23ECE185 Electronic Devices and Circuits Laboratory

B. Tech. Electronics and Communication Engineering

Laboratory Manual
(AY 2024-25 even semester)

Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering

Amrita School of Engineering, Coimbatore – 641 112
Amrita School of Engineering, Coimbatore

23ECE185 Electronic Devices and Circuits

B. Tech (Electronics and Communication Engg.) – II Semester

General Instructions

1. Though the students will be doing the experiments in groups of three, it is expected that all of them
will be actively involved in all stages of the laboratory exercise.
2. Students are expected to be on time for every lab session, and not encouraged to stand outside or
in the corridor for doing lab preparations.
3. Students are required to be safely attired for the lab. They should be in uniform (unless they have
been exempted), and should be carrying their institute ID cards, placed properly inside pockets (for
boys) and pinned on the over-coat (for girls). Shirts must be neatly tucked in and hair should be
properly tied up so that it does not fall on the breadboard or on circuit while assembling. In any
case, they should NOT be wearing clothes, which could get entangled in the circuits. They should
compulsorily wear shoes, which are laced-up or tied, preferably rubber soled. Floaters, Slippers,
Slip-ons, any other sort of casual footwear are NOT permitted.
4. Students if they miss lab session / experiment, it is at their own risk. There will be no makeup lab.
5. Students are expected to come to the laboratory, well prepared in terms of analysis of the circuit,
simulation, record work as well as a thorough understanding of its operation.
6. Students should maintain a neat record for the experiments to be done in the lab. The record will
be of A4 size, hard bound and will be covered with brown paper, with the student’s roll number,
written on top as well as on the spine of the book. The flaps should be neatly pasted down. Every
week record is evaluated for the results of previous week experiment (includes post-lab questions,
if any) and preparations including pre-lab questions related to the experiment of the day. Any
graphs used, will be neatly pasted (and not stapled) in the record, with no overhanging edges.
Similarly, simulations sheets must be pasted in the record at its edge (so that it can be flipped) for
the completed experiments.
7. Students should carry a long size, observation note book, which is dedicated for this lab. Every
week, students should prepare observation note as follows: title, date, circuit(s) and tabular
column(s) related to the experiment of the day. This book will be verified every day by the faculty-
in-charge for marking up completion of experiments and related status.
8. Every student enters the lab with the following check-list: Record note, observation note, print out
of simulation result(s), print out of lab sheet (procedure) to be done on the day, and laptop (kept
in bag only). Any student may be randomly called to show the simulation part from his laptop.
9. The responsibility for getting their readings / output verified rests with the students. Please note
that each experiment is evaluated – the weightage for the preparation, the simulation, the
experiment, the record, and the quiz will be as 7.5:7.5:10:7.5:7.5.
10. The lab evaluation is as follows: Individual lab experiments (continuous assessment), a mid-term,
and an end semester examination (that includes system-level projects) for the weightage of
40:20:40.
11. The mid-term and end semester examinations will be conducted individually, as per the schedule
which will be intimated later. System-level project evaluation is based on simulation results and
hardware implementation.

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23ECE185 Electronics Circuits and Devices Laboratory 0 03 1

Course and Program Outcomes

Objectives
• To enable the study and extraction of device parameters from datasheets
• To enable the use of simulation tools in analysing electronic circuits
• To provide experience in design and prototyping of diode-based circuits
• To enable the characterization of transistors
Course Outcomes:
After the completion of the course the student will be able to:

CO1 use datasheets effectively

CO2 simulate electronic circuits

CO3 prototype diode-based circuits

CO4 characterize transistors

Mapping of course outcomes with program outcomes:

Course
PO1 PO2 PO3 PO4 PO5 PO6 PO7 PO8 PO9 PO10 PO11 PO12 PSO1 PSO2
Outcomes PSO3
3 2 2 2 1
CO1
3 2 2 1 3 2 2 2 2
CO2
3 2 2 1 2 2 2
CO3
3 2 2
CO4

Textbooks / References:
1. Sedra A and Smith K C, “Microelectronic circuits”, Oxford University Press, Sixth Edition, 2010.

