Input and Output Characteristics of Common Emitter Configuration.

Since transistor is a three terminal device, therefore, it can be connected in a circuit in three different ways:

• Common-base configuration
• Common-emitter configuration
• Common-collector configuration

Definition – In this configuration, emitter terminal of transistor is common between the input and output circuits.

The graphs showing the relationship between different currents and voltages of a transistor are known as the characteristics of the transistor. The characteristics of a transistor are of two types:

1. Input Characteristics.
2. Output Characteristics.

input and output characteristics of common emitter configuration

The graph between the variation of voltage and variation of currents when emitter of a transistor is common to both input and output circuits are known as common emitter characteristics of a transistor.

Circuit diagram to study input and output characteristics of common emitter configuration of a transistor is shown in the figure below.

Characteristics of a transistor in common emitter configuration are of two types:

1.  input characteristics common emitter configuration.
2.  output characteristics common emitter configuration.

Input Characteristics common emitter configuration

The graphs showing the variation of base current ‎I_B (input) with the variation of emitter-base voltage (‎V_EB) at a constant collector-emitter voltage (V_CE) are called input characteristics. 

The set of input characteristics are shown in the figure.

The input characteristics of a PNP transistor are just like the characteristics of a forward-biased diode when the collector of the transistor is short-circuited to the emitter and the emitter is forward biased. 

When ‎V_BE= 0, ‎I_B = 0 because in this case both the junction i.e. emitter-base junction and collector-base junction are short-circuited. As the value of ‎V_CE increases, then due to the Early effect, the width of the base region decreases, and hence the recombination of holes and electrons in the base agent decreases. As a result of this, the recombination current ( i.e. base current ‎I_B ) decreases at a given Value of ‎V_{BE .}

Output characteristics common emitter configuration 

The graphs showing the variation of collector current ‎I_C (output) with the variation of collector-emitter voltage at constant base current ‎I_B (input) are known as output characteristics of a transistor in the common-emitter configuration.

A set of output characteristics are shown in the figure.

output characteristics of a transistor in common emitter configuration are divided into three regions:

Active Region

In this region, collector junction is Reverse Biased and emitter junction is forward biased. This region lies above‎ I_B = 0 and to the right of the ordinate ‎V_CE= a few tenths of a volt. For a given value of ‎I_B the value of ‎I_C increases due to early effect as (‎V_CE) increases.

Note. Transistor is operated in an active region if it is used as an amplifier. 

Cutoff Region

The cutoff region lies below ‎I_B = 0. However, it is clear from the figure that the collector current has a significant value under this condition. In order to cut off the transistor, the emitter junction has to be made slightly reverse biased in addition to I_B.=0‎.

Saturation region

In this region, both emitter and collector junctions are forward biased equal to cut in voltage. Saturation region lies close to the zero voltage axis where all the curves coincide and fall rapidly toward the origin.

What are the input and output characteristics of a transistor?

The graphs showing the relationship between different currents and voltages of a transistor are known as the characteristics of the transistor.

What is input characteristics of common emitter configuration?

The graphs showing the variation of base current ‎I_B (input) with the variation of emitter-base voltage (‎V_EB) at a constant collector-emitter voltage (V_CE) are called input characteristics.

What are the input and output characteristics of common emitter configuration?

The graph between the variation of voltage and variation of currents when emitter of a transistor is common to both input and output circuits are known as common emitter characteristics of a transistor.