Other Types of Transistors

In the early days of computing, there was only one type of transistor- the bipolar junction transistor or BJT. However, over time researchers discovered new types of transistors that could be used in different applications. In this blog post, we will discuss three of the most common other types of transistors- MOSFETs, NPN transistors, and JFET transistors. We will talk about their characteristics and how they are used in circuits. Stay tuned for future posts that will explore these topics in more depth!

What are Transistors?

A transistor is a semiconductor device used to amplify or switch electronic signals and electrical power. It is composed of semiconductor material with at least three terminals for connection to an external circuit. A voltage or current applied to one pair of the transistor’s terminals changes the current through another pair of terminals. Because the controlled (output) power can be higher than the controlling (input) power, a transistor can amplify a signal. Today, some transistors are manufactured as discrete devices, but many more are found embedded in integrated circuits. The transistor is the fundamental building block of modern electronic devices and is used in radio, telephone, and computer.

Importance of Transistor

Transistors are important because they can be used as either a switch or an amplifier. A transistor can act as a switch because it can allow current to flow through it or block the current. A transistor can act as an amplifier by increasing the voltage or current.

A MOSFET transistor is one type of transistor that is used to control the flow of electrons. The MOSFET transistor is made up of three terminals: the source, the gate, and the drain. The source is where the electrons come from, the gate is used to control the flow of electrons, and the drain is where the electrons go. We will discuss this in detail.

Types of Transistors

Transistors are broadly classified into two types: Bipolar Junction Transistors (BJT) and Field Effect Transistors (FET).

Bipolar Junction Transistors (BJT):

These transistors are made of two p-n junctions back to back. The first p-n junction is called the base and the second one is known as the collector. There are two types of BJTs transistors namely NPN transistor and PNP transistor.

-NPN: The full form of NPN is Negative-Positive-Negative. It has a layer of p-type semiconductors between two n-type semiconductors. In this type of transistor, the two p-n junctions are doped with different elements. The first junction is doped with P-type material and the other junction is doped with N-type.

-PNP: The full form of PNP is Positive-Negative-Positive. It has a layer of n-type semiconductors between two p-type semiconductors. In this type of transistor, the two p-n junctions are doped with different elements. The first junction is doped with N-type material and the other junction is doped with P-type.

Field-Effect Transistors (FET):

These types of transistors are made of a p-type or an n-type semiconductor. The transistor has three terminals known as the source, the drain, and the gate. There are two types of FETs JFET and MOSFET.

-JFET: The full form of the JFET transistor is Junction Field Effect Transistor. It is made of a p-type or an n-type semiconductor. The transistor has three terminals known as the source, the drain, and the gate. The JFET transistor is a voltage-controlled device.

-MOSFET: The full form of MOSFET is Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor. It is made of a p-type or an n-type semiconductor. The transistor has three terminals known as the source, the drain, and the gate. The MOSFET is a voltage-controlled device.

Now that we have seen the types of transistors, let’s take a look at their applications.

Applications of Transistor

Application of Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT)

• Used as an amplifier
• Used in switching applications
• Can be used to create an astable multivibrator
• Used as a phase splitter
• Can be used as a Darlington pair

Application of Field Effect Transistor (FET)

• Used as an amplifier
• Used in switching applications
• Can be used to create an oscillator
• Can be used as a digital logic gate
• Used in voltage regulators
• Can be used to power MOSFETs
• Used in JFETs

Application of MOSFET

• Can be used as an amplifier
• Can be used as a switch
• Used in power supplies
• Used in voltage regulators
• Can be used to create an oscillator
• Can be used as a digital logic gate
• Used in MOSFETs

Conclusion

So there you have it! Those are the most common types of transistors, and a brief overview of their main characteristics. Of course, there are many other types of transistors out there, but these are the most important and common. Bipolar junction transistors are the most widely used type of transistor in the world and for good reason. They are versatile, reliable, and relatively easy to manufacture. MOSFETs are also widely used, especially in digital circuits, due to their low power consumption. JFETs are not used as often as the other two types, but they have their own advantages and are still used in some applications. Do you have a favourite type of transistor? Let us know.