Faculty Involved

Class Slots (A103) Faculty

ECE-A (B1 & B2) 8,9,10 (Thu, Wed) Dr. Harish Ram/ Karthigha B.

ECE-B (B1) 8,9,10 (Tue) Dr. Karthi B./Karthigha B.

ECE-B (B2) 8,9,10 (Mon) Ms. Vidhya L./Karthigha B.

ECE-C (B1) 8,9,10 (Fri) Dr. Ramanand Sagar Sangam/Karthigha B.

ECE-C (B2) 4,5,6 (Thu) Dr. Ramanand Sagar Sangam/Ms. Vidhya L.

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List of Experiments

Experiment wise mapping of course outcomes

Expt no. Experiment COs Page no.

0 Familiarisation with equipment 5

----
Networks- Measurements and 6
1 CO2
Limitations
Diode Characteristics 9
2 CO1, CO2, CO3
Rectifiers -1 11
3 CO1, CO2, CO3
Rectifiers -2 13
4 CO1, CO2, CO3
Clippers and Clampers 15
5 CO1, CO2, CO3

Shunt Voltage Regulators 17

6 CO1, CO2, CO3

BJT characteristics – 1 19
7 CO1, CO2, CO4
(Input characteristics)
BJT characteristics – 2 20
8 CO1, CO2, CO4
(Output characteristics)
9 MOS characteristics CO1, CO2, CO4 22

Project: Simulation & Hardware CO1, CO2, CO3 -

Implementation

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23ECE185 Electronics Devices and Circuits Laboratory

Expt - 0

Familiarisation with equipment

Objective:

In this laboratory session, the student will get to handle and operate some of the commonly used
laboratory equipment, like the function generator and the Oscilloscope, as well as the digital meters and learn
how to make reasonably accurate measurements using them.

Function Generator: Learn how to

1. Set up different waveforms, like the sine, square and triangular waveforms, with varying parameters
like the time period, amplitude, etc.
2. Attenuate the output to obtain very low amplitude signals.
3. Provide as well as nullify dc offset.
4. Change the range of frequency

Oscilloscope: Learn how to

1. Acquire and display signal waveforms.

2. Adjust the scale along both the time and magnitude axes.
3. Trigger the acquisition so as to obtain a stable display
4. Obtain the Voltage transfer Characteristic (VTC) of a given circuit
5. Check the accuracy of the oscilloscope measurement.

Experiment:

1. Set up the function generator to provide a sinusoidal output (vi) of amplitude 100 mV and frequency
1 kHz.
2. Acquire and display this signal on the oscilloscope, with the time and magnitude scales at 5 ms and 200
mV respectively. Measure the amplitude and frequency of the signal.
3. Repeat Step 2 with the time and magnitude scales at 0.5 ms and 50 mV respectively. Is there any
difference in the measurements? Why?
4. vi may be provided as the input to a voltage divider consisting of two resistors of 10 kΩ and 20 kΩ. The
output (vo) may be taken from the common terminal of the two resistors. Display both v i and vo on the
𝑣𝑜
oscilloscope. Measure the ratio 𝑣𝑖
.
𝑣𝑜
5. Display the VTC of the circuit and measure 𝑣𝑖
. Compare with the result of Step 4.

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23ECE185 Electronic Devices and Circuits Laboratory

Expt - 1

Networks – Measurements and Limitations

Objective:

In this laboratory session, the student will get to know the principle behind making some of the simple
measurements in the laboratory and the limitations of the instruments that are commonly used for this
purpose.

Instructions:

1. Before you start connecting up your circuit, ensure that all power supplies are switched off and that the
control knobs are in the minimum setting.
2. Before you start taking measurements, make sure that your Voltmeters, Ammeters, Oscilloscopes, etc are
working properly. The display on the power sources may not be reliable – use either the voltmeter or the
Oscilloscope to check.
3. Double check the values of the resistors that you are using – they may not have been in the right bin, when
you picked them up. Using the wrong value of the resistance might mean that you damage your circuit,
board, and other equipment as well.
4. Follow any instructions given by the Laboratory Staff, or the faculty-in-Charge.
Procedure:

1. Consider the circuit given in Fig. 1. Answer the following questions before you come A 100 k 10 M

to the lab:
10 M
a. What is the effective resistance across AB? B

b. How would you measure the resistance across AB? (Just a brief note will suffice Fig. 1

– no circuit diagrams or explanations are required) What equipment would you use? What would be
the specifications of the equipment?

