IT2140E – Electronics for Information Technology lab DCE-SOICT-HUST

LAB 5: CURRENT-VOLTAGE CHARACTERISTIC OF BIPOLAR

JUNCTION TRANSISTOR (BJT)

Group: 7
Members Student ID
Lê Đức Anh 202417097
Nông Hoàng Anh 202417093
Đặng Xuân Bách 202417099
Đỗ Huy Du 202417108

1. Goals
 Understand the working principle of a BJT.
 Verify the current-voltage (V-A) characteristic of a BJT.
 Build up a switch circuit by using a BJT.

2. Exercises
Exercise 1. Investigate the current-voltage characteristic of a BJT (2N2222) in a Common-
Emitter amplifier circuit as shown in Figure 1.

(a) (b)

Figure 1. Common-Emitter amplifier circuit (a) and V-A characteristic of the BJT (b)
Requirements:
 Implement the circuit in Figure 1 with a resistor (RB = 94 kΩ) and a transistor
2N2222. Use a DC power supply to provide VBB (input voltage) = 3V, VCC = 10V.

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 Use a multimeter to measure the base current (IB) and the collector current (IC) of the
transistor. Compute the common emitter current gain, 𝛽 = of the transistor.

IB = 25.2μA IC = 8.14mA
Answer: As the recorded current of IC is 8.14mA and of IB is 25.2μA, we have:
𝐼 8.14 × 10
𝛽= = ≈ 323
𝐼 25.2 × 10
 Keep VBB = 3V so that IB is unchanged, and then gradually reduce VCC from 9V to
0V (e.g., 9V, 8V, …, 1V, 0.9V, ..., 0.1V, 0V). For each value of VCC, use a
multimeter to measure IC. Record the measured data.
 Repeat the above procedure with V BB = 5V, VBB = 4V, VBB = 2V, and VBB = 1V,
respectively.

Measured data:

VBB (V) VCC (V) IC (mA)

9 1.71
8 1.69
7 1.67
6 1.63
5 1.6
1
4 1.56
3 1.52
2 1.47
1 1.42
0.9 1.41

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0.8 1.4
0.7 1.39
0.6 1.39
0.5 1.38
0.4 1.37
0.3 1.36
0.2 1.34
0.1 1.13

VBB (V) VCC (V) IC (mA)

9 5.8
8 5.74
7 5.66
6 5.55
5 5.45
4 5.31
3 5.18
2 5
1 4.83
2
0.9 4.8
0.8 4.76
0.7 4.73
0.6 4.71
0.5 4.68
0.4 4.66
0.3 4.64
0.2 4.57
0.1 3.84

VBB (V) VCC (V) IC (mA)

9 10.17
8 10.08
7 9.93
6 9.75
5 9.57
4 9.33
3 9.10
3
2 8.78
1 8.48
0.9 8.42
0.8 8.36
0.7 8.3
0.6 8.27
0.5 8.22
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0.4 8.18
0.3 8.14
0.2 8.02
0.1 6.74

VBB (V) VCC (V) IC (mA)

9 13.47
8 13.35
7 13.15
6 12.91
5 12.67
4 12.35
3 12.04
2 11.62
1 11.22
4
0.9 11.14
0.8 11.06
0.7 10.98
0.6 10.94
0.5 10.88
0.4 10.83
0.3 10.77
0.2 10.61
0.1 8.92

VBB (V) VCC (V) IC (mA)

9 16.8
8 16.65
7 16.4
6 16.1
5 15.8
4 15.4
3 15.02
2 14.5
1 14
5
0.9 13.9
0.8 13.8
0.7 13.7
0.6 13.65
0.5 13.57
0.4 13.51
0.3 13.44
0.2 13.24
0.1 11.13
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The value of IC (mA) at VBB = 5V and VCC = 9V

The value of IC (mA) at VBB = 5V and VCC = 8V

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The value of IC (mA) at VBB = 5V and VCC = 7V

The value of IC (mA) at VBB = 5V and VCC = 6V

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The value of IC (mA) at VBB = 5V and VCC = 5V

The value of IC (mA) at VBB = 5V and VCC = 4V

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The value of IC (mA) at VBB = 5V and VCC = 3V

The value of IC (mA) at VBB = 5V and VCC = 2V

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The value of IC (mA) at VBB = 5V and VCC = 1V

The value of IC (mA) at VBB = 5V and VCC = 0.9V

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The value of IC (mA) at VBB = 5V and VCC = 0.7V

The value of IC (mA) at VBB = 5V and VCC = 0.6V

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The value of IC (mA) at VBB = 5V and VCC = 0.5V

The value of IC (mA) at VBB = 5V and VCC = 0.4V

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The value of IC (mA) at VBB = 5V and VCC = 0.3V

The value of IC (mA) at VBB = 5V and VCC = 0.2V

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The value of IC (mA) at VBB = 5V and VCC = 0.1V

 Based on the measured data, plot the current-voltage characteristic of the transistor
for each value of IB (see Figure 1(b)). Write your comments on the current-voltage
characteristic. Comment on the increase of IC with respect to the increase of VCC
(note: VCC = VCE).

Plot:

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Comments:

The plotted current-voltage characteristics of the BJT (2N2222) in a common-emitter

configuration display three distinct operational regions:

1. Cutoff Region (low VCE , IC ≈ 0)

- When VCE is close to 0V, the transistor is in the cutoff region, meaning that base
current (IB) is too low to turn the transistor on.
- In this region, collector current (IC) is nearly zero, and the transistor behaves like an
open switch.

