting input. Since the voltage
follower has a gain of 1, this sets the lower gain limit of the noninverting amplifier. However,
the gain can be increased far beyond 1, by increasing R2 in proportion to R1 .
Also note that the polarity of the output matches that of the input, just as with a voltage
follower. A positive input voltage results in a positive output voltage, and vice versa (with
respect to ground). For this reason, this circuit is referred to as a noninverting amplifier.
Just as with the voltage follower, we see that the differential gain of the op-amp is irrele-
vant, so long as its very high. The voltages and currents in this circuit would hardly change
at all if the op-amp’s voltage gain were 250,000 instead of 200,000. This stands as a stark con-
trast to single-transistor amplifier circuit designs, where the Beta of the individual transistor
greatly influenced the overall gains of the amplifier. With negative feedback, we have a self-
correcting system that amplifies voltage according to the ratios set by the feedback resistors,
not the gains internal to the op-amp.
Let’s see what happens if we retain negative feedback through a voltage divider, but apply
the input voltage at a different location:
6 mA R1 0V R2 6 mA
1 kΩ 1 kΩ
−
6V
-6 V
+
0V
All voltage figures shown in
reference to ground
By grounding the noninverting input, the negative feedback from the output seeks to hold
the inverting input’s voltage at 0 volts, as well. For this reason, the inverting input is referred
to in this circuit as a virtual ground, being held at ground potential (0 volts) by the feedback,
yet not directly connected to (electrically common with) ground. The input voltage this time
is applied to the left-hand end of the voltage divider (R1 = R2 = 1 kΩ again), so the output
voltage must swing to -6 volts in order to balance the middle at ground potential (0 volts).
Using the same techniques as with the noninverting amplifier, we can analyze this circuit’s
operation by determining current magnitudes and directions, starting with R1 , and continuing
on to determining the output voltage.
We can change the overall voltage gain of this circuit, overall, just by adjusting the values
of R1 and R2 (changing the ratio of output voltage that is fed back to the inverting input). Gain
can be calculated by the following formula:
R2
AV =
R1
Note that this circuit’s voltage gain can be less than 1, depending solely on the ratio of R2
to R1 . Also note that the output voltage is always the opposite polarity of the input voltage.
A positive input voltage results in a negative output voltage, and vice versa (with respect to
ground). For this reason, this circuit is referred to as an inverting amplifier. Sometimes, the
gain formula contains a negative sign (before the R2 /R1 fraction) to reflect this reversal of
polarities.
These two amplifier circuits we’ve just investigated serve the purpose of multiplying or
dividing the magnitude of the input voltage signal. This is exactly how the mathematical
operations of multiplication and division are typically handled in analog computer circuitry.
• REVIEW:
• By connecting the inverting (-) input of an op-amp directly to the output, we get negative
feedback, which gives us a voltage follower circuit. By connecting that negative feedback
through a resistive voltage divider (feeding back a fraction of the output voltage to the
inverting input), the output voltage becomes a multiple of the input voltage.
• A negative-feedback op-amp circuit with the input signal going to the noninverting (+)
input is called a noninverting amplifier. The output voltage will be the same polarity as
the input. Voltage gain is given by the following equation: AV = (R2 /R1 ) + 1
• A negative-feedback op-amp circuit with the input signal going to the ”bottom” of the
resistive voltage divider, with the noninverting (+) input grounded, is called an inverting
amplifier. Its output voltage will be the opposite polarity of the input. Voltage gain is
given by the following equation: AV = R2 /R1
8.6 An analogy for divided feedback
A helpful analogy for understanding divided feedback amplifier circuits is that of a mechanical
lever, with relative motion of the lever’s ends representing change in input and output voltages,
and the fulcrum (pivot point) representing the location of the ground point, real or virtual.
Take for example the following noninverting op-amp circuit. We know from the prior section
that the voltage gain of a noninverting amplifier configuration can never be less than unity (1).
If we draw a lever diagram next to the amplifier schematic, with the distance between fulcrum
and lever ends representative of resistor values, the motion of the lever will signify changes in
voltage at the input and output terminals of the amplifier:
8.6. AN ANALOGY FOR DIVIDED FEEDBACK 345
Vout
R1 R2
Vin Vout = 2(Vin)

R1 R2
1 kΩ 1 kΩ
−
0V
+ Vout
Vin
Physicists call this type of lever, with the input force (effort) applied between the fulcrum
and output (load), a third-class lever. It is characterized by an output displacement (motion) at
least as large than the input displacement – a ”gain” of at least 1 – and in the same direction.
Applying a positive input voltage to this op-amp circuit is analogous to displacing the ”input”
point on the lever upward:
Vout
Vin
Vout = 2(Vin)
R1 R2
1 kΩ 1 kΩ
−
0V +
+ Vout
-
+
Vin
-
Due to the displacement-amplifying characteristics of the lever, the ”output” point will move
twice as far as the ”input” point, and in the same direction. In the electronic circuit, the output
voltage will equal twice the input, with the same polarity. Applying a negative input voltage is
analogous to moving the lever downward from its level ”zero” position, resulting in an amplified
output displacement that is also negative:
Vin
Vout
R1 R2
1 kΩ 1 kΩ Vout = 2(Vin)
−
0V -
+ Vout
+
-
Vin
+
If we alter the resistor ratio R2 /R1 , we change the gain of the op-amp circuit. In lever terms,
this means moving the input point in relation to the fulcrum and lever end, which similarly
changes the displacement ”gain” of the machine:
Vout
R1 R2
Vin Vout = 4(Vin)
R1 R2
1 kΩ 3 kΩ
−
0V
+ Vout
Vin
Now, any input signal will become amplified by a factor of four instead of by a factor of two:
Vout
Vin
Vout = 4(Vin)
R1 R2
1 kΩ 3 kΩ
−
0V +
+ Vout
-
+
Vin
-
Inverting op-amp circuits may be modeled using the lever analogy as well. With the invert-
ing configuration, the ground point of the feedback voltage divider is the op-amp’s inverting
input with the input to the left and the output to the right. This is mechanically equivalent to
a first-class lever, where the input force (effort) is on the opposite side of the fulcrum from the
output (load):
R1 R2
Vin Vout
R1 R2
Vout = -(Vin)
Vin 1 kΩ 1 kΩ
−
+ Vout
With equal-value resistors (equal-lengths of lever on each side of the fulcrum), the output
voltage (displacement) will be equal in magnitude to the input voltage (displacement), but of
the opposite polarity (direction). A positive input results in a negative output:
Vout
Vin
R1 R2
Vout = -(Vin)
+
1 kΩ 1 kΩ
Vin −
- -
+ Vout
+
Changing the resistor ratio R2 /R1 changes the gain of the amplifier circuit, just as changing
the fulcrum position on the lever changes its mechanical displacement ”gain.” Consider the
following example, where R2 is made twice as large as R1 :
Vout
Vin
R1 R2
Vout = -2(Vin)
+
1 kΩ 2 kΩ
Vin −
- -
+ Vout
+
With the inverting amplifier configuration, though, gains of less than 1 are possible, just
as with first-class levers. Reversing R2 and R1 values is analogous to moving the fulcrum to
its complementary position on the lever: one-third of the way from the output end. There, the
output displacement will be one-half the input displacement:
Vout
Vin
R1 R2
Vout = -0.5(Vin)
+
2 kΩ 1 kΩ
Vin −
- -
+ Vout
+
8.7 Voltage-to-current signal conversion
In instrumentation circuitry, DC signals are often used as analog representations of physical

measurements such as temperature, pressure, flow, weight, and motion. Most commonly, DC
current signals are used in preference to DC voltage signals, because current signals are ex-
actly equal in magnitude throughout the series circuit loop carrying current from the source
(measuring device) to the load (indicator, recorder, or controller), whereas voltage signals in
a parallel circuit may vary from one end to the other due to resistive wire losses. Further-
more, current-sensing instruments typically have low impedances (while voltage-sensing in-
struments have high impedances), which gives current-sensing instruments greater electrical
noise immunity.
In order to use current as an analog representation of a physical quantity, we have to have

some way of generating a precise amount of current within the signal circuit. But how do
we generate a precise current signal when we might not know the resistance of the loop?
The answer is to use an amplifier designed to hold current to a prescribed value, applying
as much or as little voltage as necessary to the load circuit to maintain that value. Such an
amplifier performs the function of a current source. An op-amp with negative feedback is a
perfect candidate for such a task:
8.7. VOLTAGE-TO-CURRENT SIGNAL CONVERSION 351
250 Ω 4 to 20 mA
-
Rload
− +
+ 4 to 20 mA
+
Vin 1 to 5 volt signal range
-
The input voltage to this circuit is assumed to be coming from some type of physical trans-
ducer/amplifier arrangement, calibrated to produce 1 volt at 0 percent of physical measure-
ment, and 5 volts at 100 percent of physical measurement. The standard analog current signal
range is 4 mA to 20 mA, signifying 0% to 100% of measurement range, respectively. At 5 volts
input, the 250 Ω (precision) resistor will have 5 volts applied across it, resulting in 20 mA of
current in the large loop circuit (with Rload ). It does not matter what resistance value Rload is,
or how much wire resistance is present in that large loop, so long as the op-amp has a high
enough power supply voltage to output the voltage necessary to get 20 mA flowing through
Rload . The 250 Ω resistor establishes the relationship between input voltage and output cur-
rent, in this case creating the equivalence of 1-5 V in / 4-20 mA out. If we were converting the
1-5 volt input signal to a 10-50 mA output signal (an older, obsolete instrumentation standard
for industry), we’d use a 100 Ω precision resistor instead.
Another name for this circuit is transconductance amplifier. In electronics, transconduc-
tance is the mathematical ratio of current change divided by voltage change (∆I / ∆ V), and
it is measured in the unit of Siemens, the same unit used to express conductance (the mathe-
matical reciprocal of resistance: current/voltage). In this circuit, the transconductance ratio is
fixed by the value of the 250 Ω resistor, giving a linear current-out/voltage-in relationship.
• REVIEW:
• In industry, DC current signals are often used in preference to DC voltage signals as

analog representations of physical quantities. Current in a series circuit is absolutely
equal at all points in that circuit regardless of wiring resistance, whereas voltage in a
parallel-connected circuit may vary from end to end because of wire resistance, making
current-signaling more accurate from the ”transmitting” to the ”receiving” instrument.
• Voltage signals are relatively easy to produce directly from transducer devices, whereas
accurate current signals are not. Op-amps can be used to ”convert” a voltage signal into
a current signal quite easily. In this mode, the op-amp will output whatever voltage is
necessary to maintain current through the signaling circuit at the proper value.
8.8 Averager and summer circuits
If we take three equal resistors and connect one end of each to a common point, then apply
three input voltages (one to each of the resistors’ free ends), the voltage seen at the common
point will be the mathematical average of the three.
"Passive averager" circuit
R1
V1 V2 V3
R2
R1 + R2 + R3
Vout =
R3 1 1 1
R1 + R2 + R3
V1 V2 V3 With equal value resistors:

V1 + V2 + V3
Vout =
3
This circuit is really nothing more than a practical application of Millman’s Theorem:
R1 R2 R3 V1 V2 V3
R1 + R2 + R3
Vout =
1 1 1
V1 V2 V3 R1 + R2 + R3
This circuit is commonly known as a passive averager, because it generates an average volt-
age with non-amplifying components. Passive simply means that it is an unamplified circuit.
The large equation to the right of the averager circuit comes from Millman’s Theorem, which
describes the voltage produced by multiple voltage sources connected together through indi-
vidual resistances. Since the three resistors in the averager circuit are equal to each other, we
can simplify Millman’s formula by writing R1 , R2 , and R3 simply as R (one, equal resistance
instead of three individual resistances):
8.8. AVERAGER AND SUMMER CIRCUITS 353
V1 V2 V3
R + R + R
Vout =
1 1 1
R + R + R
V1 + V2 + V3
R
Vout =
3
R
V1 + V2 + V3
Vout =
3
If we take a passive averager and use it to connect three input voltages into an op-amp
amplifier circuit with a gain of 3, we can turn this averaging function into an addition function.
The result is called a noninverting summer circuit:
1 kΩ 2 kΩ
R −
V1
R Vout
V2 +
R
V3
With a voltage divider composed of a 2 kΩ / 1 kΩ combination, the noninverting amplifier

circuit will have a voltage gain of 3. By taking the voltage from the passive averager, which
is the sum of V1 , V2 , and V3 divided by 3, and multiplying that average by 3, we arrive at an
output voltage equal to the sum of V1 , V2 , and V3 :
V1 + V2 + V3
Vout = 3
3
Vout = V1 + V2 + V3
Much the same can be done with an inverting op-amp amplifier, using a passive averager
as part of the voltage divider feedback circuit. The result is called an inverting summer circuit:
R I1
V1
R 0V R I1 + I2 + I3
V2
I2
R −
V3
I3 Vout
+
0V
Now, with the right-hand sides of the three averaging resistors connected to the virtual
ground point of the op-amp’s inverting input, Millman’s Theorem no longer directly applies as
it did before. The voltage at the virtual ground is now held at 0 volts by the op-amp’s negative
feedback, whereas before it was free to float to the average value of V1 , V2 , and V3 . However,
with all resistor values equal to each other, the currents through each of the three resistors
will be proportional to their respective input voltages. Since those three currents will add at
the virtual ground node, the algebraic sum of those currents through the feedback resistor will
produce a voltage at Vout equal to V1 + V2 + V3 , except with reversed polarity. The reversal in
polarity is what makes this circuit an inverting summer:
Vout = -(V1 + V2 + V3)
Summer (adder) circuits are quite useful in analog computer design, just as multiplier and
divider circuits would be. Again, it is the extremely high differential gain of the op-amp which
allows us to build these useful circuits with a bare minimum of components.
• REVIEW:
• A summer circuit is one that sums, or adds, multiple analog voltage signals together.
There are two basic varieties of op-amp summer circuits: noninverting and inverting.
8.9 Building a differential amplifier
An op-amp with no feedback is already a differential amplifier, amplifying the voltage differ-
ence between the two inputs. However, its gain cannot be controlled, and it is generally too high
to be of any practical use. So far, our application of negative feedback to op-amps has resulting
in the practical loss of one of the inputs, the resulting amplifier only good for amplifying a sin-
gle voltage signal input. With a little ingenuity, however, we can construct an op-amp circuit
maintaining both voltage inputs, yet with a controlled gain set by external resistors.
8.9. BUILDING A DIFFERENTIAL AMPLIFIER 355
R R
V1
−
Vout
+
R R
V2
If all the resistor values are equal, this amplifier will have a differential voltage gain of 1.
The analysis of this circuit is essentially the same as that of an inverting amplifier, except that
the noninverting input (+) of the op-amp is at a voltage equal to a fraction of V2 , rather than
being connected directly to ground. As would stand to reason, V2 functions as the noninverting
input and V1 functions as the inverting input of the final amplifier circuit. Therefore:
Vout = V2 - V1
If we wanted to provide a differential gain of anything other than 1, we would have to
adjust the resistances in both upper and lower voltage dividers, necessitating multiple resistor
changes and balancing between the two dividers for symmetrical operation. This is not always
practical, for obvious reasons.
Another limitation of this amplifier design is the fact that its input impedances are rather
low compared to that of some other op-amp configurations, most notably the noninverting
(single-ended input) amplifier. Each input voltage source has to drive current through a re-
sistance, which constitutes far less impedance than the bare input of an op-amp alone. The
solution to this problem, fortunately, is quite simple. All we need to do is ”buffer” each input
voltage signal through a voltage follower like this:
V1 +
R R
−
−
Vout
+
− R R
V2 +
Now the V1 and V2 input lines are connected straight to the inputs of two voltage-follower
op-amps, giving very high impedance. The two op-amps on the left now handle the driving of
current through the resistors instead of letting the input voltage sources (whatever they may
be) do it. The increased complexity to our circuit is minimal for a substantial benefit.
8.10 The instrumentation amplifier

As suggested before, it is beneficial to be able to adjust the gain of the amplifier circuit without
having to change more than one resistor value, as is necessary with the previous design of
differential amplifier. The so-called instrumentation builds on the last version of differential
amplifier to give us that capability:
V1 +
3 R R
−
R
1 −
Rgain Vout
2 +
− R
R R
V2 + 4
This intimidating circuit is constructed from a buffered differential amplifier stage with
three new resistors linking the two buffer circuits together. Consider all resistors to be of equal
value except for Rgain . The negative feedback of the upper-left op-amp causes the voltage at
point 1 (top of Rgain ) to be equal to V1 . Likewise, the voltage at point 2 (bottom of Rgain ) is
held to a value equal to V2 . This establishes a voltage drop across Rgain equal to the voltage
difference between V1 and V2 . That voltage drop causes a current through Rgain , and since the
feedback loops of the two input op-amps draw no current, that same amount of current through
Rgain must be going through the two ”R” resistors above and below it. This produces a voltage
drop between points 3 and 4 equal to:
V3-4 = (V2 - V1)(1 + 2R )

Rgain
The regular differential amplifier on the right-hand side of the circuit then takes this volt-
age drop between points 3 and 4, and amplifies it by a gain of 1 (assuming again that all ”R”
resistors are of equal value). Though this looks like a cumbersome way to build a differential
amplifier, it has the distinct advantages of possessing extremely high input impedances on the
V1 and V2 inputs (because they connect straight into the noninverting inputs of their respec-
tive op-amps), and adjustable gain that can be set by a single resistor. Manipulating the above
formula a bit, we have a general expression for overall voltage gain in the instrumentation
amplifier:
AV = (1 + 2R )
Rgain
Though it may not be obvious by looking at the schematic, we can change the differential
gain of the instrumentation amplifier simply by changing the value of one resistor: Rgain . Yes,
we could still change the overall gain by changing the values of some of the other resistors,
8.11. DIFFERENTIATOR AND INTEGRATOR CIRCUITS 357
but this would necessitate balanced resistor value changes for the circuit to remain symmet-
rical. Please note that the lowest gain possible with the above circuit is obtained with Rgain
completely open (infinite resistance), and that gain value is 1.
• REVIEW:
• An instrumentation amplifier is a differential op-amp circuit providing high input impedances

with ease of gain adjustment through the variation of a single resistor.
8.11 Differentiator and integrator circuits

By introducing electrical reactance into the feedback loops of op-amp amplifier circuits, we can
cause the output to respond to changes in the input voltage over time. Drawing their names
from their respective calculus functions, the integrator produces a voltage output proportional
to the product (multiplication) of the input voltage and time; and the differentiator (not to be
confused with differential) produces a voltage output proportional to the input voltage’s rate of
change.
Capacitance can be defined as the measure of a capacitor’s opposition to changes in voltage.
The greater the capacitance, the more the opposition. Capacitors oppose voltage change by
creating current in the circuit: that is, they either charge or discharge in response to a change
in applied voltage. So, the more capacitance a capacitor has, the greater its charge or discharge
current will be for any given rate of voltage change across it. The equation for this is quite
simple:
Changing
C
DC
voltage
i = C dv
dt
The dv/dt fraction is a calculus expression representing the rate of voltage change over
time. If the DC supply in the above circuit were steadily increased from a voltage of 15 volts
to a voltage of 16 volts over a time span of 1 hour, the current through the capacitor would
most likely be very small, because of the very low rate of voltage change (dv/dt = 1 volt / 3600
seconds). However, if we steadily increased the DC supply from 15 volts to 16 volts over a
shorter time span of 1 second, the rate of voltage change would be much higher, and thus the
charging current would be much higher (3600 times higher, to be exact). Same amount of
change in voltage, but vastly different rates of change, resulting in vastly different amounts of
current in the circuit.
To put some definite numbers to this formula, if the voltage across a 47 µF capacitor was
changing at a linear rate of 3 volts per second, the current ”through” the capacitor would be
(47 µF)(3 V/s) = 141 µA.
We can build an op-amp circuit which measures change in voltage by measuring current
through a capacitor, and outputs a voltage proportional to that current:
Differentiator
C
0V R
Vin
0V −
Vout
0V +
The right-hand side of the capacitor is held to a voltage of 0 volts, due to the ”virtual ground”
effect. Therefore, current ”through” the capacitor is solely due to change in the input voltage.
A steady input voltage won’t cause a current through C, but a changing input voltage will.
Capacitor current moves through the feedback resistor, producing a drop across it, which
is the same as the output voltage. A linear, positive rate of input voltage change will result
in a steady negative voltage at the output of the op-amp. Conversely, a linear, negative rate
of input voltage change will result in a steady positive voltage at the output of the op-amp.
This polarity inversion from input to output is due to the fact that the input signal is being
sent (essentially) to the inverting input of the op-amp, so it acts like the inverting amplifier
mentioned previously. The faster the rate of voltage change at the input (either positive or
negative), the greater the voltage at the output.
The formula for determining voltage output for the differentiator is as follows:
dvin
Vout = -RC
dt
Applications for this, besides representing the derivative calculus function inside of an ana-
log computer, include rate-of-change indicators for process instrumentation. One such rate-
of-change signal application might be for monitoring (or controlling) the rate of temperature
change in a furnace, where too high or too low of a temperature rise rate could be detrimen-
tal. The DC voltage produced by the differentiator circuit could be used to drive a comparator,
which would signal an alarm or activate a control if the rate of change exceeded a pre-set level.
In process control, the derivative function is used to make control decisions for maintaining
a process at setpoint, by monitoring the rate of process change over time and taking action to
prevent excessive rates of change, which can lead to an unstable condition. Analog electronic
controllers use variations of this circuitry to perform the derivative function.
On the other hand, there are applications where we need precisely the opposite function,
called integration in calculus. Here, the op-amp circuit would generate an output voltage pro-
portional to the magnitude and duration that an input voltage signal has deviated from 0 volts.
Stated differently, a constant input signal would generate a certain rate of change in the out-
put voltage: differentiation in reverse. To do this, all we have to do is swap the capacitor and
resistor in the previous circuit:
8.11. DIFFERENTIATOR AND INTEGRATOR CIRCUITS 359
Integrator
C
R 0V
Vin
0V −
Vout
0V +
As before, the negative feedback of the op-amp ensures that the inverting input will be held
at 0 volts (the virtual ground). If the input voltage is exactly 0 volts, there will be no current
through the resistor, therefore no charging of the capacitor, and therefore the output voltage
will not change. We cannot guarantee what voltage will be at the output with respect to ground
in this condition, but we can say that the output voltage will be constant.
However, if we apply a constant, positive voltage to the input, the op-amp output will fall
negative at a linear rate, in an attempt to produce the changing voltage across the capacitor
necessary to maintain the current established by the voltage difference across the resistor.
Conversely, a constant, negative voltage at the input results in a linear, rising (positive) voltage
at the output. The output voltage rate-of-change will be proportional to the value of the input
voltage.
The formula for determining voltage output for the integrator is as follows:
dvout Vin
=-
dt RC
or
t
Vin
Vout = ∫ - dt + c
0 RC
Where,
c = Output voltage at start time (t=0)
One application for this device would be to keep a ”running total” of radiation exposure,
or dosage, if the input voltage was a proportional signal supplied by an electronic radiation
detector. Nuclear radiation can be just as damaging at low intensities for long periods of time
as it is at high intensities for short periods of time. An integrator circuit would take both
the intensity (input voltage magnitude) and time into account, generating an output voltage
representing total radiation dosage.
Another application would be to integrate a signal representing water flow, producing a
signal representing total quantity of water that has passed by the flowmeter. This application
of an integrator is sometimes called a totalizer in the industrial instrumentation trade.
• REVIEW:
• A differentiator circuit produces a constant output voltage for a steadily changing input
voltage.
• An integrator circuit produces a steadily changing output voltage for a constant input
voltage.
• Both types of devices are easily constructed, using reactive components (usually capaci-
tors rather than inductors) in the feedback part of the circuit.
8.12 Positive feedback