+ A - P P
1 + A2 -
etwork - 1

Network - 1

+ +
Vin V1 Vin V2
- -
Q Q

Fig. 2a Fig. 2b
In the lab
2. Obtain the network, whose input impedance is to be determined, from the Lab Staff. (Do not attempt to
open up the network given to you). This network is shown as Network – 1 in Fig. 2a above. Connect up

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the voltage source Vin, ammeter A1 and Voltmeter V1 to the network as shown in Fig. 2a. Take care to
ensure that the meters are connected with the correct polarity. Keep both the meters in the highest range.
3. Switch on the power supply. Vary the input voltage Vin from 0 to 20 V, in steps of 2 V. Use the power supply
display as Vin. Step down the ranges on both the voltmeter and the ammeter to the appropriate one.
V1
4. Note V1 and A1, in a table as shown below. Calculate the effective resistance of the network as R 1 = .
A1

Determine the average value of R1.

Table 1 Effective Resistance with the circuit of Fig. 2a

Vin (V) V1 (V) A1 (mA) R1 (kΩ)

5. Now, connect up your network as in Fig. 2b. Repeat Step 3.

V2
6. Note down V2 and A2 in Table 2. Calculate the effective resistance of the network as R 2 = . Determine
A2
the average value of R2.
Table 2 Effective Resistance with the circuit of Fig. 2b
Vin (V) V2 (V) A2 (mA) R2 (kΩ)

7. Using a multimeter calculate the internal resistances of the ammeter and voltmeter in the given ranges
Table 3: Ammeter Internal Resistance Table 4: Voltmeter Internal Resistances
Range Resistance (Ω) Range Resistance (Ω)
0-2 mA 0-2 V
0-20 mA 0-20 V
0-200 mA 0-200 V
Notice that resistances vary with the instrument range.

8. Modify Table 1 and 2 as given below, by including the ammeter and voltmeter resistances (based on
current/voltage values).

9. Draw the effective circuit and calculate the value of unknown network resistance as in Table 5.

Table 5: Effective Resistance with the circuit of Fig. 2a including internal resistances

Res Res
Vin (V) V1 (V) A1 (mA) R1 (kΩ)
(ammeter) (voltmeter)

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Post-lab questions:

1. Are the average values of the effective resistance of the network as determined by the circuits of Figs. 2a
and 2b, the same?
2. If the average values for the two circuits are different, why?
3. Which is the correct way of measuring the effective resistance of the network? Why?
4. What is the input resistance of the voltmeter that you are using?

Note:

The students are encouraged to simulate this experiment thoroughly before coming to the lab, so that they
have an idea of what to expect from practical measuring instruments. They may replace the analog meters with
their equivalent circuits.

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23ECE185 Electronic Devices and Circuits Laboratory

Expt - 2

Diode Characteristics
Objective:

To study the Voltage-Current characteristics of a pn-junction diode.

Instructions:

1. Before coming to the lab, download and study the datasheets of the following diodes, which are available
at the links noted against each:
a. 1N4007: http://tinyurl.com/ydxz9ojk
b. OA79: http://tinyurl.com/y8qugswr
c. 1N4734: http://tinyurl.com/y8t2vrnf
d. 1N4148: http://tinyurl.com/y9gn7q9d
2. In the lab, get your circuits verified by the Laboratory Staff, or the Faculty-in-Charge, before powering
them up.
Procedure:

1. Based on the datasheets, answer the following questions before coming to the lab:
a. What is the voltage across the 1N4007, when a forward current of 50 mA is flowing through it?
b. What is the Peak Inverse Voltage for the OA79?
c. What is the minimum breakdown voltage for the 1N4148?
In the lab
2. Identify the diode (D1) given to you.
3. Ensure that your power supplies are switched off and that the control knobs are in the minimum position.
4. Set up the circuit as shown in Fig. 1a. Take care to ensure that the ammeter and voltmeter are connected
with the correct polarity. Use a 470  resistor for R.