2. Saturation Region (0V < VCE < ~1V)

- As VCE increases slightly above 0V, IC rapidly increases.
- The transistor enters saturation mode, where both the base-emitter and collector-
emitter junctions are forward-biased.
- The transistor behaves like a closed switch with a low voltage drop across it.
- In this region, increasing VCE does affect IC but only slightly. The transistor is not
fully amplifying current yet.

3. Active Region (VCE > 1V)

- When VCE is further increased beyond the saturation region (~1V), IC enters a nearly
constant phase.
- In this region, the transistor is fully turned on and functions as an amplifier.
- The collector current IC depends mainly on IB and is almost independent of VCE.
- Each curve in the graph corresponds to a different VBB value, meaning that for higher
base voltages, the transistor allows more collector current to flow.
- The small slope of the curves in this region represents the Early Effect, where a slight
increase in VCE causes a small increase in IC due to widening of the transistor’s
depletion region.

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IT2140E – Electronics for Information Technology lab DCE-SOICT-HUST

Exercise 2. Figure 2 shows a switch circuit. When there is no current flowing through the
Base (i.e., VIN = 0 and the transistor is in the cut-off mode), the Collector and Emitter are
electrically isolated (i.e., like switching OFF), resulting in the LED OFF (because the circuit
is open). When there is a small current flowing through the Base by increasing VIN (VIN >
VBE (on), the Collector and Emitter are electrically connected (i.e., like switching ON),
resulting in the LED ON (because the circuit is closed).
VCC = 5V
IC

RC = 330 Ω ED

VIN L
RB = 94 kΩ C
IB B E

Figure 2. Switch circuit using a BJT.

Requirements:
 Implement the switch circuit in Figure 2 with RB = 94 kΩ and RC = 330 Ω. Use a DC
power supply to provide the input voltage VIN in the range of 0-10V (i.e., VIN = 0–
10V) and VCC = 5V.
 Observe the status of the LED when VIN = 0V and when VIN > 0V. Comment on the
observation.

The LED at VIN = 0V The LED at VIN > 0V (VIN = 0.7V)

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Comments:
- When VIN = 0V:
o The transistor is in cutoff mode (VBE < 0.7V).
o No current flows through the collector-emitter path (IC ≈ 0).
o The LED remains OFF.
- When VIN > 0V:
o If V > 0.7V, the transistor starts conducting.
o IC increases as V increases, causing the LED to gradually turn ON.
o When V is sufficiently high, the transistor saturates, and the LED is fully ON.

 Gradually increase VIN from 0V to 10V and observe the brightness of the LED.
Comment on the results.

Observed data:

VCC (V) VIN (V) LED observation

0 OFF
1 Very dim
2 Dim
3 Brighter
4 Bright
5
5 Very bright
6 Fully ON
7 Fully ON
8 Fully ON
9 Fully ON

Comments:

1. Cutoff mode (VIN = 0V)

- VBE is too low (< 0.7V) ⇒ No base current ⇒ IC = 0
- No current flows ⇒ LED is OFF
2. Active mode (1V ≤ VIN ≤ 4V)
- As VIN increases, VBE > 0.7V, and the transistor starts conducting.
- IC gradually increases, so the LED brightness increases as well.
3. Saturation mode (VIN ≥ 5V)
- The transistor is fully ON, meaning IC is at its maximum.
- The LED is at full brightness, and increasing VIN further does not make it brighter.

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The status of the LED at VIN = 0V

The status of the LED at VIN = 1V

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The status of the LED at VIN = 2V

The status of the LED at VIN = 3V

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The status of the LED at VIN = 5V

The status of the LED at VIN = 7V

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The status of the LED at VIN = 8V

The status of the LED at VIN = 9V

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 Use a multimeter to measure IC (the current flows through RC and the LED) with VIN
= 1V, VIN = 3V, VIN = 5V, VIN = 7V, and VIN = 9V, respectively. Record and explain
the measured data.

Measured data:
VCC (V) VIN (V) IC (mA)
1 1.2
3 7.12
5 5 8.72
6 8.8
9 8.83

Explanation:
1. VIN = 1V ⇒ IC = 1.2mA (Active region)
- At VIN = 1V, VBE is just crossing the threshold (~0.7V), so the transistor is partially
conducting in the active region.
- IC is small (1.2 mA), meaning only a small current flows through the LED.
- LED is dim because the current is not yet high enough.

2. VIN = 3V ⇒ IC = 7.12mA (Active region)

- At VIN = 3V, VBE is well above 0.7V, so the transistor conducts more, allowing more
current to flow.
- The IC increases significantly to 7.12 mA, indicating a stronger conduction.
- The LED is bright, but the transistor is still in the active mode, meaning a further
increase in VIN will still increase IC.

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3. VIN = 5V ⇒ IC = 8.72mA (Saturation region)

- At VIN = 5V, the transistor reaches saturation mode, where V CE is at its minimum
(~0.2V).
- IC reaches 8.72 mA, close to its maximum limit.
- Increasing VIN further will not significantly increase IC anymore because the
transistor is fully ON.
- The LED is at full brightness.

4. VIN = 7V ⇒ IC = 8.8mA (Saturation region)

- The transistor remains in saturation mode.

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- IC slightly increases to 8.8 mA, but the difference is very small compared to V IN =
5V.
- The LED stays fully ON, meaning increasing VIN has little to no effect.

5. VIN = 9V ⇒ IC = 8.83mA (Saturation region)

- The transistor is still in saturation mode, and I C barely increases (8.83 mA versus 8.8
mA at VIN = 7V).
- The LED remains fully ON, confirming that higher VIN does not increase LED
brightness after saturation.

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