Experiment 11 The Push-Pull Power Amplifier ee PO Objectives _ ‘At the completion of this unit, you will be able to describe the operations of typical push-pull power amplifier by using ac and dc measurements.) Discussion Of Fundamentals The push-pull power amplifier takes two input signals that are equal amplitude \ but opposite in polarity, amplifies them, and combines them into one signal. ‘A push-pull transistor amplifier can use a center-tapped transformer (Figure E11-1) or a phase splitter circuit to provide the two input signals. Figure E11-1. Transformer push-pull power amplifier. ‘A push-pull transistor amplifier has high power gain and low voltage gain operates in the AB mode. ae ‘Two class AB amplifiers can be configured to act like one class A amplifier. 161One transistor conducts for the positive half of the input signal, while the other transistor conducts for the negative half (Figure E11-2). With this type of amplifier, crossover distortion can occur in the absence of de biasing, causing waveform distortion near the zero crossing. using waveform distortion near the zero Cross ‘A push-pull amplifier offers greater power gain and better efficiency than does a single- ended amplifier. crossover distortion, - a signal that is distorted near the zero crossing point but is not cosa itor and valleys. Re ‘push-pull amplifier, a circuit with two similar transistors connected to operate with equal magnitudes but opposite phases. ‘The outputs of each component are combined. c CLASS AB = AMP #1 NR T wa | ory AY Figure E11-2. Input and output signals. Equipments Required . F.A.C.E.T. Base Unit . TRANSISTOR POWER AMPLIFIERS Circuit Board . Power Supply, 15 Vde (2 required) Multimeter Oscilloscope, dual trace Generator, sine wave 162A- DC Operation Introduction and Theoretical Background A typical class AB push-pull power amplifier is shown in Figure E11-3. Two transistors ‘are connected back-to-back in a common-emitter configuration. Transformer resi provide the Q2. Collector current foreach of the two class AB transistors flows for only a portion of the input signal. In class A amplifiers, collector current flows for the entire cycle of the input signal. The other half represents the collector load for Q2. Transformer T2 matches the relatively high output Impedance of the transistors to the low impedance of the load. Figure E11-3. Push-pull amplifier. ‘The transistors are biased near collector current cutoff, so little collector power is dissipated under no-signal conditions. Class A amplifiers are biased in the center of the load line, and class B amplifiers are biased off the load line (Figure E114). In class B and class AB amplifiers, total de circuit current is affected by an ac input signal. 163Procedure 1. Locate the PUSH-PULL POWER AMPLIFIER circuit block. Connect the circuit shown in Figure E11-5. Adjust the positive variable supply so that equals Ve) the sine wave generator. Adjust the sine wave ‘ac input signal (V). Measure and record the total eS, eS SW 3. Observe total de circuit current as you increase and decrease the amplitude of the input signal. How do changes in the input NSRP current a isconnect the generator input. What is the total no-signal de circuit current, 5. Compare IT(signal) with IT(no-signal). Does the amplifier operate in the class A mode? 4 signal de circuit current ky a.poInt ony Q-POINT (CLASS AB) ron ae wef je exrunarion is {CUT-OFF Figure E11-4. Q-points of amplifiers.Figure E11-5. Connection diagram 6. Reconnect the generator input, and adjust the generator for a 3 Vpk-pk, 1 kHz sine ‘wave input. ao oor 7, Measure and record the de voltages at the collector, base, and emitter of QI and Q2, with reference to ground. ForQl:| \Ve= = Vde | ForQ2: Vem 9 Vee Vp= 43 Vde Vp=oJ\3Vde (Vex _26,.Vde | Ve= \cot¥de a 8, Fach transistor isin what common configuration? < oaunon eon gieet 9. Calculate and record the gollector circuit volt e drop for each transistor WANO. a 10. R4=R5=10 . Use Ohm's Law to calculate and record emitter current for each transistot (Ig * Ve/10). ‘D> 165. 11. Based on the voltage measurements and current calculations, are the two transistor circuits biased alike? Ye Xq, e+ 12. In most of the power supply voltage dropped across each transistor’ ta, ~Y cken 98 VeE@ a 13. In comparing your measurements of'Vee to Va where do you think the Q-point is on the load line for each transistor? S ‘4e14, Tur to CM switch 16 to open emitter resistor R4. Measure the de voltage around each transistor. Does CM’switch 16 prevent 0.2 from conducting? Conclusions ~>L, An ac signal causes an increase in tolal de circuit oijrent in a class AB amplifier. 2. Two transistor from separate circuits that are similarly near cutoff. ] 3, In a push-pull amplifier circuit, the de voltage drop across each transistor almost equals the power supply voltage. Review Questions 1. Setup the circuit in Figure E11-6. Tum on CM switch 15 to change base resistor R3 from 100 to 50_. This change cause the base voltage of QI to be } a. half the value of the base voltage of Q2. b. twice the value of the base voltage of Q2 c, equal the base voltage of Q2, now half of their former values. d. equal the base voltage of Q2, now twice of their former values 2. With CM switch 15 still in the ON position, observe the change in emitter current (which equals collector current). The effect on the operating points of both transistors is that IC has 1. decreased for both transistors, driving them both into cutoff. . _ increased for both transistors, driving them into saturation. C. decreased for QI, driving it into cutoff. 