numerical challenge

I draw it as NPN on a whiteboard. I don't write E/B/C, so I get to find out if he can name the bits of a transistor. The applicant is free to ask any questions, which gives me more info.

Surviving that, the problem is essentially identical to the one I posted, with a bit more base current.

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John Larkin         Highland Technology, Inc 

jlarkin at highlandtechnology dot com 
http://www.highlandtechnology.com 

Precision electronic instrumentation 
Picosecond-resolution Digital Delay and Pulse generators 
Custom laser drivers and controllers 
Photonics and fiberoptic TTL data links 
VME thermocouple, LVDT, synchro   acquisition and simulation
Reply to
John Larkin
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One more question: What is the pressure of the magic smoke inside the transistor?

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Roberto Waltman 

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Reply to
Roberto Waltman

I'd be happy for the applicant to make some assumptions (stated, if he likes) and give me ballpark numbers. *Without* cranking up Spice on his laptop.

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John Larkin         Highland Technology, Inc 

jlarkin at highlandtechnology dot com 
http://www.highlandtechnology.com 

Precision electronic instrumentation 
Picosecond-resolution Digital Delay and Pulse generators 
Custom laser drivers and controllers 
Photonics and fiberoptic TTL data links 
VME thermocouple, LVDT, synchro   acquisition and simulation
Reply to
John Larkin

That information is only necessary for about half of the answers and changes them less than 10%.

...and that doesn't change 1/3 of the answers (but should cause some other unsolicited comments, if PNP). ;-)

Reply to
krw

Same answer.

Reply to
krw

If it's a jellybean NPN, the E-B junction is going to be just fine (typically they break down around 8-9V and are rated for at least 5V), and the answers are, as JL says, going to be about the same as his example except for the higher base current due to typically low reverse beta. But it fits a different visual pattern, being an NPN with E grounded-- it's probably not obvious that it's a "collector-follower".

Reply to
Spehro Pefhany
[HUGE SNIP - ***HINT! ***]

Yes, I think MOST of us got that right away. The base voltage error may have been a misunderstanding as Vbe, but the saturation assumption was totally wrong.

But the point was that the followup posts seemed to ignore that fact, as

well as continuing to keep a huge amount of irrelevant quoted content. The suggestion to trim that was either missed or ignored, which implies ignorance, apathy, or intentional annoyance. Maybe all three! :)

Paul

Reply to
P E Schoen

Right - Didn't pay attention to the fact that the supplies are now positive...

Reply to
Roberto Waltman

That's way overkill for a first question interview. If some kid doesn't know about reverse beta, I wouldn't chuck him out right away.

I measured a BFT25 as having reverse beta about 4.

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John Larkin         Highland Technology, Inc 

jlarkin at highlandtechnology dot com 
http://www.highlandtechnology.com 

Precision electronic instrumentation 
Picosecond-resolution Digital Delay and Pulse generators 
Custom laser drivers and controllers 
Photonics and fiberoptic TTL data links 
VME thermocouple, LVDT, synchro   acquisition and simulation
Reply to
John Larkin

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There is; get face to face.
Reply to
John Fields

And each time some one comments on that, I still try to think of an application where that would prosper? Maybe something in speed switching . etc.. Kind of reminds me of ECL logic in a way.

Jamie

Reply to
Jamie

I have used a BFT25 to ground an AC-coupled analog signal, in a gain-switching application. You need a lot of base current to clamp the negative part of the swing, since reverse beta is low.

--

John Larkin         Highland Technology, Inc 

jlarkin at highlandtechnology dot com 
http://www.highlandtechnology.com 

Precision electronic instrumentation 
Picosecond-resolution Digital Delay and Pulse generators 
Custom laser drivers and controllers 
Photonics and fiberoptic TTL data links 
VME thermocouple, LVDT, synchro   acquisition and simulation
Reply to
John Larkin

Why didn't you use a fet? Just askin'.

Reply to
tm

Some can't think without Spice, evidently.

Reply to
krw

Yeah, I didn't count the 5x5(mod10)=5. That should add another 408 0's, give or take a fence post.

Reply to
krw

Your messages are up to 607 lines of quoted text and blank double spaced lines. If you can't devise a method of fixing the double spacing problem, prehaps you might consider just deleting the quoted text in your replies so that your one-line aphorisms can be more easily excavated. Also, due to population pressure, global warming, and rampant speculation, white space is becoming a scarce commodity. We may soon run out of white space and allthewordswillruntogether.

--
Jeff Liebermann     jeffl@cruzio.com 
150 Felker St #D    http://www.LearnByDestroying.com 
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com 
Skype: JeffLiebermann     AE6KS    831-336-2558
Reply to
Jeff Liebermann

snip (sorry)

Italian Seismologists?

Reply to
MettleBeerStolid

Getting a manager to understand that doing nothing is the best course when something is running late - that's quite a feat.

Sylvia.

Reply to
Sylvia Else

Right- there's nothing I can do about it, there are no text settings whatso ever, GG completely ignores its 'Quote Original' button, and it puts all th is double space junk in here just by hitting 'Post Reply'. And if I don't w atch it, it will send replies to the author too.

Reply to
bloggs.fredbloggs.fred

I'm increasingly wondering about how it would have ended up as an interview question. My best guess is the interviewer came across the problem and assumed, without doing it themselves, that it was reasonably simple - an intelligence test style question, rather than a maths question.

It took me a significant time to come up with an answer, and I would almost certainly have not succeeded when subject to the pressure of an interview - I function very badly under pressure :(.

Sylvia.

Sylvia.

Reply to
Sylvia Else

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