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OfflineFrogWarrior
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What do transistors do?
    #20265828 - 07/13/14 07:19 AM (9 years, 10 months ago)

Are transistors just using a smaller current to control a larger current? Like if I apply voltage to the outer pins of an NPN transistor, the amount of current that flows through it will depend on the voltage I apply to the central pin. Is this the function of transistors, or is there more to them?

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InvisibleSell Your Soul
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Re: What do transistors do? [Re: FrogWarrior]
    #20266642 - 07/13/14 12:07 PM (9 years, 10 months ago)

That's about right.
Normally, they are used in signal amplification.
But operating them at the extreme ends of their specs, they can be used as switches, in things like flip-flops, which are the foundation of digital electronics.

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InvisibleBacchus
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Re: What do transistors do? [Re: Sell Your Soul]
    #20318453 - 07/23/14 09:19 PM (9 years, 9 months ago)

That's right. When the base current is below saturation, then the emitter-collector current is amplified as a function of that base current. Once the base current increases to saturation, then the transistor can be thought of as a simple on/off switch.


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Invisiblekoraks
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Re: What do transistors do? [Re: Bacchus]
    #20318851 - 07/23/14 10:49 PM (9 years, 9 months ago)

Yes, a transistor is essentially a CCCS, or a current-controlled current source. Although a FET (field-effect transistor) is more of a VCCS (voltage-controlled current source).

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OfflineFrogWarrior
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Re: What do transistors do? [Re: Bacchus]
    #20322024 - 07/24/14 04:00 PM (9 years, 9 months ago)

Quote:

Bacchus said:
That's right. When the base current is below saturation, then the emitter-collector current is amplified as a function of that base current. Once the base current increases to saturation, then the transistor can be thought of as a simple on/off switch.



So saturation cuts off the emitter-collector current? Are both types PNP and NPN transistors used as switches?

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InvisibleBacchus
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Re: What do transistors do? [Re: FrogWarrior]
    #20322610 - 07/24/14 05:53 PM (9 years, 9 months ago)

No, when the transistor reaches saturation, that means that the base and collector currents are at their maximum ("the switch is on/closed"). When the transistor is in saturation, the emitter/collector voltage is near zero, because the transistor is conducting.

The converse of saturation is cut off. That means that the base current drops below a certain threshold such that the transistor switch is off/open and there is zero base or collector current. When the transistor is cut off, then the emitter/collector voltage is at its maximum.

Saturation = switch is closed.
Cut off = switch is open.
Somewhere in between saturation and cut off = operating in the active region. Collector output is an amplified version of the signal applied to the base.


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