RN R

ID
ID
+ +
V Vin VD D1
Vin D1
- -

Fig. 1a Fig. 1b

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5. Vary the input voltage (Vin) from 0 to 1 V, in steps of 0.1 V. Note down the readings of the ammeter (I D)
and the voltmeter (VD), in each case (Table 1). Ensure that your ammeter is in the smallest range, when
you are measuring the current for these values of the input voltage.
6. Change your connection to that shown in Fig. 1b.
7. Increase the input voltage (Vin) from 1 V to 10 V, in steps of 1 V each. Note down the corresponding values
of VD and ID for each value of Vin.
8. Plot VD vs ID.

Table 1

Vin VD ID
(V) (V) (A / mA)

Post-lab questions:

1. If, in Fig. 1a, Vin = 10 V and the resistance R = 1 k, what would be the current flowing through the circuit?
Use the V-I characteristic plotted in Step 8 above.
2. If VD were to be considered the output of the circuit, plot the Voltage Transfer Characteristic (VTC) of the
circuit in Fig. 1a, assuming R = 1kΩ.
3. If the input (Vin) to the circuit of Fig. 1a were to be a sinusoid, such that 𝑉𝑖𝑛 = 5 𝑆𝑖𝑛(2𝜋 ∗ 100𝑡), plot the
output voltage waveform.
4. Determine the resistance offered by the diode under the following conditions:
a. When 0 < ID < 100 A
b. When ID = 0.2 mA
c. When ID = 5 mA
d. When 10 mA < ID < 15 mA
Comment on the values of the resistances obtained above.

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23ECE185 Electronic Devices and Circuits Laboratory

Expt - 3

Rectifiers-1
Objective:

To prototype a simple half-wave rectifier circuit and to plot its Voltage Transfer Characteristic.

Instructions:

1. Study the datasheet of the 1N4007, a Si diode.

2. Verify the value of the resistor R, when you pick it up in the lab – it may not be in the right bin. Using the
wrong value of the resistor might mean that you either damage the other components or that your circuit
may not work properly.
Procedure:

3. Before coming to the lab, answer the following questions:

i. What is the surge current of the 1N4007? What does this parameter indicate?
ii. In the circuit shown in Fig. 1, if the input 𝑣𝑖 = 0.7 𝑆𝑖𝑛(2 ∗ 𝜋 ∗ 100 ∗ 𝑡), and R = 1 kΩ, what would
be average value of the output, assuming the diode D1 to be ideal? How will this value change if
the diode were to be modeled as having a cut-in voltage of 0.6 V?
iii. How would your answer to question (ii) change if the polarity of the diode were to be reversed?
iv. Will your answers to questions (ii) and (iii) above change, if R = 560 kΩ?
v. Simulate the circuits and verify your answers.
4. In the Lab
1. Set up the circuit as shown in Fig. 1. Choose the diode D1 to be the 1N4007 and R = 1 kΩ. 𝑣𝑖𝑛 is a sinusoid
of amplitude 1 V and frequency 100 Hz.

D1
vo

vin R

Fig. 1
2. Plot the output waveform (𝑣𝑜 ).
3. Determine its average value.
4. Obtain the Voltage Transfer Characteristic of the circuit.
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5. Vary the amplitude of the input from 1 V to 3 V, in steps of 0.25 V.

6. Determine the average value of the output, in each case. Note down your readings in Table 1.
7. With the input amplitude as 2 V, increase the input frequency to 50 kHz. Plot the output waveform.
8. Obtain its VTC.
9. Reverse the polarity of the diode and repeat steps 1-7.
10. Replace the 1 kΩ resistance with 560 kΩ and repeat steps 1 and 2.

Table 1

𝒗𝒊𝒏 (V) 𝒗𝒐 (V)

Post-lab questions:

1. Do your experimental results match with the values you calculated in answer to question 3(ii) above?
Why not?
2. Are the output waveforms obtained in Steps 4(1) and 4(7) above the same? What is the difference due
to?
3. What is the reason for the circuit behaving in the way it does, in Step 4(10) above?
4. How would you modify this circuit to obtain a fully rectified output, with minimum peak inverse voltage
across each diode?

