I've heard my lecturers (I'm a 1st year) throwing the term around on a few occasions and they don't go into details, so I'm sure it's something terribly simple and obvious, but I'd appreciate it if someone could give me a quick explanation.


Is it something to do with Coupling?

 

Is it something to do with Coupling?

No.

It is often used to bring devices into a specific operting range. An example might be, a diode that has a .7v forward drop will clip that .7v off the positive going input signal, altering the output waveform. If the diode is biased with .7v, the positive going signal will be passed in replication of the input.

 

With transistors, it means establishing an operating point using DC (bias) levels. When you do this, your semiconductor is ready to transfer, amplify or pass a signal without distortion.

Cheers, DPW [ Spent years making heaters out of op-amps.]

 

Right I get it now, thanks very much.