Basic electronics

Electronics is a branch of engineering that deals with the study of design, working, and applications
of electronic devices and circuits. Electronic devices are those whose operation is based on the flow
of electrons and holes. Electronic devices are also referred to as solid-state
devices or semiconductor devices.

Types of Electronics

1. Analog Electronics
2. Digital Electronics
3. Power Electronics

Some of the most important concepts in basic electronics are as follows −

 Semiconductors − In the field of electronics, semiconductors are important materials used

for fabricating various electronic devices and components like diodes, transistors, integrated
circuits, LEDs, logic gates, etc. Semiconductors are those materials having electrical
conductivity between conductors and insulators. The most commonly used semiconductors
in electronics are silicon Si and germanium Ge. Overall, semiconductor are fundamental
building blocks of electronics.
 Resistors − These are the commonly used circuit components in electronics. Resistors are
used to control the amount of electric current in electronics circuits.

 Capacitors − Capacitors are also basic circuit components in electronics used for storing
electric charge and design circuits to perform signal filtering.

 Inductors − Inductors are used in electronic circuits to store energy in the form of magnetic
field and filter out the alternating current signals.

 Transformers − Transformer is an electromagnetic device. It is used in electronic circuits to

reduce the high voltage like 220 Volts into the lower values like 5 V, 12 V, 24 V, or any other
suitable value for electronic circuits.

 Diodes − Diodes are the most basic semiconductor devices. A typical diode consists of two
semiconductor regions namely, p-type and n-type, thus have a pn-junction. It is used in
electronic circuits as a unidirectional device or as a static switch. One of the most common
application of diodes is rectification i.e., conversion of AC into DC.

 Transistors − Transistors are three-terminal semiconductor devices used in electronics to

perform two main functions namely, amplification and switching of electric signals.
Transistors are the building blocks of most electronic circuits and complex devices.

How does Ohm's Law work in electronic circuits?

Ohms law is a most fundamental law in electronic circuits that describes relationship between
voltage, current, and resistance in the circuit.

Mathematically, the Ohms law is given by,

V=IR

Where, V is the voltage, I is the current, and R is the resistance in the circuit.

Ms. Prerona Sanyal NSHM Knowledge Campus Assistant Professor CSE (AI & ML)
In electronic circuits, Ohms law works as follows −

 If any two qualities among V, I, and R are known, then we can calculate the third one.

 If the resistance is kept constant and the voltage is increased, the current in the circuit will
also increase and vice-versa.

 If the voltage is kept constant and the resistance is increased, the current in circuit will
decrease and vice-versa.

How do you calculate resistance, capacitance, and inductance in

electronics?

What are the different types of semiconductors in electronics?

In electronics, semiconductors are classified into the following major types −

Ms. Prerona Sanyal NSHM Knowledge Campus Assistant Professor CSE (AI & ML)
  Intrinsic Semiconductors − These are pure semiconductors like Si and Ge.

 Extrinsic Semiconductors − These are impure or dopped semiconductors. Extrinsic

semiconductors are further classified into the following two types −

o N-type semiconductors − Those extrinsic semiconductors having negative majority

charges electrons are known as n-type semiconductors.

o P-type semiconductors − Extrinsic semiconductors having positive majority

charges holes are known as p-type semiconductors.

Doping

Pure Silicon or Germanium are rarely used as semiconductors. Practically usable semiconductors
must have controlled quantity of impurities added to them. Addition of impurity will change the
conductor ability and it acts as a semiconductor. The process of adding an impurity to an intrinsic or
pure material is called doping and the impurity is called a dopant. After doping, an intrinsic material
becomes an extrinsic material.

How do transistors amplify signals in electronics?

The amplification process of electronic signals using transistors is explained below −

Step 1 − The transistor is properly biased to operate in the active region for amplification of signals.
Let us consider common-emitter CE configuration, where the base terminal is used as input line, the
emitter terminal as a common-ground for input and output, and the collector terminal as the output
line.

Step 2 − A weak signal that we want to amplify is applied to the base terminal of the transistor
amplifier circuit.

Step 3 − A small current flowing into the base of the transistor can cause a large current to flow out
from the collector which is proportional to the base current, but much larger than that.

