
Using the BJT as a current source
Using BJTs to Create Current Sources
67
cient of between +0.22% to +0.4mV/˚C. Higher-power devices have about half these
values.
Another important characteristic of the BJT, which is uniquely related to V
BE
and I
C
, is
its small-signal forward transconductance (aka
g
m
). G
m
measures the effect of a
change in collector current (I
C
), for a specific change in V
BE
, referenced to common-
emitter mode. The input voltage and the output current are related by the transconduc-
tance, because the base voltage is
transferred
to the collector current and because g
m
applies to
conductance
. In practical terms, transconductance is a ...