As we’ve seen, negative feedback is an incredibly useful principle when applied to operational
amplifiers. It is what allows us to create all these practical circuits, being able to precisely
set gains, rates, and other significant parameters with just a few changes of resistor values.
Negative feedback makes all these circuits stable and self-correcting.
The basic principle of negative feedback is that the output tends to drive in a direction
that creates a condition of equilibrium (balance). In an op-amp circuit with no feedback, there
is no corrective mechanism, and the output voltage will saturate with the tiniest amount of
differential voltage applied between the inputs. The result is a comparator:
With negative feedback (the output voltage ”fed back” somehow to the inverting input), the
circuit tends to prevent itself from driving the output to full saturation. Rather, the output
voltage drives only as high or as low as needed to balance the two inputs’ voltages:
Negative feedback
−
0V Vout
+
Vout = Vin
Vin
Whether the output is directly fed back to the inverting (-) input or coupled through a set of
components, the effect is the same: the extremely high differential voltage gain of the op-amp
will be ”tamed” and the circuit will respond according to the dictates of the feedback ”loop”
connecting output to inverting input.
Another type of feedback, namely positive feedback, also finds application in op-amp cir-
cuits. Unlike negative feedback, where the output voltage is ”fed back” to the inverting (-)
input, with positive feedback the output voltage is somehow routed back to the noninverting
8.12. POSITIVE FEEDBACK 361
(+) input. In its simplest form, we could connect a straight piece of wire from output to nonin-
verting input and see what happens:
Positive feedback
+
Vout
−
The inverting input remains disconnected from the feedback loop, and is free to receive an
external voltage. Let’s see what happens if we ground the inverting input:
+
Vout
−
0V
With the inverting input grounded (maintained at zero volts), the output voltage will be
dictated by the magnitude and polarity of the voltage at the noninverting input. If that voltage
happens to be positive, the op-amp will drive its output positive as well, feeding that positive
voltage back to the noninverting input, which will result in full positive output saturation. On
the other hand, if the voltage on the noninverting input happens to start out negative, the op-
amp’s output will drive in the negative direction, feeding back to the noninverting input and
resulting in full negative saturation.
What we have here is a circuit whose output is bistable: stable in one of two states (sat-
urated positive or saturated negative). Once it has reached one of those saturated states, it
will tend to remain in that state, unchanging. What is necessary to get it to switch states is a
voltage placed upon the inverting (-) input of the same polarity, but of a slightly greater mag-
nitude. For example, if our circuit is saturated at an output voltage of +12 volts, it will take an
input voltage at the inverting input of at least +12 volts to get the output to change. When it
changes, it will saturate fully negative.
So, an op-amp with positive feedback tends to stay in whatever output state its already in.
It ”latches” between one of two states, saturated positive or saturated negative. Technically,
this is known as hysteresis.
Hysteresis can be a useful property for a comparator circuit to have. As we’ve seen before,
comparators can be used to produce a square wave from any sort of ramping waveform (sine
wave, triangle wave, sawtooth wave, etc.) input. If the incoming AC waveform is noise-free
(that is, a ”pure” waveform), a simple comparator will work just fine.
+V
−
Vin Vout
+
-V
Square wave
output voltage
DC reference
voltage
AC input
voltage
A "clean" AC input waveform produces predictable
transition points on the output voltage square wave
However, if there exist any anomalies in the waveform such as harmonics or ”spikes” which
cause the voltage to rise and fall significantly within the timespan of a single cycle, a compara-
tor’s output might switch states unexpectedly:
+V
−
Vin Vout
+
-V
Square wave
output voltage
DC reference
voltage
AC input
voltage
Any time there is a transition through the reference voltage level, no matter how tiny that
transition may be, the output of the comparator will switch states, producing a square wave
with ”glitches.”
If we add a little positive feedback to the comparator circuit, we will introduce hysteresis
into the output. This hysteresis will cause the output to remain in its current state unless the
AC input voltage undergoes a major change in magnitude.
8.12. POSITIVE FEEDBACK 363
+V
−
Vin Vout
+
-V Positive feedback
resistor
What this feedback resistor creates is a dual-reference for the comparator circuit. The
voltage applied to the noninverting (+) input as a reference which to compare with the incoming
AC voltage changes depending on the value of the op-amp’s output voltage. When the op-
amp output is saturated positive, the reference voltage at the noninverting input will be more
positive than before. Conversely, when the op-amp output is saturated negative, the reference
voltage at the noninverting input will be more negative than before. The result is easier to
understand on a graph:
DC reference voltages
upper
center
lower
square wave
output voltage
AC input
voltage
When the op-amp output is saturated positive, the upper reference voltage is in effect, and
the output won’t drop to a negative saturation level unless the AC input rises above that upper
reference level. Conversely, when the op-amp output is saturated negative, the lower reference
voltage is in effect, and the output won’t rise to a positive saturation level unless the AC input
drops below that lower reference level. The result is a clean square-wave output again, despite
significant amounts of distortion in the AC input signal. In order for a ”glitch” to cause the
comparator to switch from one state to another, it would have to be at least as big (tall) as the
difference between the upper and lower reference voltage levels, and at the right point in time
to cross both those levels.
Another application of positive feedback in op-amp circuits is in the construction of oscil-
lator circuits. An oscillator is a device that produces an alternating (AC), or at least pulsing,
output voltage. Technically, it is known as an astable device: having no stable output state (no
equilibrium whatsoever). Oscillators are very useful devices, and they are easily made with
just an op-amp and a few external components.
Oscillator circuit using positive feedback
C Vramp R
−
Vout
+
R R
Vref
Vref
Vramp
Vout is a square wave just like Vref, only taller

When the output is saturated positive, the Vref will be positive, and the capacitor will
charge up in a positive direction. When Vramp exceeds Vref by the tiniest margin, the output
will saturate negative, and the capacitor will charge in the opposite direction (polarity). Os-
cillation occurs because the positive feedback is instantaneous and the negative feedback is
delayed (by means of an RC time constant). The frequency of this oscillator may be adjusted
by varying the size of any component.
• REVIEW:
• Negative feedback creates a condition of equilibrium (balance). Positive feedback creates

a condition of hysteresis (the tendency to ”latch” in one of two extreme states).
• An oscillator is a device producing an alternating or pulsing output voltage.
8.13 Practical considerations

Real operational have some imperfections compared to an “ideal” model. A real device deviates
from a perfect difference amplifier. One minus one may not be zero. It may have have an offset
like an analog meter which is not zeroed. The inputs may draw current. The characteristics
may drift with age and temperature. Gain may be reduced at high frequencies, and phase
may shift from input to output. These imperfection may cause no noticable errors in some
applications, unacceptable errors in others. In some cases these errors may be compensated
for. Sometimes a higher quality, higher cost device is required.
8.13. PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS 365
8.13.1 Common-mode gain

As stated before, an ideal differential amplifier only amplifies the voltage difference between
its two inputs. If the two inputs of a differential amplifier were to be shorted together (thus
ensuring zero potential difference between them), there should be no change in output voltage
for any amount of voltage applied between those two shorted inputs and ground:
−
Vout
+
Vout should remain the same

Vcommon-mode regardless of Vcommon-mode
Voltage that is common between either of the inputs and ground, as ”Vcommon−mode ” is
in this case, is called common-mode voltage. As we vary this common voltage, the perfect
differential amplifier’s output voltage should hold absolutely steady (no change in output for
any arbitrary change in common-mode input). This translates to a common-mode voltage gain
of zero.
Change in Vout
AV =
Change in Vin
. . . if change in Vout = 0 . . .
0
=0
Change in Vin
AV = 0
The operational amplifier, being a differential amplifier with high differential gain, would
ideally have zero common-mode gain as well. In real life, however, this is not easily attained.
Thus, common-mode voltages will invariably have some effect on the op-amp’s output voltage.
The performance of a real op-amp in this regard is most commonly measured in terms of its
differential voltage gain (how much it amplifies the difference between two input voltages) ver-
sus its common-mode voltage gain (how much it amplifies a common-mode voltage). The ratio
of the former to the latter is called the common-mode rejection ratio, abbreviated as CMRR:
Differential AV
CMRR =
Common-mode AV
An ideal op-amp, with zero common-mode gain would have an infinite CMRR. Real op-amps
have high CMRRs, the ubiquitous 741 having something around 70 dB, which works out to a
little over 3,000 in terms of a ratio.

Because the common mode rejection ratio in a typical op-amp is so high, common-mode gain
is usually not a great concern in circuits where the op-amp is being used with negative feed-
back. If the common-mode input voltage of an amplifier circuit were to suddenly change, thus
producing a corresponding change in the output due to common-mode gain, that change in out-
put would be quickly corrected as negative feedback and differential gain (being much greater
than common-mode gain) worked to bring the system back to equilibrium. Sure enough, a
change might be seen at the output, but it would be a lot smaller than what you might expect.
A consideration to keep in mind, though, is common-mode gain in differential op-amp cir-
cuits such as instrumentation amplifiers. Outside of the op-amp’s sealed package and ex-
tremely high differential gain, we may find common-mode gain introduced by an imbalance of
resistor values. To demonstrate this, we’ll run a SPICE analysis on an instrumentation am-
plifier with inputs shorted together (no differential voltage), imposing a common-mode voltage
to see what happens. First, we’ll run the analysis showing the output voltage of a perfectly
balanced circuit. We should expect to see no change in output voltage as the common-mode
voltage changes:
1 +
3 R3 7 R4
E1
V1 − 9
2 R1
0
2 7 −
Rgain E3 Vout
+ 9
Rjump 5 8
(jumper
wire) 5 − R2
R5 R6
E2
+ 6 8 0
4
instrumentation amplifier
v1 1 0
rin1 1 0 9e12
rjump 1 4 1e-12
rin2 4 0 9e12
e1 3 0 1 2 999k
e2 6 0 4 5 999k
e3 9 0 8 7 999k
rload 9 0 10k
r1 2 3 10k
rgain 2 5 10k
r2 5 6 10k
r3 3 7 10k
r4 7 9 10k
r5 6 8 10k
r6 8 0 10k
.dc v1 0 10 1
.print dc v(9)
.end
v1 v(9)
0.000E+00 0.000E+00
1.000E+00 1.355E-16
2.000E+00 2.710E-16
3.000E+00 0.000E+00 As you can see, the output voltage v(9)
4.000E+00 5.421E-16 hardly changes at all for a common-mode
5.000E+00 0.000E+00 input voltage (v1) that sweeps from 0
6.000E+00 0.000E+00 to 10 volts.
7.000E+00 0.000E+00
8.000E+00 1.084E-15
9.000E+00 -1.084E-15
1.000E+01 0.000E+00
Aside from very small deviations (actually due to quirks of SPICE rather than real behavior
of the circuit), the output remains stable where it should be: at 0 volts, with zero input voltage
differential. However, let’s introduce a resistor imbalance in the circuit, increasing the value of
R5 from 10,000 Ω to 10,500 Ω, and see what happens (the netlist has been omitted for brevity
– the only thing altered is the value of R5 ):
v1 v(9)
0.000E+00 0.000E+00
1.000E+00 -2.439E-02
2.000E+00 -4.878E-02
3.000E+00 -7.317E-02 This time we see a significant variation
4.000E+00 -9.756E-02 (from 0 to 0.2439 volts) in output voltage
5.000E+00 -1.220E-01 as the common-mode input voltage sweeps
6.000E+00 -1.463E-01 from 0 to 10 volts as it did before.
7.000E+00 -1.707E-01
8.000E+00 -1.951E-01
9.000E+00 -2.195E-01
1.000E+01 -2.439E-01
Our input voltage differential is still zero volts, yet the output voltage changes significantly
as the common-mode voltage is changed. This is indicative of a common-mode gain, something
we’re trying to avoid. More than that, its a common-mode gain of our own making, having
nothing to do with imperfections in the op-amps themselves. With a much-tempered differen-
tial gain (actually equal to 3 in this particular circuit) and no negative feedback outside the
circuit, this common-mode gain will go unchecked in an instrument signal application.
There is only one way to correct this common-mode gain, and that is to balance all the re-
sistor values. When designing an instrumentation amplifier from discrete components (rather
than purchasing one in an integrated package), it is wise to provide some means of making
fine adjustments to at least one of the four resistors connected to the final op-amp to be able to
”trim away” any such common-mode gain. Providing the means to ”trim” the resistor network
has additional benefits as well. Suppose that all resistor values are exactly as they should
be, but a common-mode gain exists due to an imperfection in one of the op-amps. With the
adjustment provision, the resistance could be trimmed to compensate for this unwanted gain.
One quirk of some op-amp models is that of output latch-up, usually caused by the common-
mode input voltage exceeding allowable limits. If the common-mode voltage falls outside of the
manufacturer’s specified limits, the output may suddenly ”latch” in the high mode (saturate at
full output voltage). In JFET-input operational amplifiers, latch-up may occur if the common-
mode input voltage approaches too closely to the negative power supply rail voltage. On the
TL082 op-amp, for example, this occurs when the common-mode input voltage comes within
about 0.7 volts of the negative power supply rail voltage. Such a situation may easily occur in
a single-supply circuit, where the negative power supply rail is ground (0 volts), and the input
signal is free to swing to 0 volts.
Latch-up may also be triggered by the common-mode input voltage exceeding power supply
rail voltages, negative or positive. As a rule, you should never allow either input voltage to
rise above the positive power supply rail voltage, or sink below the negative power supply
rail voltage, even if the op-amp in question is protected against latch-up (as are the 741 and
1458 op-amp models). At the very least, the op-amp’s behavior may become unpredictable. At
worst, the kind of latch-up triggered by input voltages exceeding power supply voltages may
be destructive to the op-amp.
While this problem may seem easy to avoid, its possibility is more likely than you might
think. Consider the case of an operational amplifier circuit during power-up. If the circuit
receives full input signal voltage before its own power supply has had time enough to charge
the filter capacitors, the common-mode input voltage may easily exceed the power supply rail
voltages for a short time. If the op-amp receives signal voltage from a circuit supplied by a
different power source, and its own power source fails, the signal voltage(s) may exceed the
power supply rail voltages for an indefinite amount of time!
8.13.2 Offset voltage
Another practical concern for op-amp performance is voltage offset. That is, effect of having
the output voltage something other than zero volts when the two input terminals are shorted
together. Remember that operational amplifiers are differential amplifiers above all: they’re
supposed to amplify the difference in voltage between the two input connections and nothing
more. When that input voltage difference is exactly zero volts, we would (ideally) expect to have
exactly zero volts present on the output. However, in the real world this rarely happens. Even
if the op-amp in question has zero common-mode gain (infinite CMRR), the output voltage may
not be at zero when both inputs are shorted together. This deviation from zero is called offset.
+15 V
−
Vout = +14.7 V (saturated +)
+
-15 V
A perfect op-amp would output exactly zero volts with both its inputs shorted together and
grounded. However, most op-amps off the shelf will drive their outputs to a saturated level,
either negative or positive. In the example shown above, the output voltage is saturated at a
value of positive 14.7 volts, just a bit less than +V (+15 volts) due to the positive saturation
limit of this particular op-amp. Because the offset in this op-amp is driving the output to a
completely saturated point, there’s no way of telling how much voltage offset is present at the
output. If the +V/-V split power supply was of a high enough voltage, who knows, maybe the
output would be several hundred volts one way or the other due to the effects of offset!
For this reason, offset voltage is usually expressed in terms of the equivalent amount of
input voltage differential producing this effect. In other words, we imagine that the op-amp
is perfect (no offset whatsoever), and a small voltage is being applied in series with one of the
inputs to force the output voltage one way or the other away from zero. Being that op-amp
differential gains are so high, the figure for ”input offset voltage” doesn’t have to be much to
account for what we see with shorted inputs:
+15 V
−
Vout = +14.7 V (saturated +)
+
-15 V
Input offset voltage

(internal to the real op-amp,
external to this ideal op-amp)
Offset voltage will tend to introduce slight errors in any op-amp circuit. So how do we
compensate for it? Unlike common-mode gain, there are usually provisions made by the man-
ufacturer to trim the offset of a packaged op-amp. Usually, two extra terminals on the op-amp
package are reserved for connecting an external ”trim” potentiometer. These connection points
are labeled offset null and are used in this general way:
+15 V
−
Vout
+
-15 V
Potentiometer adjusted so that
Vout = 0 volts with inputs shorted together
On single op-amps such as the 741 and 3130, the offset null connection points are pins 1
and 5 on the 8-pin DIP package. Other models of op-amp may have the offset null connections
located on different pins, and/or require a slightly difference configuration of trim potentiome-
ter connection. Some op-amps don’t provide offset null pins at all! Consult the manufacturer’s
specifications for details.
8.13.3 Bias current

Inputs on an op-amp have extremely high input impedances. That is, the input currents enter-
ing or exiting an op-amp’s two input signal connections are extremely small. For most purposes
of op-amp circuit analysis, we treat them as though they don’t exist at all. We analyze the cir-
cuit as though there was absolutely zero current entering or exiting the input connections.
This idyllic picture, however, is not entirely true. Op-amps, especially those op-amps with
bipolar transistor inputs, have to have some amount of current through their input connec-
tions in order for their internal circuits to be properly biased. These currents, logically, are
called bias currents. Under certain conditions, op-amp bias currents may be problematic. The
following circuit illustrates one of those problem conditions:
+V
−
Thermocouple Vout
+
-V
At first glance, we see no apparent problems with this circuit. A thermocouple, generating a
small voltage proportional to temperature (actually, a voltage proportional to the difference in
temperature between the measurement junction and the ”reference” junction formed when the
alloy thermocouple wires connect with the copper wires leading to the op-amp) drives the op-
amp either positive or negative. In other words, this is a kind of comparator circuit, comparing
the temperature between the end thermocouple junction and the reference junction (near the
op-amp). The problem is this: the wire loop formed by the thermocouple does not provide a
path for both input bias currents, because both bias currents are trying to go the same way
(either into the op-amp or out of it).
+V
I?
−
Thermocouple Vout
+
I?
-V
This comparator circuit won’t work
In order for this circuit to work properly, we must ground one of the input wires, thus
providing a path to (or from) ground for both currents:
+V
I
−
Thermocouple Vout
+
I I
-V
This comparator circuit will work

Not necessarily an obvious problem, but a very real one!
Another way input bias currents may cause trouble is by dropping unwanted voltages across
circuit resistances. Take this circuit for example:
+V
Voltage drop due −
to bias current:
Vout
- Rin +
+
Vin Ibias
-V
Voltage at (+) op-amp input

will not be exactly equal to Vin
We expect a voltage follower circuit such as the one above to reproduce the input voltage
precisely at the output. But what about the resistance in series with the input voltage source?
If there is any bias current through the noninverting (+) input at all, it will drop some voltage
across Rin , thus making the voltage at the noninverting input unequal to the actual Vin value.
Bias currents are usually in the microamp range, so the voltage drop across Rin won’t be very
much, unless Rin is very large. One example of an application where the input resistance
(Rin ) would be very large is that of pH probe electrodes, where one electrode contains an ion-
permeable glass barrier (a very poor conductor, with millions of Ω of resistance).
If we were actually building an op-amp circuit for pH electrode voltage measurement, we’d
probably want to use a FET or MOSFET (IGFET) input op-amp instead of one built with
bipolar transistors (for less input bias current). But even then, what slight bias currents may
remain can cause measurement errors to occur, so we have to find some way to mitigate them
through good design.
One way to do so is based on the assumption that the two input bias currents will be the
same. In reality, they are often close to being the same, the difference between them referred
to as the input offset current. If they are the same, then we should be able to cancel out the
effects of input resistance voltage drop by inserting an equal amount of resistance in series
with the other input, like this:
+V
Rin(-)
- + −
Ibias
Vout
- Rin(+)+
+
Vin Ibias
-V
With the additional resistance added to the circuit, the output voltage will be closer to Vin
than before, even if there is some offset between the two input currents.
For both inverting and noninverting amplifier circuits, the bias current compensating re-
sistor is placed in series with the noninverting (+) input to compensate for bias current voltage
drops in the divider network:
Noninverting amplifier with

compensating resistor
R1 R2
−
Vout
+
Rcomp
Vin
Rcomp = R1 // R2
Inverting amplifier with

compensating resistor
R1 R2
Vin −
Vout
+
Rcomp
Rcomp = R1 // R2
In either case, the compensating resistor value is determined by calculating the parallel
resistance value of R1 and R2 . Why is the value equal to the parallel equivalent of R1 and R2 ?
When using the Superposition Theorem to figure how much voltage drop will be produced by
the inverting (-) input’s bias current, we treat the bias current as though it were coming from
a current source inside the op-amp and short-circuit all voltage sources (Vin and Vout ). This
gives two parallel paths for bias current (through R1 and through R2 , both to ground). We
want to duplicate the bias current’s effect on the noninverting (+) input, so the resistor value
we choose to insert in series with that input needs to be equal to R1 in parallel with R2 .
A related problem, occasionally experienced by students just learning to build operational
amplifier circuits, is caused by a lack of a common ground connection to the power supply. It is
imperative to proper op-amp function that some terminal of the DC power supply be common
to the ”ground” connection of the input signal(s). This provides a complete path for the bias
currents, feedback current(s), and for the load (output) current. Take this circuit illustration,
for instance, showing a properly grounded power supply:
R1 R2
1 kΩ 1 kΩ
+V
-
null
+ -V
6V
Here, arrows denote the path of electron flow through the power supply batteries, both for
powering the op-amp’s internal circuitry (the ”potentiometer” inside of it that controls output
voltage), and for powering the feedback loop of resistors R1 and R2 . Suppose, however, that the
ground connection for this ”split” DC power supply were to be removed. The effect of doing this
is profound:
A power supply ground is essential to circuit operation!
R1 R2
1 kΩ 1 kΩ
+V
-
broken
connection
null
+ -V
6V
No electrons may flow in or out of the op-amp’s output terminal, because the pathway to the
power supply is a ”dead end.” Thus, no electrons flow through the ground connection to the left
of R1 , neither through the feedback loop. This effectively renders the op-amp useless: it can
neither sustain current through the feedback loop, nor through a grounded load, since there is
no connection from any point of the power supply to ground.
The bias currents are also stopped, because they rely on a path to the power supply and back
to the input source through ground. The following diagram shows the bias currents (only), as
they go through the input terminals of the op-amp, through the base terminals of the input
transistors, and eventually through the power supply terminal(s) and back to ground.
Bias current paths shown, through power supply
+V
-
Ibias
Ibias
+ -V
6V
Without a ground reference on the power supply, the bias currents will have no complete
path for a circuit, and they will halt. Since bipolar junction transistors are current-controlled
devices, this renders the input stage of the op-amp useless as well, as both input transistors
will be forced into cutoff by the complete lack of base current.
• REVIEW:
• Op-amp inputs usually conduct very small currents, called bias currents, needed to prop-
erly bias the first transistor amplifier stage internal to the op-amps’ circuitry. Bias cur-
rents are small (in the microamp range), but large enough to cause problems in some
applications.
• Bias currents in both inputs must have paths to flow to either one of the power supply
”rails” or to ground. It is not enough to just have a conductive path from one input to the
other.
• To cancel any offset voltages caused by bias current flowing through resistances, just add
an equivalent resistance in series with the other op-amp input (called a compensating
resistor). This corrective measure is based on the assumption that the two input bias
currents will be equal.
• Any inequality between bias currents in an op-amp constitutes what is called an input
offset current.
• It is essential for proper op-amp operation that there be a ground reference on some ter-
minal of the power supply, to form complete paths for bias currents, feedback current(s),
and load current.
8.13.4 Drift
Being semiconductor devices, op-amps are subject to slight changes in behavior with changes
in operating temperature. Any changes in op-amp performance with temperature fall under
the category of op-amp drift. Drift parameters can be specified for bias currents, offset voltage,
and the like. Consult the manufacturer’s data sheet for specifics on any particular op-amp.
To minimize op-amp drift, we can select an op-amp made to have minimum drift, and/or we
can do our best to keep the operating temperature as stable as possible. The latter action may
involve providing some form of temperature control for the inside of the equipment housing
the op-amp(s). This is not as strange as it may first seem. Laboratory-standard precision
voltage reference generators, for example, are sometimes known to employ ”ovens” for keeping
their sensitive components (such as zener diodes) at constant temperatures. If extremely high
accuracy is desired over the usual factors of cost and flexibility, this may be an option worth
looking at.
• REVIEW:
• Op-amps, being semiconductor devices, are susceptible to variations in temperature. Any

variations in amplifier performance resulting from changes in temperature is known as
drift. Drift is best minimized with environmental temperature control.
8.13.5 Frequency response

