What is Collector

What is Collector

In PCB, the collector refers to a component found in a bipolar junction transistor (BJT). Specifically, it denotes the semiconductor region within the BJT through which a flow of charge carriers exits the base region. The collector collects the charge carriers, such as electrons or holes, that have been injected into the base region and facilitates their movement toward the output terminal of the transistor.

Within a BJT, the collector is one of the three primary regions, alongside the base and emitter. The base region controls the flow of charge carriers from the emitter to the collector, while the collector region is responsible for gathering these charge carriers for further processing or utilization in electronic circuits. The amount of charge carriers flowing through the collector region, known as the collector current, is a significant parameter in the operation of a BJT.