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23ECE185 Electronic Devices and Circuits Laboratory

Expt – 4

Rectifiers - 2
Objective:

This week, you will set up full-wave rectifier circuits and study its operation.
Instructions:

1. Take care to connect up the circuit exactly as shown, paying particular attention to the grounded
terminals.
2. Please power up your circuit only after it has been verified by the Lab Staff / Faculty-in-Charge.
3. The component marked X in the circuits is a 230 / 6-0-6 V center-tapped transformer, fixed on a metal
chassis, with the input and output terminals clearly marked. Take care while handling it – else you might
end up getting a nasty shock.
4. All the diodes are 1N4007. Please review the characteristics of the diode (those of you who have
characterized a different diode, please get the characteristics of the 1N4007 from your friends who have)
as well as the performance of the Half Wave Rectifier that you have set up, before coming to the lab.
Before coming to the lab, answer the following questions:
1. If the input to the primary of the transformer is 230 V / 50 Hz, plot (on the same axis), the waveforms
of the signal obtained at A and C.
2. If RL = 100 Ω, plot the voltage waveform across RL (assume both the diodes are identical).
3. If the diodes have the characteristic of the 1N4007, plot the voltage waveform across RL. Calculate its
average value.

Procedure:
1. Connect up the circuit as shown in Fig, 1. Let RL be 100 Ω. Measure and plot the voltage across AB as
the input and the voltage across RL as the output, respectively. Mark all salient points.
2. Change RL to 560 kΩ. Repeat step 1.
3. Add a resistor R to the circuit as shown in Fig. 1b. Let R = RL = 100 Ω. Measure and plot the voltage
across AB as the input and the voltage across RL as the output, respectively. Mark all salient points.
4. Remove the transformer and give a sinusoidal waveform directly and observe and plot the output.
5. Remove the ground connection at P and connect the load across PQ to obtain a floating load. Now
observe and plot the output.

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Post-lab questions:

1. Plot the Voltage Transfer Characteristic of the circuit of Fig. 1b. How is it different from that of Fig. 1a
and why?
2. For the bridge rectifier shown in Fig. 2, plot the voltage waveforms across the load.
3. What difference do you notice in the peak values of the output of the fullwave and bridge rectifiers?
4. Calculate the average value of the output waveforms of the circuits of Fig. 1a and Fig. 2, when the
amplitude of the input waveform is 3 V.
5. Did you observe a full wave rectified signal in step 4 of the experiment? Justify your observations in the
lab.

Fig. 2

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23ECE185 Electronic Devices and Circuits Laboratory

Expt – 5

Clippers and Clampers

Objective :

This week, the student will implement and observe the operation of typical clipping and clamping
circuits.

Instructions:

1. Take care to connect up the circuit exactly as shown, paying particular attention to the grounded
terminals.
2. Please power up your circuit only after it has been verified by the Lab Staff / Faculty-in-Charge.
3. All the diodes are 1N4007. Please review the characteristics of the diode before coming to the lab.

Before coming to the lab, answer the following questions:

1. In Fig. 1, with f = 1 kHz, R = 1 k and D1 and D2 are the 1N4007 with a cut-in voltage (V) of 0.6 V, plot
the Voltage Transfer Characteristic of the circuit, if the output is taken at Vo. Assume that V1 = V2 = 2 V.
2. Plot the output if the input v i = 6 Sin (t ) ?

3. If the input in Fig. 2 is v i = 6 Sin (t ) , C = 10 F, D1 is the 1N4007 (V = 0.6 V), plot the output waveform

at A, assuming Vr to be 6 V. Draw the VTC curve.

In the lab Procedure:

1. Connect up the circuit as shown in Fig. 1. With V1 = V2 = 2 V, R = 1 k and v i = 6 Sin (t ) , plot the output

waveform at Vo, as well as the VTC of the circuit.

2. Repeat the same with V1 = V2 = -3 V
3. Connect the circuit as shown in Fig. 2. With v i = 6 Sin (t ) , C = 10 F and D1 as the 1N4007 diode, plot

the output waveforms (at A), for the following values of Vr: 0 V, 2 V and -2 V.

