Electronic – Why the base current decreases automatically

bjtemitter-followernpn

Given this circuit:

schematic

simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab

I don't understand why, when simulating it by increasing parametrially the V2 from 0V to 12V keeping V1 constant, the base current decreases exponentially until V2 reaches the V1. I understand that when V2 > V1 the bjt enters in the direct active region and then the Vce increases, keeping the collector current almost constant. But I don't see why the base current should decrease until V1 <= V2. This reduction is more higher than the Vbe variation. Sorry if it is a stupid question.

I've noticed that when simulating an emitter follower, and I thought that was due to the emitter drop that this base current was reducing. But that happens also in that circuit above.

EDIT: I've discovered that this decrease is coherent with the increase of the Vbe voltage, with a given base resistor. So the question is: why the Vbe increase while the BJT exits from its saturation state? Perhaps that answer is more easy, I think.

Best Answer

The simulation result is correct. What you are seeing is Ibc: Current flowing from base to collector. Remember that the base collector junction is forward-biased.

Normally we don't think about the current flowing in that direction. But it can/does.

In saturation, some base current flows to the collector. The net flow may be from outside of the transistor into the collector, but that does not mean that Ibc = 0. This is something I did not fully grasp until quite recently, and I even down-voted someone over it. I mean, I am sure I knew it at one time when I was in school. But I must have forgotten it long ago.