Department of Technical Education

Andhra Pradesh
Name : R.Rama Rao
Designation : Lecturer.
Branch : Electronics & Communication Engineering.
Institute : Govt. Polytechnic (w), Bheemunipatnam, Visakhapatnam
Dist.
Year/Semester : Third Semester.
Subject : Electronics circuits-1
Subject Code : EC-302
Topic : Transistor Amplifiers.
Duration : 100min.
Sub-Topic : Potential divider method of biasing
Teaching Aid : PPT.
EC302.27 to 28 1
OBJECTIVES
On completion of this period you would be able to
understand

• The arrangement of potential divider bias or self

bias or universal bias circuit.

• Working

• Circuit Analysis

• Calculation of stability factor

EC302.27 to 28 2
RECAP

We have already gone through fixed biasing and problem

on fixed bias. We too know the importance of good

biasing

EC302.27 to 28 3
 What is Transistor Biasing?

• The proper flow of zero signal collector current and the

maintenance of proper collector Emitter voltage during

the passage of signal is called Transistor Biasing

EC302.27 to 28 4
POTENTIAL DIVIDER BIASING CIRCUIT

Fig. 1
EC302.27 to 28 5
 The circuit arrangement is as follows

• The voltage or Potential divider is formed by the resistors

R1 and R2 across VCC

• Hence it is named as potential divider bias circuit

• Also known as Self- bias or universal Bias circuit

EC302.27 to 28 6
 The emitter resistor RE provides

• Stabilization

• Reverse biases the emitter junction

EC302.27 to 28 7
• To make the Emitter – Bias junction forward biased, the

base voltage is obtained from VCC through R1-R2network.

• The values of R1 and R2 are selected such that the base

terminal becomes more positive than Emitter.

EC302.27 to 28 8
• The net forward bias across the base Emitter

junction,= VBE

• VBE = VB – IERE

• VB = Base voltage

• IERE = DC voltage drop across RE

EC302.27 to 28 9
• The DC base current IB is independent of transistor

gain ”β”

• In amplifiers loss of ac signal is caused by feedback

resistor RE

• To avoid ac signal loss a large capacitance CE is

connected across RE.

EC302.27 to 28 10
• CE offers small resistance at the operating frequency.

• CE allows AC signal to pass through it HENCE IT IS

CALLED BY –PASS CAPACITOR.

EC302.27 to 28 11
 CIRCUIT ANALYSIS

• Let the current flowing through the resistance , R1 = I1

• Generally I1 is selected 10 times to IB

• The base current IB is very small

• So, the current through resistance R2 can also be

assumed to be equal EC302.27

to I1 to 28 12
• I1= current through R1 = VCC/(R1+R2)

• VB= Voltage across R2= (VCC / (R1+R2)) x R2

EC302.27 to 28 13
Applying Kirchhoff’s voltage law to the base circuit,

• VB = VBE + VE

= VBE + IERE

• IE = (VB – VBE ) / RE

Collector current, IC ∼ IE= (VB – VBE ) /RE

EC302.27 to 28 14
Applying Kirchhoff’s voltage law to the collector circuit

• VCC = ICRC + VCE + IERE

• VCC = ICRC + VCE + ICRE, Since IC ∼ IE

• VCC = VCE + IC(RC+RE)

• VCE = VCC - IC(RC+RE)

EC302.27 to 28 15
From the equations

• IC ∼ IE = (VB– VBE) / RE

• VCE = VCC- IC(RC+RE)

• The value of IC and VCE can be determined

• The quiescent point ‘Q’ is established

EC302.27 to 28 16
 From the Equations
• IC ∼IE =(VB-VBE)/RE it is clear that IC does not depend

upon β.

• IC is practically independent of VBE

• Collector current IC is independent of transistor

parameters

• Hence good stabilization is ensured

EC302.27 to 28 17
• The emitter resistance RE provides excellent

stabilization

• Let the temperature of transistor junction rise when it is

loaded.

• Loading causes increase in leakage current

• IC increases as Ico increases

EC302.27 to 28 18
• As IC increase, the voltage drop across RE increases

• Since voltage drop (VB) across R2 is independent of IC

VBE decrease and so IB, IE and IC.

EC302.27 to 28 19
 The circuit has the tendency

• To hold the ‘Q’ point (IC) Stable.

• This is due to feedback (RE) action.

EC302.27 to 28 20
 WHAT IS BIAS STABILIZATION

• The maintenance of the operating or quiescent point

stable (independent of temperature or transistor

parameter variation) is known as Bias Stabilization

EC302.27 to 28 21
Calculation of Stability Factor

Fig 2 (a) Fig 2 (b)

EC302.27 to 28 22
• Stability factor S can be calculated from Thevinin’s
equivalent circuit of self bias circuit.

• Open circuit voltage across base and ground

VTH = VB = R2 / (R1+R2).VCC

EC302.27 to 28 23
• Resistance seen into base and ground terminals with VCC
short – circuited

• RTH = (R1R2)/R1+R2

• STABILITY FACTOR S = ∂IC VBE β=COST,.

∂ICO

EC302.27 to 28 24
• IF (1+β) RE >>RTH, THEN S ≃ 1+RTH
RE

• The values of RE and VCC should be large

• RTH should be small.

• Typical value of ‘S’ is BET WEEN 5 TO 10.

EC302.27 to 28 25
 ADVANTAGES

• In this circuit any value of ‘S” between 5 to 10 can be

achieved,prouided (1+β) >> RTH

• This circuit is the most commonly used biasing circuit.