With their incredibly high differential voltage gains, op-amps are prime candidates for a phe-
nomenon known as feedback oscillation. You’ve probably heard the equivalent audio effect
when the volume (gain) on a public-address or other microphone amplifier system is turned
too high: that high pitched squeal resulting from the sound waveform ”feeding back” through
the microphone to be amplified again. An op-amp circuit can manifest this same effect, with
the feedback happening electrically rather than audibly.
A case example of this is seen in the 3130 op-amp, if it is connected as a voltage follower
with the bare minimum of wiring connections (the two inputs, output, and the power supply
connections). The output of this op-amp will self-oscillate due to its high gain, no matter
what the input voltage. To combat this, a small compensation capacitor must be connected
to two specially-provided terminals on the op-amp. The capacitor provides a high-impedance
path for negative feedback to occur within the op-amp’s circuitry, thus decreasing the AC gain
and inhibiting unwanted oscillations. If the op-amp is being used to amplify high-frequency
signals, this compensation capacitor may not be needed, but it is absolutely essential for DC or
low-frequency AC signal operation.
Some op-amps, such as the model 741, have a compensation capacitor built in to minimize
the need for external components. This improved simplicity is not without a cost: due to that
capacitor’s presence inside the op-amp, the negative feedback tends to get stronger as the
operating frequency increases (that capacitor’s reactance decreases with higher frequencies).
As a result, the op-amp’s differential voltage gain decreases as frequency goes up: it becomes
a less effective amplifier at higher frequencies.
Op-amp manufacturers will publish the frequency response curves for their products. Since
a sufficiently high differential gain is absolutely essential to good feedback operation in op-amp
circuits, the gain/frequency response of an op-amp effectively limits its ”bandwidth” of opera-
tion. The circuit designer must take this into account if good performance is to be maintained
over the required range of signal frequencies.
• REVIEW:
• Due to capacitances within op-amps, their differential voltage gain tends to decrease as
the input frequency increases. Frequency response curves for op-amps are available from
the manufacturer.
8.13.6 Input to output phase shift

In order to illustrate the phase shift from input to output of an operational amplifier (op-amp),
the OPA227 was tested in our lab. The OPA227 was constructed in a typical non-inverting
configuration (Figure 8.1).
Figure 8.1: OPA227 Non-inverting stage
=34 V/V or ∼
The circuit configuration calls for a signal gain of ∼ =50 dB. The input excitation
at Vsrc was set to 10 mVp, and three frequencies of interest: 2.2 kHz, 22 kHz, and 220 MHz.
The OPA227’s open loop gain and phase curve vs. frequency is shown in Figure 8.2.
To help predict the closed loop phase shift from input to output, we can use the open loop
gain and phase curve. Since the circuit configuration calls for a closed loop gain, or 1/β, of
∼
=50 dB, the closed loop gain curve intersects the open loop gain curve at approximately 22
kHz. After this intersection, the closed loop gain curve rolls off at the typical 20 dB/decade for
voltage feedback amplifiers, and follows the open loop gain curve.
What is actually at work here is the negative feedback from the closed loop modifies the
open loop response. Closing the loop with negative feedback establishes a closed loop pole at
22 kHz. Much like the dominant pole in the open loop phase curve, we will expect phase shift
in the closed loop response. How much phase shift will we see?
Since the new pole is now at 22 kHz, this is also the -3 dB point as the pole starts to roll off
the closed loop again at 20 dB per decade as stated earlier. As with any pole in basic control
theory, phase shift starts to occur one decade in frequency before the pole, and ends at 90o of
phase shift one decade in frequency after the pole. So what does this predict for the closed loop
response in our circuit?
Figure 8.2: AV and Φ vs. Frequency plot
This will predict phase shift starting at 2.2 kHz, with 45o of phase shift at the -3 dB point of
22 kHz, and finally ending with 90o of phase shift at 220 kHz. The three Figures shown below
are oscilloscope captures at the frequencies of interest for our OPA227 circuit. Figure 8.3 is
set for 2.2 kHz, and no noticeable phase shift is present. Figure 8.4 is set for 220 kHz, and
∼
=45o of phase shift is recorded. Finally, Figure 8.5 is set for 220 MHz, and the expected ∼ =90o
of phase shift is recorded. The scope plots were captured using a LeCroy 44x Wavesurfer. The
final scope plot used a x1 probe with the trigger set to HF reject.
Figure 8.3: OPA227 Av=50dB @ 2.2 kHz

Figure 8.4: OPA227 Av=50dB @ 22 kHz
Figure 8.5: OPA227 Av=50dB @ 220 kHz

8.14 Operational amplifier models

While mention of operational amplifiers typically provokes visions of semiconductor devices
built as integrated circuits on a miniature silicon chip, the first op-amps were actually vacuum
tube circuits. The first commercial, general purpose operational amplifier was manufactured
by the George A. Philbrick Researches, Incorporated, in 1952. Designated the K2-W, it was
built around two twin-triode tubes mounted in an assembly with an octal (8-pin) socket for easy
installation and servicing in electronic equipment chassis of that era. The assembly looked
something like this:
The Philbrick Researches

op-amp, model K2-W
approx.
4 inches
GAP/R
MODEL
K2-W
The schematic diagram shows the two tubes, along with ten resistors and two capacitors, a
fairly simple circuit design even by 1952 standards:
The Philbrick Researches op-amp, model K2-W
+300 V
220 kΩ 510 kΩ 680 kΩ
NE-68
12AX7 12AX7 7.5 pF
1 MΩ
Inverting (-)
input
2.2 MΩ
Noninverting (+) Output
input 221 kΩ
220 kΩ 9.1 kΩ 120 kΩ 4.7 MΩ
500 pF
-300 V
In case you’re unfamiliar with the operation of vacuum tubes, they operate similarly to N-
8.14. OPERATIONAL AMPLIFIER MODELS 381
channel depletion-type IGFET transistors: that is, they conduct more current when the control
grid (the dashed line) is made more positive with respect to the cathode (the bent line near the
bottom of the tube symbol), and conduct less current when the control grid is made less positive
(or more negative) than the cathode. The twin triode tube on the left functions as a differential
pair, converting the differential inputs (inverting and noninverting input voltage signals) into
a single, amplified voltage signal which is then fed to the control grid of the left triode of
the second triode pair through a voltage divider (1 MΩ −− 2.2 MΩ). That triode amplifies
and inverts the output of the differential pair for a larger voltage gain, then the amplified
signal is coupled to the second triode of the same dual-triode tube in a noninverting amplifier
configuration for a larger current gain. The two neon ”glow tubes” act as voltage regulators,
similar to the behavior of semiconductor zener diodes, to provide a bias voltage in the coupling
between the two single-ended amplifier triodes.
With a dual-supply voltage of +300/-300 volts, this op-amp could only swing its output +/-
50 volts, which is very poor by today’s standards. It had an open-loop voltage gain of 15,000
to 20,000, a slew rate of +/- 12 volts/µsecond, a maximum output current of 1 mA, a quiescent
power consumption of over 3 watts (not including power for the tubes’ filaments!), and cost
about $24 in 1952 dollars. Better performance could have been attained using a more sophis-
ticated circuit design, but only at the expense of greater power consumption, greater cost, and
decreased reliability.
With the advent of solid-state transistors, op-amps with far less quiescent power consump-
tion and increased reliability became feasible, but many of the other performance parameters
remained about the same. Take for instance Philbrick’s model P55A, a general-purpose solid-
state op-amp circa 1966. The P55A sported an open-loop gain of 40,000, a slew rate of 1.5
volt/µsecond and an output swing of +/- 11 volts (at a power supply voltage of +/- 15 volts),
a maximum output current of 2.2 mA, and a cost of $49 (or about $21 for the ”utility grade”
version). The P55A, as well as other op-amps in Philbrick’s lineup of the time, was of discrete-
component construction, its constituent transistors, resistors, and capacitors housed in a solid
”brick” resembling a large integrated circuit package.
It isn’t very difficult to build a crude operational amplifier using discrete components. A
schematic of one such circuit is shown in Figure 8.6.
While its performance is rather dismal by modern standards, it demonstrates that com-
plexity is not necessary to create a minimally functional op-amp. Transistors Q3 and Q4 form
the heart of another differential pair circuit, the semiconductor equivalent of the first triode
tube in the K2-W schematic. As it was in the vacuum tube circuit, the purpose of a differen-
tial pair is to amplify and convert a differential voltage between the two input terminals to a
single-ended output voltage.
With the advent of integrated-circuit (IC) technology, op-amp designs experienced a dra-
matic increase in performance, reliability, density, and economy. Between the years of 1964
and 1968, the Fairchild corporation introduced three models of IC op-amps: the 702, 709, and
the still-popular 741. While the 741 is now considered outdated in terms of performance, it is
still a favorite among hobbyists for its simplicity and fault tolerance (short-circuit protection
on the output, for instance). Personal experience abusing many 741 op-amps has led me to the
conclusion that it is a hard chip to kill . . .
The internal schematic diagram for a model 741 op-amp is shown in Figure 8.7.
By integrated circuit standards, the 741 is a very simple device: an example of small-
scale integration, or SSI technology. It would be no small matter to build this circuit using
+V
Q1 Q2
Output
input (+) Q3 Q4 (-) input
A simple operational
Q5 Q6 amplifier made from
discrete components
-V
Figure 8.6: A simple operational amplifier made from discrete components.
+V Internal schematic of a model 741 operational amplifier
Q8 Q9 Q12 Q13 Q14
(-) input
Q15
Q1 Q2 R5 Q18
(+) input R6
Q19 Output
Q3 Q4 R10 R7
Q21
C1
Q7 Q16
Q22 Q20
Q5 Q6 Q10 Q11 Q23 Q17

offset null
offset null
R1 R3 R2 R4 R9 R8 Q24 R11
-V
Figure 8.7: Schematic diagram of a model 741 op-amp.

8.14. OPERATIONAL AMPLIFIER MODELS 383
discrete components, so you can see the advantages of even the most primitive integrated
circuit technology over discrete components where high parts counts are involved.
For the hobbyist, student, or engineer desiring greater performance, there are literally hun-
dreds of op-amp models to choose from. Many sell for less than a dollar apiece, even retail!
Special-purpose instrumentation and radio-frequency (RF) op-amps may be quite a bit more
expensive. In this section I will showcase several popular and affordable op-amps, comparing
and contrasting their performance specifications. The venerable 741 is included as a ”bench-
mark” for comparison, although it is, as I said before, considered an obsolete design.
Table 8.1: Widely used operational amplifiers

Model Devices/ Power Bandwidth Bias Slew Output
package supply current rate current
number (count) (V) (Mhz) (nA) (V/µS) (mA)
TL082 2 12 / 36 4 8 13 17
LM301A 1 10 / 36 1 250 0.5 25
LM318 1 10 / 40 15 500 70 20
LM324 4 3 / 32 1 45 0.25 20
LF353 2 12 / 36 4 8 13 20
LF356 1 10 / 36 5 8 12 25
LF411 1 10 / 36 4 20 15 25
741C 1 10 / 36 1 500 0.5 25
LM833 2 10 / 36 15 1050 7 40
LM1458 2 6 / 36 1 800 10 45
CA3130 1 5 / 16 15 0.05 10 20
Listed in Table 8.1 are but a few of the low-cost operational amplifier models widely avail-
able from electronics suppliers. Most of them are available through retail supply stores such as
Radio Shack. All are under $1.00 cost direct from the manufacturer (year 2001 prices). As you
can see, there is substantial variation in performance between some of these units. Take for
instance the parameter of input bias current: the CA3130 wins the prize for lowest, at 0.05 nA
(or 50 pA), and the LM833 has the highest at slightly over 1 µA. The model CA3130 achieves
its incredibly low bias current through the use of MOSFET transistors in its input stage. One
manufacturer advertises the 3130’s input impedance as 1.5 tera-ohms, or 1.5 x 1012 Ω! Other
op-amps shown here with low bias current figures use JFET input transistors, while the high
bias current models use bipolar input transistors.
While the 741 is specified in many electronic project schematics and showcased in many
textbooks, its performance has long been surpassed by other designs in every measure. Even
some designs originally based on the 741 have been improved over the years to far surpass
original design specifications. One such example is the model 1458, two op-amps in an 8-pin
DIP package, which at one time had the exact same performance specifications as the single
741. In its latest incarnation it boasts a wider power supply voltage range, a slew rate 50
times as great, and almost twice the output current capability of a 741, while still retaining
the output short-circuit protection feature of the 741. Op-amps with JFET and MOSFET input
transistors far exceed the 741’s performance in terms of bias current, and generally manage to
beat the 741 in terms of bandwidth and slew rate as well.
My own personal recommendations for op-amps are as such: when low bias current is a
priority (such as in low-speed integrator circuits), choose the 3130. For general-purpose DC
amplifier work, the 1458 offers good performance (and you get two op-amps in the space of
one package). For an upgrade in performance, choose the model 353, as it is a pin-compatible
replacement for the 1458. The 353 is designed with JFET input circuitry for very low bias
current, and has a bandwidth 4 times are great as the 1458, although its output current limit
is lower (but still short-circuit protected). It may be more difficult to find on the shelf of your
local electronics supply house, but it is just as reasonably priced as the 1458.
If low power supply voltage is a requirement, I recommend the model 324, as it functions
on as low as 3 volts DC. Its input bias current requirements are also low, and it provides four
op-amps in a single 14-pin chip. Its major weakness is speed, limited to 1 MHz bandwidth and
an output slew rate of only 0.25 volts per µs. For high-frequency AC amplifier circuits, the 318
is a very good ”general purpose” model.
Special-purpose op-amps are available for modest cost which provide better performance
specifications. Many of these are tailored for a specific type of performance advantage, such as
maximum bandwidth or minimum bias current. Take for instance the op-amps, both designed
for high bandwidth in Table 8.2.
Table 8.2: High bandwidth operational amplifiers

CLC404 1 10 / 14 232 44,000 2600 70
CLC425 1 5 / 14 1900 40,000 350 90
The CLC404 lists at $21.80 (almost as much as George Philbrick’s first commercial op-
amp, albeit without correction for inflation), while the CLC425 is quite a bit less expensive at
$3.23 per unit. In both cases high speed is achieved at the expense of high bias currents and
restrictive power supply voltage ranges. Some op-amps, designed for high power output are
listed in Table 8.3.
Table 8.3: High current operational amplifiers

LM12CL 1 15 / 80 0.7 1000 9 13,000
LM7171 1 5.5 / 36 200 12,000 4100 100
Yes, the LM12CL actually has an output current rating of 13 amps (13,000 milliamps)!
It lists at $14.40, which is not a lot of money, considering the raw power of the device. The
LM7171, on the other hand, trades high current output ability for fast voltage output ability
(a high slew rate). It lists at $1.19, about as low as some ”general purpose” op-amps.
Amplifier packages may also be purchased as complete application circuits as opposed to
bare operational amplifiers. The Burr-Brown and Analog Devices corporations, for example,
8.15. DATA 385
both long known for their precision amplifier product lines, offer instrumentation amplifiers
in pre-designed packages as well as other specialized amplifier devices. In designs where high
precision and repeatability after repair is important, it might be advantageous for the circuit
designer to choose such a pre-engineered amplifier ”block” rather than build the circuit from
individual op-amps. Of course, these units typically cost quite a bit more than individual op-
amps.
8.15 Data
Parametrical data for all semiconductor op-amp models except the CA3130 comes from Na-
tional Semiconductor’s online resources, available at this website: (http://www.national.com).
Data for the CA3130 comes from Harris Semiconductor’s CA3130/CA3130A datasheet (file
number 817.4).
Contributors
Wayne Little (June 2007): Author, “Input to output phase shift” subsection, in “Practical
considerations” section.
Chapter 9
PRACTICAL ANALOG
SEMICONDUCTOR CIRCUITS
Contents
9.1 ElectroStatic Discharge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 387
9.1.1 ESD Damage Prevention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 388
9.1.2 Storage and Transportation of ESD sensitive component and boards . . . 391
9.1.3 Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 392
9.2 Power supply circuits – INCOMPLETE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 392
9.2.1 Unregulated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 392
9.2.2 Linear regulated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 393
9.2.3 Switching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 393
9.2.4 Ripple regulated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 394
9.3 Amplifier circuits – PENDING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 394
9.4 Oscillator circuits – INCOMPLETE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 395
9.4.1 Varactor multiplier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 395
9.5 Phase-locked loops – PENDING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 396
9.6 Radio circuits – INCOMPLETE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 396
9.7 Computational circuits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 402
9.8 Measurement circuits – INCOMPLETE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 423
9.9 Control circuits – PENDING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 424
Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 424
*** INCOMPLETE ***
9.1 ElectroStatic Discharge

Volume I chapter 1.1 discusses static electricity, and how it is created. This has a lot more
significance than might be first assumed, as control of static electricity plays a large part in
387
388 CHAPTER 9. PRACTICAL ANALOG SEMICONDUCTOR CIRCUITS
modern electronics and other professions. An ElectroStatic Discharge event is when a static
charge is bled off in an uncontrolled fashion, and will be referred to as ESD hereafter.
ESD comes in many forms, it can be as small as 50 volts of electricity being equalized up
to many millions of volts. The actual power is extremely small, so small that no danger is
generally offered to someone who is in the discharge path of ESD. It usually takes several
thousand volts for a person to even notice ESD in the form of a spark and the familiar zap
that accompanies it. The problem with ESD is even a small discharge that can go completely
unnoticed can ruin semiconductors. A static charge of millions of volts is common, however the
reason it is not a threat is there is no current capacity behind it. These extreme voltages do
allow ionization of the air and allow other materials to break down, which is the root of where
the damage comes from.
ESD is not a new problem. Black powder manufacturing and other pyrotechnic industries
have always been dangerous if an ESD event occurs in the wrong circumstance. During the
era of tubes (AKA valves) ESD was a nonexistent issue for electronics, but with the advent of
semiconductors, and the increase in miniaturization, it has become much more serious.
Damage to components can, and usually do, occur when the part is in the ESD path. Many
parts, such as power diodes, are very robust and can handle the discharge, but if a part has
a small or thin geometry as part of their physical structure then the voltage can break down
that part of the semiconductor. Currents during these events become quite high, but are in the
nanosecond to microsecond time frame. Part of the component is left permanently damaged
by this, which can cause two types of failure modes. Catastrophic is the easy one, leaving
the part completely nonfunctional. The other can be much more serious. Latent damage may
allow the problem component to work for hours, days or even months after the initial damage
before catastrophic failure. Many times these parts are referred to as ”walking wounded”, since
they are working but bad. Figure 9.1 is shown an example of latent (”walking wounded”) ESD
damage. If these components end up in a life support role, such as medical or military use,
then the consequences can be grim. For most hobbyists it is an inconvenience, but it can be an
expensive one.
Even components that are considered fairly rugged can be damaged by ESD. Bipolar tran-
sistors, the earliest of the solid state amplifiers, are not immune, though less susceptible. Some
of the newer high speed components can be ruined with as little as 3 volts. There are compo-
nents that might not be considered at risk, such as some specialized resistors and capacitors
manufactured using MOS (Metal Oxide Semiconductor) technology, that can be damaged via
ESD.
9.1.1 ESD Damage Prevention

Before ESD can be prevented it is important to understand what causes it. Generally materials
around the workbench can be broken up into 3 categories. These are ESD Generative, ESD
Neutral, and ESD Dissipative (or ESD Conductive). ESD Generative materials are active static
generators, such as most plastics, cat hair, and polyester clothing. ESD Neutral materials are
generally insulative, but don’t tend to generate or hold static charges very well. Examples of
this include wood, paper, and cotton. This is not to say they can not be static generators or an
ESD hazard, but the risk is somewhat minimized by other factors. Wood and wood products,
for example, tend to hold moisture, which can make them slightly conductive. This is true of
a lot of organic materials. A highly polished table would not fall under this category, because
9.1. ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE 389
Figure 9.1:
the gloss is usually plastic, or varnish, which are highly efficient insulators. ESD Conductive
materials are pretty obvious, they are the metal tools laying around. Plastic handles can be
a problem, but the metal will bleed a static charge away as fast as it is generated if it is on a
grounded surface. There are a lot of other materials, such as some plastics, that are designed
to be conductive. They would fall under the heading of ESD Dissipative. Dirt and concrete are
also conductive, and fall under the ESD Dissipative heading.
There are a lot of activities that generate static, which you need to be aware of as part of
an ESD control regimen. The simple act of pulling tape off a dispenser can generate millions
of volts. Rolling around in a chair is another static generator, as is scratching. In fact, any
activity that allows 2 or more surfaces to rub against each other is pretty certain to generate
some static charge. This was mentioned in the beginning of this book, but real world examples
can be subtle. This is why a method for continuously bleeding off this voltage is needed. Things
that generate huge amounts of static should be avoided while working on components.
Plastic is usually associated with the generation of static. This has been gotten around in
the form of conductive plastics. The usual way to make conductive plastic is an additive that
changes the electrical characteristics of the plastic from an insulator to a conductor, although
it will likely still have a resistance of millions of ohms per square inch. Plastics have been
developed that can be used as conductors is in low weight applications, such as those in the
airline industries. These are specialist applications, and are not generally associated with ESD
control.
It is not all bad news for ESD protection. The human body is a pretty decent conductor.
High humidity in the air will also allow a static charge to dissipate harmlessly away, as well
as making ESD Neutral materials more conductive. This is why cold winter days, where the
humidity inside a house can be quite low, can increase the number of sparks on a doorknob.
Summer, or rainy days, you would have to work quite hard to generate a substantial amount of
static. Industry clean rooms and factory floors go the effort to regulate both temperature and
humidity for this reason. Concrete floors are also conductive, so there may be some existing
components in the home that can aid in setting up protections.
To establish ESD protection there has to be a standard voltage level that everything is
referenced to. Such a level exists in the form of ground. There are very good safety reasons
that ground is used around the house in outlets. In some ways this relates to static, but not
directly. It does give us a place to dump our excess electrons, or acquire some if we are short,
to neutralize any charges our bodies and tools might acquire. If everything on a workbench is
connected directly or indirectly to ground via a conductor then static will dissipate long before
an ESD event has a chance to occur.
A good grounding point can be made several different ways. In houses with modern wiring
that is up to code the ground pin on the AC plug in can be used, or the screw that holds the
outlets cover plate on. This is because house wiring actually has a wire or spike going into
the earth somewhere where the power is tapped from the main power lines. For people whose
house wiring isn’t quite right a spike driven into the earth at least 3 feet or a simple electrical
connection to metal plumbing (worst option) can be used. The main thing is to establish an
electrical path to the earth outside the house.
Ten megohms is considered a conductor in the world of ESD control. Static electricity is
voltage with no real current, and if a charge is bled off seconds after being generated it is
nullified. Generally a 1 to 10 megohm resistor is used to connect any ESD protection for this
reason. It has the benefit of slowing the discharge rate during an ESD event, which increases
the likelihood of a component surviving undamaged. The faster the discharge, the higher the
current spike going though the component. Another reason such a resistance is considered
desirable is if the user is accidentally shorted to high voltage, such as household current, it
won’t be the ESD protections that kill them.
A large industry has grown up around controlling ESD in the electronics industry. The
staple of any electronics construction is the workbench with a static conductive or dissipative
surface. This surface can be bought commercially, or home made in the form of a sheet of metal
or foil. In the case of a metal surface it might be a good idea to lay thin paper on top, although it
is not necessary if you are not doing any powered tests on the surface. The commercial version
is usually some form of conductive plastic whose resistance is high enough not to be a problem,
which is a better solution. If you are making your own surface for the workbench be sure to
add the 10 megohm resistor to ground, otherwise you have no protection at all.
The other big item that needs ESD grounded is you. People are walking static generators.
Your body being conductive it is relatively easy to ground it though, this is usually done with
a wrist strap. Commercial versions already have the resistor built in, and have a wide strap to
offer a good contact surface with your skin. Disposable versions can be bought for a few dollars.
A metal watchband is also a good ESD protection connection point. Just add a wire (with the
resistor) to your grounding point. Most industries take the issue seriously enough to use real
time monitors that will sound an alarm if the operator is not properly grounded.
Another way of grounding yourself is a heel strap. A conductive plastic part is wrapped
around the heel of your shoe, with a conductive plastic strap going up and under your sock for
good contact with the skin. It only works on floors with conductive wax or concrete. The method
will keep a person from generating large charges that can overwhelm other ESD protections,
and is not considered adequate in and of itself. You can get the same effect by walking barefoot
on a concrete floor.
Yet another ESD protection is to wear ESD conductive smocks. Like the heel strap, this is
a secondary protection, not meant to replace the wrist strap. They are meant to short circuit
any charges that your clothes may generate.
9.1. ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE 391
Figure 9.2:
Moving air can also generate substantial static charges. When you blow dust off your elec-
tronics their will be static generated. An industrial solution to the problem to this issue is two
fold: Firstly, air guns have a small, well shielded radioactive material implanted within the
air gun to ionize the air. Ionized air is a conductor, and will bleed off static charges quite well.
Secondly, use high voltage electricity to ionize the air coming out of a fan, which has the same
effect as the air gun. This will effectively help a workstation reduce the potential for ESD
generation by a large amount.
Another ESD protection is the simplest of all, distance. Many industries have rules stating
all Neutral and Generative materials will be at least 12 inches or more from any work in
progress.
The user can also reduce the possibility of ESD damage by simply not removing the part
out of its protective packaging until it is time to insert it into the circuit. This will reduce the
likelihood of ESD exposure, and while the circuit will still be vulnerable, the component will
have some minor protection from the rest of the components, as the other components will offer
different discharge paths for ESD.
9.1.2 Storage and Transportation of ESD sensitive component and