Post-lab questions:

1. In Fig. 1, if D1 were to be reversed, with all other values remaining the same, how will the VTC of the
circuit change?
2. In Fig. 1, if a load resistance of 1 k is introduced what is the difference seen in the output?

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Fig. 1 Fig. 2

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23ECE185 Electronic Devices and Circuits Laboratory

Expt - 6

Shunt Voltage Regulator

Objective:

To design a shunt voltage regulator, using a Zener diode and to study its operation.

Instructions:

1. Study the datasheet of the 1N4734, 5.6 V Zener diode, which you have already downloaded for the
previous experiment.
2. Verify the value of the resistor R, when you pick it up in the lab – it may not be in the right bin. Using the
wrong value of the resistor might mean that you either damage the other components or that your
circuit may not work properly.
Pre lab questions:
1. Before coming to the lab, complete the following questions:
a. Given a 3.6 V / 1 mA /1 W zener diode, design a circuit to provide a constant voltage of 3.6 V, when
the input voltage varies from 4 V to 5 V. The circuit is to provide a maximum load current of 10 mA.
b. What can be the maximum value of the series resistance? The minimum value?
c. What is the knee current (Ik) of the 1N4734 zener diode?
d. What is the maximum power dissipation of the 1N4734?

In the lab Procedure:

R
R

+ +
ID IL
+ + D1
VD - -
VL
Vin Vin
- - RL
D1

Fig. 1a Fig. 1b
1. Set up the circuit as shown in Fig. 1a. Do not power up your circuit until it has been verified by the
Laboratory staff / Teaching Assistants / Faculty-in-Charge. Ensure that the power supply control knobs
are in the minimum position.
2. The diode D1 is the 1N4734 zener diode, rated for 5.6 V. Use a 330  resistor for R.
3. Vary the input voltage Vin from 0 to 5 V, in increments of 1 V. Note down the readings of the voltmeter
VD and the ammeter ID, in each case, in Table 1.
4. Increase Vin from 5 V to 10 V in increments of 0.2 V. Again, note down VD and ID in Table 1.
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Table 1

Vin (V) VD (V) ID (mA)

5. Plot VD vs ID. This will be the reverse-bias characteristic of the Zener diode (Pay special attention to the direction
of Id).

6. Plot the Line Regulation Curve, VD vs Vin (With Vin in X axis and VD in Y axis).
7. If VD when the input voltage is 6 V and 10 V, is denoted by VD1 and VD2 respectively, calculate the Line
(VD2 − VD1) *100
regulation of your regulator as %VR = .
4
8. Now, change your circuit so that it is as in Fig. 1b. Use a 22  resistor for R and a series combination of
a 100  resistor and a 1 k potentiometer for RL.
9. Set Vin to be 7 V. Keeping the potentiometer at its minimum setting, note down the values of V L and IL,
in Table 2.
10. Keeping Vin a constant, vary the potentiometer, such that the current varies from 50 mA to 5 mA, in
intervals of 2 mA. Note the value of VL in each case.

Table 2

For Vin = 7 V For Vin = 6 V For Vin = 8 V

VL (V) IL (mA) VL (V) IL (mA) VL (V) IL (mA)

11. Repeat the experiment for Vin = 6 V and Vin = 8 V.

12. Plot the Load Regulation Curve, VL vs IL (Voltage in Y axis and current in X axis).
𝑉𝐿1 − 𝑉𝐿2
13. Calculate the load regulation efficiency as %𝐿𝑅 = | 5.6
| ∗ 100, where VL1 and VL2 are the maximum

and minimum load voltages.

Post-lab questions (These questions need to be answered/calculated based on the results/graphs obtained
during the experiment)

1. What is the knee current of the zener diode as determined by your experiment?
2. What is the zener resistance (RZ)?
3. With Vin = 7 V and R = 22 , what is the minimum value of the load resistance RL, below which the circuit
will lose regulation? Why will the circuit no longer work as a voltage regulator?

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23ECE185 Electronic Devices and Circuits Laboratory

Expt – 7 & 8

Characteristics of a Bipolar Junction Transistor

Objective:

This week you will understand the operation of a simple npn Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT) and plot
its input and output characteristics.

