bipolar transistor
Home > Midmarket CIO Definitions - Bipolar transistor
SearchCIO-Midmarket.com Definitions (Powered by WhatIs.com)
EMAIL THIS
LOOK UP TECH TERMS Powered by: WhatIs.com
Search listings for thousands of IT terms:
Browse tech terms alphabetically:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z #

bipolar transistor



Digg This!    StumbleUpon Toolbar StumbleUpon    Bookmark with Delicious Del.icio.us   

DEFINITION - See also field-effect transistor (field-effect transistor) and transistor.

A bipolar transistor is a semiconductor device commonly used for amplification. The device can amplify analog or digital signals. It can also switch DC or function as an oscillator. Physically, a bipolar transistor amplifies current, but it can be connected in circuits designed to amplify voltage or power.

There are two major types of bipolar transistor, called PNP and NPN. A PNP transistor has a layer of N-type semiconductor between two layers of P-type material. An NPN transistor has a layer of P-type material between two layers of N-type material. In P-type material, electric charges are carried mainly in the form of electron deficiencies called holes. In N-type material, the charge carriers are primarily electrons.

The bipolar transistor has advantages and disadvantages relative to the field-effect transistor (field-effect transistor). Bipolar devices can switch signals at high speeds, and can be manufactured to handle large currents so that they can serve as high-power amplifiers in audio equipment and in wireless transmitters. Bipolar devices are not especially effective for weak-signal amplification, or for applications requiring high circuit impedance.

Bipolar transistors are fabricated onto silicon integrated circuit (IC) chip. A single IC can contain many thousands of bipolar transistors, along with other components such as resistors, capacitors, and diodes.

LAST UPDATED: 28 Mar 2001


Do you have something to add to this definition? Let us know.
Send your comments to techterms@whatis.com


Digg This!    StumbleUpon Toolbar StumbleUpon    Bookmark with Delicious Del.icio.us   




About Us  |  Contact Us  |  For Advertisers  |  For Business Partners  |  Site Index  |  RSS
SEARCH 
TechTarget provides enterprise IT professionals with the information they need to perform their jobs - from developing strategy, to making cost-effective IT purchase decisions and managing their organizations' IT projects - with its network of technology-specific Web sites, events and magazines.

TechTarget Corporate Web Site  |  Media Kits  |  Reprints  |  Site Map




All Rights Reserved, Copyright 2007 - 2008, TechTarget | Read our Privacy Policy
  TechTarget - The IT Media ROI Experts