boards
It does no good to follow ESD protections on the workbench if the parts are being damaged
while storing or carrying them. The most common method is to use a variation of a Faraday
cage, an ESD bag. An ESD bag surrounds the component with a conductive shield, and usually
has a non static generating insulative layer inside. In permanent Faraday cages this shield is
grounded, as in the case of RFI rooms, but with portable containers this isn’t practical. By
putting a ESD bag on a grounded surface the same thing is accomplished. Faraday cages work
by routing the electric charge around the contents and grounding them immediately. A car
struck by lightning is an extreme example of a Faraday cage.
Static bags are by far the most common method of storing components and boards. They
are made using extremely thin layers of metal, so thin as to be almost transparent. A bag with
a hole, even small ones, or one that is not folded on top to seal the content from outside charges
is ineffective.
Another method of protecting parts in storage is totes or tubes. In these cases the parts are
put into conductive boxes, with a lid of the same material. This effectively forms a Faraday
cage. A tube is meant for ICs and other devices with a lot of pins, and stores the parts in a
molded conductive plastic tube that keeps the parts safe both mechanically and electrically.
Figure 9.3:
9.1.3 Conclusion
ESD can be a minor unfelt event measuring a few volts, or a massive event presenting real
dangers to operators. All ESD protections can be overwhelmed by circumstance, but this can
be circumvented by awareness of what it is and how to prevent it. Many projects have been
built with no ESD protections at all and worked well. Given that protecting these projects is a
minor inconvenience it is better to make the effort.
Industry takes the problem very seriously, as both a potential life threatening issue and a
quality issue. Someone who buys an expensive piece of electronics or high tech hardware is not
going to be happy if they have to return it in 6 months. When a reputation is on the line it is
easier to do the right thing.
9.2 Power supply circuits – INCOMPLETE

There are three major kinds of power supplies: unregulated (also called brute force), linear
regulated, and switching. A fourth type of power supply circuit called the ripple-regulated, is a
hybrid between the ”brute force” and ”switching” designs, and merits a subsection to itself.
9.2.1 Unregulated
An unregulated power supply is the most rudimentary type, consisting of a transformer, rec-
tifier, and low-pass filter. These power supplies typically exhibit a lot of ripple voltage (i.e.
9.2. POWER SUPPLY CIRCUITS – INCOMPLETE 393
rapidly-varying instability) and other AC ”noise” superimposed on the DC power. If the input
voltage varies, the output voltage will vary by a proportional amount. The advantage of an
unregulated supply is that its cheap, simple, and efficient.
9.2.2 Linear regulated

A linear regulated supply is simply a ”brute force” (unregulated) power supply followed by a
transistor circuit operating in its ”active,” or ”linear” mode, hence the name linear regulator.
(Obvious in retrospect, isn’t it?) A typical linear regulator is designed to output a fixed voltage
for a wide range of input voltages, and it simply drops any excess input voltage to allow a
maximum output voltage to the load. This excess voltage drop results in significant power
dissipation in the form of heat. If the input voltage gets too low, the transistor circuit will lose
regulation, meaning that it will fail to keep the voltage steady. It can only drop excess voltage,
not make up for a deficiency in voltage from the brute force section of the circuit. Therefore, you
have to keep the input voltage at least 1 to 3 volts higher than the desired output, depending
on the regulator type. This means the power equivalent of at least 1 to 3 volts multiplied by
the full load current will be dissipated by the regulator circuit, generating a lot of heat. This
makes linear regulated power supplies rather inefficient. Also, to get rid of all that heat they
have to use large heat sinks which makes them large, heavy, and expensive.
9.2.3 Switching
A switching regulated power supply (”switcher”) is an effort to realize the advantages of both
brute force and linear regulated designs (small, efficient, and cheap, but also ”clean,” stable
output voltage). Switching power supplies work on the principle of rectifying the incoming AC
power line voltage into DC, re-converting it into high-frequency square-wave AC through tran-
sistors operated as on/off switches, stepping that AC voltage up or down by using a lightweight
transformer, then rectifying the transformer’s AC output into DC and filtering for final out-
put. Voltage regulation is achieved by altering the ”duty cycle” of the DC-to-AC inversion on
the transformer’s primary side. In addition to lighter weight because of a smaller transformer
core, switchers have another tremendous advantage over the prior two designs: this type of
power supply can be made so totally independent of the input voltage that it can work on any
electric power system in the world; these are called ”universal” power supplies.
The downside of switchers is that they are more complex, and due to their operation they
tend to generate a lot of high-frequency AC ”noise” on the power line. Most switchers also have
significant ripple voltage on their outputs. With the cheaper types, this noise and ripple can be
as bad as for an unregulated power supply; such low-end switchers aren’t worthless, because
they still provide a stable average output voltage, and there’s the ”universal” input capability.
Expensive switchers are ripple-free and have noise nearly as low as for some a linear types;
these switchers tend to be as expensive as linear supplies. The reason to use an expensive
switcher instead of a good linear is if you need universal power system compatibility or high
efficiency. High efficiency, light weight, and small size are the reasons switching power supplies
are almost universally used for powering digital computer circuitry.
9.2.4 Ripple regulated

A ripple-regulated power supply is an alternative to the linear regulated design scheme: a
”brute force” power supply (transformer, rectifier, filter) constitutes the ”front end” of the cir-
cuit, but a transistor operated strictly in its on/off (saturation/cutoff) modes transfers DC power
to a large capacitor as needed to maintain the output voltage between a high and a low set-
point. As in switchers, the transistor in a ripple regulator never passes current while in its
”active,” or ”linear,” mode for any substantial length of time, meaning that very little energy
will be wasted in the form of heat. However, the biggest drawback to this regulation scheme is
the necessary presence of some ripple voltage on the output, as the DC voltage varies between
the two voltage control setpoints. Also, this ripple voltage varies in frequency depending on
load current, which makes final filtering of the DC power more difficult.
Ripple regulator circuits tend to be quite a bit simpler than switcher circuitry, and they
need not handle the high power line voltages that switcher transistors must handle, making
them safer to work on.
9.3 Amplifier circuits – PENDING

Note, Q3 and Q4 in Figure 9.4 are complementary, NPN and PNP respectively. This circuit
works well for moderate power audio amplifiers. For an explanation of this circuit see “Direct
coupled complementary-pair,”
(page ??).
+22 V
R3 R4
R1 390 Ω
47 kΩ
39 kΩ Q3
C2 Q2
input 25 µF
C1 R9 C5
Q1 R6 2.2 kΩ
2.2 Ω
4000 µF
220 nF
C3 R10
C4
250 µF 2.2 Ω
R2 3.3 nF
R7
15 Ω
120 kΩ
Q4
R5
R8
22 Ω
560 Ω
Figure 9.4: Direct coupled complementary symmetry 3 w audio amplifier. After Mullard. [2]
9.4. OSCILLATOR CIRCUITS – INCOMPLETE 395
9.4 Oscillator circuits – INCOMPLETE
Vcc
R5 R6
C1 C2 C3
R1 R2 R3 R4 C4
Figure 9.5: Phase shift oscillator. R1 C1 , R2 C2 , and R3 C3 each provide 60o of phase shift.
The phase shift oscillator of Figure 9.5 produces a sinewave output in the audio frequency
range. Resistive feedback from the collector would be negative feedback due to 180o phasing
(base to collector phase inversion). However, the three 60o RC phase shifters ( R1 C1 , R2 C2 ,
and R3 C3 ) provide an additional 180o for a total of 360o . This in-phase feedback constitutes
positive feedback. Oscillations result if transistor gain exceeds feedback network losses.
9.4.1 Varactor multiplier

A Varactor or variable capacitance diode with a nonlinear capacitance vs frequency character-
istic distorts the applied sinewave f1 in Figure 9.6, generating harmonics, f3.
Vbias
RF blocking
choke
fundamental harmonic
capacitance
filter filter
f3
Resonant
varicap inductor
f1
diode DC blocking
capacitor
voltage
Figure 9.6: Varactor diode, having a nonlinear capacitance vs voltage characteristic, serves in
frequency multiplier.
The fundamental filter passes f1, blocking the harmonics from returning to the generator.
The choke passes DC, and blocks radio frequencies (RF) from entering the Vbias supply. The
harmonic filter passes the desired harmonic, say the 3rd, to the output, f3. The capacitor at
the bottom of the inductor is a large value, low reactance, to block DC but ground the inductor
for RF. The varicap diode in parallel with the indctor constitutes a parallel resonant network.
It is tuned to the desired harmonic. Note that the reverse bias, Vbias , is fixed.
The varicap multiplier is primarily used to generate microwave signals which cannot be
directly produced by oscillators. The lumped circuit representation in Figure 9.6 is actually
stripline or waveguide sections. Frequenies up to hundreds of gHz may be produced by varactor
multipliers.
9.5 Phase-locked loops – PENDING

9.6 Radio circuits – INCOMPLETE
(b)
L1 C1 C2
240 365 1000 (c)
µΗ pF pf
(a) (d)
Figure 9.7: (a) Crystal radio. (b) Modulated RF at antenna. (c) Rectified RF at diode cathode,
without C2 filter capacitor. (d) Demodualted audio to headphones.
An antenna ground system, tank circuit, peak detector, and headphones are the the main
components of a crystal radio. See Figure 9.7 (a). The antenna absorbs transimtted radio
signals (b) which flow to ground via the other components. The combination of C1 and L1
comprise a resonant circuit, refered to as a tank circuit. Its purpose is to select one out of many
available radios signals. The variable capacitor C1 allows for tuning to the various signals.
The diode passes the positive half cycles of the RF, removing the negative half cycles (c). C2
is sized to filter the radio frequencies from the RF envelope (c), passing audio frequencies (d)
to the headset. Note that no power supply is required for a crystal radio. A germanium diode,
which has a lower forward voltage drop provides greater sensitvity than a silicon diode.
The circuit in Figure 9.9 is an integrated circuit AM radio containing all the active radio
frequency circuitry within a single IC. All capacitors and inductors, along with a few resistors,
are external to the IC. The 370 Pf variable capacitor tunes the desired RF signal. The 320
pF variable capacitor tunes the local oscillator 455 KHz above the RF input signal. The RF
signal and local oscillator frequencies mix producing the sun and difference of the two at pin
15. The external 455 KHz ceramic filter between pins 15 and 12, selects the 455 KHz difference
frequency. Most of the amplification is in the intermediate frequency (IF) amplifier between
pins 12 and 7. A diode at pin 7 recovers audio from the IF. Some automatic gain control (AGC)
is recovered and filtered to DC and fed back into pin 9.
9.6. RADIO CIRCUITS – INCOMPLETE
Figure 9.8: Regency TR1: First mass produced transistor radio, 1954.
560 Ω 560 Ω
268
pF
volume
20,000 pF
1K
2 µF
Q1
Q2 Q3
− +
Q4 1000
pF
10,000
pF
20,000
50,000 50,000 pF
pF 1000 pF pF 1000 pF 3.9 K
10 K 1K
+
40 2.7 K
µF 40 µF
1000 560 Ω 2.7 K 33 K −
pF
2.2 K 2.2 K 2.2 K
470 K
100 K
22.5 V
+ +
5 µF
− −
397
370pF
Vcc
RF 16 14 IF TCA440
RF in 2
7 AF
10nF 1
47pF
330pF 6 9
5
4 Osc.
8 15 12 11 13 3 10
39K
47pF
Vcc 100nF
320pF 5µF
100nF
100nF 1.5nF
455 kHz 8.2K 25µF 12K 3.3nF
Vcc Ceramic filter
Figure 9.9: IC radio, After Signetics [3]
Figure 9.10 shows conventional mecahnical tuning (a) of the RF input tuner and the local
oscillator with varactor diode tuning (b). The meshed plates of a dual variable capacitor make
for a bulky component. It is ecconomic to replace it with varicap tuning diodes. Increasing the
reverse bias Vtune decreases capacitance which increases frequency. Vtune could be produced
by a potentiometer.
370pF
TCA440 BB113 TCA440

RF in
RF in 2 2
330nF
10nF 1 RF 10nF 1 RF
330pF 6 330pF 6
5 5
Osc Osc
4 4
BB113
8 8
Vcc Vcc
320pF +Vtune 270K
(a) (b)
Figure 9.10: IC radio comparison of (a) mechanical tuning to (b) electronic varicap diode
tuning.[3]
9.6. RADIO CIRCUITS – INCOMPLETE 399
Figure 9.11 shows an even lower parts count AM radio. Sony engineers have included the
intermediate frequency (IF) bandpass filter within the 8-pin IC. This eliminates external IF
transformers and an IF ceramic filter. L-C tuning components are still required for the radio
frequency (RF) input and the local oscillator. Though, the variable capacitors could be replaced
by varicap tuning diodes.
4.7 160
160 1500 µF
µF 130 µF
µF µH
3V
220
+
560 µF
µH -
8 7 6 5
RF in OL AGC Lo Osc Vcc
RF Amp Mixer Osc
Overload
& AGC BPF IF Amp
AGC Detector
CXA1600MP
Vol Audio
Amp
AGC Vol Gnd Audio
1 2 3 4
220µF
22 100K
µF 0.1
µF
22
µF
Figure 9.11: Compact IC radio eliminates external IF filters. After Sony [4]
Figure 9.12 is an example of a common-base (CB) RF amplifier. It is a good illustration

because it looks like a CB for lack of a bias network. Since there is no bias, this is a class C
amplifier. The transistor conducts for less than 180o of the input signal because at least 0.7 V
bias would be required for 180o class B. The common-base configuration has higher power gain
at high RF frequencies than common-emitter. This is a power amplifier (3/4 W) as opposed to
a small signal amplifier. The input and output π-networks match the emitter and collector to
the 50 Ω input and output coaxial terminations, respectively. The output π-network also helps
filter harmonics generated by the class C amplifier. Though, more sections would likely be
required by modern radiated emissions standards.
An example of a high gain common-base RF amplifier is shown in Figure 9.13. The common-
base circuit can be pushed to a higher frequency than other configurations. This is a common
L2
100pF L1 25nH 100pF
25nH 2N2863
1.2µH 0.68µH
45-380 9-180 RFC 8-60 9-180 RFC
pF pF pF pF 100pF
+10 V
Figure 9.12: Class C common-base 750 mW RF power amplifier. L1 = #10 Cu wire 1/2 turn, 5/8
in. ID by 3/4 in. high. L2 = #14 tinned Cu wire 1 1/2 turns, 1/2 in. ID by 1/3 in. spacing. After
Texas Instruments [5]
base configuration because the transistor bases are grounded for AC by 1000 pF capacitors.
The capacitors are necessary (unlike the class C, Figure 9.12) to allow the 1KΩ-4KΩ voltage
divider to bias the transistor base for class A operation. The 500Ω resistors are emitter bias
resistors. They stablize the collector current. The 850Ω resistors are collector DC loads. The
three stage amplifier provides an overall gain of 38 dB at 100 MHz with a 9 MHz bandwidth.
4-30 4-30 4-30

68 pF pF pF
pF
10nH 80nH 1000 80nH 1000

2N1141 pF 2N1141 pF 2N1141
4-30 100nH
pF 500 500 500 1000
Ω Ω Ω pF
1000 1000 1000
pF pF pF
1K 1K 1K
4K 820 4K 820 4K 820
Ω Ω Ω
-25 V
2 100µH RFC 2 100µH RFC 2
nF nF nF
Figure 9.13: Class A common-base small-signal high gain amplifier. After Texas Instruments
[6]
The PIN diodes are arranged in a π-attenuator network. The anti-series diodes cancel some
harmonic distortion compared with a single series diode. The fixed 1.25 V supply forward
biases the parallel diodes, which not only conducting DC current from ground via the resistors,
but also, conduct RF to ground through the diodes’ capacitors. The control voltage Vcontrol ,
increases current through the parallel diodes as it increases. This decreases the resistance
and attenuation, passing more RF from input to output. Attenuation is about 3 dB at Vcontrol =
5 V. Attenuation is 40 dB at Vcontrol = 1 V with flat frequency response to 2 gHz. At Vcontrol =
0.5 V, attenuation is 80 dB at 10 MHz. However, the frequency response varies too much to
use. [1]
9.6. RADIO CIRCUITS – INCOMPLETE 401
10 V 10 V
1K 1K
Transmitter Receiver
10 V
Transmit
Receive
1K
Figure 9.14: PIN diode T/R switch disconnects receiver from antenna during transmit.
left antenna right antenna
5V RFC
right 1K
1K
Receiver
1K
left -5 V
Figure 9.15: PIN diode antenna switch for direction finder receiver.
Vcontrol = 0 to 5 V
47 nF 47 nF 330 47 nF
1.25 V
150 150
330
330
47 nF 47 nF
5 V less atten
Figure 9.16: PIN diode attenuator: PIN diodes function as voltage variable resistors. After Lin
[1].
9.7 Computational circuits

When someone mentions the word ”computer,” a digital device is what usually comes to mind.
Digital circuits represent numerical quantities in binary format: patterns of 1’s and 0’s repre-
sented by a multitude of transistor circuits operating in saturated or cutoff states. However,
analog circuitry may also be used to represent numerical quantities and perform mathematical
calculations, by using variable voltage signals instead of discrete on/off states.
Here is a simple example of binary (digital) representation versus analog representation of
the number ”twenty-five:”
A digital circuit representing the number 25:
16
32
16 + 8 + 1 = 25
An analog circuit representing the number 25:
Voltmeter
50
100 V 0 100
9.7. COMPUTATIONAL CIRCUITS 403
Digital circuits are very different from circuits built on analog principles. Digital com-
putational circuits can be incredibly complex, and calculations must often be performed in
sequential ”steps” to obtain a final answer, much as a human being would perform arithmeti-
cal calculations in steps with pencil and paper. Analog computational circuits, on the other
hand, are quite simple in comparison, and perform their calculations in continuous, real-time
fashion. There is a disadvantage to using analog circuitry to represent numbers, though: im-
precision. The digital circuit shown above is representing the number twenty-five, precisely.
The analog circuit shown above may or may not be exactly calibrated to 25.000 volts, but is
subject to ”drift” and error.
In applications where precision is not critical, analog computational circuits are very prac-
tical and elegant. Shown here are a few op-amp circuits for performing analog computation:
Analog summer (adder) circuit
1 kΩ 1 kΩ
−
R Output
Input1 +
R
Input2
Output = Input1 + Input2
Analog subtractor circuit
R R
Input(-)
−
Output
+
R R
Input(+)
Output = Input(+) - Input(-)

Analog averager circuit
−
R Output
Input1 +
(Buffer optional)
R
Input2
Input1 + Input2
Output =
2
Analog inverter (sign reverser) circuit