Step 4 − The resulting amplified output signals is received at the collector terminal, which is nothing
but the amplified version of the input signal.

Difference between Analog Electronics and Digital Electronics

Basis of
Analog Electronics Digital Electronics
Difference

Analog electronics is the branch of Digital electronics is the branch of

Definition electronics which deals with the study electronics that deals with the study
of systems with analog signals. of systems with digital signals.

Type of signal Analog electronics involves the use of Digital electronics uses discrete time
used continuous time (analog) signals. signals or two state signals.

Ms. Prerona Sanyal NSHM Knowledge Campus Assistant Professor CSE (AI & ML)
 Basis of
Analog Electronics Digital Electronics
Difference

Analog electronics mostly uses passive

circuit components like resistors,
Components Digital electronics uses active
capacitors, etc. But sometimes, active
used elements only.
components like transistors are also
used.

Power Analog electronic systems consumes Digital electronic systems consumes

consumption more power. comparatively less power.

Analog electronics have some There is no power loss in case of

Power loss
(however low) power loss. digital electronics.

Analog electronics use relatively high

Voltage & The voltage and current used in
voltage and high current as compared
current digital electronics are extremely low.
to digital electronics.

Noise & In analog electronics, high noise and In digital electronics, there is very low
distortion distortion of signals is there. noise and distortion of signals.

In analog electronics, electrical safety

In digital electronics, there is no
Safety hazards are present, however they are
electrical safety hazards.
very low.

Analog electronics mainly deals with Digital electronics mainly deal with
Processes amplification, wireless transmission, multiplexing, encoding, decoding,
involved rectification, etc. of the continuous analyzing, switching, mixing, etc. of
time signals. the discrete time signals.

The analog electronics mainly help in Digital electronics help in analyzing

Used for
capturing data from a system. the data of a system.

Digital electronics is extensively used

Analog electronics is widely used in
in computers, data processing and
Applications radio and audio devices such as FM
storage, automation, digital watches
radios, TVs, telephones, etc.
and many other digital devices.

What is a Transistor?

A transistor is a semiconductor that controls voltage or current flow in electronic signals and it
amplifies and acts as a switch for them. Transistor consists of three layers each of which can carry

Ms. Prerona Sanyal NSHM Knowledge Campus Assistant Professor CSE (AI & ML)
a current. If the transistor is working as an amplifier then it transforms a small input current into a
big output current.

 In the case of a switch, it can be one of any two states that are ON or OFF to control the flow
of electronic signals through an electronic device.

 A transistor is of three layers or three terminals and each of them carries the current.

Parts of transistor:

There are three terminals for transistor as mentioned below:

 Base: To activate the transistor

 Collector: Positive lead of transistor

 Emitter: Negative lead of transistor

Emitter

 The left hand side of the above shown structure can be understood as Emitter.

 This has a moderate size and is heavily doped as its main function is to supply a number
of majority carriers, i.e. either electrons or holes.

 As this emits electrons, it is called as an Emitter.

 This is simply indicated with the letter E.

Base

 The middle material in the above figure is the Base.

 This is thin and lightly doped.

 Its main function is to pass the majority carriers from the emitter to the collector.

 This is indicated by the letter B.

Collector

 The right side material in the above figure can be understood as a Collector.

 Its name implies its function of collecting the carriers.

 This is a bit larger in size than emitter and base. It is moderately doped.

Ms. Prerona Sanyal NSHM Knowledge Campus Assistant Professor CSE (AI & ML)
  This is indicated by the letter C.

Transistor Biasing

A transistor is a combination of two diodes. As one junction is between the emitter and base, that is
called as Emitter-Base junction and likewise, the other is Collector-Base junction.

Biasing is controlling the operation of the circuit by providing power supply. The function of both the
PN junctions is controlled by providing bias to the circuit through some dc supply. The figure below
shows how a transistor is biased.

 The N-type material is provided negative supply and P-type material is given positive supply
to make the circuit Forward bias.

 The N-type material is provided positive supply and P-type material is given negative supply
to make the circuit Reverse bias.

Ms. Prerona Sanyal NSHM Knowledge Campus Assistant Professor CSE (AI & ML)
Bipolar Junctio Transistor (BJT)

 BJT Definition: A Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT) is defined as a three-terminal

semiconductor device that amplifies or switches electrical signals.

