bipolar transistor

1 definition found

bipolar transistor - Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (26 May 2007) :

  bipolar transistor
  
     <electronics> A transistor made from a sandwich of n- and
     p-type semiconductor material: either npn or pnp.  The
     middle section is known as the "base" and the other two as the
     "collector" and "emitter".  When used as an amplifying
     element, the base to emitter junction is in a "forward-biased"
     (conducting) condition, and the base to collector junction is
     "reverse-biased" or non-conducting.  Small changes in the base
     to emitter current (the input signal) cause either holes
     (for pnp devices) or free electrons (for npn) to enter the
     base from the emitter.  The attracting voltage of the
     collector causes the majority of these charges to cross into
     and be collected by the collector, resulting in amplification.
  
     Contrast field effect transistor.
  
     (1995-10-04)