R R
Input
−
Output
+
Output = - Input
Analog "multiply-by-constant" circuit

K
−
Output
Input +
Output = (K)(Input)
Analog "divide-by-constant" circuit
−
Input
Output
K +
(Buffer optional)
Input
Output =
K
Analog inverting "multiply/divide-

by-constant" circuit
K
Input
−
Output
+
Output = - (K)(Input)
Each of these circuits may be used in modular fashion to create a circuit capable of multiple
calculations. For instance, suppose that we needed to subtract a certain fraction of one variable
from another variable. By combining a divide-by-constant circuit with a subtractor circuit, we
could obtain the required function:
Divide-by-constant
Subtractor
Input2 − R R
K
+
−
Output
+
R R
Input1
Input2
Output = Input1 -
K
Devices called analog computers used to be common in universities and engineering shops,
where dozens of op-amp circuits could be ”patched” together with removable jumper wires to
model mathematical statements, usually for the purpose of simulating some physical process
whose underlying equations were known. Digital computers have made analog computers all
but obsolete, but analog computational circuitry cannot be beaten by digital in terms of sheer
elegance and economy of necessary components.
Analog computational circuitry excels at performing the calculus operations integration and
differentiation with respect to time, by using capacitors in an op-amp feedback loop. To fully
understand these circuits’ operation and applications, though, we must first grasp the meaning
of these fundamental calculus concepts. Fortunately, the application of op-amp circuits to real-
world problems involving calculus serves as an excellent means to teach basic calculus. In
the words of John I. Smith, taken from his outstanding textbook, Modern Operational Circuit
Design:
”A note of encouragement is offered to certain readers: integral calculus is one of

the mathematical disciplines that operational [amplifier] circuitry exploits and, in
the process, rather demolishes as a barrier to understanding.” (pg. 4)
Mr. Smith’s sentiments on the pedagogical value of analog circuitry as a learning tool for
mathematics are not unique. Consider the opinion of engineer George Fox Lang, in an article
he wrote for the August 2000 issue of the journal Sound and Vibration, entitled, ”Analog was
not a Computer Trademark!”:
”Creating a real physical entity (a circuit) governed by a particular set of equa-

tions and interacting with it provides unique insight into those mathematical state-
ments. There is no better way to develop a ”gut feel” for the interplay between physics
and mathematics than to experience such an interaction. The analog computer was
a powerful interdisciplinary teaching tool; its obsolescence is mourned by many edu-
cators in a variety of fields.” (pg. 23)
Differentiation is the first operation typically learned by beginning calculus students. Sim-
ply put, differentiation is determining the instantaneous rate-of-change of one variable as it
relates to another. In analog differentiator circuits, the independent variable is time, and so
the rates of change we’re dealing with are rates of change for an electronic signal (voltage or
current) with respect to time.
Suppose we were to measure the position of a car, traveling in a direct path (no turns), from
its starting point. Let us call this measurement, x. If the car moves at a rate such that its
distance from ”start” increases steadily over time, its position will plot on a graph as a linear
function (straight line):
Position
Time
If we were to calculate the derivative of the car’s position with respect to time (that is,
determine the rate-of-change of the car’s position with respect to time), we would arrive at
a quantity representing the car’s velocity. The differentiation function is represented by the
fractional notation d/d, so when differentiating position (x) with respect to time (t), we denote
the result (the derivative) as dx/dt:
Position Velocity
x dx
dt
Time Time
For a linear graph of x over time, the derivate of position (dx/dt), otherwise and more
commonly known as velocity, will be a flat line, unchanging in value. The derivative of a
mathematical function may be graphically understood as its slope when plotted on a graph,
and here we can see that the position (x) graph has a constant slope, which means that its
derivative (dx/dt) must be constant over time.
Now, suppose the distance traveled by the car increased exponentially over time: that is, it
began its travel in slow movements, but covered more additional distance with each passing
period in time. We would then see that the derivative of position (dx/dt), otherwise known as
velocity (v), would not be constant over time, but would increase:
Position Velocity
x dx
dt
Time Time
The height of points on the velocity graph correspond to the rates-of-change, or slope, of
points at corresponding times on the position graph:
Position Velocity
x dx
dt
Time Time
What does this have to do with analog electronic circuits? Well, if we were to have an analog
voltage signal represent the car’s position (think of a huge potentiometer whose wiper was
attached to the car, generating a voltage proportional to the car’s position), we could connect a
differentiator circuit to this signal and have the circuit continuously calculate the car’s velocity,
displaying the result via a voltmeter connected to the differentiator circuit’s output:
Differentiator
− - dx
+ V
x V + Velocity
+
dt
Position
-
Recall from the last chapter that a differentiator circuit outputs a voltage proportional to
the input voltage’s rate-of-change over time (d/dt). Thus, if the input voltage is changing over
time at a constant rate, the output voltage will be at a constant value. If the car moves in such
a way that its elapsed distance over time builds up at a steady rate, then that means the car
is traveling at a constant velocity, and the differentiator circuit will output a constant voltage
proportional to that velocity. If the car’s elapsed distance over time changes in a non-steady
manner, the differentiator circuit’s output will likewise be non-steady, but always at a level
representative of the input’s rate-of-change over time.
Note that the voltmeter registering velocity (at the output of the differentiator circuit) is
connected in ”reverse” polarity to the output of the op-amp. This is because the differentiator
circuit shown is inverting: outputting a negative voltage for a positive input voltage rate-of-
change. If we wish to have the voltmeter register a positive value for velocity, it will have to be
connected to the op-amp as shown. As impractical as it may be to connect a giant potentiome-
ter to a moving object such as an automobile, the concept should be clear: by electronically
performing the calculus function of differentiation on a signal representing position, we obtain
a signal representing velocity.
Beginning calculus students learn symbolic techniques for differentiation. However, this
requires that the equation describing the original graph be known. For example, calculus stu-
dents learn how to take a function such as y = 3x and find its derivative with respect to x (d/dx),
3, simply by manipulating the equation. We may verify the accuracy of this manipulation by
comparing the graphs of the two functions:
d 3x = 3
dx
y = 3x (y = 3)
y y
x = 2; y = 3
x = 2.5; slope = 3
x = 2; slope = 3
x = 1; slope = 3 x = 1; y = 3 x = 2.5; y = 3
x x
Nonlinear functions such as y = 3x2 may also be differentiated by symbolic means. In this
case, the derivative of y = 3x2 with respect to x is 6x:
d 3x2 = 6x
y = 3x2 dx
x = 2; slope = 12 (y = 6x)
y y
x = 2; y = 12
x = 1; y = 6
x = 1; slope = 6
x x
x = 0; y = 0
x = 0; slope = 0
In real life, though, we often cannot describe the behavior of any physical event by a simple
equation like y = 3x, and so symbolic differentiation of the type learned by calculus students
may be impossible to apply to a physical measurement. If someone wished to determine the
derivative of our hypothetical car’s position (dx/dt = velocity) by symbolic means, they would
first have to obtain an equation describing the car’s position over time, based on position mea-
surements taken from a real experiment – a nearly impossible task unless the car is operated
under carefully controlled conditions leading to a very simple position graph. However, an
analog differentiator circuit, by exploiting the behavior of a capacitor with respect to voltage,
current, and time i = C(dv/dt), naturally differentiates any real signal in relation to time, and
would be able to output a signal corresponding to instantaneous velocity (dx/dt) at any mo-
ment. By logging the car’s position signal along with the differentiator’s output signal using
a chart recorder or other data acquisition device, both graphs would naturally present them-
selves for inspection and analysis.
We may take the principle of differentiation one step further by applying it to the velocity
signal using another differentiator circuit. In other words, use it to calculate the rate-of-change
of velocity, which we know is the rate-of-change of position. What practical measure would we
arrive at if we did this? Think of this in terms of the units we use to measure position and
velocity. If we were to measure the car’s position from its starting point in miles, then we would
probably express its velocity in units of miles per hour (dx/dt). If we were to differentiate the
velocity (measured in miles per hour) with respect to time, we would end up with a unit of miles
per hour per hour. Introductory physics classes teach students about the behavior of falling
objects, measuring position in meters, velocity in meters per second, and change in velocity over
time in meters per second, per second. This final measure is called acceleration: the rate of
change of velocity over time:
Position Velocity Acceleration
x dx d2x
dt dt2
Time Time Time
Differentiation Differentiation
The expression d2 x/dt2 is called the second derivative of position (x) with regard to time (t).
If we were to connect a second differentiator circuit to the output of the first, the last voltmeter
would register acceleration:
Differentiator Differentiator
− - dx −
+ d2x
+ V V
x V + dt + 2
Position
Velocity
+ Acceleration
- dt
-
Deriving velocity from position, and acceleration from velocity, we see the principle of dif-
ferentiation very clearly illustrated. These are not the only physical measurements related to
each other in this way, but they are, perhaps, the most common. Another example of calculus
in action is the relationship between liquid flow (q) and liquid volume (v) accumulated in a
vessel over time:
dv = flow
Water dt
supply
Water
LT v = volume
A ”Level Transmitter” device mounted on a water storage tank provides a signal directly
proportional to water level in the tank, which – if the tank is of constant cross-sectional area
throughout its height – directly equates water volume stored. If we were to take this volume
signal and differentiate it with respect to time (dv/dt), we would obtain a signal proportional
to the water flow rate through the pipe carrying water to the tank. A differentiator circuit
connected in such a way as to receive this volume signal would produce an output signal pro-
portional to flow, possibly substituting for a flow-measurement device (”Flow Transmitter”)
installed in the pipe.
Returning to the car experiment, suppose that our hypothetical car were equipped with a
tachogenerator on one of the wheels, producing a voltage signal directly proportional to velocity.
We could differentiate the signal to obtain acceleration with one circuit, like this:
Differentiator
− - dv d2x
+ V = 2
v V + Acceleration
+
dt dt
Velocity
-
+ -
Gen
By its very nature, the tachogenerator differentiates the car’s position with respect to time,
generating a voltage proportional to how rapidly the wheel’s angular position changes over
time. This provides us with a raw signal already representative of velocity, with only a single
step of differentiation needed to obtain an acceleration signal. A tachogenerator measuring
velocity, of course, is a far more practical example of automobile instrumentation than a gi-
ant potentiometer measuring its physical position, but what we gain in practicality we lose in
position measurement. No matter how many times we differentiate, we can never infer the
car’s position from a velocity signal. If the process of differentiation brought us from position
to velocity to acceleration, then somehow we need to perform the ”reverse” process of differen-
tiation to go from velocity to position. Such a mathematical process does exist, and it is called
integration. The ”integrator” circuit may be used to perform this function of integration with
respect to time:
Integrator
− -
V ∫ v dt = x
+ Position
+
Differentiator
− - dv d2x
+ V = 2
v V + Acceleration
+
dt dt
Velocity
-
+ -
Gen
Recall from the last chapter that an integrator circuit outputs a voltage whose rate-of-
change over time is proportional to the input voltage’s magnitude. Thus, given a constant
input voltage, the output voltage will change at a constant rate. If the car travels at a constant
velocity (constant voltage input to the integrator circuit from the tachogenerator), then its
distance traveled will increase steadily as time progresses, and the integrator will output a
steadily changing voltage proportional to that distance. If the car’s velocity is not constant,
then neither will the rate-of-change over time be of the integrator circuit’s output, but the
output voltage will faithfully represent the amount of distance traveled by the car at any given
point in time.
R
The symbol for integration looks
R something like a very narrow, cursive letter ”S” ( ). The
equation utilizing this symbol ( v dt = x) tells us that we are integrating velocity (v) with
respect to time (dt), and obtaining position (x) as a result.
So, we may express three measures of the car’s motion (position, velocity, and acceleration)
in terms of velocity (v) just as easily as we could in terms of position (x):
∫ v dt v dv
dt
Time Time Time
Integration Differentiation
If we had an accelerometer attached to the car, generating a signal proportional to the rate
of acceleration or deceleration, we could (hypothetically) obtain a velocity signal with one step
of integration, and a position signal with a second step of integration:
Integrator
−
+
V ∫∫ a dt = x
+ Position
-
Integrator
− -
+ V ∫ a dt = v
a V + Velocity
+
Acceleration
-
Accel.
Thus, all three measures of the car’s motion (position, velocity, and acceleration) may be
expressed in terms of acceleration:
∫∫ a dt ∫ a dt a
Time Time Time
Integration Integration
As you might have suspected, the process of integration may be illustrated in, and applied
to, other physical systems as well. Take for example the water storage tank and flow example
shown earlier. If flow rate is the derivative of tank volume with respect to time (q = dv/dt),
then we could also say that volume is the integral of flow rate with respect to time:
FT f = flow
Water
supply
Water
∫ f dt = volume
If we were to use a ”Flow Transmitter” device to measure water flow, then by time-integration
we could calculate the volume of water accumulated in the tank over time. Although it is the-
oretically possible to use a capacitive op-amp integrator circuit to derive a volume signal from
a flow signal, mechanical and digital electronic ”integrator” devices are more suitable for inte-
gration over long periods of time, and find frequent use in the water treatment and distribution
industries.
Just as there are symbolic techniques for differentiation, there are also symbolic techniques
for integration, although they tend to be more complex and varied. Applying symbolic integra-
tion to a real-world problem like the acceleration of a car, though, is still contingent on the
availability of an equation precisely describing the measured signal – often a difficult or im-
possible thing to derive from measured data. However, electronic integrator circuits perform
this mathematical function continuously, in real time, and for any input signal profile, thus
providing a powerful tool for scientists and engineers.
Having said this, there are caveats to the using calculus techniques to derive one type
of measurement from another. Differentiation has the undesirable tendency of amplifying
”noise” found in the measured variable, since the noise will typically appear as frequencies
much higher than the measured variable, and high frequencies by their very nature possess
high rates-of-change over time.
To illustrate this problem, suppose we were deriving a measurement of car acceleration
from the velocity signal obtained from a tachogenerator with worn brushes or commutator
bars. Points of poor contact between brush and commutator will produce momentary ”dips” in
the tachogenerator’s output voltage, and the differentiator circuit connected to it will interpret
these dips as very rapid changes in velocity. For a car moving at constant speed – neither
accelerating nor decelerating – the acceleration signal should be 0 volts, but ”noise” in the
velocity signal caused by a faulty tachogenerator will cause the differentiated (acceleration)
signal to contain ”spikes,” falsely indicating brief periods of high acceleration and deceleration:
Differentiator
− - dv
+ V
v V + Acceleration
+
dt
Velocity
-
+ -
Gen
Noise voltage present in a signal to be differentiated need not be of significant amplitude to

cause trouble: all that is required is that the noise profile have fast rise or fall times. In other
words, any electrical noise with a high dv/dt component will be problematic when differenti-
ated, even if it is of low amplitude.
It should be noted that this problem is not an artifact (an idiosyncratic error of the mea-
suring/computing instrument) of the analog circuitry; rather, it is inherent to the process of
differentiation. No matter how we might perform the differentiation, ”noise” in the velocity
signal will invariably corrupt the output signal. Of course, if we were differentiating a signal
twice, as we did to obtain both velocity and acceleration from a position signal, the ampli-
fied noise signal output by the first differentiator circuit will be amplified again by the next
differentiator, thus compounding the problem:
more noise even more noise!

little noise
Differentiator Differentiator
− - dx −
+ d2x
+ V V
x V + dt + 2
Position
Velocity
+ Acceleration
- dt
-
Integration does not suffer from this problem, because integrators act as low-pass filters,
attenuating high-frequency input signals. In effect, all the high and low peaks resulting from
noise on the signal become averaged together over time, for a diminished net result. One
might suppose, then, that we could avoid all trouble by measuring acceleration directly and
integrating that signal to obtain velocity; in effect, calculating in ”reverse” from the way shown
previously:
Integrator
− -
+ V ∫ a dt = v
a V + Velocity
+
Acceleration
-
Accel.
Unfortunately, following this methodology might lead us into other difficulties, one being a
common artifact of analog integrator circuits known as drift. All op-amps have some amount of
input bias current, and this current will tend to cause a charge to accumulate on the capacitor
in addition to whatever charge accumulates as a result of the input voltage signal. In other
words, all analog integrator circuits suffer from the tendency of having their output voltage
”drift” or ”creep” even when there is absolutely no voltage input, accumulating error over time
as a result. Also, imperfect capacitors will tend to lose their stored charge over time due
to internal resistance, resulting in ”drift” toward zero output voltage. These problems are
artifacts of the analog circuitry, and may be eliminated through the use of digital computation.
Circuit artifacts notwithstanding, possible errors may result from the integration of one
measurement (such as acceleration) to obtain another (such as velocity) simply because of the
way integration works. If the ”zero” calibration point of the raw signal sensor is not perfect, it
will output a slight positive or negative signal even in conditions when it should output noth-
ing. Consider a car with an imperfectly calibrated accelerometer, or one that is influenced by
gravity to detect a slight acceleration unrelated to car motion. Even with a perfect integrating
computer, this sensor error will cause the integrator to accumulate error, resulting in an output
signal indicating a change of velocity when the car is neither accelerating nor decelerating.
Integrator
(slight positive −
voltage) -
+ V ∫ a dt = v
a V + Velocity
+
Acceleration
-
(small rate
(calibration error) of change)
Accel.
(no motion)
As with differentiation, this error will also compound itself if the integrated signal is passed
on to another integrator circuit, since the ”drifting” output of the first integrator will very soon
present a significant positive or negative signal for the next integrator to integrate. Therefore,
care should be taken when integrating sensor signals: if the ”zero” adjustment of the sensor is
not perfect, the integrated result will drift, even if the integrator circuit itself is perfect.
So far, the only integration errors discussed have been artificial in nature: originating from
imperfections in the circuitry and sensors. There also exists a source of error inherent to the
process of integration itself, and that is the unknown constant problem. Beginning calculus stu-
dents learn that whenever a function is integrated, there exists an unknown constant (usually
represented as the variable C) added to the result. This uncertainty is easiest to understand
by comparing the derivatives of several functions differing only by the addition of a constant
value:
d 3x2 + 4 = 6x
dx
d 3x2 = 6x
y = 3x2 + 4 dx
y = 3x2 d 3x2 - 6 = 6x
dx
y (y’ = 6x) y’
y = 3x2 - 6
x x
Note how each of the parabolic curves (y = 3x2 + C) share the exact same shape, differing
from each other in regard to their vertical offset. However, they all share the exact same
derivative function: y’ = (d/dx)( 3x2 + C) = 6x, because they all share identical rates of change
(slopes) at corresponding points along the x axis. While this seems quite natural and expected
from the perspective of differentiation (different equations sharing a common derivative), it
usually strikes beginning students as odd from the perspective of integration, because there are
multiple correct answers for the integral of a function. Going from an equation to its derivative,
there is only one answer, but going from that derivative back to the original equation leads us
to a range of correct solutions. In honor of this uncertainty, the symbolic function of integration
is called the indefinite integral.
When an integrator performs live signal integration with respect to time, the output is
the sum of the integrated input signal over time and an initial value of arbitrary magnitude,
representing the integrator’s pre-existing output at the time integration began. For example,
if I integrate the velocity of a car driving in a straight line away from a city, calculating
R that a
constant velocity of 50 miles per hour over a time of 2 hours will produce a distance ( v dt) of
100 miles, that does not necessarily mean the car will be 100 miles away from the city after 2
hours. All it tells us is that the car will be 100 miles further away from the city after 2 hours of
driving. The actual distance from the city after 2 hours of driving depends on how far the car
was from the city when integration began. If we do not know this initial value for distance, we
cannot determine the car’s exact distance from the city after 2 hours of driving.
This same problem appears when we integrate acceleration with respect to time to obtain
velocity:
9.8. MEASUREMENT CIRCUITS – INCOMPLETE 423
Integrator
− -
+ V
a V + Velocity
+
Acceleration
- ∫ dt
∫ a dt = v + v0
Where,
Accel. v0 = Initial velocity
In this integrator system, the calculated velocity of the car will only be valid if the integrator
circuit is initialized to an output value of zero when the car is stationary (v = 0). Otherwise,
the integrator could very well be outputting a non-zero signal for velocity (v0 ) when the car
is stationary, for the accelerometer cannot tell the difference between a stationary state (0
miles per hour) and a state of constant velocity (say, 60 miles per hour, unchanging). This
uncertainty in integrator output is inherent to the process of integration, and not an artifact
of the circuitry or of the sensor.
In summary, if maximum accuracy is desired for any physical measurement, it is best to
measure that variable directly rather than compute it from other measurements. This is not
to say that computation is worthless. Quite to the contrary, often it is the only practical means
of obtaining a desired measurement. However, the limits of computation must be understood
and respected in order that precise measurements be obtained.
9.8 Measurement circuits – INCOMPLETE

Figure 9.17 shows a photodiode amplifier for measuring low levels of light. Best sensitivity
and bandwidth are obtained with a transimpedance amplifier, a current to voltage amplifier,
instead of a conventional operational amplifier. The photodiode remains reverse biased for
lowest diode capacitance, hence wider bandwidth, and lower noise. The feedback resistor sets
the “gain”, the current to voltage amplification factor. Typical values are 1 to 10 Meg Ω. Higher
values yield higher gain. A capacitor of a few pF may be required to compensate for photodiode
capacitance, and prevents instability at the high gain. The wiring at the summing node must
be as compact as possible. This point is sensitive to circuit board contaminants and must be
thoroughly cleaned. The most sensitive amplifiers contain the photodiode and amplifier within
a hybrid microcircuit package or single die.
−
Vo
+
Figure 9.17: Photodiode amplifier.
9.9 Control circuits – PENDING

Contributors
Warren Young (August 2002): Initial idea and text for ”Power supply circuits” section.
Paragraphs modified by Tony Kuphaldt (changes in vocabulary, plus inclusion of additional
concepts).
Bill Marsden (April 2008) Author of “ElectroStatic Discharge” section.
Bibliography
[1] Chin-Leong Lim, Lim Yeam Ch’ng, Goh Swee Chye, “Diode Quad Is
Foundation For PIN Diode Attenuator,” Microwaves & RF, May 2006, at
http://www.mwrf.com/Articles/Index.cfm?Ad=1&ArticleID=12523
[2] “Transistor Audio and Radio Circuits,” TP1399, 2nd Ed., pp 39-40, Mullard, London, 1972.
[3] “AM Receiver Circuit TCA440,” Analog Data Manual, 2nd Ed., pp 14-20 to 14-26, Signet-
ics, 1982.
[4] Sony “8-pin Single-Chip AM Radio with Builot-in Power Amplifier,” pp 5, at

http://www.datasheetcatalog.com/datasheets pdf/C/X/A/1/CXA1600.shtml
[5] Texas Instruments “Solid State Communications,” pp 318, McGraw-Hill, N.Y., 1966.
[6] Texas Instruments “Transistor Circuit Design,” pp 290, McGraw-Hill, N.Y., 1963.
Chapter 10
ACTIVE FILTERS
Contents
*** PENDING ***
425
426 CHAPTER 10. ACTIVE FILTERS
Chapter 11
DC MOTOR DRIVES
Contents
*** PENDING ***
427
428 CHAPTER 11. DC MOTOR DRIVES
Chapter 12
INVERTERS AND AC MOTOR

DRIVES
Contents
*** PENDING ***
429
430 CHAPTER 12. INVERTERS AND AC MOTOR DRIVES
Chapter 13
ELECTRON TUBES
Contents
13.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 431
13.2 Early tube history . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 432
13.3 The triode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 435
13.4 The tetrode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 437
13.5 Beam power tubes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 438
13.6 The pentode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 440
13.7 Combination tubes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 440
13.8 Tube parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 443
13.9 Ionization (gas-filled) tubes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 445
13.10Display tubes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 449
13.11Microwave tubes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 452
13.12Tubes versus Semiconductors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 455
13.1 Introduction
An often neglected area of study in modern electronics is that of tubes, more precisely known as
vacuum tubes or electron tubes. Almost completely overshadowed by semiconductor, or ”solid-
state” components in most modern applications, tube technology once dominated electronic
circuit design.
In fact, the historical transition from ”electric” to ”electronic” circuits really began with
tubes, for it was with tubes that we entered into a whole new realm of circuit function: a way of
controlling the flow of electrons (current) in a circuit by means of another electric signal (in the
case of most tubes, the controlling signal is a small voltage). The semiconductor counterpart
to the tube, of course, is the transistor. Transistors perform much the same function as tubes:
controlling the flow of electrons in a circuit by means of another flow of electrons in the case of
the bipolar transistor, and controlling the flow of electrons by means of a voltage in the case of
431
432 CHAPTER 13. ELECTRON TUBES
the field-effect transistor. In either case, a relatively small electric signal controls a relatively
large electric current. This is the essence of the word ”electronic,” so as to distinguish it from
”electric,” which has more to do with how electron flow is regulated by Ohm’s Law and the
physical attributes of wire and components.
Though tubes are now obsolete for all but a few specialized applications, they are still a
worthy area of study. If nothing else, it is fascinating to explore ”the way things used to be
done” in order to better appreciate modern technology.
13.2 Early tube history
Thomas Edison, that prolific American inventor, is often credited with the invention of the
incandescent lamp. More accurately, it could be said that Edison was the man who perfected
the incandescent lamp. Edison’s successful design of 1879 was actually preceded by 77 years by
the British scientist Sir Humphry Davy, who first demonstrated the principle of using electric
current to heat a thin strip of metal (called a ”filament”) to the point of incandescence (glowing
white hot).
Edison was able to achieve his success by placing his filament (made of carbonized sewing
thread) inside of a clear glass bulb from which the air had been forcibly removed. In this
vacuum, the filament could glow at white-hot temperatures without being consumed by com-
bustion:
clear, glass bulb

air removed
filament
In the course of his experimentation (sometime around 1883), Edison placed a strip of metal
inside of an evacuated (vacuum) glass bulb along with the filament. Between this metal strip
and one of the filament connections he attached a sensitive ammeter. What he found was that
electrons would flow through the meter whenever the filament was hot, but ceased when the
filament cooled down:
13.2. EARLY TUBE HISTORY 433
metal strip
-
A
+
The white-hot filament in Edison’s lamp was liberating free electrons into the vacuum of
the lamp, those electrons finding their way to the metal strip, through the galvanometer, and
back to the filament. His curiosity piqued, Edison then connected a fairly high-voltage battery
in the galvanometer circuit to aid the small current:
-
A
more +
current
Sure enough, the presence of the battery created a much larger current from the filament to
the metal strip. However, when the battery was turned around, there was little to no current
at all!
+
no
current ! A
-
In effect, what Edison had stumbled upon was a diode! Unfortunately, he saw no practical
use for such a device and proceeded with further refinements in his lamp design.
The one-way electron flow of this device (known as the Edison Effect) remained a curios-
ity until J. A. Fleming experimented with its use in 1895. Fleming marketed his device as a
”valve,” initiating a whole new area of study in electric circuits. Vacuum tube diodes – Flem-
ing’s ”valves” being no exception – are not able to handle large amounts of current, and so
Fleming’s invention was impractical for any application in AC power, only for small electric
signals.
Then in 1906, another inventor by the name of Lee De Forest started playing around with
the ”Edison Effect,” seeing what more could be gained from the phenomenon. In doing so, he
made a startling discovery: by placing a metal screen between the glowing filament and the
metal strip (which by now had taken the form of a plate for greater surface area), the stream of
electrons flowing from filament to plate could be regulated by the application of a small voltage
between the metal screen and the filament:
The DeForest "Audion" tube
"plate"
"grid" -
"filament" A
+
control
voltage
plate current can be controlled by the

