Chapter Overview

This chapter introduces the transistor. Transistors are solid-state devices similar in some ways to the diodes you have studied. Transistors are more complex and can be used in many more ways. The most important feature of transistors is their ability to amplify signals. Amplification can make a weak signal strong enough to be useful in an electronic application. For example, an audio amplifier can be used to supply a strong signal to a loudspeaker.

This chapter will help you to:

1. Identify the schematic symbols for several types of transistors.

2. Define the meaning of amplification and power gain.

3. Predict the correct bias polarity for several types of transistors.

4. Calculate current gain from data and from characteristic curves.

5. Calculate collector dissipation from data and from characteristic curves.

6. Test bipolar transistors with an ohmmeter.

Study Outline

5-1 Amplification

5-2 Transistors

5-3 Characteristic Curves

5-4 Transistor Data

5-5 Transistor Testing

5-6 Other Transistor Types

5-7 Transistors as Switches