Instructions:

1. Go through the sections on BJTs in Sedra and Smith, and familiarise yourself with the theory behind
BJT operations before coming to the lab.
2. Please go through your instruction sheet carefully, before setting up the circuit. This will help you to
complete the experiment on time.
3. Get your circuits verified by the Lab Staff / Faculty-in-Charge, before powering them up.
4. Go through the datasheet of the BC547, which has been uploaded to AUMS.

Before coming to the lab, answer the following questions:

1. What is the range of values of  for the BC547?

2. The BC547 is classified as an “NPN Epitaxial Silicon Transistor”. What does the word Epitaxial indicate?
3. What is the maximum collector current that the BC547 can supply?
4. What is the maximum power dissipation of the BC547?
5. Why is a maximum value of the Collector-Emitter voltage specified?
Procedure:

1. Set up the circuit as shown in Fig. 1(a). Please note that the collector should be physically shorted to
the emitter with a small piece of wire. Use the desktop digital voltmeter and ammeter for measuring
VBB and IB respectively, for this part of the experiment.
2. Vary VBB slowly and carefully, for specific values of IB (in A), such that 0 < IB < 20 A, IB = 2 A. Please
note that you are dealing with very small currents and hence, you need to wait a few seconds for the
readings to stablise. Small deviations can lead to large errors in your characteristic, as you will realise.
3. Continue Step 7 for 20 A < IB < 100 A, IB  10 A.
4. Continue Step 7 for 100 A < IB < 400 A, IB  100 A.
5. Now, modify your circuit so that it is as in Fig. 1(b). The voltmeter VM2 can be a 0-10V analog meter
with a resolution of 200 mV.
6. Vary VCC such that VM2 reads 200 mV.

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7. Repeat Steps 7-9. Ensure that every time you vary VBB, VCC remains a constant at 200 mV. You might
have to fiddle around with the coarse and fine adjustment knobs of the power supplies to ensure that
VCC remains a constant.
8. Repeat 11 and 12, for VCC = 5 V. Note down your readings in the format given in Table 1.

Table 1 Input Characteristics of a BJT

VCE = 0 VCE = 0.2 V VCE = 5 V

VBB IB VBE VBB IB VBE VBB IB VBE
(V) (A) (V) (V) (A) (V) (V) (A) (V)

9. In Table 1, calculate VBE as V BE = V BB − I B *10 k , rounded off to the nearest mV.

10. Plot the relationship between IB and VBE for different values of VCE.
11. Set up the circuit as shown in Fig. 2. Adjust VBB such that the ammeter A1 reads 6 A.
12. Vary VCC from 0 to 15 V, in increments of 1 V. For each value of VCC, measure IC. Take care to ensure
that the value of IB remains a constant.
13. Carefully adjust VBB such that IB = 16 A and 24 A. Repeat Step 17, for each value of IB.
14. Note down your readings in the format given in Table 2.

Table 2 Output Characteristics of a BJT

IB = 6 A IB = 16 A IB = 24 A
VCE IC VCE IC VCE IC
(V) (mA) (V) (mA) (V) (mA)

15. Plot the relationship between IC and VCE for different values of IB.
16. In the circuit of Fig. 2, keeping VCC = 15 V, vary VBB such that IB changes from 2 A to 52 A. Measure
VCE and IC for each value of IB.
17. Note down your readings in the format given in Table 3.

Table 3
IB VCE IC
(A) (V) (mA)

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18. Based on the readings of Table 3, plot the relationship between IB and IC.
19. On the output characteristics obtained in Step 20, plot the relationship between VCE and IC.

10 k
0-2 mA 560 
A1 T1 10 k 0-2 mA
A1 T1 VM2 0-10 V

0-2 V
0-2 V VM1 VBB
VCC
VM1 VBB

Fig. 1(a) Fig. 1(b)

A2
0-20 mA

1 k
100 k 0-100 A
A1 T1 VM2 0-20 V

VBB VCC

Fig. 2

Post-lab questions:

1. As VCE is increased from 0 to 5 V, is there any change in the input characteristic? Why?
2. With VCE = 0 V, what is the current IB, when VBE is 0.6 V?
3. What is the Early Voltage (VA) of the BC547 that you used?
4. For VCC = 15 V and the BC547, what would be the operating point in the middle of the active region?
5. What should be IB for the BC547 to be operating at the level determined in question 4?
6. What is the  of the BC547 that you used?
7. What is the slope of the load line that you obtained in Step 24?