application of a small control voltage
between the grid and filament!
De Forest called this metal screen between filament and plate a grid. It wasn’t just the
amount of voltage between grid and filament that controlled current from filament to plate, it
was the polarity as well. A negative voltage applied to the grid with respect to the filament
would tend to choke off the natural flow of electrons, whereas a positive voltage would tend to
enhance the flow. Although there was some amount of current through the grid, it was very
small; much smaller than the current through the plate.
Perhaps most importantly was his discovery that the small amounts of grid voltage and grid
current were having large effects on the amount of plate voltage (with respect to the filament)
and plate current. In adding the grid to Fleming’s ”valve,” De Forest had made the valve
adjustable: it now functioned as an amplifying device, whereby a small electrical signal could
take control over a larger electrical quantity.
The closest semiconductor equivalent to the Audion tube, and to all of its more modern tube
equivalents, is an n-channel D-type MOSFET. It is a voltage-controlled device with a large
current gain.
Calling his invention the ”Audion,” he vigorously applied it to the development of com-
munications technology. In 1912 he sold the rights to his Audion tube as a telephone signal
amplifier to the American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT and T), which made long-
distance telephone communication practical. In the following year he demonstrated the use of
an Audion tube for generating radio-frequency AC signals. In 1915 he achieved the remark-
able feat of broadcasting voice signals via radio from Arlington, Virginia to Paris, and in 1916
inaugurated the first radio news broadcast. Such accomplishments earned De Forest the title
”Father of Radio” in America.
13.3. THE TRIODE 435
13.3 The triode
De Forest’s Audion tube came to be known as the triode tube, because it had three elements:
filament, grid, and plate (just as the ”di” in the name diode refers to two elements, filament
and plate). Later developments in diode tube technology led to the refinement of the electron
emitter: instead of using the filament directly as the emissive element, another metal strip
called the cathode could be heated by the filament.
This refinement was necessary in order to avoid some undesired effects of an incandescent
filament as an electron emitter. First, a filament experiences a voltage drop along its length,
as current overcomes the resistance of the filament material and dissipates heat energy. This
meant that the voltage potential between different points along the length of the filament wire
and other elements in the tube would not be constant. For this and similar reasons, alternating
current used as a power source for heating the filament wire would tend to introduce unwanted
AC ”noise” in the rest of the tube circuit. Furthermore, the surface area of a thin filament was
limited at best, and limited surface area on the electron emitting element tends to place a
corresponding limit on the tube’s current-carrying capacity.
The cathode was a thin metal cylinder fitting snugly over the twisted wire of the filament.
The cathode cylinder would be heated by the filament wire enough to freely emit electrons,
without the undesirable side effects of actually carrying the heating current as the filament
wire had to. The tube symbol for a triode with an indirectly-heated cathode looks like this:
plate
grid
cathode filament
Since the filament is necessary for all but a few types of vacuum tubes, it is often omitted in
the symbol for simplicity, or it may be included in the drawing but with no power connections
drawn to it:
...
...
no filament no connections shown

shown at all to filament wires
...
A simple triode circuit is shown to illustrate its basic operation as an amplifier:
Triode amplifier circuit
output
voltage "plate supply"
DC power
source
input
voltage
The low-voltage AC signal connected between the grid and cathode alternately suppresses,
then enhances the electron flow between cathode and plate. This causes a change in voltage on
the output of the circuit (between plate and cathode). The AC voltage and current magnitudes
on the tube’s grid are generally quite small compared with the variation of voltage and current
in the plate circuit. Thus, the triode functions as an amplifier of the incoming AC signal
13.4. THE TETRODE 437
(taking high-voltage, high-current DC power supplied from the large DC source on the right
and ”throttling” it by means of the tube’s controlled conductivity).
In the triode, the amount of current from cathode to plate (the ”controlled” current is a
function both of grid-to-cathode voltage (the controlling signal) and the plate-to-cathode volt-
age (the electromotive force available to push electrons through the vacuum). Unfortunately,
neither of these independent variables have a purely linear effect on the amount of current
through the device (often referred to simply as the ”plate current”). That is, triode current
does not necessarily respond in a direct, proportional manner to the voltages applied.
In this particular amplifier circuit the nonlinearities are compounded, as plate voltage (with
respect to cathode) changes along with the grid voltage (also with respect to cathode) as plate
current is throttled by the tube. The result will be an output voltage waveform that doesn’t
precisely resemble the waveform of the input voltage. In other words, the quirkiness of the
triode tube and the dynamics of this particular circuit will distort the waveshape. If we re-
ally wanted to get complex about how we stated this, we could say that the tube introduces
harmonics by failing to exactly reproduce the input waveform.
Another problem with triode behavior is that of stray capacitance. Remember that any
time we have two conductive surfaces separated by an insulating medium, a capacitor will
be formed. Any voltage between those two conductive surfaces will generate an electric field
within that insulating region, potentially storing energy and introducing reactance into a cir-
cuit. Such is the case with the triode, most problematically between the grid and the plate. It
is as if there were tiny capacitors connected between the pairs of elements in the tube:
Cgrid-plate
Cplate-cathode
Cgrid-cathode
Now, this stray capacitance is quite small, and the reactive impedances usually high. Usu-
ally, that is, unless radio frequencies are being dealt with. As we saw with De Forest’s Audion
tube, radio was probably the prime application for this new technology, so these ”tiny” capaci-
tances became more than just a potential problem. Another refinement in tube technology was
necessary to overcome the limitations of the triode.
13.4 The tetrode

As the name suggests, the tetrode tube contained four elements: cathode (with the implicit
filament, or ”heater”), grid, plate, and a new element called the screen. Similar in construction
to the grid, the screen was a wire mesh or coil positioned between the grid and plate, connected
to a source of positive DC potential (with respect to the cathode, as usual) equal to a fraction
of the plate voltage. When connected to ground through an external capacitor, the screen
had the effect of electrostatically shielding the grid from the plate. Without the screen, the
capacitive linking between the plate and the grid could cause significant signal feedback at
high frequencies, resulting in unwanted oscillations.
The screen, being of less surface area and lower positive potential than the plate, didn’t
attract many of the electrons passing through the grid from the cathode, so the vast majority
of electrons in the tube still flew by the screen to be collected by the plate:
Tetrode amplifier circuit
R
"screen"
"plate supply"
DC power
source
R C
input
voltage
With a constant DC screen voltage, electron flow from cathode to plate became almost ex-
clusively dependent upon grid voltage, meaning the plate voltage could vary over a wide range
with little effect on plate current. This made for more stable gains in amplifier circuits, and
better linearity for more accurate reproduction of the input signal waveform.
Despite the advantages realized by the addition of a screen, there were some disadvantages
as well. The most significant disadvantage was related to something known as secondary
emission. When electrons from the cathode strike the plate at high velocity, they can cause
free electrons to be jarred loose from atoms in the metal of the plate. These electrons, knocked
off the plate by the impact of the cathode electrons, are said to be ”secondarily emitted.” In a
triode tube, secondary emission is not that great a problem, but in a tetrode with a positively-
charged screen grid in close proximity, these secondary electrons will be attracted to the screen
rather than the plate from which they came, resulting in a loss of plate current. Less plate
current means less gain for the amplifier, which is not good.
Two different strategies were developed to address this problem of the tetrode tube: beam
power tubes and pentodes. Both solutions resulted in new tube designs with approximately the
same electrical characteristics.
13.5 Beam power tubes

In the beam power tube, the basic four-element structure of the tetrode was maintained, but
the grid and screen wires were carefully arranged along with a pair of auxiliary plates to create
an interesting effect: focused beams or ”sheets” of electrons traveling from cathode to plate.
These electron beams formed a stationary ”cloud” of electrons between the screen and plate
13.5. BEAM POWER TUBES 439
(called a ”space charge”) which acted to repel secondary electrons emitted from the plate back
to the plate. A set of ”beam-forming” plates, each connected to the cathode, were added to help
maintain proper electron beam focus. Grid and screen wire coils were arranged in such a way
that each turn or wrap of the screen fell directly behind a wrap of the grid, which placed the
screen wires in the ”shadow” formed by the grid. This precise alignment enabled the screen to
still perform its shielding function with minimal interference to the passage of electrons from
cathode to plate.
grid wires beam-forming plates

(cross-sectional view) (2)
"space charge"
-
- -- -
- -- -
cathode -- - - plate
-
- - - --
--- -
-- --
- -
-- - -- -
-- --- -
-
- -
electron beams
screen wires
(cross-sectional view)
This resulted in lower screen current (and more plate current!) than an ordinary tetrode
tube, with little added expense to the construction of the tube.
Beam power tetrodes were often distinguished from their non-beam counterparts by a dif-
ferent schematic symbol, showing the beam-forming plates:
The "Beam power" tetrode tube
plate
grid screen
cathode
13.6 The pentode

Another strategy for addressing the problem of secondary electrons being attracted by the
screen was the addition of a fifth wire element to the tube structure: a suppressor. These
five-element tubes were naturally called pentodes.
The pentode tube
plate
suppressor
screen
grid
cathode
The suppressor was another wire coil or mesh situated between the screen and the plate,
usually connected directly to ground potential. In some pentode tube designs, the suppressor
was internally connected to the cathode so as to minimize the number of connection pins having
to penetrate the tube envelope:
plate
(suppressor internally
connected to cathode)
screen
grid
cathode
The suppressor’s job was to repel any secondarily emitted electrons back to the plate: a
structural equivalent of the beam power tube’s space charge. This, of course, increased plate
current and decreased screen current, resulting in better gain and overall performance. In
some instances it allowed for greater operating plate voltage as well.
13.7 Combination tubes

Similar in thought to the idea of the integrated circuit, tube designers tried integrating dif-
ferent tube functions into single tube envelopes to reduce space requirements in more modern
tube-type electronic equipment. A common combination seen within a single glass shell was
two either diodes or two triodes. The idea of fitting pairs of diodes inside a single envelope
makes a lot of sense in light of power supply full-wave rectifier designs, always requiring mul-
tiple diodes.
Of course, it would have been quite impossible to combine thousands of tube elements into
a single tube envelope the way that thousands of transistors can be etched onto a single piece
13.7. COMBINATION TUBES 441
of silicon, but engineers still did their best to push the limits of tube miniaturization and
consolidation. Some of these tubes, whimsically called compactrons, held four or more complete
tube elements within a single envelope.
Sometimes the functions of two different tubes could be integrated into a single, combina-
tion tube in a way that simply worked more elegantly than two tubes ever could. An example
of this was the pentagrid converter, more generally called a heptode, used in some superhetero-
dyne radio designs. These tubes contained seven elements: 5 grids plus a cathode and a plate.
Two of the grids were normally reserved for signal input, the other three relegated to screening
and suppression (performance-enhancing) functions. Combining the superheterodyne func-
tions of oscillator and signal mixer together in one tube, the signal coupling between these two
stages was intrinsic. Rather than having separate oscillator and mixer circuits, the oscillator
creating an AC voltage and the mixer ”mixing” that voltage with another signal, the pentagrid
converter’s oscillator section created an electron stream that oscillated in intensity which then
directly passed through another grid for ”mixing” with another signal.
This same tube was sometimes used in a different way: by applying a DC voltage to one of
the control grids, the gain of the tube could be changed for a signal impressed on the other con-
trol grid. This was known as variable-mu operation, because the ”mu” (µ) of the tube (its am-
plification factor, measured as a ratio of plate-to-cathode voltage change over grid-to-cathode
voltage change with a constant plate current) could be altered at will by a DC control voltage
signal.
Enterprising electronics engineers also discovered ways to exploit such multi-variable ca-
pabilities of ”lesser” tubes such as tetrodes and pentodes. One such way was the so-called ul-
tralinear audio power amplifier, invented by a pair of engineers named Hafler and Keroes, uti-
lizing a tetrode tube in combination with a ”tapped” output transformer to provide substantial
improvements in amplifier linearity (decreases in distortion levels). Consider a ”single-ended”
triode tube amplifier with an output transformer coupling power to the speaker:
Speaker
input
voltage
If we substitute a tetrode for a triode in this circuit, we will see improvements in circuit gain
resulting from the electrostatic shielding offered by the screen, preventing unwanted feedback
between the plate and control grid:
Standard Speaker
configuration
of tetrode tube
in a single-ended
audio amplifier
input
voltage
However, the tetrode’s screen may be used for functions other than merely shielding the
grid from the plate. It can also be used as another control element, like the grid itself. If
a ”tap” is made on the transformer’s primary winding, and this tap connected to the screen,
the screen will receive a voltage that varies with the signal being amplified (feedback). More
specifically, the feedback signal is proportional to the rate-of-change of magnetic flux in the
transformer core (dΦ/dt), thus improving the amplifier’s ability to reproduce the input signal
waveform at the speaker terminals and not just in the primary winding of the transformer:
"Ultralinear" Speaker
configuration
of tetrode tube
in a single-ended
audio amplifier
input
voltage
13.8. TUBE PARAMETERS 443
This signal feedback results in significant improvements in amplifier linearity (and conse-
quently, distortion), so long as precautions are taken against ”overpowering” the screen with
too great a positive voltage with respect to the cathode. As a concept, the ultralinear (screen-
feedback) design demonstrates the flexibility of operation granted by multiple grid-elements
inside a single tube: a capability rarely matched by semiconductor components.
Some tube designs combined multiple tube functions in a most economic way: dual plates
with a single cathode, the currents for each of the plates controlled by separate sets of control
grids. Common examples of these tubes were triode-heptode and triode-hexode tubes (a hexode
tube is a tube with four grids, one cathode, and one plate).
Other tube designs simply incorporated separate tube structures inside a single glass enve-
lope for greater economy. Dual diode (rectifier) tubes were quite common, as were dual triode
tubes, especially when the power dissipation of each tube was relatively low.
Dual triode tube
The 12AX7 and 12AU7 models are common examples of dual-triode tubes, both of low-power
rating. The 12AX7 is especially common as a preamplifier tube in electric guitar amplifier
circuits.
13.8 Tube parameters
For bipolar junction transistors, the fundamental measure of amplification is the Beta ratio
(β), defined as the ratio of collector current to base current (IC /IB ). Other transistor charac-
teristics such as junction resistance, which in some amplifier circuits may impact performance
as much as β, are quantified for the benefit of circuit analysis. Electron tubes are no different,
their performance characteristics having been explored and quantified long ago by electrical
engineers.
Before we can speak meaningfully on these characteristics, we must define several mathe-
matical variables used for expressing common voltage, current, and resistance measurements
as well as some of the more complex quantities:
µ = amplification factor, pronounced "mu"

(unitless)
gm = mutual conductance, in siemens
Ep = plate-to-cathode voltage
Eg = grid-to-cathode voltage
Ip = plate current
Ik = cathode current
Es = input signal voltage
rp = dynamic plate resistance, in ohms
∆ = delta, the Greek symbol for change
The two most basic measures of an amplifying tube’s characteristics are its amplification
factor (µ) and its mutual conductance (gm ), also known as transconductance. Transconduc-
tance is defined here just the same as it is for field-effect transistors, another category of
voltage-controlled devices. Here are the two equations defining each of these performance
characteristics:
∆Ep
µ= with constant Ip (plate current)
∆Eg
∆Ip
gm = with constant Ep (plate voltage)
∆Eg
Another important, though more abstract, measure of tube performance is its plate resis-
tance. This is the measurement of plate voltage change over plate current change for a constant
value of grid voltage. In other words, this is an expression of how much the tube acts like a
resistor for any given amount of grid voltage, analogous to the operation of a JFET in its ohmic
mode:
∆Ep
rp = with constant Eg (grid voltage)
∆Ip
The astute reader will notice that plate resistance may be determined by dividing the am-
plification factor by the transconductance:
13.9. IONIZATION (GAS-FILLED) TUBES 445
∆Ep ∆Ip
µ= gm =
∆Eg ∆Eg
. . . dividing µ by gm . . .
∆Ep
∆Eg
rp =
∆Ip
∆Eg
∆Ep ∆Eg
rp =
∆Eg ∆Ip
∆Ep
rp =
∆Ip
These three performance measures of tubes are subject to change from tube to tube (just as
β ratios between two ”identical” bipolar transistors are never precisely the same) and between
different operating conditions. This variability is due partly to the unavoidable nonlinearities
of electron tubes and partly due to how they are defined. Even supposing the existence of a
perfectly linear tube, it will be impossible for all three of these measures to be constant over
the allowable ranges of operation. Consider a tube that perfectly regulates current at any
given amount of grid voltage (like a bipolar transistor with an absolutely constant β): that
tube’s plate resistance must vary with plate voltage, because plate current will not change
even though plate voltage does.
Nevertheless, tubes were (and are) rated by these values at given operating conditions, and
may have their characteristic curves published just like transistors.
13.9 Ionization (gas-filled) tubes

So far, we’ve explored tubes which are totally ”evacuated” of all gas and vapor inside their glass
envelopes, properly known as vacuum tubes. With the addition of certain gases or vapors,
however, tubes take on significantly different characteristics, and are able to fulfill certain
special roles in electronic circuits.
When a high enough voltage is applied across a distance occupied by a gas or vapor, or when
that gas or vapor is heated sufficiently, the electrons of those gas molecules will be stripped
away from their respective nuclei, creating a condition of ionization. Having freed the electrons
from their electrostatic bonds to the atoms’ nuclei, they are free to migrate in the form of a
current, making the ionized gas a relatively good conductor of electricity. In this state, the gas
is more properly referred to as a plasma.
Ionized gas is not a perfect conductor. As such, the flow of electrons through ionized gas
will tend to dissipate energy in the form of heat, thereby helping to keep the gas in a state
of ionization. The result of this is a tube that will begin to conduct under certain conditions,
then tend to stay in a state of conduction until the applied voltage across the gas and/or the
heat-generating current drops to a minimum level.
The astute observer will note that this is precisely the kind of behavior exhibited by a class
of semiconductor devices called ”thyristors,” which tend to stay ”on” once turned ”on” and tend
to stay ”off ” once turned ”off.” Gas-filled tubes, it can be said, manifest this same property of
hysteresis.
Unlike their vacuum counterparts, ionization tubes were often manufactured with no fila-
ment (heater) at all. These were called cold-cathode tubes, with the heated versions designated
as hot-cathode tubes. Whether or not the tube contained a source of heat obviously impacted
the characteristics of a gas-filled tube, but not to the extent that lack of heat would impact the
performance of a hard-vacuum tube.
The simplest type of ionization device is not necessarily a tube at all; rather, it is constructed
of two electrodes separated by a gas-filled gap. Simply called a spark gap, the gap between the
electrodes may be occupied by ambient air, other times a special gas, in which case the device
must have a sealed envelope of some kind.
Spark gap
enclosure (optional)
electrodes
A prime application for spark gaps is in overvoltage protection. Engineered not to ionize,
or ”break down” (begin conducting), with normal system voltage applied across the electrodes,
the spark gap’s function is to conduct in the event of a significant increase in voltage. Once
conducting, it will act as a heavy load, holding the system voltage down through its large
current draw and subsequent voltage drop along conductors and other series impedances. In a
properly engineered system, the spark gap will stop conducting (”extinguish”) when the system
voltage decreases to a normal level, well below the voltage required to initiate conduction.
One major caveat of spark gaps is their significantly finite life. The discharge generated
by such a device can be quite violent, and as such will tend to deteriorate the surfaces of the
electrodes through pitting and/or melting.
Spark gaps can be made to conduct on command by placing a third electrode (usually with
a sharp edge or point) between the other two and applying a high voltage pulse between that
electrode and one of the other electrodes. The pulse will create a small spark between the
two electrodes, ionizing part of the pathway between the two large electrodes, and enabling
conduction between them if the applied voltage is high enough:
13.9. IONIZATION (GAS-FILLED) TUBES 447
Triggered spark gap
main (high voltage,

voltage
source high current)
Load
spark gap
third electrode
triggering voltage source

(high voltage, low current)
Spark gaps of both the triggered and untriggered variety can be built to handle huge
amounts of current, some even into the range of mega-amps (millions of amps)! Physical size
is the primary limiting factor to the amount of current a spark gap can safely and reliably
handle.
When the two main electrodes are placed in a sealed tube filled with a special gas, a dis-
charge tube is formed. The most common type of discharge tube is the neon light, used popu-
larly as a source of colorful illumination, the color of the light emitted being dependent on the
type of gas filling the tube.
Construction of neon lamps closely resembles that of spark gaps, but the operational char-
acteristics are quite different:
high voltage power supply (AC or DC)
electrode NEON LAMP electrode
current through the tube

causes the neon gas to glow
glass tube
small neon
indicator lamp
Neon lamp schematic symbol
By controlling the spacing of the electrodes and the type of gas in the tube, neon lights
can be made to conduct without drawing the excessive currents that spark gaps do. They
still exhibit hysteresis in that it takes a higher voltage to initiate conduction than it does to
make them ”extinguish,” and their resistance is definitely nonlinear (the more voltage applied
across the tube, the more current, thus more heat, thus lower resistance). Given this nonlinear
tendency, the voltage across a neon tube must not be allowed to exceed a certain limit, lest the
tube be damaged by excessive temperatures.
This nonlinear tendency gives the neon tube an application other than colorful illumination:
it can act somewhat like a zener diode, ”clamping” the voltage across it by drawing more and
more current if the voltage decreases. When used in this fashion, the tube is known as a glow
tube, or voltage-regulator tube, and was a popular means of voltage regulation in the days of
electron tube circuit design.
Rseries
glow-discharge voltage across load

voltage regulator Rload held relative constant
tube with variations of voltage
source and load resistance
Please take note of the black dot found in the tube symbol shown above (and in the neon
lamp symbol shown before that). That marker indicates the tube is gas-filled. It is a common
marker used in all gas-filled tube symbols.
One example of a glow tube designed for voltage regulation was the VR-150, with a nominal
regulating voltage of 150 volts. Its resistance throughout the allowable limits of current could
13.10. DISPLAY TUBES 449
vary from 5 kΩ to 30 kΩ, a 6:1 span. Like zener diode regulator circuits of today, glow tube
regulators could be coupled to amplifying tubes for better voltage regulation and higher load
current ranges.
If a regular triode was filled with gas instead of a hard vacuum, it would manifest all the
hysteresis and nonlinearity of other gas tubes with one major advantage: the amount of volt-
age applied between grid and cathode would determine the minimum plate-to cathode voltage
necessary to initiate conduction. In essence, this tube was the equivalent of the semiconductor
SCR (Silicon-Controlled Rectifier), and was called the thyratron.
(Simple) Thyratron control circuit
+
Rload
-
Thyratron high voltage

Tube
AC source
control
voltage
It should be noted that the schematic shown above is greatly simplified for most purposes
and thyratron tube designs. Some thyratrons, for instance, required that the grid voltage
switch polarity between their ”on” and ”off ” states in order to properly work. Also, some thyra-
trons had more than one grid!
Thyratrons found use in much the same way as SCR’s find use today: controlling rectified
AC to large loads such as motors. Thyratron tubes have been manufactured with different
types of gas fillings for different characteristics: inert (chemically non-reactive) gas, hydrogen
gas, and mercury (vaporized into a gas form when activated). Deuterium, a rare isotope of
hydrogen, was used in some special applications requiring the switching of high voltages.
13.10 Display tubes

