How is Alternating Current (AC) used in Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT) without ruining its operation?

Question

In a BJT (Bipolar Junction Transistor), say NPN in common base configuration, we forward bias the Base-Emitter Junction and reverse bias the Base-Collector Junction when using a constant DC supply.

Intuitively, when I replace DC with AC, the polarity changes after every half cycle. And this means, the Base-Emitter Junction is now reverse biased and Base-Collector is forward biased. This leads the BJT to be in Reverse-Active Mode.

But, we also know, the manufacturing of transistor is made uniquely, Emitter with medium area and highly doped and Collector being of largest in area and averagely doped. And changing the direction of current should might obstruct its function.

So, is there some transistors that can go in reverse-active mode and some breakdown, or it is a general property? And if later is the answer, how does it work?

Answer 1

The key is that you don't replace the DC bias with an AC signal, but you add the AC signal to the DC bias. The BJT amplifier circuits that you're studying perform this sum between the two components, and the BJT will work in the forward-active region as long as the AC signal is sufficiently small.

To better understand this point, let's have a look at the common emitter amplifier with self-bias circuit shown below:

The resistors $R_1$, $R_2$ and $R_\mathrm{E}$ define the DC operating point and the base of the BJT Q will be at a certain potential $V_\mathrm{B}$ (I shall use the convention, common in electronics, that upper case letters denote bias quantities, whereas lower case letters denote variable quantities).

Suppose that the input voltage $v_\mathrm{i}$ is initially zero. The capacitor $C_1$ will then charge at the value $V_\mathrm{B}$. If we assume that $C_1$ is sufficiently large so that its voltage doesn't change when $v_\mathrm{i}\neq 0$, we then have, by Kirchhoff's voltage law applied at the input mesh, $v_\mathrm{B} = V_\mathrm{B}+v_\mathrm{i}$. That is, when there is a signal, the instantaneous base voltage $v_\mathrm{B}$ is the sum of the DC bias and the AC signal.

Indeed, if you increase the amplitude of the input signal, the BJT will first enter the saturation region and then the breakdown region. In the saturation region the output signal is highly distorted. In the breakdown region, if the base current becomes large enough, the BJT dies of a horrible albeit quick death.