EC302.27 to 28 26
Problem

A CE Amplifier employing an NPN transistor has load

resistor Rc connected between collector and Vcc supply of
+16v.For biasing a resistor R1 is connected between

collector and base resistor R2 = 30KΩ IS connected between

base and ground and resistor RE = 1KΩ is connected

between emitter and ground. Draw the circuit diagram.
Calculate the values of R1 and Rc and the stability factor S if

VBE = 0.2v ,IE = 2 mA, αο = 0.985 and VCE = 6v

EC302.27 to 28 27
Fig . 3

EC302.27 to 28 28
Solution
Emitter Current, IE = 2mA

Collector Current, IC = αοIE=0.985 x 2 =1.97mA

Base Current, IB = IE – IC = 2-1.97=0.03mA

α
β=
1- α
0.985
= 1 - 0.985

= 65.667

EC302.27 to 28 29
 VCC – VCE - IERE
Collector resistance, RC =
IC
16-6-2mA X 1KΩ
=
1.97mA

= 4.06KΩ

EC302.27 to 28 30
Voltage drop across resistor, R2
VTH R2 VCC 30 X 16
= =
R1+R2 30 + R1
480
=
30 + R1
And also from the below equations we have
R2
RTH = R1 ll R2 =
R1+R2
VTH = IB RTH + VEE + IE + RE

= IB RTH + VEE + (IB + IC)+ RE

R1R2 30R1
RTH = =
R1+R2 30 + R1

EC302.27 to 28 31
 And VTH = IBRTH + VBE + IERE

480 30R1
Or = 0.03 x + 0.2 + 2mA x 1kΩ
30 + R1 30 + R1

Or 480 = 0.9 R1 + 2.2(30+R1)

Or R1 = 133.55 kΩ

EC302.27 to 28 32
 1+β
Stability Factor, S = RE
1+β
RTH + RE

1+ 65.667
=
1
1+65.667
133.55 X 30
+1
133.55 + 30

= 18.65

EC302.27 to 28 33
Problem

• In a self – biased CE amplifier circuit comprising R2 = 90kΩ,

R1 = 10KΩ, VCC = 22.5 V, RC = 5.6K Ω and RE = 1.0KΩ and a

BJT with βο = 55 and VBE = 0V.Find the operating point and

stability factor (temperature stability) S of the circuit

EC302.27 to 28 34
Solution
Given that
VCC = 22.5 v;

R1 = 10KΩ;

R2 = 90KΩ;

RC = 5.6KΩ;

RE = 1.0kΩ;

βο = 55

and VBE = 0V
EC302.27 to 28 35
Resistance seen into the base and ground terminals with Vcc
short-circuited ,or

R1 X R2 10 X 90
RTH = R1 ll R2 = = = 9kΩ
R1+R2 10 + 90
Open-circuit voltage across base and ground terminals or

R2 90
VTH = VCC X R +R = 22.5 X
1 2 10 + 90 = 20.25 V
Since from the below equation
VTH = IB RTH + VEE + IE + RE = IB RTH + VEE + (IB + IC)+ RE

VTH - VBE
or IB =
RTH + (β + 1)RE
20.25 - 0 20.25 = 0.31154 m A
=
9 X 103 + (55+1)X1X103 65 X 103
EC302.27 to 28 36
 IC = β IB = 55 X 0.31154 = 17.135 m
A

IE = (β + 1) IB = 56 X 0.31154 = 17.446 m A

Since VCC = IC RC + VCE + IE RE

Therefore VCE = VCC – IC RC – IE RE

= 22.5 – 17.135 X 10-3 X 5.6 X 103 – 17.446 X 10 -3 X

1X 103 = -90.9 V

So operating point, Q = (-90.9 v, 17.135 m A)

EC302.27 to 28 37
 1+β 1 + 55
Stability factor, S = =
RE 1 X 103
1+β 1 + 55 X
RTH + RE 9 X 103 + 1 X 103

= 8.62

EC302.27 to 28 38
 VE 2.1
Emitter Current, IE = = = 3.088 m A
RE 0.68 X 103

IE = IC + IB = β IB + IB = (β + 1) IB

IE
β= -1
IB

3.088 X 10-3
= -1
20 X 10 -6

EC302.27 to 28 39
 SUMMARY

• Resistors R1 and R2 forms voltage divider across

VCC.
• R1-R2 potential divider across VCC forward biases the

emitter- Base junction.

• Emitter resistor RE provides stabilization.
• RE helps to reverse bias the emitter junction.

EC302.27 to 28 40
• To keep the Emitter-Base junction forward biased the
values of R1,R2 are selected such that base terminal
becomes more positive then emitter terminal.

• VBE = VB – IERE

• Dc bias circuit is independent of current gain β

• Ac signal losses can be avoided by using a capacitor of

large capacitance across RE
EC302.27 to 28 41
QUIZ

EC302.27 to 28 42
• Emitter resistance RE provides

A) Amplification

C) Vibration

E) Oscillation

G) Stabilization

EC302.27 to 28 43
1. Potential divider biasing circuit is also known as

A) Simple Bias

C) Fixed Bias

E) Self Bias

G) Collector to Base Bias

EC302.27 to 28 44
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

• Draw and explain the working of potential divider

biasing circuit.

• Explain how the self biasing circuit has an

improvement on the fixed bias circuit as far as stability
is concerned

EC302.27 to 28 45