 Types of BJTs: There are two types of BJTs—NPN and PNP—each with different
arrangements of n-type and p-type materials.

 How BJT Works: A BJT works by using a small input current at the base to control a larger
current between the collector and emitter

 Modes of Operation: BJTs can operate in three modes—Common Base (CB), Common
Emitter (CE), and Common Collector (CC)—each affecting the voltage and current
characteristics.

 Applications of BJTs: BJTs are used in high-frequency applications, amplifiers, and switches
due to their superior transconductance and output resistance.

What is a BJT?
A Bipolar Junction Transistor (also known as a BJT or BJT Transistor) is a three-terminal
semiconductor device consisting of two p-n junctions which are able to amplify or magnify a
signal. It is a current controlled device. The three terminals of the BJT are the base, the
collector and the emitter. A BJT is a type of transistor that uses both electrons and holes as
charge carriers.

Construction of BJT

 Emitter (E) : The outermost layer of a transistor, is commonly known as the emitter, it is
heavily doped with N- type or P-type semiconductor material. P-type material is often
employed to produce the emitter of a PNP transistor, whereas N-type material is mostly
utilized for creating the emitter of a NPN transistor.

 Base (B): The intermediate layer is called the base, it forms a narrow zone between the
emitter and collector and is slightly doped. Its made up of different material than the emitter.
A NPN transistor's base is P-type, while a PNP transistor's base is of N-type.

 Collector (C): The inner layer is called as collector, and it has a modest doping level. The type
of semiconductor used in the designing is the same as that of the emitter. An NPN

Ms. Prerona Sanyal NSHM Knowledge Campus Assistant Professor CSE (AI & ML)
 transistor's collector is formed from N-type material, whereas a PNP transistor's collector is
made of P-type material.

There are two junctions formed in BJT . They are -

 Emitter-Base junction: The Emitter-Base junction of a BJT refers to the junction that
is formed between the emitter and base. During normal operation , this junction is forward-
biased.

 Collector-Base junction : Collector-Base junction is the name given to the junction that is
formed between the collector and base. During normal operation, this junction is reverse-
biased.

NPN Bipolar Junction Transistor

In an n-p-n bipolar transistor (or npn transistor) one p-type semiconductor resides between two n-
type semiconductors the diagram an n-p-n transistor is shown.
Now IE, IC is emitter current and collect current respectively and VEB and VCB are emitter-base voltage
and collector-base voltage respectively. According to the convention if for the emitter, base and
collector current IE, IB and IC current goes into the transistor the sign of the current is taken as
positive and if current goes out from the transistor then the sign is taken as negative. We can
tabulate the different currents and voltages inside the n-p-n transistor.

Ms. Prerona Sanyal NSHM Knowledge Campus Assistant Professor CSE (AI & ML)
PNP Bipolar Junction Transistor

Similarly for p-n-p bipolar junction transistor (or pnp transistor), an n-type semiconductor is
sandwiched between two p-type semiconductors. The diagram of a p-n-p transistor is shown below

For p-n-p transistors, current enters into the transistor through the emitter terminal. Like any bipolar
junction transistor, the emitter-base junction is forward biased and the collector-base junction is
reverse biased. We can tabulate the emitter, base and collector current, as well as the emitter-base,
collector base and collector-emitter voltage for p-n-p transistors also.

Bipolar Junction Transistors Characteristics

1. Common Base (CB) mode

2. Common Emitter (CE) mode

3. Common Collector (CC) mode

Ms. Prerona Sanyal NSHM Knowledge Campus Assistant Professor CSE (AI & ML)
Operation of BJT

Active region: The transistor is on in this region. When the collector-base junction is reverse-biased
while the emitter-base junction is in forward-bias, then BJT works in the active area. As a result, BJT
is used as an amplifier.

Saturation region: The saturation region arises when the collector-base junctions and the emitter-
base junction are both forward-biased. The transistor is on.

Cut-off region: The emitter and collector junctions are both in the reversed bias, so the BJT is off in
this condition and vary small amount of current flows from collector to the emitter. There is no
current between emitter and the collector.

Ms. Prerona Sanyal NSHM Knowledge Campus Assistant Professor CSE (AI & ML)