In addition to performing tasks of amplification and switching, tubes can be designed to serve
as display devices.
Perhaps the best-known display tube is the cathode ray tube, or CRT. Originally invented
as an instrument to study the behavior of ”cathode rays” (electrons) in a vacuum, these tubes
developed into instruments useful in detecting voltage, then later as video projection devices
with the advent of television. The main difference between CRTs used in oscilloscopes and
CRTs used in televisions is that the oscilloscope variety exclusively use electrostatic (plate)
deflection, while televisions use electromagnetic (coil) deflection. Plates function much better
than coils over a wider range of signal frequencies, which is great for oscilloscopes but irrele-
vant for televisions, since a television electron beam sweeps vertically and horizontally at fixed
frequencies. Electromagnetic deflection coils are much preferred in television CRT construc-
tion because they do not have to penetrate the glass envelope of the tube, thus decreasing the
production costs and increasing tube reliability.
An interesting ”cousin” to the CRT is the Cat-Eye or Magic-Eye indicator tube. Essen-
tially, this tube is a voltage-measuring device with a display resembling a glowing green ring.
Electrons emitted by the cathode of this tube impinge on a fluorescent screen, causing the
green-colored light to be emitted. The shape of the glow produced by the fluorescent screen
varies as the amount of voltage applied to a grid changes:
"Cat-Eye" indicator tube displays
large shadow slight shadow minimal shadow
The width of the shadow is directly determined by the potential difference between the con-
trol electrode and the fluorescent screen. The control electrode is a narrow rod placed between
the cathode and the fluorescent screen. If that control electrode (rod) is significantly more neg-
ative than the fluorescent screen, it will deflect some electrons away from the that area of the
screen. The area of the screen ”shadowed” by the control electrode will appear darker when
there is a significant voltage difference between the two. When the control electrode and fluo-
rescent screen are at equal potential (zero voltage between them), the shadowing effect will be
minimal and the screen will be equally illuminated.
The schematic symbol for a ”cat-eye” tube looks something like this:
"Cat-Eye" or "Magic-Eye"
indicator tube
fluorescent
plate screen
control
electrode
amplifier
grid
cathode
Here is a photograph of a cat-eye tube, showing the circular display region as well as the
glass envelope, socket (black, at far end of tube), and some of its internal structure:
13.10. DISPLAY TUBES 451
Normally, only the end of the tube would protrude from a hole in an instrument panel, so
the user could view the circular, fluorescent screen.
In its simplest usage, a ”cat-eye” tube could be operated without the use of the amplifier
grid. However, in order to make it more sensitive, the amplifier grid is used, and it is used like
this:
"Cat-Eye" indicator tube circuit
signal
As the signal voltage increases, current through

the tube is choked off. This decreases the voltage
between the plate and the fluorescent screen,
lessening the shadow effect (shadow narrows).
The cathode, amplifier grid, and plate act as a triode to create large changes in plate-to-
cathode voltage for small changes in grid-to-cathode voltage. Because the control electrode
is internally connected to the plate, it is electrically common to it and therefore possesses the
same amount of voltage with respect to the cathode that the plate does. Thus, the large voltage
changes induced on the plate due to small voltage changes on the amplifier grid end up causing
large changes in the width of the shadow seen by whoever is viewing the tube.
Control electrode negative with No voltage between control

respect to the fluorescent screen. electrode and flourescent screen.
This is caused by a positive This is caused by a negative
amplifier grid voltage (with amplifier grid voltage (with
respect to the cathode). respect to the cathode).
”Cat-eye” tubes were never accurate enough to be equipped with a graduated scale as is
the case with CRT’s and electromechanical meter movements, but they served well as null
detectors in bridge circuits, and as signal strength indicators in radio tuning circuits. An
unfortunate limitation to the ”cat-eye” tube as a null detector was the fact that it was not
directly capable of voltage indication in both polarities.
13.11 Microwave tubes

For extremely high-frequency applications (above 1 GHz), the interelectrode capacitances and
transit-time delays of standard electron tube construction become prohibitive. However, there
seems to be no end to the creative ways in which tubes may be constructed, and several high-
frequency electron tube designs have been made to overcome these challenges.
It was discovered in 1939 that a toroidal cavity made of conductive material called a cavity
resonator surrounding an electron beam of oscillating intensity could extract power from the
beam without actually intercepting the beam itself. The oscillating electric and magnetic fields
associated with the beam ”echoed” inside the cavity, in a manner similar to the sounds of
traveling automobiles echoing in a roadside canyon, allowing radio-frequency energy to be
transferred from the beam to a waveguide or coaxial cable connected to the resonator with a
coupling loop. The tube was called an inductive output tube, or IOT:
The inductive output tube (IOT)
coaxial
output
cable
RF power
output
RF
signal
input
electron beam
toroidal
cavity
DC supply
13.11. MICROWAVE TUBES 453
Two of the researchers instrumental in the initial development of the IOT, a pair of brothers
named Sigurd and Russell Varian, added a second cavity resonator for signal input to the
inductive output tube. This input resonator acted as a pair of inductive grids to alternately
”bunch” and release packets of electrons down the drift space of the tube, so the electron beam
would be composed of electrons traveling at different velocities. This ”velocity modulation” of
the beam translated into the same sort of amplitude variation at the output resonator, where
energy was extracted from the beam. The Varian brothers called their invention a klystron.
The klystron tube
RF coaxial
signal output
input cable
RF power
output
Beam
control
electron beam
DC supply
Another invention of the Varian brothers was the reflex klystron tube. In this tube, electrons
emitted from the heated cathode travel through the cavity grids toward the repeller plate, then
are repelled and returned back the way they came (hence the name reflex) through the cavity
grids. Self-sustaining oscillations would develop in this tube, the frequency of which could be
changed by adjusting the repeller voltage. Hence, this tube operated as a voltage-controlled
oscillator.
The reflex klystron tube
cavity repeller
grids
RF output
cavity
control grid
cathode
As a voltage-controlled oscillator, reflex klystron tubes served commonly as ”local oscilla-

tors” for radar equipment and microwave receivers:
Reflex klystron tube used as

a voltage-controlled oscillator
Initially developed as low-power devices whose output required further amplification for
radio transmitter use, reflex klystron design was refined to the point where the tubes could
serve as power devices in their own right. Reflex klystrons have since been superseded by
semiconductor devices in the application of local oscillators, but amplification klystrons con-
tinue to find use in high-power, high-frequency radio transmitters and in scientific research
applications.
One microwave tube performs its task so well and so cost-effectively that it continues to
reign supreme in the competitive realm of consumer electronics: the magnetron tube. This de-
vice forms the heart of every microwave oven, generating several hundred watts of microwave
RF energy used to heat food and beverages, and doing so under the most grueling conditions
for a tube: powered on and off at random times and for random durations.
Magnetron tubes are representative of an entirely different kind of tube than the IOT and
klystron. Whereas the latter tubes use a linear electron beam, the magnetron directs its elec-
tron beam in a circular pattern by means of a strong magnetic field:
13.12. TUBES VERSUS SEMICONDUCTORS 455
The magnetron tube
cavity
resonators
electron
cathode RF output
beam
Once again, cavity resonators are used as microwave-frequency ”tank circuits,” extracting
energy from the passing electron beam inductively. Like all microwave-frequency devices using
a cavity resonator, at least one of the resonator cavities is tapped with a coupling loop: a loop
of wire magnetically coupling the coaxial cable to the resonant structure of the cavity, allowing
RF power to be directed out of the tube to a load. In the case of the microwave oven, the output
power is directed through a waveguide to the food or drink to be heated, the water molecules
within acting as tiny load resistors, dissipating the electrical energy in the form of heat.
The magnet required for magnetron operation is not shown in the diagram. Magnetic flux
runs perpendicular to the plane of the circular electron path. In other words, from the view of
the tube shown in the diagram, you are looking straight at one of the magnetic poles.
13.12 Tubes versus Semiconductors

Devoting a whole chapter in a modern electronics text to the design and function of electron
tubes may seem a bit strange, seeing as how semiconductor technology has all but obsoleted
tubes in almost every application. However, there is merit in exploring tubes not just for
historical purposes, but also for those niche applications that necessitate the qualifying phrase
”almost every application” in regard to semiconductor supremacy.
In some applications, electron tubes not only continue to see practical use, but perform their
respective tasks better than any solid-state device yet invented. In some cases the performance
and reliability of electron tube technology is far superior.
In the fields of high-power, high-speed circuit switching, specialized tubes such as hydrogen
thyratrons and krytrons are able to switch far larger amounts of current, far faster than any
semiconductor device designed to date. The thermal and temporal limits of semiconductor
physics place limitations on switching ability that tubes – which do not operate on the same
principles – are exempt from.
In high-power microwave transmitter applications, the excellent thermal tolerance of tubes
alone secures their dominance over semiconductors. Electron conduction through semicon-
ducting materials is greatly impacted by temperature. Electron conduction through a vacuum
is not. As a consequence, the practical thermal limits of semiconductor devices are rather
low compared to that of tubes. Being able to operate tubes at far greater temperatures than
equivalent semiconductor devices allows tubes to dissipate more thermal energy for a given
amount of dissipation area, which makes them smaller and lighter in continuous high power
applications.
Another decided advantage of tubes over semiconductor components in high-power appli-
cations is their rebuildability. When a large tube fails, it may be disassembled and repaired at
far lower cost than the purchase price of a new tube. When a semiconductor component fails,
large or small, there is generally no means of repair.
The following photograph shows the front panel of a 1960’s vintage 5 kW AM radio trans-
mitter. One of two ”Eimac” brand power tubes can be seen in a recessed area, behind the
glass door. According to the station engineer who gave the facility tour, the rebuild cost for
such a tube is only $800: quite inexpensive compared to the cost of a new tube, and still quite
reasonable in contrast to the price of a new, comparable semiconductor component!
Tubes, being less complex in their manufacture than semiconductor components, are po-
tentially cheaper to produce as well, although the huge volume of semiconductor device pro-
duction in the world greatly offsets this theoretical advantage. Semiconductor manufacture is
quite complex, involving many dangerous chemical substances and necessitating super-clean
assembly environments. Tubes are essentially nothing more than glass and metal, with a vac-
uum seal. Physical tolerances are ”loose” enough to permit hand-assembly of vacuum tubes,
and the assembly work need not be done in a ”clean room” environment as is necessary for
semiconductor manufacture.
One modern area where electron tubes enjoy supremacy over semiconductor components
is in the professional and high-end audio amplifier markets, although this is partially due to
musical culture. Many professional guitar players, for example, prefer tube amplifiers over
transistor amplifiers because of the specific distortion produced by tube circuits. An electric
guitar amplifier is designed to produce distortion rather than avoid distortion as is the case
with audio-reproduction amplifiers (this is why an electric guitar sounds so much different
than an acoustical guitar), and the type of distortion produced by an amplifier is as much a
matter of personal taste as it is technical measurement. Since rock music in particular was
13.12. TUBES VERSUS SEMICONDUCTORS 457
born with guitarists playing tube-amplifier equipment, there is a significant level of ”tube
appeal” inherent to the genre itself, and this appeal shows itself in the continuing demand for
”tubed” guitar amplifiers among rock guitarists.
As an illustration of the attitude among some guitarists, consider the following quote taken
from the technical glossary page of a tube-amplifier website which will remain nameless:
Solid State: A component that has been specifically designed to make a guitar
amplifier sound bad. Compared to tubes, these devices can have a very long lifespan,
which guarantees that your amplifier will retain its thin, lifeless, and buzzy sound
for a long time to come.
In the area of audio reproduction amplifiers (music studio amplifiers and home entertain-
ment amplifiers), it is best for an amplifier to reproduce the musical signal with as little distor-
tion as possible. Paradoxically, in contrast to the guitar amplifier market where distortion is a
design goal, high-end audio is another area where tube amplifiers enjoy continuing consumer
demand. Though one might suppose the objective, technical requirement of low distortion
would eliminate any subjective bias on the part of audiophiles, one would be very wrong. The
market for high-end ”tubed” amplifier equipment is quite volatile, changing rapidly with trends
and fads, driven by highly subjective claims of ”magical” sound from audio system reviewers
and salespeople. As in the electric guitar world, there is no small measure of cult-like devotion
to tube amplifiers among some quarters of the audiophile world. As an example of this irra-
tionality, consider the design of many ultra-high-end amplifiers, with chassis built to display
the working tubes openly, even though this physical exposure of the tubes obviously enhances
the undesirable effect of microphonics (changes in tube performance as a result of sound waves
vibrating the tube structure).
Having said this, though, there is a wealth of technical literature contrasting tubes against
semiconductors for audio power amplifier use, especially in the area of distortion analysis.
More than a few competent electrical engineers prefer tube amplifier designs over transistors,
and are able to produce experimental evidence in support of their choice. The primary diffi-
culty in quantifying audio system performance is the uncertain response of human hearing.
All amplifiers distort their input signal to some degree, especially when overloaded, so the
question is which type of amplifier design distorts the least. However, since human hearing is
very nonlinear, people do not interpret all types of acoustic distortion equally, and so some am-
plifiers will sound ”better” than others even if a quantitative distortion analysis with electronic
instruments indicates similar distortion levels. To determine what type of audio amplifier will
distort a musical signal ”the least,” we must regard the human ear and brain as part of the
whole acoustical system. Since no complete model yet exists for human auditory response,
objective assessment is difficult at best. However, some research indicates that the character-
istic distortion of tube amplifier circuits (especially when overloaded) is less objectionable than
distortion produced by transistors.
Tubes also possess the distinct advantage of low ”drift” over a wide range of operating
conditions. Unlike semiconductor components, whose barrier voltages, β ratios, bulk resis-
tances, and junction capacitances may change substantially with changes in device temper-
ature and/or other operating conditions, the fundamental characteristics of a vacuum tube
remain nearly constant over a wide range in operating conditions, because those character-
istics are determined primarily by the physical dimensions of the tube’s structural elements
(cathode, grid(s), and plate) rather than the interactions of subatomic particles in a crystalline
lattice.
This is one of the major reasons solid-state amplifier designers typically engineer their cir-
cuits to maximize power-efficiency even when it compromises distortion performance, because
a power-inefficient amplifier dissipates a lot of energy in the form of waste heat, and transistor
characteristics tend to change substantially with temperature. Temperature-induced ”drift”
makes it difficult to stabilize ”Q” points and other important performance-related measures in
an amplifier circuit. Unfortunately, power efficiency and low distortion seem to be mutually
exclusive design goals.
For example, class A audio amplifier circuits typically exhibit very low distortion levels, but
are very wasteful of power, meaning that it would be difficult to engineer a solid-state class A
amplifier of any substantial power rating due to the consequent drift of transistor characteris-
tics. Thus, most solid-state audio amplifier designers choose class B circuit configurations for
greater efficiency, even though class B designs are notorious for producing a type of distortion
known as crossover distortion. However, with tubes it is easy to design a stable class A audio
amplifier circuit because tubes are not as adversely affected by the changes in temperature
experienced in a such a power-inefficient circuit configuration.
Tube performance parameters, though, tend to ”drift” more than semiconductor devices
when measured over long periods of time (years). One major mechanism of tube ”aging” ap-
pears to be vacuum leaks: when air enters the inside of a vacuum tube, its electrical character-
istics become irreversibly altered. This same phenomenon is a major cause of tube mortality,
or why tubes typically do not last as long as their respective solid-state counterparts. When
tube vacuum is maintained at a high level, though, excellent performance and life is possible.
An example of this is a klystron tube (used to produce the high-frequency radio waves used in
a radar system) that lasted for 240,000 hours of operation (cited by Robert S. Symons of Litton
Electron Devices Division in his informative paper, ”Tubes: Still vital after all these years,”
printed in the April 1998 issue of IEEE Spectrum magazine).
If nothing else, the tension between audiophiles over tubes versus semiconductors has
spurred a remarkable degree of experimentation and technical innovation, serving as an ex-
cellent resource for those wishing to educate themselves on amplifier theory. Taking a wider
view, the versatility of electron tube technology (different physical configurations, multiple
control grids) hints at the potential for circuit designs of far greater variety than is possible
using semiconductors. For this and other reasons, electron tubes will never be ”obsolete,” but
will continue to serve in niche roles, and to foster innovation for those electronics engineers,
inventors, and hobbyists who are unwilling to let their minds by stifled by convention.
Appendix A-1
ABOUT THIS BOOK
A-1.1 Purpose
They say that necessity is the mother of invention. At least in the case of this book, that adage
is true. As an industrial electronics instructor, I was forced to use a sub-standard textbook
during my first year of teaching. My students were daily frustrated with the many typograph-
ical errors and obscure explanations in this book, having spent much time at home struggling
to comprehend the material within. Worse yet were the many incorrect answers in the back of
the book to selected problems. Adding insult to injury was the $100+ price.
Contacting the publisher proved to be an exercise in futility. Even though the particular
text I was using had been in print and in popular use for a couple of years, they claimed my
complaint was the first they’d ever heard. My request to review the draft for the next edition
of their book was met with disinterest on their part, and I resolved to find an alternative text.
Finding a suitable alternative was more difficult than I had imagined. Sure, there were
plenty of texts in print, but the really good books seemed a bit too heavy on the math and the
less intimidating books omitted a lot of information I felt was important. Some of the best
books were out of print, and those that were still being printed were quite expensive.
It was out of frustration that I compiled Lessons in Electric Circuits from notes and ideas I
had been collecting for years. My primary goal was to put readable, high-quality information
into the hands of my students, but a secondary goal was to make the book as affordable as
possible. Over the years, I had experienced the benefit of receiving free instruction and encour-
agement in my pursuit of learning electronics from many people, including several teachers
of mine in elementary and high school. Their selfless assistance played a key role in my own
studies, paving the way for a rewarding career and fascinating hobby. If only I could extend
the gift of their help by giving to other people what they gave to me . . .
So, I decided to make the book freely available. More than that, I decided to make it ”open,”
following the same development model used in the making of free software (most notably the
various UNIX utilities released by the Free Software Foundation, and the Linux operating
459
460 APPENDIX A-1. ABOUT THIS BOOK
system, whose fame is growing even as I write). The goal was to copyright the text – so as to
protect my authorship – but expressly allow anyone to distribute and/or modify the text to suit
their own needs with a minimum of legal encumbrance. This willful and formal revoking of
standard distribution limitations under copyright is whimsically termed copyleft. Anyone can
”copyleft” their creative work simply by appending a notice to that effect on their work, but
several Licenses already exist, covering the fine legal points in great detail.
The first such License I applied to my work was the GPL – General Public License – of the
Free Software Foundation (GNU). The GPL, however, is intended to copyleft works of computer
software, and although its introductory language is broad enough to cover works of text, its
wording is not as clear as it could be for that application. When other, less specific copyleft
Licenses began appearing within the free software community, I chose one of them (the Design
Science License, or DSL) as the official notice for my project.
In ”copylefting” this text, I guaranteed that no instructor would be limited by a text insuffi-
cient for their needs, as I had been with error-ridden textbooks from major publishers. I’m sure
this book in its initial form will not satisfy everyone, but anyone has the freedom to change it,
leveraging my efforts to suit variant and individual requirements. For the beginning student
of electronics, learn what you can from this book, editing it as you feel necessary if you come
across a useful piece of information. Then, if you pass it on to someone else, you will be giving
them something better than what you received. For the instructor or electronics professional,
feel free to use this as a reference manual, adding or editing to your heart’s content. The
only ”catch” is this: if you plan to distribute your modified version of this text, you must give
credit where credit is due (to me, the original author, and anyone else whose modifications are
contained in your version), and you must ensure that whoever you give the text to is aware of
their freedom to similarly share and edit the text. The next chapter covers this process in more
detail.
It must be mentioned that although I strive to maintain technical accuracy in all of this
book’s content, the subject matter is broad and harbors many potential dangers. Electricity
maims and kills without provocation, and deserves the utmost respect. I strongly encourage
experimentation on the part of the reader, but only with circuits powered by small batteries
where there is no risk of electric shock, fire, explosion, etc. High-power electric circuits should
be left to the care of trained professionals! The Design Science License clearly states that
neither I nor any contributors to this book bear any liability for what is done with its contents.
A-1.2 The use of SPICE

One of the best ways to learn how things work is to follow the inductive approach: to observe
specific instances of things working and derive general conclusions from those observations.
In science education, labwork is the traditionally accepted venue for this type of learning, al-
though in many cases labs are designed by educators to reinforce principles previously learned
through lecture or textbook reading, rather than to allow the student to learn on their own
through a truly exploratory process.
Having taught myself most of the electronics that I know, I appreciate the sense of frustra-
tion students may have in teaching themselves from books. Although electronic components
are typically inexpensive, not everyone has the means or opportunity to set up a laboratory
in their own homes, and when things go wrong there’s no one to ask for help. Most textbooks
A-1.3. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 461
seem to approach the task of education from a deductive perspective: tell the student how
things are supposed to work, then apply those principles to specific instances that the student
may or may not be able to explore by themselves. The inductive approach, as useful as it is, is
hard to find in the pages of a book.
However, textbooks don’t have to be this way. I discovered this when I started to learn a
computer program called SPICE. It is a text-based piece of software intended to model circuits
and provide analyses of voltage, current, frequency, etc. Although nothing is quite as good as
building real circuits to gain knowledge in electronics, computer simulation is an excellent al-
ternative. In learning how to use this powerful tool, I made a discovery: SPICE could be used
within a textbook to present circuit simulations to allow students to ”observe” the phenomena
for themselves. This way, the readers could learn the concepts inductively (by interpreting
SPICE’s output) as well as deductively (by interpreting my explanations). Furthermore, in
seeing SPICE used over and over again, they should be able to understand how to use it them-
selves, providing a perfectly safe means of experimentation on their own computers with circuit
simulations of their own design.
Another advantage to including computer analyses in a textbook is the empirical verifi-
cation it adds to the concepts presented. Without demonstrations, the reader is left to take
the author’s statements on faith, trusting that what has been written is indeed accurate. The
problem with faith, of course, is that it is only as good as the authority in which it is placed and
the accuracy of interpretation through which it is understood. Authors, like all human beings,
are liable to err and/or communicate poorly. With demonstrations, however, the reader can
immediately see for themselves that what the author describes is indeed true. Demonstrations
also serve to clarify the meaning of the text with concrete examples.
SPICE is introduced early in volume I (DC) of this book series, and hopefully in a gentle
enough way that it doesn’t create confusion. For those wishing to learn more, a chapter in
the Reference volume (volume V) contains an overview of SPICE with many example circuits.
There may be more flashy (graphic) circuit simulation programs in existence, but SPICE is
free, a virtue complementing the charitable philosophy of this book very nicely.
A-1.3 Acknowledgements
First, I wish to thank my wife, whose patience during those many and long evenings (and
weekends!) of typing has been extraordinary.
I also wish to thank those whose open-source software development efforts have made this
endeavor all the more affordable and pleasurable. The following is a list of various free com-
puter software used to make this book, and the respective programmers:
• GNU/Linux Operating System – Linus Torvalds, Richard Stallman, and a host of others
too numerous to mention.
• Vim text editor – Bram Moolenaar and others.
• Xcircuit drafting program – Tim Edwards.
• SPICE circuit simulation program – too many contributors to mention.
• TEX text processing system – Donald Knuth and others.
462 APPENDIX A-1. ABOUT THIS BOOK
• Texinfo document formatting system – Free Software Foundation.
• LATEX document formatting system – Leslie Lamport and others.

