COMMON COLLECTOR Meaning and
Definition
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A common collector refers to an electronic circuit configuration commonly found in transistor amplifiers. It is a type of bipolar junction transistor (BJT) configuration, where the transistor acts as an amplifier to amplify a weak input signal.
In a common collector configuration, also known as an emitter follower, the emitter terminal of the transistor is connected to a common terminal of both input and output signals, while the collector terminal is connected to the power supply. The input signal is applied to the base terminal, and the output signal is taken from the emitter terminal.
The purpose of the common collector configuration is to provide a high input impedance and low output impedance, ensuring minimal loading of the input signal source and effective driving of the output load. It acts as a voltage buffer by providing a unity gain, meaning the output voltage follows the input voltage closely.
With this configuration, the common collector amplifier offers several advantages including stability, high current gain, and low distortion. It also provides phase inversion between input and output signals, making it suitable for impedance matching and for avoiding phase problems in audio applications.
The term "common collector" derives from the fact that the collector terminal is connected to a common point for both input and output signals, distinguishing it from other transistor configurations such as common emitter or common base configurations.
Etymology of COMMON COLLECTOR
The word "common collector" originates from electronics, specifically in the field of transistor circuits. It is a term used to describe a specific configuration or mode of operation in a bipolar junction transistor (BJT).
To understand its etymology, we can break down the components of the term:
1. "Common": In electronics, "common" refers to the fact that a terminal or element is shared or connected to a common point. In transistor circuits, there are three terminal configurations: common emitter, common base, and common collector. Each variant represents a different method of connecting the transistor's terminals.
2. "Collector": The collector is one of the three terminals of a BJT, which also include the emitter and the base. It is responsible for collecting the majority carriers (electrons in NPN transistors or holes in PNP transistors) flowing through the transistor.