4. increased for Q2, driving it into saturation. 3. Based on questions 1 and 2, QI is biased closer to cutoff than is Q2. Q2 is biased closer to saturation than is Ql. a. b, c. QJ is near saturation and Q2 is near cutoff. d. Ql and Q2 are biased identically at cutoff. 166Figure E11-6 4. One transistor of a push-pull class AB power amplifier dissipates a. more power than a class A amplifier does. b. less power than a class B amplifier does. c. less power than a class A amplifier does. d. as much power as a class B amplifier does. 5, In a push-pull amplifier with no input signal applied, most of the power supply voltage is dropped across the a. emitter-based junction. b. collector-emitter terminals. c. base-collector junction. d, base-ground junction. 167SF B- AC Voltage and Power Gains Introduction and Theoretical Background In Figure E11-7, center-tapped input transformer T1 is used as a phase splitter that develops two signals equal in amplitude but opposite in phase. The output of the phase splitter circuit used in the previous unit could also have been used here. Signals of equal magnitude but of opposite polarity are needed for each transistor. Figure E11-7. Push-pull amplifier in ac operation. ‘Transistor QI amplifies one half of the input signal, while transistor Q2 amplifies the other half (Fig.E11-8). The transistors used in this experiment aréNPN, although two PNP transistors could also be used. Transistor Q2 conducts during the positive half of the input signal; Ql conducts during the negative half of the input signal. These half-signals are then combined in output transformer T2, which also acts as an impedance matcher between the high impedance of each transistor circuit and the low impedance of the load. When the ac input signal (Wiis at, no ac base current\(Iy) or liz) flows in the circuit. ‘As Vi becomes more positive, Q2is nto conduction and Ik2 begins to flow. During the positive half of the input signal, QI is near cutoff and Ib does not flow. 168‘As Vi becomes more negative, Q2 begins to move into cutoff, and QI is biased into conduction. Ib1 begins to flow while Ib2 does not (Figure E11-9). ‘TRANSFORMER 11 ZERO crossma wwpuT Fig. E11-8 Ac signals Voltage gain is not very high, but power gain is. As in earlier units, you must use rms values to calculate power. Use the following formula for conversion. ‘A small collector current must flow at all times so that crossover distortion does not ‘occur, Crossover distortion is a type of waveform distortion in which the output signal becomes distorted near the zero crossing point. Recall that class B amplifiers are biased off and therefore pass less than 180° of the input signal. When two class B amplifiers are used, collector current does not flow continuously, and crossover distortion occurs. The input signal exceeds the base- emitter voltage (approximately 0.6 Vdc) before either transistor can conduct. Distortion of the output waveform continues until 6 Vox.pk is reached. ‘Transistors QI and Q2 conduct for more than 180° but less than 360° of the input signal, allowing collector current to flow continuously. These transistors cannot be classified as class A or class B; therefore, they are considered to be class AB. 169Fig. E11-9 Current path 170Procedure 1. Locate the PUSH-PULL POWER AMPLIFIER circuit block. Adjust the generator for 23 Vpkepk, 1 kHz input signal. Connect the circuit shown in Figure E11-10. tee Figure E11-10. Connection diagram. vic NR UL 2, Observe the output signals at the collector of each transistor. How do the outputs compare to each other in terms of magnitude and phase? v 3. Observe the signals at the emitter of each transistor. For how meay’ degrees does each transistor conduct? 4: 1s your step 3 result more or ess than the degrce of conduction of a class A amplifier’? 5. Is your step 3 result more or less than the degree of conduction of a class B amplifier? 6. What class is this amplifier? seu Vin 7. Compare the Q2 emitter signal and the input signal. Does the Q2 conduct more on the positive or negative half of the input signal? 171eye VE, Yin 8. Compare the QI emitter signal and the input signal. Does QI conduct more on the positive or negative half of the input signal? 9, Measure and record the output signal across R6(V,). Nou 10, Calculate the voltage gain of this configuration (Ay = Vo/Vi). Enter your value in Table 11-1. - Table 11-1. Circuit gains. 11, What is the phase relationship between the input and the output? 12, To find input power, convert the input current and voltage to rms values. Use the formula Vrms = 0.707 x (Vpicps /2) to calculate and record rms input voltage. 13, Measure and record the voltage drop across\R Tn \ 14. Use Ohm's law to calculate the current through 100 RI Gai = VevR1)- 15. Convert this current to rms. Record the rms value. 16. Calculate and record input power (Pj = Ij x Ei). 17. Convert the measured output voltage across R6 to rms (use the Vo value from step 9). Record this rms value. Vow yas = iar ) wot} 17218, Output current and power can be calculated the same way input current and power were calculated in the previous steps. To calculate the output power, use a Form of Ohm's law that does not use output current [Po = Vo(rms)2 /R6}. 