• Gimp image manipulation program – too many contributors to mention.
Appreciation is also extended to Robert L. Boylestad, whose first edition of Introductory

Circuit Analysis taught me more about electric circuits than any other book. Other important
texts in my electronics studies include the 1939 edition of The ”Radio” Handbook, Bernard
Grob’s second edition of Introduction to Electronics I, and Forrest Mims’ original Engineer’s
Notebook.
Thanks to the staff of the Bellingham Antique Radio Museum, who were generous enough
to let me terrorize their establishment with my camera and flash unit.
I wish to specifically thank Jeffrey Elkner and all those at Yorktown High School for being
willing to host my book as part of their Open Book Project, and to make the first effort in con-
tributing to its form and content. Thanks also to David Sweet (website: (http://www.andamooka.org))
and Ben Crowell (website: (http://www.lightandmatter.com)) for providing encourage-
ment, constructive criticism, and a wider audience for the online version of this book.
Thanks to Michael Stutz for drafting his Design Science License, and to Richard Stallman
for pioneering the concept of copyleft.
Last but certainly not least, many thanks to my parents and those teachers of mine who
saw in me a desire to learn about electricity, and who kindled that flame into a passion for
discovery and intellectual adventure. I honor you by helping others as you have helped me.
Tony Kuphaldt, July 2001
”A candle loses nothing of its light when lighting another”

Kahlil Gibran
Appendix A-2
CONTRIBUTOR LIST
A-2.1 How to contribute to this book

As a copylefted work, this book is open to revision and expansion by any interested parties.
The only ”catch” is that credit must be given where credit is due. This is a copyrighted work:
it is not in the public domain!
If you wish to cite portions of this book in a work of your own, you must follow the same
guidelines as for any other copyrighted work. Here is a sample from the Design Science Li-
cense:
The Work is copyright the Author. All rights to the Work are reserved
by the Author, except as specifically described below. This License
describes the terms and conditions under which the Author permits you
to copy, distribute and modify copies of the Work.
In addition, you may refer to the Work, talk about it, and (as
dictated by "fair use") quote from it, just as you would any
copyrighted material under copyright law.
Your right to operate, perform, read or otherwise interpret and/or

execute the Work is unrestricted; however, you do so at your own risk,
because the Work comes WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY -- see Section 7 ("NO
WARRANTY") below.
If you wish to modify this book in any way, you must document the nature of those modifi-
cations in the ”Credits” section along with your name, and ideally, information concerning how
you may be contacted. Again, the Design Science License:
Permission is granted to modify or sample from a copy of the Work,
463
464 APPENDIX A-2. CONTRIBUTOR LIST
producing a derivative work, and to distribute the derivative work

under the terms described in the section for distribution above,
provided that the following terms are met:
(a) The new, derivative work is published under the terms of this
License.
(b) The derivative work is given a new name, so that its name or
title can not be confused with the Work, or with a version of
the Work, in any way.
(c) Appropriate authorship credit is given: for the differences

between the Work and the new derivative work, authorship is
attributed to you, while the material sampled or used from
the Work remains attributed to the original Author; appropriate
notice must be included with the new work indicating the nature
and the dates of any modifications of the Work made by you.
Given the complexities and security issues surrounding the maintenance of files comprising
this book, it is recommended that you submit any revisions or expansions to the original author
(Tony R. Kuphaldt). You are, of course, welcome to modify this book directly by editing your
own personal copy, but we would all stand to benefit from your contributions if your ideas were
incorporated into the online “master copy” where all the world can see it.
A-2.2 Credits
All entries arranged in alphabetical order of surname. Major contributions are listed by indi-
vidual name with some detail on the nature of the contribution(s), date, contact info, etc. Minor
contributions (typo corrections, etc.) are listed by name only for reasons of brevity. Please un-
derstand that when I classify a contribution as “minor,” it is in no way inferior to the effort
or value of a “major” contribution, just smaller in the sense of less text changed. Any and all
contributions are gratefully accepted. I am indebted to all those who have given freely of their
own knowledge, time, and resources to make this a better book!
A-2.2.1 Tony R. Kuphaldt

• Date(s) of contribution(s): 1996 to present
• Nature of contribution: Original author.
• Contact at: liec0@lycos.com

A-2.2. CREDITS 465
A-2.2.2 Dennis Crunkilton

• Date(s) of contribution(s): July 2004 to present
• Nature of contribution:Original author: Karnaugh mapping chapter; 04/2004; Shift

registers chapter, June 2005.
• Nature of contribution: Mini table of contents, all chapters except appendicies; html,
latex, ps, pdf; See Devel/tutorial.html; 01/2006.
• Contact at: dcrunkilton(at)att(dot)net
A-2.2.3 Bill Marsden

• Date(s) of contribution(s): May 2008
• Nature of contribution: Original author: “ElectroStatic Discharge” Section, Chapter

9.
• Contact at: bill marsden2(at)hotmail(dot)com
A-2.2.4 Your name here

• Date(s) of contribution(s): Month and year of contribution
• Nature of contribution: Insert text here, describing how you contributed to the book.
• Contact at: my email@provider.net
A-2.2.5 Typo corrections and other “minor” contributions

• line-allaboutcircuits.com (June 2005) Typographical error correction in Volumes 1,2,3,5,
various chapters ,(:s/visa-versa/vice versa/).
• Colin Creitz (May 2007) Chapters: several, s/it’s/its.
• Dennis Crunkilton (October 2005) Typographical capitlization correction to sectionti-

tles, chapter 9.
• Jeff DeFreitas (March 2006)Improve appearance: replace “/” and ”/” Chapters: A1, A2.
• Paul Stokes, Program Chair, Computer and Electronics Engineering Technology, ITT
Technical Institute, Houston, Tx (October 2004) Change (10012 = -810 + 710 = -110 ) to
(10012 = -810 + 110 = -110 ), CH2, Binary Arithmetic
• Paul Stokes, Program Chair Computer and Electronics Engineering Technology, ITT
Technical Institute, Houston, Tx (October 2004) Near ”Fold up the corners” change Out=B’C’
to Out=B’D’, 14118.eps same change, Karnaugh Mapping
• The students of Bellingham Technical College’s Instrumentation program, .

466 APPENDIX A-2. CONTRIBUTOR LIST
• Roger Hollingsworth (May 2003) Suggested a way to make the PLC motor control
system fail-safe.
• Jan-Willem Rensman (May 2002) Suggested the inclusion of Schmitt triggers and gate
hysteresis to the ”Logic Gates” chapter.
• Don Stalkowski (June 2002) Technical help with PostScript-to-PDF file format conver-
sion.
• Joseph Teichman (June 2002) Suggestion and technical help regarding use of PNG
images instead of JPEG.
• MWalden@allaboutcircuits.com (June 2007) “Karnaugh Mapping”, Larger Karnaugh

Maps, error: s/A’B’D/A’B’D’/.
• Unregistered@allaboutcircuits.com (November 2007) “Boolean algebra”, images 14019.pes

14021.eps output of gates incorrect s/0/A s/1/A .
• Dan Simon (February 2008) “Numeration Systems”, After BINARY TO OCTAL CON-
VERSION, position of decimal point —.
• Timothy Kingman (March 2008) Changed default roman font to newcent.

• Imranullah Syed (March 2008) Suggested centering of uncaptioned schematics.
• Chris01720@allaboutcircuits.com (March 2008) Ch 15, Inaccuracy involving CD-ROM

production.
• studiot@allaboutcircuits.com (March 2008) Ch 15, s/disk/disc/ in CDROM .
• Keith@allaboutcircuits.com (April 2008) Ch 12, s/laralel-out/parallel-out/ .

• Ken Braswell (May 2008) Ch 3, s/drips/drops/.
• Guest@allaboutcircuits.com (Oct 2008) Ch 2, s/are in close/are close/.
• Radoslav@allaboutcircuits.com (Oct 2008) Ch 8, s/that 1 mA of/that 6 mA/.
• Scanman@allaboutcircuits.com (Dec 2008) Ch 2, s/shells are hold/shells hold/.
• dgeorge@allaboutcircuits.com (Dec 2008) Ch 7, image 03320.png, swapped anode and

anode gate. left diagram.
Appendix A-3
DESIGN SCIENCE LICENSE
c 1999-2000 Michael Stutz stutz@dsl.org

Copyright
Verbatim copying of this document is permitted, in any medium.
A-3.1 0. Preamble
Copyright law gives certain exclusive rights to the author of a work, including the rights
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[$Id: dsl.txt,v 1.25 2000/03/14 13:14:14 m Exp m $]

Index
α ratio, 219, 252 Beam power tube, 438

β ratio, 191, 252 Bel, 8
10-50 milliamp signal, 351 Beta ratio, 191, 252
4-20 milliamp signal, 351 Beta ratio, bipolar transistor, 443
4-layer diode, 300 Beta variations, 192
741 operational amplifier, 333 Bias current, op-amp, 370
Bias, diode, 98
A-weighted dB scale, 14 Bias, transistor, 202, 224
A/D converter, 337 Bilateral, 272
AC-DC power supply schematic, 311 Bipolar-mode MOSFET, 292
Active device, 3 Bistable, 361
Active mode, transistor, 187 Brattain, Walter, 60, 65
Alpha ratio, 219, 252 Breakdown, diode, 102
Amplification, definition, 3 Breakdown, transistor, 305
Amplifier, differential, 329 Breakover, thyristor, 305
Amplifier, inverting, 343 Bridge rectifier circuit, 111
Amplifier, noninverting, 343 Bridge rectifier circuit, polyphase, 112
Amplifier, single-ended, 329 Bypass capacitor, 249
Analog-to-digital converter, 337
Angular Momentum quantum number, 33 Calculus, 332, 358, 406
Anti-static foam, 265 Capacitance, diode, 108
Antilogarithm, 10 Capacitor, bypass, 249
Artifact, measurement, 418 Capacitor, coupling, 233
Astable, 363 Capacitor, op-amp compensation, 376
Attenuator, 16 Cat-Eye tube, 450
Attenuator, bridged T, 21 Cathode, 435
Attenuator, coaxial, 23 Cathode Ray Tube, 449
Attenuator, L, 21 Center-tap rectifier circuit, 110
Attenuator, PI, 20 Characteristic curves, transistor, 191, 271
Attenuator, rf, 23 Check valve, 98
Attenuator, T, 19 Clamper circuit, 121
Avalanche photodiode, 153 Class A amplifier operation, 224
Averager, 352 Class AB amplifier operation, 226
Class B amplifier operation, 225
Band, electron, 48 Class C amplifier operation, 227
Bandwidth, amplifier, 244 Class D amplifier operation, 227
Bardeen, John, 60, 65 Class, amplifier operation, 224
471
472 INDEX
Clipper circuit, 117 dB, 8

clipper, zener diode, 141 dB, absolute power measurements, 15, 16
CMRR, 365 dB, sound measurements, 14
Cockcroft-Walton, voltage multiplier, 128 dBA, 14
Coherent light, 151 dBk, 16
Cold-cathode tube, 446 dBm, 15
COMFET, 292 dBW, 16
Common-base amplifier, 218 DC restorer circuit, 121
Common-collector amplifier, 210 Decibel, 8
Common-emitter amplifier, 196 Decibels, attenuator, 17
Common-mode rejection ratio, 365 Decineper, 13
Common-mode voltage, 365 Degenerative feedback, 244
Commutating diode, 130, 131 Derivative, calculus, 407
Commutation, 131 DIAC, 306
Commutation time, diode, 108 Differential amplifier, 329
Commutation, forced, 322, 323 Differential pair, 380, 381
Commutation, natural, 312, 323 Differentiation, 332
Comparator, 335 Differentiation, calculus, 358, 406
Compensation capacitor, op-amp, 376 Diode, 98
Conduction band, 48 Diode check, meter function, 104, 183
Conductivity-Modulated Field-Effect Transis- Diode equation, the, 101
tor, 292 Diode junction capacitance, 108
Constant-current diode, 162, 194 Diode leakage current, 108
Controlled rectifier, 316 Diode PIV rating, 102
Conventional flow, 98 Diode tube, 435
Cooper pair, 80 Diode, 4-layer, 73
Coupling capacitor, 233 Diode, constant-current, 162, 194
Coupling loop, resonator, 452, 455 Diode, Esaki, 144
Critical rate of voltage rise, 306, 308 Diode, four-layer, 300
Crossover distortion, 458 Diode, hot carrier, 143, 158
Crowbar, 311 Diode, IMPATT, 160
CRT, 449 Diode, laser, 151
Crystal radio, 396 Diode, light-activated, 152
Current mirror, 252 Diode, light-emitting, 146
Current source, 188, 350 diode, MIIM, 85
Current sourcing vs. sinking, 254 diode, MIM, 163
Current, diode leakage, 108 Diode, pin, 160
Current-limiting diode, 162 Diode, PNPN, 300
Current-regulating diode, 162 Diode, schottky, 143
Curve, characteristic, 191, 271 Diode, Shockley, 300
Cutoff voltage, 263 Diode, snap, 160
Cutoff, transistor, 180, 187 Diode, SPICE, 164
Czochralski process, silicon , 75 Diode, tunnel, 144
Diode, varactor, 158
Darlington pair, 216 Diode, varicap, 158
Datasheet, component, 107 Diode, zener, 135
INDEX 473
DIP, 333 Gain, AC versus DC, 7

Discharge tube, 447 Gate turn off switch, 73
Distortion, amplifier, 244 Gate-Controlled Switch, 308
Distortion, crossover, 458 Gate-Turn-Off thyristor, 308
dn, 13 GCS, 308
Double-layer tunneling transistor, 84 Glow tube, 448
Drift, op-amp, 376 Grid, 434
Dropout, thyristor, 305 Ground, 328
Dual Inline Package, 333 Ground, virtual, 343
Dual power supply, 329 GTO, 308
Duty cycle, square wave, 336 GTO, gate turn off switch, 73
Duty cycle, squarewave, 228
Half-wave rectifier circuit, 109
Edison effect, 433 Harmonic, 319
Effect, Edison, 433 Harmonic, even vs. odd, 319
Electrode, cathode, 435 Harmonics and waveform symmetry, 319
Electrode, grid, 434 Heptode, 441
Electrode, screen, 437 hfe, 192
Electrode, suppressor, 440 High temperature superconductors:, 82
Electron, 28 Holding current, SCR, 310
Electron flow, 98 hot carrier diode, 143
Emitter follower, 213 Hot-cathode tube, 446
Equation, diode, 101 Hybrid parameters, 192
Equilibrium, 338 Hysteresis, 361, 446
Esaki diode, 144
Exclusion principle, 36 IC, 254
Failure mode, zener diode, 136 IGBT, 292, 325
Faraday’s Law, 130, 131 IGFET, insulated gate field effect transistor,
Feedback, amplifier, 244 70
Feedback, negative, 338 IGT, 292, 325
Feedback, positive, 360 IMPATT diode, 160
FET, field effect transistor, 65 Inductive output tube, 452
Field effect transistor , 65 Inert elements, 38
Firing, thyristor, 305 Input, inverting, 330
Flash converter, 337 Input, noninverting, 330
Floating, 180, 308 Insulated gate field effect transistor, 70
Flow, electron vs. conventional, 98 Insulated-Gate Bipolar Transistor, 292, 325
Foam, anti-static, 265 Insulated-Gate Transistor, 292, 325
Forced commutation, 322, 323 Integrated circuit, 254
Forward bias, 98 Integration, calculus, 358, 406
Forward voltage, diode, 100 Inverting amplifier, 198, 343
Four-layer diode, 300 Inverting summer, 353
Frequency response, op-amp, 376 Ionization, 296, 445
Full-wave rectifier circuit, 110, 111
JFET, junction field effect transistor, 65
Gain, 6 Josephson junctions, 80
474 INDEX
Josephson transistor, 81 Noble elements, 38

Joule’s Law, 11, 136 Noninverting amplifier, 343
Junction capacitance, diode, 108 Noninverting summer, 353
Number, quantum, 33
Kickback, inductive, 130
Kirchhoff ’s Current Law, 177 Offset null, op-amp, 369
Kirchhoff ’s Voltage Law, 213 Offset voltage, op-amp, 368
Klystron, 452 Ohmic region, JFET, 273
Op-amp, 250, 333
Laser diode, 151 Operational amplifier, 250, 333
Laser light, 151 Orbital, electron, 35
Latch-up, 368 Oscillator, 244
Latching, thyristor, 305 Oscillator, op-amp, 363
Leakage current, diode, 102, 108 oscillator, phase shift, 395
LED, 146 Oscillator, relaxation, 297
Light-emitting diode, 146 Oscillator, voltage-controlled, 453
Lilienfeld, Julius, 65 Over-unity machine, 5
Load line, 228
Logarithm, 10 Passive averager, 352
Passive device, 3
Magic-Eye tube, 450 Pauli, exclusion principle, 36
Magnetic quantum number, 33 PCB, 106
Magnetic tunnel junction, 88 Peak detector, 115
Mechanics, quantum, 32 Pentagrid tube, 441
MESFET, metal semiconductor field effect tran- Pentode tube, 284
sistor, 68 Perpetual motion machine, 3
Metal oxide field effect transistor, 70 Phase shift, op-amp, 377
Mho, 274 Photodiode, 152
Microphonics, electron tube, 457 Photodiode amplifier, 423
MIIM, diode, 85 Photodiode, APD, 153
MIM diode, 163 Photodiode, PIN, 153
Monochromatic light, 151 PI-network , 16
MOS Controlled Thyristor, 324 PIN diode, 160
MOS-gated thyristor, 324 PIN, photodiode, 153
MOSFET, metal oxide field effect transistor, Pinch-off voltage, 263
70 PIV rating, diode, 102
MTJ, magnetic tunnel junction, 88 Plasma, 296, 445
Mu, tube amplification factor, 441 PNPN diode, 300
Multiplier circuit, diode, 123 Polyphase bridge rectifier circuit, 112
Multiplier, frequency, varactor, 395 Positive feedback, 244, 296, 360
Power supply schematic, AC-DC, 311
Natural commutation, 312, 323 Principal quantum number, 33
Negative feedback, 244, 338 Printed circuit board, 106
Negative resistance, 144 Process variable, 331
Neper, 13 Proton, 28
Neutron, 28 Pulse-width modulation, 336
INDEX 475
Push-pull amplifier, 225 Sensitive gate, SCR, 310

PWM, 336 Setpoint, 331
Shell, electron, 33
Quantum dot, 86 Shockley diode, 300
Quantum dot transistor, 86 Shockley, William, 60, 65, 73
Quantum mechanics, 32 Siemens, 274, 351
Quantum number, 33 Signal, 10-50 milliamp, 351
Quantum physics, 28 Signal, 4-20 milliamp, 351
quantum tunneling, 83 Silicon controlled rectifier, 73
Quiescent, 228 Silicon-controlled rectifier, 307, 449
Silicon-controlled switch, 322
Radio, crystal, 396 Single-ended amplifier, 329
Rail voltage, 340 Sink, current, 254
Rectifier, 98 Slicer circuit, 117
Rectifier circuit, 109 Slide rule, 10
Rectifier circuit, full-wave, 110, 111 Small-scale integration, 381
Rectifier circuit, half-wave, 109 Snap diode, 160
Rectifier, controlled, 316 Snubber, 131
Reference junction, thermocouple, 370 Solar cell, 154
Reflex klystron, 453 Solid-state, 2
Regenerative feedback, 244, 296 Sound intensity measurement, 14
Regulator, voltage, 215 Spark gap, 446
Relaxation oscillator, 297 SPICE, diode, 164
Resistance, negative, 144 Spin quantum number, 33
Resonant tunneling diode, 84 Spintronics, 88
Restorer circuit, 121 Split power supply, 329
Reverse bias, 98 SQUID:, 81
Reverse recovery time, diode, 108 SSI, 381
Reverse voltage rating, diode, 102 Step recovery diode, 160
Rheostat, 193, 274 Subshell notation, 34
Richter scale, 9 Subshell, electron, 34
Ripple voltage, 114 Superconduction quantum interference device,
Runaway, thermal, 247 81
Superconductivity, 79
s,p,d,f subshell notation, 34 Superposition theorem, 233
Saturable reactor, 3 Suppressor, 440
Saturation voltage, 340 Switching time, diode, 108
Saturation, transistor, 180, 187
Schottky diode, 143 T-network , 16
SCR, 307, 449 Tetrode tube, 284, 437
SCR bridge rectifier, 316 Theorem, Superposition, 233
SCR, silicon controlled rectifier, 73 Thermal runaway, BJT, 247
Screen, 437 Thermal voltage, diode, 102
SCS, 322 Thermocouple, 370
Secondary emission, 438 Three-phase bridge rectifier circuit, 112
Semiconductor, defined, 48 Thyratron, 449
476 INDEX
Thyratron tube, 298 Volume units, 15

Thyristor, 73, 446 VU scale, 15
Time, diode switching, 108
Totalizer, 359 Waveform symmetry and harmonics, 319
Transconductance, 274, 351
Transconductance amplifier, 351 Zener diode, 135
Transistor, field effect, 65 Zener diode failure mode, 136
Transistor, insulated gate field effect, 70 Zener diode, clipper, 141
Transistor, Josephson, 81
Transistor, metal oxide field effect, 70
Transistor, single electron, 86
Triode tube, 284, 298, 435
Tube, discharge, 447
Tunnel diode, 144
Tunnel junction, magnetic, 88
tunneling, quantum, 83
Unipolar, conduction, 65
Unit, bel, 8
Unit, decineper, 13
Unit, mho, 274
Unit, neper, 13
Unit, siemens, 274, 351
Valence band, 48
Valence shell, 34
Valve, “check”, 98
Varactor diode, 158
Varicap diode, 158
VCO, 299
Virtual ground, 343
VMOS transistor, 292
Voltage buffer, 340
Voltage doubler circuit, 123
Voltage follower, 213, 340
Voltage multiplier circuit, 123
Voltage multiplier, Cockcroft-Walton, 128
Voltage regulator, 215
Voltage regulator tube, 448
Voltage rise, critical rate of, 306, 308
Voltage, bias, 202, 224
Voltage, common-mode, 365
Voltage, forward, 100
Voltage, op-amp output saturation, 340
Voltage, ripple, 114
Voltage-controlled oscillator, 299, 453
INDEX 477

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Fifth Edition, last update July 02, 2007

Fifth Edition, last update July 02, 2007

• Second Edition: Printed in September of 2000. Illustrations reworked in standard graphic

1 AMPLIFIERS AND ACTIVE DEVICES 1

2 SOLID-STATE DEVICE THEORY 27

3 DIODES AND RECTIFIERS 97

3.7 Clamper circuits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121

4 BIPOLAR JUNCTION TRANSISTORS 175

5 JUNCTION FIELD-EFFECT TRANSISTORS 259

6 INSULATED-GATE FIELD-EFFECT TRANSISTORS 279

6.8 Biasing techniques – PENDING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290

8 OPERATIONAL AMPLIFIERS 327

9 PRACTICAL ANALOG SEMICONDUCTOR CIRCUITS 387

10 ACTIVE FILTERS 425

11 DC MOTOR DRIVES 427

12 INVERTERS AND AC MOTOR DRIVES 429

13 ELECTRON TUBES 431

A-1 ABOUT THIS BOOK 459

A-2 CONTRIBUTOR LIST 463

A-3 DESIGN SCIENCE LICENSE 467

AMPLIFIERS AND ACTIVE

1.1 From electric to electronic

e-1 e-1 e-1

(a) (b) (c)

1.2 Active versus passive devices

Pinput Perfect machine Poutput

Pinput Realistic machine Poutput

Plost (usually waste heat)

Pinput Perpetual-motion Poutput

Pinput Perpetual-motion P"free"

Figure 1.4: Hypothetical “perpetual motion machine” powers itself?

Pinput Amplifier Poutput

or less, one can never be made to function as a “perpetual motion” device.

1.4 Amplifier gain

Ioutput = (3.5)(28 mA)

Input signal Amplifier Amplifier Output signal

Overall gain = (3)(5) = 15

1000 30 dB 0.1 -10 dB

100 20 dB 0.01 -20 dB

Overall gain = (3)(5) = 15

AP(Bel) = log AP(ratio)

AP(Bel) = log 3 AP(Bel) = log 5

Overall gain = (3)(5) = 15

Figure 1.7: Power gain in bels is additive: 0.477 B + 0.699 B = 1.176 B.

AP(dB) = 10 log AP(ratio)

AP(dB) = 10 log 3 AP(dB) = 10 log 5

Overall gain = (3)(5) = 15

logarithmic in nature, such as the bel (decibel) and Richter scales.

AP (dB) = 10 log10 (PO / PI ) = 10 log10 (10 /1) = 10 log10 (10) = 10 (1) = 10 dB

AP (dB) = 20 = 10 log10 AP (ratio)

20/10 = log10 AP (ratio)

1020/10 = 10log10 (AP (ratio) )

100 = AP (ratio) = (PO / PI )

Power is proportional to the square

AV(Bel) = log AV(ratio)2 Exponent required

AV(dB) = 10 log AV(ratio)2 Exponent required

Then: AV(Bel) AI(Bel)

Then: AV(dB) AI(dB)

A(dB) = 20 log10 (VO / VI ) = 20 log10 (1 /0.01) = 20 log10 (100) = 20 (2) = 40 dB

AV (dB) = 20 log10 AV (ratio)

20/20 = log10 AP (ratio)

1020/20 = 10log10 (AV (ratio) )