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Amrita School of Engineering, Coimbatore

23ECE185 Electronic Devices and Circuits Laboratory

Expt - 9

Characteristics of a Metal Oxide Semiconductor Transistor

Objective:

This week you will understand the operation of a simple metal oxide semiconductor Transistor (MOS) and plot its
output and transfer characteristics.

Instructions:

1. Go through the sections on MOSFETs in Sedra and Smith and familiarise yourself with the theory behind MOS
operations before coming to the lab.

2. Please go through your instruction sheet carefully, before setting up the circuit. This will help you to complete the
experiment on time.

3. Get your circuits verified by the Lab Staff / Faculty-in-Charge, before powering them up.

4. Go through the datasheets of BS170 and 2N7000, which have been uploaded to AUMS.

Before coming to the lab, answer the following questions:

1. BS170 and 2N7000 are classified as enhancement MOSFETs? What does the word Enhancement indicate here?

2. What is IDSS in a MOSFET. What is its significance?

3. Fill up the required values in Table 1 (values are measured at room temperature).

Table 1: MOS characteristics/ Maximum ratings

VDS (max) VGS (max) ID (max) Maximum power IDSS Threshold voltage (typical)
dissipation

2N700

BS170

Procedure:

1. Set up the circuit as shown in Fig. 1(a).

2. Vary the voltage VGG to fix the voltage VGS at 1.5 V (voltmeter may be connected appropriately across gate
and source)

3. Vary VDS from 0 to 1 V in steps of 0.1 and measure the drain current (ammeter may be connected
appropriately to measure ID).

4. Vary VDS from 1 to 10 V in steps of 1 and measure the drain current (ammeter may be connected
appropriately to measure ID) *.

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5. Repeat the procedure for VGS = 2.1 V, 2.8 V and 3 V.

6. Tabulate the results as shown in Table 2 to obtain the output characteristics.

7. Now fix the value of VDS at 5 V and vary VGG in order to vary VGS from 1 to 3 V as shown in Table 3.

8. Measure the drain current and tabulate the results as shown on Table 3 to obtain the transfer
characteristics.

*(Be careful not to let current go beyond 80-90 mA. MOSFET gets heated up beyond that)

Fig. 1 (a)

Table 2: MOS output characteristics

VGS = 1.5 V VGS = 2.1 V VGS = 2.3 V VGS = 2.8 V

VDS ID VDS ID VDS ID VDS ID
(V) (mA) (V) (mA) (V) (mA) (V) (mA)
0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1
0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2
0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3
0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4
0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5
0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6
0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7
0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8
0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9
1 1 1 1
2 2 2 2
3 3 3 3
4 4 4 4
5 5 5 5
6 6 6 6
7 7 7 7
8 8 8 8
9 9 9 9
10 10 10 10

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Table 3: MOS transfer characteristics

VDS = 5 V VDS = 6 V VDS = 8 V

VGS ID VGS ID VGS ID
(V) (mA) (V) (mA) (V) (mA)
1 1 1
1.5 1.5 1.5
2 2 2
2.1 2.1 2.1
2.2 2.2 2.2
2.3 2.3 2.3
2.4 2.4 2.4
2.5 2.5 2.5
2.6 2.6 2.6
2.7 2.7 2.7
2.8 2.8 2.8
2.9 2.9 2.9
3 3 3

Post-lab questions:

1. From the output characteristics with VGS = 2.3 V, what is the value of VDS to obtain a drain current of 2
mA?

2. From the obtained plots, calculate the Early voltage (VA) of the given MOSFET?

3. What is the threshold voltage as seen from the transfer characteristics? Compare it with the typical value
from the datasheet.

4. From the obtained values of currents and voltages, calculate the average transconductance parameter
(kn) of the MOSFET.

**end of happy learning**

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