19. Find power gain from the formula A, PP, Enter your result in Table 11-1. 20, How do the voltage and power gains compare to each other? 21. Increase the input signal to 10 Vpepk- Remove the jumper at Tl to remove the de biasing What happens to the output at R6? 22, What you saw in step 21 is called cross-over distortion, Decrease the input signal ¥0 5 Vasa. Does the output signal become more distorted or less distorted? 23. Does the ac signal cause QI and Q2 to conduct? 24. 1f transistor Q1 was not tumed on (not conducting), would the circuit output across R6 measure 0 Vp-p? 25. Turn on CM switch 16 to open R4 and cause QI to stop conducting. Observe the output signal across R6. ‘What does it look like? 26. Recall that each transistor forms its own circuit. With CM switch 16 on, compere the input and output waveforms. For which half of the input does Q2 conduct? 27, Does your result in step 26 confirm that the push-pull amplifier is made up of two circuits that are independent of each other? Conclusions 1. AB operation occurs when the output signals of the transistors conduct for more then 180° but less than 360°. 2. One transistor conducts for slightly more than one hal-cycle ofthe input signal, while the other transistor conducts for slightly more than the other half. 3. Power gain is much greater than voltage gain. 4, Crossover distortion occurs when the de bias is removed. 6. Total circuit current changes with the input signal. 173Review Questions / 1. Set up the circuit in Figure E11-11. Adjust the generator fora 5 Vpk-pk, 1 kHz sine wave input signal. Place CM switch 15 in the ON position to change R3 from 1000 to 50, thus changing the de bias. Observe the output at the emitters of QI and Q2. Each transistor is operating in class Bo Bese Oup> 2. Tum off CM switch 15, and place CM switch 20 in the ON position to increase load resistor R6 from 8.2 to 18. By observing the output signal across R6 and by using the power formula Po = (Vpk-pk x 0.707)*/R6, you can determine that output power a. and output voltage increase. b. and output voltage decrease. c, decreases aud output voltage increases. 4, increases and output voltage decreases. Fig. E11-11 1743, The push-pull circuit needs two signals that are a. in phase and equal in magnitude. b. in phase and unequal in magnitude. ¢. 180° out of phase and equal in magnitude. 4. 180° out of phase and unequal in magnitude. 4, What should there be at the circuit input to ‘obtain the signals mentioned in question 3? a..a phase splitter circuit b. a transformer with a center tap c. a transformer without a center tap d. Either a. or b. 5. The crossover distortion in the PROCEDURE was caused by a. an increase in the amplitude of the input signal, b. the removal of the de bias of the circuit. c. an increase in total de circuit current. d. the removal of the center tap of transformer T2. Refer to Fig. E11-12 as necessary % 012 Vane Hat Fig. E11-12 1756. In Figure E11-12, the 8Q load will consume 180 mW. Using a form of Ohm's law, v = VPxR, find the rms output voltage (Va(rms)) and voltage gain (A.) required to produce 180 mW when the input voltage (Vi) is 0.12 Vrms) d, Vo(rms) = 1.0 Vrms, Ay = 8.3 7. If class B amplifiers dissipate less power than class AB amplifiers, why do some push-pull circuits use class AB amplifiers? a. Two class AB amplifiers require a smaller de power supply. b. Two class B amplifiers can cause distortion at the zero crossing. c. Class B amplifiers can not be used back-to-back. d. Class AB amplifiers have a lower base-emitter voltage drop. 8. If the ac input signal (Vi) is zero for the class AB push-pull circuit in this unit, the ac base a. currents of both Q1 and Q2 are zero. b, current of Q1 is zero. ¢., current of Q2 is zero. 4. currents of ¥QI and Q2 are equal to the de base currents. 9. How are the two transistors in a push-pull class AB circuit biased? a. They are in the center of the load line. b. One is near cut-off, the other is near saturation. c. They are both near cut-off. d. They are both near saturation. 10. If the de bias is removed from a push-pull class AB circuit, a. the output goes to zero volts. b. the peaks and valleys of the output become clipped. c. cross-over distortion occurs. d. None of the above. 11. Ina class AB push-pull amplifier, voltage gain a. is high and power gain is low. b. is low and power gain is high. . and power gain are high. 4. and power gain are low. 17612. A class AB amplifier conducts for how many degrees of the input signal? a.90° or less b. between 90° and 180° c. between 180° and 360° d. almost 360° 13. The output transformer in a push-pull amplifier ‘a. combines the two collector signals into one output signal. b. matches the circuit to the low impedance load. . furnishes a dc path for the collector supply voltage. d. All of the above. 14, A class AB amplifier is a, more efficient than a class B amplifier. b. more efficient than a class A amplifier. «. less efficient than a class A amplifier. d. just as efficient as a class A or B amplifier. I 15. Transistors in a push-pull amplifier operating in class AB a. are slightly forward biased. b. are slightly reverse biased. c, become less forward biased with an ac signal. d. have high cross-over distortion. 177