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    Bipolar Transistors

    Bipolar Transistors are a solid state, three-pin devices made from three layers of silicon. A bipolar transistor is designed to amplify current, bipolar transistors can also function as a switch. There are two main types of transistor, PNP (positive negative positive) or NPN (negative positive-negative).

    How a Bipolar transistor is made

    Bipolar transistors are constructed by joining two signal diodes back to back creating two PN junctions connected in series, sharing a common P or N terminal. By nature, silicon does not normally conduct electricity well. However, when silicon is treated with certain chemicals or impurities we can make the material and electrons behave in a different way. This process is called doping. The doping process improves the semiconductors ability to conduct electricity.

    How do bipolar transistors work?

    Bipolar transistors have two possible functions, switching, and amplification. Due to the devices three layers of doped semiconductor material, supplying the transistor with a signal voltage enables the discrete component to act as an insulator or a conductor. This clever change provides the transistors with two basic functions, switching (digital) electronics or amplification (analog) electronics.

    Transistors are available in panel, surface and through-hole mounting options in plastic package or metal can versions. All have three terminals or pins, the Base, the Collector, and the Emitter.

    They are also available as;

    • Digital transistors - are made of a semiconductor material, usually silicon, which conducts the current (or electricity) with little resistance. They also tend to have at least three terminals for easy connection to an external circuit.
    • UJT transistors - constructed of a bar of lightly dope N type silicone with a small piece of heavily doped P type material attached to one side. Since the silicon bar is lightly dope it has very high resistance.

    Applications of bipolar transistors?

    Transistors are one of the most widely used discrete components in electronic designs and circuits. Transistors are used for the amplification of all types of electrical signals in circuits made up of individual components rather than ICs (integrated circuits).

    5077 Products showing for Bipolar Transistors

    onsemi
    PNP
    500 mA
    45 V
    SOT-23
    Surface Mount
    300 mW
    250
    Single
    50 V
    5 V
    100 MHz
    3
    1
    Toshiba
    NPN
    15 A
    230 V
    TO-3PL
    Through Hole
    150 W
    55
    Single
    230 V
    5 V
    -
    3
    1
    onsemi
    NPN
    200 mA
    40 V
    TO-92
    Through Hole
    625 mW
    -
    Single
    60 V
    6 V
    100 MHz
    3
    1
    Nexperia
    NPN
    100 mA
    45 V
    SOT-23 (TO-236AB)
    Surface Mount
    250 mW
    420
    Single
    50 V
    5 V
    100 MHz
    3
    1
    STMicroelectronics
    NPN
    3 A
    60 V
    TO-220
    Through Hole
    2 W
    10
    Single
    60 V
    5 V
    -
    3
    1
    onsemi
    NPN
    1.2 A
    160 V
    TO-126
    Through Hole
    20 W
    160
    Single
    160 V
    5 V
    -
    3
    1
    onsemi
    NPN
    600 mA
    40 V
    TO-92
    Through Hole
    625 mW
    100
    Single
    75 V
    6 V
    -
    3
    1
    onsemi
    NPN
    200 mA
    40 V
    TO-92
    Through Hole
    625 mW
    -
    Single
    60 V
    6 V
    300 MHz
    3
    1
    onsemi
    PNP
    -
    -120 V
    TO-92
    Through Hole
    500 mW
    300, 430
    Single
    -
    -5 V
    -
    3
    1
    Nexperia
    NPN
    100 mA
    45 V
    SOT-23 (TO-236AB)
    Surface Mount
    250 mW
    110
    Single
    50 V
    6 V
    100 MHz
    3
    1
    Nexperia
    NPN
    100 mA
    45 V
    SOT-23 (TO-236AB)
    Surface Mount
    250 mW
    420
    Single
    50 V
    5 V
    100 MHz
    3
    1
    Nexperia
    NPN
    100 mA
    45 V
    SOT-23 (TO-236AB)
    Surface Mount
    250 mW
    420
    Single
    50 V
    6 V
    100 MHz
    3
    1
    Infineon
    NPN
    100 mA
    50 V
    SOT-23
    Surface Mount
    200 mW
    30
    Single
    -
    10 V
    -
    3
    1
    DiodesZetex
    PNP
    -300 mA
    -200 V
    SOT-89
    Surface Mount
    1 W
    100
    Single
    -220 V
    -5 V
    150 MHz
    3
    1
    ROHM
    NPN
    2 A
    30 V
    SOT-89
    Surface Mount
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    3
    1
    onsemi
    PNP
    -
    -200 V
    SOT-93
    Through Hole
    150 W
    -
    Single
    -
    5 V dc
    -
    3
    1
    onsemi
    NPN
    15 A
    60 V
    TO-204AA
    Through Hole
    115 W
    20
    Single
    100 V
    7 V
    2.5 MHz
    2
    1
    onsemi
    NPN
    500 mA
    45 V
    SOT-23
    Surface Mount
    300 mW
    160
    Single
    50 V
    5 V
    100 MHz
    3
    1
    DiodesZetex
    NPN
    2 A
    45 V
    E-Line
    Through Hole
    1 W
    500
    Single
    45 V
    5 V
    150 MHz
    3
    1
    onsemi
    PNP
    4 A
    350 V
    TO-220AB
    Through Hole
    50 W
    -
    Single
    350 V
    5 V
    30 MHz
    3
    1
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