Transistors have changed the area of electronics as one of the most important components of an electronic circuit. These three-terminal semiconductor devices have been around for more than five decades. They’re frequently employed as amplifiers and switches. Because they can turn something “on” or “off” without moving parts, you can think of them as relays without moving parts.
A. Structure
In the beginning, germanium was utilised to make extremely temperature-sensitive transistors. They are now built of Silicon, a semiconductor substance found in sand, because Silicon transistors are significantly more temperature-tolerant and less expensive to produce. Bipolar Junction Transistors (BJT) are divided into two types: NPN and PNP. Base (b), collector (c), and emitter (e) are the three pins of each transistor (e). The layers of semiconductor material utilised to construct the transistor are referred to as NPN and PNP.
B. What Is It and How Does It Work?
An NPN transistor is created by sandwiching a p-type silicon slab between two n-type bars. One n-type is connected to the emitter, while the other is connected to the collector. The p-type is connected to the base. The excess holes in p-type silicon operate as barriers, preventing current flow. Applying a positive voltage to the base and collector while negatively charging the emitter causes electrons to flow from the emitter to the collector.
In a PNP transistor, the arrangement and quantity of p-type and n-type blocks remain inverted. One n-type is sandwiched between two p-type blocks in this sort of transistor. A PNP transistor works differently than an NPN transistor because the voltage allocation is different. A positive voltage to the base is required for an NPN transistor, whereas a negative voltage is required for a PNP transistor. To turn a PNP transistor on, the current must flow away from the base.
C. Purpose and Importance
In most electronic circuits, transistors serve as both switches and amplifiers. A transistor is frequently used as a switch by designers because, unlike a basic switch, it can transform a little current into a much bigger one. Although a simple switch can be used in a simple circuit, an advanced circuit may require variable currents at different stages.
Hearing Aid Transistors
The hearing aid is one of the most well-known applications of transistors. The sound waves are usually picked up by a small microphone in the hearing aid, which is then converted into fluctuating electrical pulses or currents. These currents are magnified when they pass through a transistor. The amplified pulses are then sent through a speaker, where they are converted back into sound waves. As a result, you might hear a much louder version of the ambient sounds.
Computers and Calculators with Transistors
We all know that computers use the binary language of “zero” and “one” to store and process data. Most people are unaware, however, that transistors play a crucial part in the creation of logic gates, which are the backbones of computer programmes. Transistors are frequently used with logic gates to create a unique configuration known as a flip-flop. Even after the base current is removed from this setup, the transistor stays “on.” When new current passes through it, it now turns on or off. As a result, a transistor may hold a zero when it’s turned off or a one when it’s turned on, which is how computers work.
Darlington Transistors are a type of transistor.
Two PNP or NPN polar junction transistors are combined to form a Darlington transistor. It bears the name of its creator, Sidney Darlington. A Darlington transistor’s main purpose is to deliver a large current gain from a low base current. These transistors can be found in power regulators, display drivers, motor controllers, light and touch sensors, alarm systems, and audio amplifiers, among other instruments that require a high current gain at a low frequency.
MOSFET and IGBT Transistors
Insulated-Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT) transistors are commonly employed as amplifiers and switches in a wide range of devices, including electric cars, trains, refrigerators, air conditioners, and even stereo systems. Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistors (MOSFETs), on the other hand, are frequently employed in integrated circuits to manage a device’s power levels or to store data.
