12.9 : BJT Amplifiers

Bipolar Junction Transistors (BJTs) are pivotal components in amplifier circuits, functioning as voltage-controlled current sources in their active region. This characteristic allows them to efficiently control the collector current through variations in the base-emitter voltage. Essentially, BJTs amplify power due to their ability to take a weak input signal and output a much stronger signal.

In BJT amplifier configurations, particularly in common-emitter setups, the transistor's role extends to converting transconductance into voltage amplification. This conversion is achieved by channeling the output current through a resistor. The output voltage of the amplifier is determined by the voltage drop across this load resistor subtracted from the supply voltage. Consequently, the amplifier produces an inverted output voltage, which is essentially the input voltage shifted by the supply voltage. This inversion is a hallmark of common-emitter amplifiers.

The voltage-transfer characteristic curve of a common-emitter BJT amplifier provides a visual representation of how the output collector voltage varies in response to changes in the input base voltage. Notably, the curve's steep slope in the active region indicates where maximum gain is achieved. However, this region also introduces some nonlinearity to the output voltage.

A base-emitter DC voltage bias is set at the quiescent point (Q-point) within the active region for stable and linear amplification. When a small, time-varying signal is applied on top of this DC bias, the BJT operates within a small, nearly linear segment of the characteristic curve. This results in the amplification of the output collector voltage. Such a configuration is crucial for achieving the desired amplification while maintaining the integrity of the signal's waveform.

BJTs are fundamental building blocks for various electronic applications, particularly in creating efficient and effective amplifier circuits that enhance signal strength without significant distortion.