Bipolar transistors

In an amplifier, what is the DC voltage and current state of the transistor with no input signal called?

  1. AOperating point (bias point)
  2. BCutoff point
  3. CPinch-off point
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Answer: A. Operating point (bias point)

The operating point is the DC voltage and current state set by the bias circuit when there is no signal. The signal varies around this point, so to handle large signals without distortion, it is important to place the operating point near the middle of the linear part of the characteristics.

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More Bipolar transistors questions

  1. Which distortion tends to occur in a class B push-pull amplifier in which NPN and PNP transistors handle the positive and negative half-cycles?
  2. What is the role of a coupling capacitor placed between amplifier stages?
  3. How does the current gain hFE of a silicon bipolar transistor generally change as temperature rises?
  4. Which condition increases the small-signal input resistance (hie) of a common-emitter amplifier?
  5. What is the advantage of an active load, which uses a transistor acting as a current source instead of a load resistor in an amplifier?